PRODUCT GUIDE

McAfee Inter net Secur ity

VERSION 5.0

COPYRIGHT 2002 Networks Associates Technology, Inc. and its Affiliated Companies. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form or by any means without the written permission of Network Associates, Inc. TRADEMARK ATTRIBUTIONS ACTIVE SECURITY, ACTIVE SECURITY (IN KATAKANA), ACTIVEHELP, ACTIVESHIELD, ANTIVIRUS ANYWARE AND DESIGN, BOMB SHELTER, CERTIFIED NETWORK EXPERT, CLEAN-UP, CLEANUP WIZARD, CNX, CNX CERTIFICATION CERTIFIED NETWORK EXPERT AND DESIGN, CYBERCOP, CYBERCOP (IN KATAKANA), CYBERMEDIA, CYBERMEDIA UNINSTALLER, DESIGN (STYLIZED N), DISK MINDER, DISTRIBUTED SNIFFER SYSTEM, DISTRIBUTED SNIFFER SYSTEM (IN KATAKANA), DR SOLOMONS, DR SOLOMONS LABEL, ENTERPRISE SECURECAST, ENTERPRISE SECURECAST (IN KATAKANA), EZ SETUP, FIRST AID, FORCEFIELD, GMT, GROUPSHIELD, GROUPSHIELD (IN KATAKANA), GUARD DOG, HELPDESK, HOMEGUARD, HUNTER, ISDN TEL/SCOPE, LANGURU, LANGURU (IN KATAKANA), M AND DESIGN, MAGIC SOLUTIONS, MAGIC SOLUTIONS (IN KATAKANA), MAGIC UNIVERSITY, MAGICSPY, MAGICTREE, MCAFEE, MCAFEE (IN KATAKANA), MCAFEE AND DESIGN, MULTIMEDIA CLOAKING, NET TOOLS, NET TOOLS (IN KATAKANA), NETCRYPTO, NETOCTUPUS, NETSCAN, NETSHIELD, NETSTALKER, NETWORK ASSOCIATES, NETXRAY, NOTESGUARD, NUTS & BOLTS, OIL CHANGE, PC MEDIC, PC MEDIC 97, PCNOTARY, PGP, PGP (PRETTY GOOD PRIVACY), PRETTY GOOD PRIVACY, PRIMESUPPORT, RECOVERKEY, RECOVERKEY - INTERNATIONAL, REGISTRY WIZARD, REPORTMAGIC, RINGFENCE, ROUTER PM, SALESMAGIC, SECURECAST, SERVICE LEVEL MANAGER, SERVICEMAGIC, SMARTDESK, SNIFFER, SNIFFER (IN HANGUL), SNIFFMASTER, SNIFFMASTER (IN HANGUL), SNIFFMASTER (IN KATAKANA), SNIFFNET, STALKER, SUPPORTMAGIC, TIS, TMEG, TNV, TVD, TNS, TOTAL NETWORK SECURITY, TOTAL NETWORK VISIBILITY, TOTAL NETWORK VISIBILITY (IN KATAKANA), TOTAL SERVICE DESK, TOTAL VIRUS DEFENSE, TRUSTED MAIL, UNINSTALLER, VIREX, VIRUS FORUM, VIRUSCAN, VIRUSSCAN, WEBSCAN, WEBSHIELD, WEBSHIELD (IN KATAKANA), WEBSNIFFER, WEBSTALKER, WEBWALL, WHOS WATCHING YOUR NETWORK, WINGAUGE, YOUR E-BUSINESS DEFENDER, ZAC 2000, ZIP MANAGER are registered trademarks of Network Associates, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the US and/or other countries. All other registered and unregistered trademarks in this document are the sole property of their respective owners. 2002 Networks Associates Technology, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Issued August 2002 / Product Guide v5.0

