Norton Personal Firewall 2002

Getting started is fairly simple and very straightforward. Wizards scan the system for Net-enabled programs and watch for unusual requests for access from within and outside your computer or network. After the first day or two, most users will forget that the software is running: notifications come fast and furious at first and then taper off to one or two per day at most (depending on what the user is doing on the Net). The most noticeable change in the system is a very slight delay in loading Web pages, and this only for bulky sites.

As with any computer security product, Norton Personal Firewall has an upper limit of protection it can offer, at which point the user's knowledge and expertise are required to go further. For most home users--unlikely but still possible targets for assault--Norton Personal Firewall 2002 goes far enough and should keep data safe from all but the savviest hackers. --Rob Lightner

Amazon.com Product Description
Norton Personal Firewall 2002 keeps hackers out and personal data in. Every minute your computer is online, it's vulnerable to intrusions and the theft of private information. Norton Personal Firewall defends against these threats at multiple levels, without interrupting your work. Right out of the box, it begins to secure your computer by concealing it from hackers. If anyone does attempt to probe your system, such as by scanning its ports, the AutoBlock feature automatically blocks their access.

But Norton Personal Firewall doesn't stop with intrusion protection. It also prevents personal information from being retrieved without your knowledge, including through spyware and Trojan horse programs, by controlling the applications on your PC that can be accessed through the Internet. It automatically sets up firewall rules for the most popular online programs, so you get protection without a hassle. And, greatly simplifying firewall protection for your home network, it automates the process of locating all your computers so you can easily assign them to a trusted security zone.

Whether you have a dialup, DSL, or cable connection, your PC needs the vital protection of Norton Personal Firewall 2002, your defense against hackers and privacy threats.