You must use it if you have a permanent Internet connection
Written: Apr 05 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: easy installation, user friendly
Cons: none really
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| tunga's Full Review: Macmillan BlackICE Defender (1575954451) for PC |
If you are connected to the Internet through a permanent connection (cable modem, DSL, T1, etc.) or are on it for lengthy period of times (several hours), then you absolutely need to use a personal firewall software. Blackice Defender is certainly one that you will be satisfied with.
The installation of the program is as easy as it gets. The only real decision you have to make is the level of protection you want. There are four levels of protection. I would recommend leaving it at default initially and increasing it only if it becomes necessary. At its default setting, the program does not interfere with any of your Internet activities.
Once installed, two memory resident programs are placed on your computer. One is the defender itself, which monitors your ports and blocks any unusual attempts. This program is invisible to the user. The other one is a reporter that lies in your system tray. When the defender blocks an attempt, the reporter icon starts blinking to notify you. You can then activate it to see the identity of the attacker as well as which port has been attacked and what type of an attack it was. The software also ranks the seriousness of the attack. You can choose to follow an "advICE" link to see a further explanation of the type of attack, the intent of the attacker, and what type of systems are usually vulnerable. Therefore, the program goes further than just protection; it is also a very good educational tool.
I would say that the program is extremely easy to use, even for novices. It has a very simple interface that is clean and understandable. Some of the more advanced features would require some better knowledge of computer security but the program is easy enough for novices to start using immediately. It runs in the background and does not interfere with your normal computer or Internet use. If you are not interested in its educational features, than you can install it and forget about it! It will do its job and not take your time...
You will be surprised at the number of attacks the program intercepts every day!!!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
tunga
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Reviews written: 26
Trusted by: 22 members
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