Norton Personal Firewall 2003

Clean out Internet buildup with Norton CleanSweep¿ from Symantec. Its powerful tools improve your PC¿s performance by removing unwanted programs and other files that waste disk space. Internet Sweep cleans away the clutter accumulated by Web surfing, including cookies that track your Internet activities. Fast Safe Cleanup automatically removes files you no longer need, while Safety Sweep¿ prevents the accidental deletion of critical files. The Uninstall Wizard guides you safely step by step through removing old programs. Now Windows¿ XP users can also enjoy the benefits of this award-winning program. Trust Norton CleanSweep 2002 for safe, easy, complete hard drive cleanup.¿¿¿¿¿

It's not enough just to run antivirus software anymore. Especially if you've got a broadband connection or spend a lot of time online, you need a personal firewall to keep an eye on hackers trying to access your computer. This is a complex area and unless you're a security expert, you need a program that's simple to configure but that also offers strong protection so you know you can trust the options it suggests.p Norton Personal Firewall 2003 fits the bill on both counts. When you install it, the instructions walk you through configuring your system by choosing network settings and scanning your PC for programs that access the Internet. It knows about common applications, so you won't have to tweak umpteen settings to get your e-mail working, and helpful dialog boxes explain the risks of allowing or blocking access.p Not only does it block port scans (where a hacker tests your connection to the Internet, trying to get access), Norton Personal Firewall 2003 also checks all the data entering and leaving your computer, looking for anything suspicious. If it spots suspicious data transfers, it checks the signature database (like the definitions in an antivirus package, and updated in the same way through LiveUpdate). This protects you against Trojan horses and worms like Nimda and Code Red.p You can also protect yourself on the Web. Turn on ad blocking to get rid of irritating pop-up ads from Web sites. You can also choose what information a site sees about you and your browser, turn off animations, scripts, and flash, or block ads on the page itself; a number of sites are preconfigured for you.p Norton Personal Firewall 2003 blocks all the common attacks, making your PC invisible as well as secure online, and it does it without making your applications hard to use or demanding you become a security expert. I--Mary Branscombe/I

Symantec's Norton Personal Firewall 2003 keeps hackers out and personal data in. Its robust defenses include intrusion detection, application control, and privacy protection--all in one easy-to-use program. Right out of the box, Norton Personal Firewall hides your PC on the Internet to keep hackers from seeing it. That action alone can prevent many attacks. In addition, Symantec's exclusive Norton Intrusion Detection feature thoroughly examines incoming Internet traffic and automatically blocks suspicious activities. Hackers can also conduct malicious activity from your PC, so Internet Access Control stops spyware and Trojan horse programs masquerading as legitimate Internet applications on your PC from connecting to the Internet.p Norton Privacy Control easily prevents confidential data from being sent over the Internet without your knowledge. It protects personal information in e-mail, instant messages, and Microsoft Office attachments. All this power is readily accessible, with built-in assistance that helps you get started quickly and respond to threats effectively. And Symantec's LiveUpdate keeps Norton Personal Firewall current with regular, automatic downloads of security updates to defend against new threats. For small businesses, 5- and 10-user packs are also available.