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Product Guide 69
McAfee Firewall
McAfee Firewall protects your computer at the network level. It acts as a
gatekeeper, checking every data packet going in or out of your PC. It allows
only what you tell it to allow.
McAfee Firewall has been designed to be easy to use, while providing superior
protection. Once you install and run it, it is configured to block known attacks
and to ask you before allowing applications to communicate.
How is my PC at risk on the Internet?
When you connect to the Internet, you share a network with millions of people
from around the world. While the Internet is a wonderful and amazing
accomplishment, it brings with it all the problems of being accessible to
complete strangers.
While communicating via the Internet, you should take safety precautions to
protect your computing environment. If you use IRC (Internet Relay Chat)
programs, be suspicious of files total strangers send you. Programs that give
others remote access to your computer, such as Back Orifice (BO), are
frequently disseminated in this manner. It is a good practice to scan files
received using anti-virus programs such as McAfee VirusScan before you
open or view files and their attachments.
When on the Internet, others can try to access your file shares. Therefore, you
should check that they are only accessible to those you trust. Otherwise,
untrusted parties can read and delete what is in your computer.
What other protection do I need?
McAfee Firewall provides network level protection. Other important types of
protection are:
n Anti-virus programs for application-level protection.
n Logon screens and screen saver passwords to prevent unauthorized
access.
n File encryption or encrypting file systems to keep information secret.
n Boot-time passwords to stop someone else from starting your PC.
n Physical access to the computer, e.g. stealing the hard drive.
A separate but also important issue is controlling access to information,
misinformation and “filth” that is widely available on the Internet. You can
use a number of content-filtering services or programs such as McAfee’s
Internet Security that can filter the contents of data packets or restrict access to
certain sites.
Are there any data packets that McAfee Firewall cannot stop?