Contents

1 Welcome to McAfee Internet Security 5.0. 7
Introduction. 7 Whats included with McAfee Internet Security?. 8 Whats new in this release?. 9 About this manual. 10 McAfee Internet Security and your online connection. 10 McAfee Internet Security features. 11
2 Installing McAfee Internet Security. 13
Before you begin. 13 System requirements. 13 Installation steps. 15 Troubleshooting installation problems. 16 Removing or modifying your McAfee Internet Security installation. 17 Important information about Windows XP migration. 18
3 Getting Started with McAfee Internet Security 5.0. 19
Introduction. 19 The Title bar and Tool bar. 20 Status information. 20 About Tasks. 21 About the McAfee list. 25 How to use the McAfee Internet Security Configuration Assistant. 26 How the McAfee Internet Security Administrator Works. 27 Self-Administrating users. 27 The Administrator's password. 28 Forgotten passwords. 28 How User Setup Works. 28 Using McAfee VirusScan. 29 Viewing Activity Logs. 29

Product Guide

Keep your program up-to-date. 30 What Mcafee Internet Security does while your computer is running. 31 Responding to McAfee Internet Security Alert Messages. 31 Using Browser Buddy to manage your web site passwords. 31 Using File Encryption. 33 Security Features. 34 What Gatekeeper Does. 34 What File Guardian Does. 37 What Password Manager Does. 40 Privacy Features. 41 What Cookie Blocker Does. 41 What Identity Protector Does. 43 What Web Trail Cleaner Does. 45
4 McAfee VirusScan Home Edition. 49
Whats new in this release?. 49 What comes with McAfee VirusScan?. 51 Getting Started. 54 The Title bar and Tool bar. 54 Status information. 55 The Task pane. 56 Other McAfee VirusScan features. 57 About VShield Scanner. 58 VShield automatic protection settings. 58 How to Start and Stop VShield Scanner. 59 Using Quarantine. 61 How to managing quarantined files. 61 Safe & Sound. 62 Safe & Sound configuration. 63 Emergency disk creation. 64 Using VirusScan With a Wireless Device. 65 Introduction. 65 How VirusScan protects your wireless device. 65

5 McAfee Firewall. 67

Introduction. 67 Whats new in this release?. 67 How McAfee Firewall works. 68

Removing or modifying your McAfee Internet Security installation
If your computers operating system is.
Windows 2000 Professional Windows XP Home Edition Windows XP Professional Edition
. you must log on to your computer using a profile with administrative rights. Then do the following.
From the Windows Control Panel, start the Add/Remove applet. Select McAfee Internet Security and click:
M Remove to remove McAfee Internet Security from your computer. M Change to modify your McAfee Internet Security installation.
Refer to steps displayed on the McAfee Internet Security Installation Wizard to complete your changes. Restart your computer as directed by setup.
Important information about Windows XP migration
Upgrading your computer's operating system from any version of Windows to Windows XP causes all McAfee products installed before migration to become disabled after migration to Windows XP. You will be made aware of this situation as you make your first attempt to start a McAfee product (after migration) - you will be instructed to reinstall the product. As such, you will need to uninstall all McAfee products and reinstall using your installation CD or the software obtained from McAfee via download.
Getting Started with McAfee Internet Security 5.0
McAfee Internet Security is a simple program to use. In fact, this one chapter covers the main things you need to know about using McAfee Internet Security. You begin with answering a few questions via the Interview so that McAfee Internet Security can effectively use its feature to protect you from Internet threats.
The McAfee Internet Security 5.0 Home page is your central entry point to access and use all of McAfee Internet Securitys tasks, wizards, and components. This screen displays three regions that provide you with dynamic information about current status and navigation links to all tasks.
The Title bar and Tool bar

Title bar

The Home page displays most of your standard Windows elements; that which includes:
The title bar displays the name of the program that is currently running. Close and minimize buttons. McAfee Internet Security 5.0s interface is of fixed length and width. You cannot resize the interface.

