macnn

02/09/2008, 12:05pm, EST

Saturday, February 9th

First Look: Internet Cleanup 5.0

The biggest danger to your computer is security; if you don’t protect your computer from malicious software or users, someone could steal important files and invade your privacy. To protect your privacy on your Macintosh, Smith Micro Software offers Internet Cleanup 5.0, which guards your personal data stored on your computer in three ways.



First, the program can scan and remove cookies, history files, Web cache files, and auto-fill data that your browser stores. Removing this information can keep an intruder from seeing which web sites you’ve visited and what you might have typed.

If you regularly use different browsers, Internet Cleanup offers a handy feature that synchronizes your bookmarks. Now you can keep your bookmarks identical and up to date whether you use Safari or FireFox.



A second way that Internet Cleanup can protect your privacy is by flushing out any instant messaging log files so no one can see who you chatted with, what you might have written, and what the other person might have replied. To further protect your communications with others, the program can also wipe out any file attachments that you may have received by email. Unless you delete these file attachments manually, anyone with access to your email program can see what files you may have sent or received.

To protect individual files, Internet Cleanup can hide files and folders from view. Anyone trying to peek at your files must use a password. To protect any files you may delete, the program offers a secure file shredder, which can overwrite a deleted file several times with random data, making it nearly impossible for any file recovery program to retrieve your deleted data.

Intruders can often copy data off any computer using a USB flash drive. To stop this threat, Internet Cleanup offers a device sentry, which prevents your Macintosh from recognizing any external storage devices such as iPods, USB flash drivers, or external hard disks.

To prevent web page ads from interfering with your browsing, Internet Cleanup can block pop-up ads, cookies, and Flash content within your browser. A network spyalert feature lets you define which programs may access the Internet. If a non-approved program tries to access the Internet (such as a spyware or Trojan Horse program), this network spyalert feature warns you so you can block the rogue program’s action, identify the program, and possibly remove it. In the event that someone has installed a keystroke logger to monitor your activity, Internet Cleanup can also scan and remove any such programs.



If your privacy is important, let Internet Cleanup 5.0 protect your Macintosh. For $29.99, Internet Cleanup can be a small price to pay for peace of mind.


Filed under:
security, troubleshooting, software
Other story tags: First Look, internet, privacy

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NO THANKS
0
02/10, 1:35am, EST
Smith Micro is a horrible company

Once upon a time, there was a very nice fax software solution, called FaxSTF... until Smith Micro decimated it with their shoddy development and sleazy business practices.

Stay away from Smith Micro!
I agree
0
02/10, 2:06am, EST
Smith Micro is a lousy company.

And as for MacWorld... This "article" reads as if it's a press release.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Aug 2001
User is offline
Aye...
0
02/10, 9:27am, EST
Not the first look, but the last press release.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined May 2004
User is offline
Smith Micro sucks!
0
02/10, 11:17am, EST
They are almost like retards, almost no updates, no bug fixes, same product for almost 4 years!

Life sucks, like Smith Micro!
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Mar 2001
User is offline
pointless
0
02/11, 9:59am, EST
Most of this is easily done already without an additional app doing it for me. Both Safari & Firefox have lots of security built in to do many of these things & Locking your screen while away from your computer will easily deter people from just copying files off it.

What's the point of this application & why is it big news?
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Jun 2006
User is offline
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