Intego NetBarrier 2003

It wasn't so long ago that nobody really knew what a firewall was.

Nowadays, people are scared to go near their phone line without one, for fear of all hell breaking loose.

A firewall is designed to protect a computer from the hackers lurking in the dark recesses of the internet, eager to attack and damage your PC and there's certainly not a lack of choice when it comes to firewalls.

Intego is the latest manufacturer to add a product to the swelling ranks with NetBarrier 2003.

As with other firewall products, protection of your PC is based on blocking incoming attacks and restricting applications that can access the internet.

The first time that you start an internet application, NetBarrier asks if you want to let it through the firewall.

A neat feature is the Show application button, which opens Windows Explorer and shows you where the application is located on your hard disk. This helps you work out what the offending application does.

But NetBarrier doesn't search your computer for common internet applications and automatically configure the firewall accordingly when it's installed, as do other firewalls.

The software is not just about application control. It also has six different modes of operation, which vary the level of protection that you get.

However, unless you're knowledgeable about internet security, the modes can be confusing. Our advice is to leave the firewall in its default mode.

NetBarrier is also capable of detecting Trojans on your computer, which will stop hackers remotely connecting to your computer and stealing data.

On top of this, anti-vandal controls protect you from attacks which could cause damage to your PC or cause a crash.

The problem with this firewall is that it offers a full range of protection but it is confusing to use compared with its competitors, which do a much better job of hiding the inner workings of the system.

If you are comfortable with this level of detail then it is a good product. For ease of use though, there are plenty of better options available.

Details
Contact: Softline 01883 745111
www.intego.com

Also consider
Norton Internet Security 2003
A great suite of tools that gives you a firewall, antivirus and parental controls.