Using the McAfee Guardian shortcut menu Even when you arent running the main McAfee Internet Security program, you still have quick access to several features using the McAfee Guardian shortcut menu. Right-click the Guardian icon located in the Windows system tray to display this menu. You can then do any of the following:
Start McAfee Internet Security. Display Browser Buddy, which lets you retrieve your Internet passwords and displays statistics on how many cookies have been allowed or blocked, and how often it has cleared search information. Display Windows help for McAfee Internet Security. Encrypt and decrypt files that File Guardian protects.
Using Browser Buddy to manage your web site passwords
You can depend on McAfee Internet Security to help you easily navigate through the intricacies of the Web. For example, when you connect to Web sites that require a name and password, you can use Browser Buddy to:
Drag your user name or password from Password Manager and drop it on the login form for the Web site. Add new password information for a Web site.
Browser Buddy can also tell you how many cookies have been allowed or rejected by Cookie Blocker and how many times a search information you initiated from one Web site, was blocked by Referer filter and not passed to another Web site. Browser Buddy always remains displayed on top of any programs open on your screen. If Browser Buddy is located in an awkward position, you can close it and reopen it as needed.
To add a new user name and password 1 In Browser Buddy, select Add New Entry from the Password Manager drop-down list. The Enter password to save dialog box displays.
In the Web site text box, enter the Web site address; in the User name text box, type the name by which you identify yourself to this Web site, this may correspond to User Name, Member ID, Member Name, Login ID, or Login Name, and so on. In the Password text box, type the password that confirms your identity. In Password Manager, McAfee Internet Security displays one asterisk for each character in your password. Click OK.

Use this option Going to harmful sites.
If you. want to be warned when the site that you are going to has been known to cause damage, e.g. contains virus-infected files, Trojan horses, prank or destructive ActiveX controls, or other security concerns. (To keep McAfee Internet Securitys list of harmful sites current and effective, use Instant Update monthly.) want to be warned when a program is using your modem to dial out. want to be warned when a program starts up another program. Many newer programs will warn you before doing this, but older programs may not do so. For example, Internet Explorer 4 uses helper programs to display documents.
My modem dials silently. Program tries to launch another program.
Use this option Any credit card number goes out. These programs are always allowed access to the Internet
If you. want to be warned before any number that resembles a credit card number is sent out over the Internet. want to see a list of what programs you have allowed to automatically access the Internet. (A program is added to the list when you click Accept Always in the Internet access alert message.) If you change your mind, you can remove a program from the list. You will be warned the next time that program tries to access the Internet.

What File Guardian Does

File Guardian can protect files that contain your sensitive data from being opened, renamed, copied, moved, or deleted. For added protection, you can even encrypt files protected by File Guardian. McAfee Internet Security can also alert you if a program attempts one of the following potentially harmful activities:

n n n n

A program attempts to reformat your hard drive. An ActiveX control attempts to delete files on your hard drive. An ActiveX control attempts to scan files on your hard drive. A program attempts to access your system password files.
When McAfee Internet Security displays an alert message, you can decide if the program should be allowed to continue the operation or not.
Responding to File Guardian Alert Messages
McAfee Internet Security can display five different File Guardian-related alert messages. If you are using the default setting suggested by the Interview, you will only see: guarded file; ActiveX scan; ActiveX delete; and drive format messages.
Guarded File Alert Message
Using File Guardian, you can set which files to guard on your hard drive and what programs can be used to open the files. If an unauthorized application attempts to access a guarded file, McAfee Internet Security displays an alert message that tells you what application is trying to open which file.

Let the information go out.
Block the information from going out. Display an alert message when any application tries to send the information over the Internet to an unsecure site. This is the response that McAfee Internet Security sets up when you add information to protect in the McAfee Internet Security Interview.
Responding to an Identity Protector Alert Message
During the Interview, McAfee Internet Security asked you to enter your personal and financial information that you want to protect. McAfee Internet Security displays the Identity Protector alert message the first time an application tries to send out this information to an unsecure site. You can respond to the alert message in the following ways:
If you choose. This time only Not this time
Then McAfee Internet Security. Allows the information to go out just this time. Prevents the information from going out this time.
Why should I change my Identity Protector settings? You may want to change your settings under the following circumstances:
If you. Are the only person using your PC and you dont want to be alerted every time.
Then use this option Enter all of the information that you want to prevent from going out and select Allow Always. Create a McAfee Internet Security password. If the McAfee Internet Security password is not entered after you start Windows, an unauthorized user of your PC cant view or send out your personal information.
Have more than one person using your PC.
Enter all of the information that you may want to prevent from going out and select Allow Always or Ask Before Blocking. For information that you always want to prevent from going out, select Block Always. Create a McAfee Internet Security password. If the McAfee Internet Security password is not entered after you start Windows, any information entered in Identity Protector will be blocked from being sent out.
You want to be warned any time this information is being sent out.
Enter all of the information that you may want to prevent from going out and select Ask Before Blocking.

