Monday, February 18, 2008

McAfee Privacy Service

McAfee Privacy Service

Privacy Service offers advanced protection for you, your family, your personal files, and your computer. It helps you to guard against online identity theft, block the transmission of personal information, and filter potentially offensive online content (including images). It also offers advanced Parental Controls that allow adults to monitor, control, and log some unauthorized Web browsing habits, as well as a secure storage area for personal passwords.

Before you begin using Privacy Service, you can familiarize yourself with some of the most popular features. Details about configuring and using these features are provided throughout the Privacy Service help.

Note: SecurityCenter reports critical and non-critical protection problems as soon as it detects them. If you need help diagnosing your protection problems, you can run McAfee Virtual Technician.

In this chapter


Privacy Service features

Privacy Service provides the following features:

  • Parental Controls
  • Personal Information Protection
  • Password Vault

Parental Controls

Parental Controls lets you filter potentially inappropriate images, configure content rating groups (age groups used to restrict the Web sites and content that a user can view), and set Web browsing time limits (the period and duration of time that a user can access the Web) for SecurityCenter users. Parental Controls also lets you universally restrict access to specific Web sites, and grant or block access based on associated keywords.

Personal Information Protection

Personal Information Protection lets you block the transmission of sensitive or confidential information (for example, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, addresses, and so on) across the Web.

Password Vault

The Password Vault is a secure storage area for your personal passwords. It allows you to store your passwords with confidence so that no other user (not even an Administrator) can access them.

Setting up Parental Controls

If your children use your computer, you can configure Parental Controls for them. You use Parental Controls to help regulate what your children can see and do while they browse the Web. To set up Parental Controls, you can enable or disable image filtering, choose a content rating group, and set Web browsing time limits. Image filtering blocks potentially inappropriate images from displaying when a child browses the Web; the content rating group determines the kind of content and Web sites that are accessible to a child, based on the child's age group; and Web browsing time limits define the days and times a child can access the Web. Parental Controls also lets you filter (block or allow) certain Web sites for all children.

Note: You must be an Administrator to set up Parental Controls.

In this chapter


Configuring users

To configure Parental Controls, you assign permissions to SecurityCenter users. By default, SecurityCenter users correspond to the Windows users that you have set up on your computer. However, if you upgraded from a previous version of SecurityCenter that used McAfee users, your McAfee users and their permissions are retained.

Note: To configure users, you must log in to SecurityCenter as an administrator.

In this section


Working with Windows users

To configure Parental Controls, you must assign permissions to users which determine what each user can see and do on the Internet. By default, SecurityCenter users correspond to the Windows users that you have set up on your computer. You add a user, edit a user's account information, or remove a user under Computer Management in Windows. You can then set up Parental Controls for those users in SecurityCenter.

If you upgraded from a previous version of SecurityCenter that used McAfee users, see Working with McAfee users.

Working with McAfee users

If you upgraded from a previous version of SecurityCenter that used McAfee users, your McAfee users and their permissions are automatically retained. You can continue to configure and manage McAfee users; however, for easier maintenance, McAfee recommends that you switch to Windows users. Once you switch to Windows users, you can never switch back to McAfee users.

If you continue using McAfee users, you can add, edit, or remove users and change or retrieve the McAfee administrator's password.

In this section


Switch to Windows users

For easy maintenance, McAfee recommends that you switch to Windows users. Once you switch to Windows users, you can never switch back to McAfee users.

  1. Open the Users Settings pane.

    How?

  2. On the Users Settings pane, click Switch.
  3. Confirm the operation.

Add a McAfee user

After creating a McAfee user, you can configure Parental Controls for the user. For more information, see the Privacy Service help.

  1. Log in to SecurityCenter as the Administrator user.
  2. Open the Users Settings pane.

    How?

  3. On the Users Settings pane, click Add.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up a user name, password, account type, and parental controls.
  5. Click Create.

Edit a McAfee user's account information

You can change a McAfee user's password, account type, or automatic login ability.

  1. Log in to SecurityCenter as the Administrator user.
  2. Open the Users Settings pane.

    How?

