Product Reviews

The ability to run Windows on Intel-based Macs is a boon for long-time Mac users and switchers alike. The drawback is that running two operating systems leaves your computer more vulnerable to attack.

Intego's Security Barrier Dual Protection is the first suite we've seen that offers protection from spyware, viruses and spam for both Mac and Windows.

The Mac programs in the suite comprise Personal Antispam X4, a polished email spam prevention tool, NetBarrier X4, which blocks intrusion attempts, and an antivirus program, VirusBarrier X4.

Antispam works with Apple's Mail and Microsoft Entourage, overriding their built-in junk mail settings and using its own plug-ins to filter incoming email. It uses a clutch of techniques, from standard lexical filtering - which judges whether an email is likely to be spam according to its content - to scanning attachments for particular file extensions. It also builds domain-based whitelists and blacklists and can block emails based on URLs hidden inside messages.

It sounds impressive, but we were disappointed when Antispam initially proved only slightly more effective than Mail's own junk filtering, failing to identify nearly a third of incoming spam. If you spend half an hour training Antispam by highlighting good and bad emails in your inbox, though, the results are worthwhile.

You can view the effectiveness of filters in Antispam's application window, where you can also refine its settings to improve performance. Usefully, the spam database can be exported, so you can share it with colleagues or transfer it to your new Mac when you upgrade.

VirusBarrier X4 has been around for a while, but it's comprehensive and is regularly updated with virus definitions - a year's subscription to updates is included with the purchase. Initially it took a couple of hours to scan our test MacBook Pro, but

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after that its performance was speedy, as it checks only modified files. It's unobtrusive, too, as it can run in the background. We didn't feel any impact on performance.

Like Antispam, NetBarrier X4 provides discrete techniques to prevent unwanted connections to your Mac. A first-run wizard prompts you to choose between three common settings, but they are either too permissive or too restrictive for normal use. You can customise your own settings in the program's cluttered overview window, which also analyses network traffic. The main window also lets you tweak an anti-vandal feature, which detects intrusion attempts and adds offenders to a stop list to block future connections. Conversely you can build a trusted group, allowing unfettered access from known IP addresses.

For all its power, NetBarrier's single drawback is its intimidating interface, which clashes with the simplicity of Antispam and VirusBarrier. Its saving grace is that you can manage all the applications through a single Finder menu option, whether you're changing firewall modes, toggling spam filters or altering virus scanning schedules.

Equally handy is NetUpdate, which is available from the same menu. This handles program updates, new virus definitions and subscriptions for all the Intego applications, and lets you schedule installations or perform them in the background.

BitDefender Internet Security 2008, the suite's Windows-based component, is an independent application and can't be managed from the Mac side. But its antivirus, spam and spyware features are easily configured in Windows from a single window, which is helpful for those not familiar with that operating system. Mac users will also appreciate the way you can use a basic slider control to set the protection level for each component.

The antivirus feature is impressive. Like VirusBarrier it can run at set intervals, but it also lets you set scheduled tasks, with customisable protection levels. Another handy touch is a tiny 'File Zone' window on the desktop that shows the number of recently scanned files. You can drag files and folders on to this for instant scanning. The firewall can also be finely tuned - even restricting Internet access to specific browsers and mail clients.

Intego's Dual Protection suite is a collection of related tools, rather than seamless cross-platform protection. But as a bundle, it covers you well against online threats and is excellent value for money.