A Note About Passwords

When McAfee Internet Security asks for your password and you enter it, the password stays in effect until one of the following events takes place. For all Windows operating systems:
You log out of McAfee Internet Security. You log out of your computer. You shut down your computer.
Fast User Switching is a Windows XP feature that makes it possible for you to quickly switch between users without having to log off the computer. Multiple users can share a computer and use it simultaneously, switching back and forth without closing the programs they are running. If you are using Windows XP with Fast User Switching enabled, McAfee Internet Security detects a fast user switch and as such, requires each respective user to input their password in order to use password required tasks.

What comes with McAfee VirusScan?
McAfee VirusScan consists of several components that combine one or more related programs, each of which play a part in defending your computer against viruses and other malicious software. These components are:
The VirusScan Home page. This is your central entry point in using all of tasks and components. The Home page provides relevant information such as your computers current Automatic Protection Settings status and version information about your virus definitions. The Home page also informs you if an update to McAfee VirusScan is available for download and the total number of scan operations performed. On-Demand Scanning (ODS). On-demand scanning enables you to scan at any time. For example, if you suspect you have come in contact with an infected file, but have not accessed the file, you may manually scan the suspect file, folder, drive, etc. To perform an on-demand scan, simply select the Scan for viruses now task from the McAfee VirusScan Home page.
The VShield Scanner. This is an On-access Scanning (OAS) component that gives you continuous anti-virus protection from viruses that arrive on floppy disks, from your network, or from various sources on the Internet. The VShield scanner starts when you start your computer, and stays in memory until you shut down. A flexible set of property pages lets you tell the scanner which parts of your system to examine, what to look for, which parts to leave alone, and how to respond to any infected files it finds. In addition, the scanner can alert you when it finds a virus, and can summarize each of its actions. Hostile Activity Watch Kernel. HAWK monitors your computer for suspicious activity that may indicate a virus is present on your system. As opposed to VirusScan, which cleans the virus, HAWK prevents viruses, worms, and trojans from spreading further. HAWK monitors e-mail clients such as Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora, and any other client that supports SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), but does not support Internet-based e-mail such as MSNs Hotmail. HAWK incorporates McAfees Script Stopper to detect, alert, and block malicious script actions to keep your computer safe from script-initiated threats.
Safe & Sound. This component allows you to create backup sets in protected volume files, which is the safest and preferred type of backup. A protected volume file is a sectioned-off area of the drive, sometimes called a logical drive.

Safe & Sound is a VirusScan utility that is only functional when McAfee VirusScan is installed in conjunction with a Windows 98, Windows 98 SE, or Windows Me operating system.
Quarantine. This component allows you to move infected files to a quarantine folder. This moves infected files from areas where they can be accessed and enables you to clean or delete them at your convenience. The E-mail Scan extension. This component allows you to scan your Microsoft Exchange or Outlook mailbox, or public folders to which you have access, directly on the server. This invaluable x-ray peek into your mailbox means that VirusScan software can find potential infections before they make their way to your desktop, which can stop a Melissa-like virus in its tracks. The Emergency Disk creation utility. This essential utility helps you to create a floppy disk that you can use to boot your computer into a virus-free environment, then scan essential system areas to remove any viruses that could load at startup. Bootable CD. The VirusScan Installation CD includes a CD version of the emergency startup disk. If your computer is configured to start using its CD drive, then you can use the CD to boot your computer in to a virus-free environment then scan for viruses that load during startup. McAfee Instant Updater. Enables your computer to automatically communicate with McAfee while you are connected to the internet and inquire of the availability of product updates, updates to anti-virus signature files, and updates to the VirusScan scan engine. You will also use this feature to register your McAfee product. Wireless device protection. In addition to total anti-virus protection for your PC, VirusScan protects your wireless device and PC from harmful viruses transferred during the synchronization process. Command-line Scanners. This component consists of a set of full-featured scanners you can use to run targeted scan operations from the MS-DOS Prompt or Command Prompt windows, or from protected MS-DOS mode. The set includes:
M SCAN.EXE, a scanner for 32-bit environments only. This is the
primary command-line interface. When you run this file, it first checks its environment to see whether it can run by itself. If your computer is running in 16-bit or protected mode, it will transfer control to one of the other scanners.
M SCANPM.EXE, a scanner for 16-bit and 32-bit environments. This
scanner provides you with a full set of scanning options for 16-bit and 32-bit protected-mode DOS environments. It also includes support for extended memory and flexible memory allocations. SCAN.EXE will transfer control to this scanner when its specialized capabilities can enable your scan operation to run more efficiently.
M SCAN86.EXE, a scanner for 16-bit environments only. This scanner
includes a limited set of capabilities geared to 16-bit environments. SCAN.EXE will transfer control to this scanner if your computer is running in 16-bit mode, but without special memory configurations.

