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Sunday, May 27, 2012
TECH BUYING GUIDE
Introduction

WIRELESS
Handhelds
Cell Phones
Cell-Phone Extras

COMPUTERS
Laptops
Desktops
Flat Screens
Micro Storage
Lindows

THE DIGITAL HOME
Wired Home
Personal Firewalls
Online Games
Digital Photography




PERSONAL FIREWALLS




ZoneAlarm Pro 3.0
EDITORS' CHOICE
CNET RATING: 9
DESCRIPTION: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 95/98/ME, Microsoft Windows NT4/2000/XP, 10 MB min. hard disk, Intel 486 Mhz min. processor, 8 MB min. RAM

GOOD: Includes an ad-blocking tool and cookie management; hides PC ports from hackers; new interface is easier to use.

BAD: Doesn't include antivirus defense; no phone support; no Mac version.

BOTTOMLINE: ZoneAlarm Pro 3.0 is as good as personal firewalls get. Although you'll still need an antivirus product to completely protect your PC, we think that the extras in ZoneAlarm Pro are worth the cash--free alternative or not.



Sygate Personal Firewall Pro 5.0
CNET RATING: 8
DESCRIPTION: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 95/98/2K/Me/NT/XP, 5 MB min. hard disk, Pentium min. processor, 32 MB min. RAM

GOOD: Advanced tools detect Trojan horses, hide your OS and browser, and check DLLs to ensure that they're not malicious code in disguise; issues easy-to-understand pop-up alerts.

BAD: Doesn't preconfigure settings for common apps; telephone support costs $75 per incident; doesn't monitor e-mail for hacker code; dry interface.

BOTTOMLINE: Sygate Personal Firewall Pro's big list of advanced security features makes it suitable for skilled users who don't need Sygate's expensive telephone support.



Norton Personal Firewall 2003
CNET RATING: 8
DESCRIPTION: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 98/2K/Me/XP, Intel Pentium 150 MHz min. processor, 64 MB min. RAM

GOOD: Intrusion detection monitors every data packet; easy enough for beginners; blocks pop-up ads and traces hack attacks; stealths all ports.

BAD: Pricey; advanced settings are hard to find; expensive phone support.

BOTTOMLINE: Norton Personal Firewall is a hands-off firewall that takes care of business. But don't buy it on its own; purchase it as part of Norton Internet Security.



 Reviews Provided by: CNET.com

DESKTOPS

NOTEBOOKS

HANDHELD/PHONE

PERSONAL FIREWALLS

CAMERAS

DIGITAL HOME

FLAT-PANEL DISPLAYS


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