  3. On the Users Settings pane, click a user name, and then click Edit.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to edit the user's password, account type, or parental controls.
  5. Click OK.

Remove a McAfee user

You can remove a McAfee user at any time.

To remove a McAfee user:

  1. Log in to SecurityCenter as the Administrator user.
  2. Open the Users Settings pane.

    How?

  3. On the Users Settings pane, under McAfee User Accounts, select a user name, and then click Remove.

Change the McAfee administrator's password

If you have trouble remembering the McAfee administrator password or suspect that it is compromised, you can change it.

  1. Log in to SecurityCenter as the Administrator user.
  2. Open the Users Settings pane.

    How?

  3. On the Users Settings pane, under McAfee User Accounts, select Administrator, and then click Edit.
  4. In the Edit User Account dialog box, type a new password in the New Password box, and then retype it in the Re-enter Password box.
  5. Click OK.

Retrieve the McAfee administrator's password

If you forget the Administrator password, you can retrieve it.

  1. Right-click the SecurityCenter icon "M", and then click Switch User.
  2. In the User Name list, click Administrator, and then click Forgot Password?.
  3. Type the answer to your secret question in the Answer box.
  4. Click Submit.

Filtering potentially inappropriate Web images

Depending on a user's age or maturity level, you can filter (block or allow) potentially inappropriate images when the user browses the Web. For example, you can block potentially inappropriate images from appearing when your young children browse the Web, but allow them to appear for the older teenagers and adults in your home. By default, image filtering is disabled for all members of the Adult group, which means that potentially inappropriate images are visible when those users browse the Web. For more information about setting a user's age group, see Setting the content rating group.

In this section


Filter potentially inappropriate Web images

By default, new users are added to the Adult group and image filtering is disabled. If you want to block potentially inappropriate images from appearing when a particular user browses the Web, you can enable image filtering. Each potentially inappropriate Web image is automatically replaced with a static McAfee image.

  1. Open the Users Settings pane.

    How?

  2. On the Users Settings pane, click a user name, and then click Edit.
  3. In the Edit User Account window, under Image Filtering, click On.
  4. Click OK.

Setting the content rating group

A user can belong to one of the following content rating groups:

  • Young child
  • Child
  • Younger teen
  • Older teen
  • Adult

Privacy Service rates (blocks or allows) Web content based on the group to which a user belongs. This lets you block or allow certain Web sites for certain users in your home. For example, you might block a Web site for users who belong to the Young child group but allow it for users who belong to the Younger teen group. If you want to rate content for a user more strictly, you can allow the user to view only those Web sites that are allowed in the Filtered Web Sites list. For more information, see Filtering Web sites.

By default, a new user is added to the Adult group, which allows the user to access all Web content.

In this section


Set a user's content rating group

By default, a new user is added to the Adult group, which allows the user to access all Web content. You can then adjust the user's content rating group according to the individual's age and maturity level.

  1. Open the Users Settings pane.

    How?

  2. On the Users Settings pane, click a user name, and then click Edit.
  3. In the Edit User Account window, under Content Rating, click the age group you want to assign to the user.

    To prevent the user from browsing any Web sites that are blocked in the Filtered Web Sites list, select the This user can only access sites in the Filtered Web Sites list check box.

  4. Click OK.

Setting Web browsing time limits

If you are concerned about irresponsible or excessive Internet use, you can set appropriate time limits on your children's Web browsing. When you restrict Web browsing to specific times for your children, you can trust that SecurityCenter will enforce those restrictions�even when you're away from home.

By default, a child is allowed to browse the Web during all hours of the day and night, seven days a week; however, you can limit Web browsing to specific times or days or prohibit Web browsing entirely. If a child tries to browse the Web during a prohibited period, McAfee notifies the child that they cannot do so. If you prohibit Web browsing entirely, the child can log in to and use the computer, including other Internet programs such as e-mail, instant messengers, ftp, games and so on, but cannot browse the Web.

In this section


Set Web browsing time limits

You can use the Web browsing time limits grid to restrict a child's Web browsing to specific days and times.

