McAfee.com, Sunnyvale, CA, last week launched its Internet Privacy Service, which it claims can filter content and block ads and cookies on the Web.
“This product is really part of a larger security solution,” said Sam Curry, security architect at McAfee.com. “We recommend having anti-virus to protect against bad code, a firewall to protect against hackers, and a privacy service to deal with bad content.”
At a yearly subscription rate of $29.95, consumers can download the service to their computers and create detailed user profiles for each user within their households.
Through parameters set up in each user profile, the service then filters content either by specific URL or keyword, Curry said.
Although keyword filters are set up to protect children from inappropriate content, Curry warned they also block sites that may not be questionable based on keywords, such as an anti-drug site mentioning marijuana.
Parents can use the service to restrict what their children view on the Web and can even impose time limits on their children's surfing.
The blockage of banner and pop-up advertisements and cookies also is available through the service. Users can block cookies or select which Web sites they will accept cookies from when they set up their profiles, he added.
In addition to the Internet Privacy Service, McAfee.com offers a number of other Web security and maintenance products.