The total number of scanning operations performed. The number represented by this status message indicates the total number of scan operations performed since you installed McAfee VirusScan.

The Task pane

The Task pane displays links that allow you to start McAfee VirusScans Tasks and Advanced Tasks. Depending upon your configuration, the Task pane displays McAfee, links that allow you start the Home page for any other current McAfee product that you have installed in your computer.
About Tasks Starting a task is as easy as clicking its link. The Task list allows you to start McAfee VirusScans major components. Although the tasks you can perform will vary based upon your computers operating system and its configuration, primary tasks include:
Scan for viruses now: This task allows you to scan your entire computer for viruses. Here you can also choose to scan a specific drive, folder, or file. When the scan is complete, VirusScan scan Summary Report displays. Configure automatic protection settings: Select this task to configure VShield background scan settings. Check for a VirusScan update: This task starts McAfee Instant Updater and checks to see if there is an update to McAfee VirusScan available. Other Tasks: Depending upon your McAfee VirusScan configuration, this task provides you a quick and convenient method to start McAfee VirusScans shared features.
About Advanced Tasks Similar to the primary Task list, the Advanced task list may vary depending upon your version of Windows, its configuration, and other software that may be installed in your computer. McAfee VirusScan s advanced tasks include:
Configure and scan my wireless device: Select this task to configure and defend your wireless device against viruses. Manage quarantined files: Select this task to manage files infected with a virus. Here you can choose to add, remove, clean, and delete infected and quarantined files. View and edit scheduled scans: This advanced task allows you to schedule scan events. You can use the default settings for scan events or create a custom list of scan events. View VirusScans activity logs: Activity logs contains records about VirusScan settings, scan results, and historical records of scans performed. Select this task to view these records.
Configure Instant Updater: Instant Updater is the mechanism used to register your product and to communicate with McAfee to check for an update to virus definition files (DATs), the virus scanning engine, and for updates to the McAfee VirusScan product. Select this advanced task to check for updates to McAfee VirusScan.
About the McAfee list The McAfee list displays links to start the Home page to any other supported McAfee product.
Other McAfee VirusScan features
The VShield Tray Icon The VShield icon located in the Windows system tray allows you to perform several tasks.
Launch VirusScan: Select this option to Start McAfee VirusScan, if it is not running. View VirusScan Status: Select this option to view the VirusScan background scanner (VShield) property sheet. Here you can view real-time status information about VirusScans background scan modules. Disable VirusScan: Select this option to stop VirusScans background scanner (VShield). About VirusScan: This option provides you with version information about McAfee VirusScan.

McAfee Firewall status

This region of the Home page displays the current running state of McAfee Firewall. It is either running or not running.
If the McAfee Firewall status message is. McAfee Firewall is Running McAfee Firewall is Stopped Then.
Click Stop McAfee Firewall to disable firewall protection. Click Start McAfee Firewall to enable firewall protection.