  1. Open the Users Settings pane.

    How?

  2. On the Users Settings pane, click a user name, and then click Edit.
  3. In the Edit User Account window, under Internet Time Limits, drag your mouse to specify the days and times that this user cannot browse the Web.
  4. Click OK.

Filtering Web sites

You can filter (block or allow) Web sites for all users except those that belong to the Adult group. You block a Web site to prevent your children from accessing it when they browse the Web. If a child tries to access a blocked Web site, a message indicates that the site cannot be accessed because it is blocked by McAfee.

You allow a Web site if McAfee has blocked it by default but you want to let your children access it. For more information about Web sites that McAfee blocks by default, see Filtering Web sites using keywords. You can also update or remove a filtered Web site at any time.

Note: Users (including Administrators) that belong to the Adult group can access all Web sites, even those that have been blocked. To test blocked Web sites, you must log in as a non-Adult user.

In this section


Block a Web site

You block a Web site to prevent your children from accessing it when they browse the Web. If a child tries to access a blocked Web site, a message appears indicating that the site cannot be accessed because it is blocked by McAfee.

  1. Open the Parental Controls pane.

    How?

  2. On the Parental Controls pane, click Filtered Web Sites.
  3. On the Filtered Web Sites pane, type a Web site's address in the http:// box, and then click Block.
  4. Click OK.

Tip: You can block a previously allowed Web site by clicking the Web site address in the Filtered Web Sites list, and then clicking Block.


Allow a Web site

You allow a Web site to make sure that it is not blocked for any users. If you allow a Web site that McAfee has blocked by default, you override the default setting.

  1. Open the Parental Controls pane.

    How?

  2. On the Parental Controls pane, click Filtered Web Sites.
  3. On the Filtered Web Sites pane, type a Web site's address in the http:// box, and then click Allow.
  4. Click OK.

Tip: You can allow a previously blocked Web site by clicking the Web site address in the Filtered Web Sites list, and then clicking Allow.


Update a filtered Web site

If a Web site's address changes or you enter it incorrectly when blocking or allowing it, you can update it.

  1. Open the Parental Controls pane.

    How?

  2. On the Parental Controls pane, click Filtered Web Sites.
  3. On the Filtered Web Sites pane, click an entry in the Filtered Web Sites list, modify the Web site's address in the http:// box, and then click Update.
  4. Click OK.

Remove a filtered Web site

You can remove a filtered Web site if you no longer want to block or allow it.

  1. Open the Parental Controls pane.

    How?

  2. On the Parental Controls pane, click Filtered Web Sites.
  3. On the Filtered Web Sites pane, click an entry in the Filtered Web Sites list, and then click Remove.
  4. Click OK.

Filtering Web sites using keywords

Keyword filtering lets you block non-Adult users from visiting Web sites that contain potentially inappropriate words. When keyword filtering is enabled, a default list of keywords and corresponding rules is used to rate content for users according to their content rating group. Users must belong to a certain group to access Web sites that contain specific keywords. For example, only members of the Adult group can visit Web sites containing the word porn, and only members of the Child group (and older) can visit Web sites containing the word drugs.

You can also add your own keywords to the default list and associate these with certain content rating groups. Keyword rules that you add override a rule that might already be associated with a matching keyword in the default list.

In this section


Disable keyword filtering

By default, keyword filtering is enabled, which means that a default list of keywords and corresponding rules is used to rate content for users according to their content rating group. Although McAfee does not recommend doing so, you can disable keyword filtering at any time.

  1. Open the Parental Controls pane.

    How?

  2. On the Parental Controls pane, click Keywords.
  3. On the Keywords pane, click Off.
  4. Click OK.

Block Web sites based on keywords

If you want to block Web sites due to inappropriate content but do not know the specific site addresses, you can block the sites based on their keywords. Simply enter a keyword, and then determine which content rating groups can view Web sites that contain that keyword.

  1. Open the Parental Controls pane.

    How?

