How Is My Pc At Risk On The Internet; What Other Protection Do I Need - McAfee FIREWALL 2.1-GETTING STARTED Getting Started

Welcome to McAfee Firewall
McAfee Firewall has been designed to be easy to use, while providing you
with excellent 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 that is a truly wonderful and amazing
accomplishment, it brings with it all the problems of being accessible to
complete strangers.
When on the Internet, you need to lock down your PC. When you talk to
strangers on IRC (Internet Relay Chat), be cautious of files they send you. This
is one way the BO (Back Orifice) program spreads, giving people remote
control of your PC. Check files you get for viruses.
When on the Internet, others can try to access your fileshares. You should
check that they are not available, or else people can read and delete what is on
your system.
The data you send can be seen by more people than just the intended receiver.
Practically any system that is connected to any part of the network path used
to relay your data packets can see what is sent. Also, it is hard to know with
absolute certainty that you are talking to whom you think you are talking to.

What other protection do I need?

McAfee Firewall provides network level protection. Other important types of
protection are:
• Anti-virus programs for application-level protection.
• Logon screens and screen saver passwords to prevent unauthorized access.
• File encryption or encrypting file systems to keep information secret.
• Intrusion detection for an added level of network protection.
• Boot-time passwords to stop someone else from starting your PC.
• 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 programs or services such as McAfee's Internet
Guard Dog that can filter the contents of data packets or restrict access to
certain sites.
14 McAfee Firewall