Network Traffic monitor

The Network Traffic monitor displays a graphic representation of real-time network activity. The monitor is color-coded to help you identify normal network traffic, port scans, and worst of all, attacks.
Green zone: Activity displayed in this zone is normal network activity. It is not uncommon to see activity in this zone reaching the yellow area. Yellow zone: This is the caution zone. You can view the Activity Log to analyze data for this traffic. Activity in the yellow zone could represent a port scan. Red zone: Red represents the worst level of network activity and usually represents an attack. You can view the details of the attack by accessing McAfee Firewall Activity Log. If the attackers IP address is available, you can attempt to trace the attacker using McAfee Firewalls Visual Trace component.
The Task pane displays links that allow you to start McAfee Firewalls Tasks and Advanced Tasks. Depending upon your configuration, the Task pane displays a McAfee list, links that allow you start the Home page for any other current McAfee product installed in your computer.
About Tasks Starting a task is as easy as clicking its link. The Task list allows you to start McAfee Firewalls major components. Although the tasks you can perform will vary based upon your computers operating system and its configuration, primary tasks include:
Control Internet programs: This task allows you to explicitly block or allow specific programs to access the Internet.
View network activity: Select this task to view real-time network activity and view your current activity log. Set alert preferences: Choose how you want McAfee Firewall to notify you when a potential security breach occurs. Set up Home Networking: Helps make setting up protections for your PCs sharing an Internet connection a breeze. Perform a security check: This task allows you to start the McAfee Firewall Security Check process. Set startup options: Choose how you want McAfee Firewall to start. Configuration Assistant: This task starts the Configuration Assistant.

Oshare

Ping Flood

Ping of Death

Port Scanning

Saihyousen Smurf

SynDrop Syn Flood

Teardrop

UDP Flood
A remote denial of service attack designed to flood the target machine with more data than it can process, thereby preventing legitimate connections from being established. Machine is inaccessible via TCP/IP. Occurs when machine is put to sleep and then awakened. Make sure that Load Only When Needed is not checked in the TCP/IP control panel. Then TCP/IP is loaded all the time, allowing McAfee Firewall to function while the machine is asleep.

Winnuke

This attack is a Denial of Service (DoS) attack that completely disables networking on many Win95 and WinNT machines. Although Winnuke will not necessarily damage your computer, you may lose any unsaved data at the time of the attack. Restarting your computer should restore full operation.
McAfee Internet Securitys Shared Features

QuickClean Lite

Clean your computer with QuickClean Lite
QuickClean Lite enables you to clean your computer of unnecessary files and free valuable hard disk space. You can use the QuickClean Lite wizard to perform any of the following cleaning tasks:
Clean your Recycle Bin. Remove files that accumulate as you browse the Internet. Files of this type are stored in folders called Temporary Internet or Cache folders. Remove Shortcuts without an associated program, application, hypertext link, etc. Delete lost file fragments. Delete Windows Registry information, shortcuts, and system file references for applications that no longer exist on your computer. Delete temporary files. Remove deleted and sent messages from a Microsoft supported e-mail client (i.e.: Outlook, Outlook Express). Delete Most Recently Used shortcuts. Use McAfee Shredder to securely shred the items you want to remove from your computer.
How QuickClean Lite works
First, you select the types of files you wish to remove from your computer. A wizard guides you through this process. Next, the QuickClean Lite wizard scans the contents of your hard disk and identifies all files meeting your pre-selected criteria. The user proceeds with the cleaning task if they are satisfied with the results of the scan. Finally, QuickClean Lite provides a graphic representation of the amount of reclaimed space after deleting the files.
Deleted files are not backed up. You cannot restore files deleted by QuickClean Lite.

How to start QuickClean Lite
There are two methods you can use to start the QuickClean Lite wizard.
From any VirusScan Professional screen click the Other tasks Task, and select Start QuickClean Lite. From the Windows task bar click the Start button, point to Programs > McAfee > McAfee Shared Features and click QuickClean Lite.

If you need help.

For additional information about using QuickClean Lite refer to online Help. You can access online Help for QuickClean Lite by clicking Help on any QuickClean Lite window.