  2. On the Parental Controls pane, click Keywords and ensure that keyword filtering is enabled.
  3. Under Keyword List, type a keyword in the Look for box.
  4. Move the Minimum Age slider to specify a minimum age group.
    Users in this age group and older can visit Web sites that contain the keyword.
  5. Click OK.

Protecting information on the Web

You can protect your private information and files when browsing the Web by blocking information. For example, you can prevent your personal information (such as name, address, credit card numbers, and bank account numbers) from being transmitted over the Web by adding it to the blocked information area.

Note: Privacy Service does not block the transmission of personal information by secure Web sites (that is, Web sites that use the https:// protocol), such as banking sites.

In this chapter


Protecting personal information

Prevent your personal information (such as name, address, credit card numbers, and bank account numbers) from being transmitted over the Web by blocking it. If McAfee detects personal information contained in something (for example, a form field or file) about to be sent across the Web, the following occurs:

  • If you are an Administrator, you must confirm whether to send the information.
  • If you are not an Administrator, the blocked portion is replaced with asterisks (*). For example, if a malicious Web site tries to send your credit card number to another computer, the number itself is replaced with asterisks.

In this section


Protect personal information

You can block the following types of personal information: name, address, zip code, social security information, phone number, credit card numbers, bank accounts, brokerage accounts, and phone cards. If you want to block personal information of a different type, you can set the type to other.

  1. Open the Protected Information pane.

    How?

  2. On the Protected Information pane, click Add.
  3. Select the type of information you want to block in the list.
  4. Enter your personal information, and then click OK.

Protecting passwords

The Password Vault is a secure storage area for your personal passwords. It allows you to store your passwords with confidence so that no other user (even an Administrator) can access them.

In this chapter

Setting up the Password Vault

Before you start using the Password Vault, you must set up a Password Vault password. Only users who know this password can access your Password Vault. If you forget your Password Vault password, you can reset it; however, all of the passwords that were previously stored in your Password Vault are then deleted.

After you set up a Password Vault password, you can add, edit, or remove passwords from your vault. You can also change your Password Vault password at any time.

In this section


Add a password

If you have trouble remembering your passwords, you can add them to the Password Vault. The Password Vault is a secure location that can only be accessed by users who know your Password Vault password.

  1. Open the Password Vault pane.

    How?

  2. Type your Password Vault password in the Password box, and then retype it in the Re-enter Password box.
  3. Click Open.
  4. On the Manage Password Vault pane, click Add.
  5. Type a description of the password (for example, what it is for) in the Description box, and then type the password in the Password box.
  6. Click OK.

Modify a password

To ensure that the entries in your Password Vault are always accurate and reliable, you must update them when the passwords change.

  1. Open the Password Vault pane.

    How?

  2. Type your Password Vault password in the Password box.
  3. Click Open.
  4. On the Manage Password Vault pane, click a password entry, and then click Edit.
  5. Modify the description of the password (for example, what it is for) in the Description box, or modify the password in the Password box.
  6. Click OK.

Remove a password

You can remove a password from the Password Vault at any time. There is no way to recover a password that you remove from the vault.

  1. Open the Password Vault pane.

    How?

  2. Type your Password Vault password in the Password box.
  3. Click Open.
  4. On the Manage Password Vault pane, click a password entry, and then click Remove.
  5. In the Removal Confirmation dialog box, click Yes.

Change your Password Vault password

You can change your Password Vault password at any time.

  1. Open the Password Vault pane.

    How?

  2. On the Password Vault pane, type your current password in the Password box, and then click Open.
  3. On the Manage Password Vault pane, click Change Password.
  4. Type a new password in the Choose Password box, and then retype it in the Re-enter Password box.
  5. Click OK.
  6. In the Password Vault Password Changed dialog box, click OK.

Reset your Password Vault password

If you forget your Password Vault password, you can reset it; however, all the passwords you have previously entered are then deleted.

  1. Open the Password Vault pane.

    How?

  2. Under Reset Password Vault, type a new password in the Password box, and then retype it in the Re-enter Password box.
  3. Click Reset.
  4. In the Reset Password Confirmation dialog box, click Yes.




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