On the virus front, McAfee Internet Security 5.0 operates on many levels. The new Hostile Activity Watch Kernel (HAWK) constantly monitors your PC for viruslike activity and integrates well with many e-mail clients. VShield runs constantly in the background, checking files as you open them. Even if you choose to disable VShield, the program still protects Microsoft Office files by scanning them before you open them. It also protects against invisible and malicious e-mail scripts by looking for suspicious behavior such as trying to open, write, or delete files. Any suspect activity is immediately stopped.

Of course, any antivirus product is only as good as its ability to stop viruses from infecting your system. Happily, McAfee Internet Security 5.0 has been given a 100% rating by Virus Bulletin, so long as you keep it up-to-date. Like the other products in McAfee's security lineup, McAfee Internet Security 5.0 uses Instant Updater, which constantly checks for product updates and automatically downloads them when you are online.

The firewall function in McAfee Internet Security 5.0 controls which of your applications can access the Internet, and stops them from divulging your personal information without your knowledge. It also stops hackers from accessing your PC remotely.

The firewall recognizes most common programs and automatically creates rules to allow them to communicate with the Internet. Users can create their own rules, but this can be tricky for the novice as some of the warning dialog boxes tend toward jargon-filled prose.

McAfee Internet Security 5.0 works with Windows Internet Connection Sharing, and has also been enhanced for broadband so home networks are fully supported. Also new in this release is an intrusion-detection system that blocks port scanners.

Of course, the most important aspect is how well it actually works, and the firewall passes all the usual tests with flying colors. It happily deals with all the usual intrusion techniques, and the auto update feature ensures the product is able to cope with any new threats as they appear.

We did have some difficulty getting an e-mail program called Ameol to work with McAfee Internet Security 5.0, but all other programs we tried worked fine.

Novice users may struggle to get the most from the firewall in McAfee Internet Security 5.0, but the more experienced will find a powerful firewall and antivirus program that can be used with confidence. --Iain Laskey, Amazon.co.uk

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