McAfee Shredder

Securely delete files using McAfee Shredder
When you save a file in Windows, it is stored in multiple pieces (in clusters made up of multiple sectors) on the disk. Windows also saves a road map, or index, that points to these clusters in two copies of the FAT (File Allocation Table). The FAT contains the directions to all the pieces of your files, so that applications can find them again later. In addition to FAT file systems, McAfee Shredder supports New Technology Filing System (NTFS). NTFS is the file system used by Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows XP. When you delete a file, all the information stored in that file is not actually erased from your disk. Instead, Windows simply frees the clusters where the file was stored, making those locations available in the FAT. Thereafter, applications can write new information to those clusters. This means that all or part of your files can be reconstructed even after you delete them. Undelete programs can reconstruct a deleted file very easily, especially immediately after you delete the file and before you save any new information that might be written over the deleted files contents. For privacy and security reasons, you may want to be positive that the information stored in files you delete is permanently erased from your computer. McAfee Shredder does this for you by security wiping deleted files so they cannot be restored or rebuilt using undelete utilities. Unlike other file security erase programs, McAfee Shredder erases even the filename and the compressed data on DriveSpace drives. Note that it is not possible to shred network files, or files compressed with compression other than DriveSpace in an absolutely secure manner.

You can select McAfee Shredder properties to specify the shredding level to perform. You can select: Quick to shred the information once; U.S. Government Multipass to make seven passes of repeatedly erasing the data; or Custom to indicate how many passes to make which allows up to 99 passes.

Shredder is easy to use!

You can shred files using drag and drop, which is a fast way if all the files are centrally located. If the files are in several places, you can shred them by starting McAfee Shredder and selecting the files to erase. A wizard guides you through the process.
McAfee Shredder allows you to shred files on your PCs Recycle Bin, Temporary Internet, as well as Web site history folder. You can also specify the number of shredding passes (1-99) and can now have the option to shred an entire drive.
If your computer is running on Windows Me, some files even if shred, may be retained on your PC since these are protected by the Windows Me System Restore. Refer to the online Help file to display step-by-step instructions on how to shred selected files and non-file data.
After you shred non-file data, you will not be able to undelete any deleted files that utilized this information.
Updating McAfee Internet Security

About Instant Updater

As technologies advance, we continually provide updates to McAfee software products. To ensure the highest level of protection, you should always obtain the latest version of your McAfee product. Updating your software is simple using McAfee's Instant Updater. It is a seamless process and requires minimal interaction on your part. Instant Updater is also the mechanism used to register your product with McAfee. In order to obtain product updates, you must register your product with McAfee.
Why Do You Need to Update?
New features may be released for your McAfee product. Product fixes are periodically available. New product content is updated periodically. Updates to anti-virus signature files are frequently available.

Certificates are Microsoft technologies designed to guarantee a persons identity and Web site security. Personal certificates verify that you are who you claim to be. Web site certificates verify that a Web site is secure and what it claims to be (so Web sites cant falsify their identity). When you open a Web site that has a certificate, Internet Explorer checks if the certificate is correct. If the certificate is not OK, Internet Explorer warns you. Certificates are great, in theory. The problem is that they only establish a security standardWeb sites are free to choose to use certificates, or not. How does encryption work? The only way to keep a secret is if you do not tell anyone, and if you do not jot it down. If you need to share the secret, you can hide it within another message, and let the intended recipient know how to find it. Computer encryption hides messages by making the original data unintelligible. The intent is to garble the data so that it can not be read. In this case, the data it self is useless if access by an unintended recipient. The simplest encryption systems use letter shifting, in which a message is encrypted by shifting every letter n letters later in the alphabet. For example, say A is changed to B, and B to C, etc. As long as the recipient knows how you shifted the letters, they can easily decrypt the message by reversing the process. Of course, a brute force approach to breaking this sort of encryption would simply try all possible 26-letter combinations until the final message was retrievednot a very strong method of encryption. Computer encryption uses a much more difficult technique of hiding the message. Rather than a simple letter-shifting scheme, the original message is transformed by a mathematical algorithm. The algorithm uses a secret key to scramble the message, and the key is necessary to unscramble it. The key is similar to a house key: The more teeth a key has, the more difficult it is to pick the lock. Similarly, strong encryption uses keys with many teethin this case, bits of data. There are two commonly used levels of encryption. The international standard is 40-bit encryption, but some sites in the United States use a higher level of 128-bit encryption. The number of bits indicates the length of the key used to encrypt data. The longer the key, the stronger and more secure the encryption. On the Web, your browser works with secure Web sites to establish and manage the encryption that secures information. If your browser security options include the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), which ensures data transmission privacy, you should turn on this option to facilitate secure data transmission.