Let`s keep them out! (BlackICE Defender)

Member Name: abar

Product:	BlackICE Defender
Date:	15/04/01 (79 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Works well.

Disadvantages: Must be updated(as they all should).

Most of us who use the internet have two main fears,virus attacks and being hacked.Most people have a virus checker and many are now getting a firewall.I don`t know if I have sensitive files on my system,but I do bank online so I may have.That`s why I bought a firewall.
Black Ice Defender is designed to protect one desktop PC but it can protect that PC when on a LAN.
This firewall is clever in that it reports where attacks have originated from so that you can report the IP address to your ISP,if the can do anything to prevent further attacks I am unsure.
I had no problems installing this software at all and it loads a set of defaults to get you going.
There are settings that allow the user to change the level of protection,the basic setting being "cautious".You can boost these to "nervous" or "paranoid" if you wish.
When an attack happens it is logged in the program and the IP address can be blocked,but don`t get carried away.Some attacks can be the users ISP shifting IP address nodes at peak times.
Configuration of the program is fairly easy and the interface is user friendly,not something to be afraid of.
But how can you tell if it really works?Good news,got to www.grc.com,there is a facility here that will test your firewall.My Black Ice set up passed all the tests,but like virus software it will need to be updated.
So what then?Well it seems to work,but I`m not sure many hackers will be that interested in most home PCs,but lets keep them out anyway!

Summary: