McAfee Antivirus Review

Today internet threats are higher than ever. International hackers are now stealing Bitcoins with untraceable apps while embedding viruses on devices. Windows 10 and the latest Mac OS have improved their security measures, but more is needed. McAfee is one of the most recognized antiviruses today—and you will soon why.

The company was born in 1987 and has always been reputable. They are currently a branch of Intel since 2010 when Intel bought the company. Since 2014, McAfee is one of the five major antivirus manufacturers with 5.7% of users worldwide.

Is McAfee Good?

Yes, McAfee is good!

McAfee is one of the most respected companies when it comes to internet security and antiviruses. This antivirus will protect your computer and devices from threats, give you 24/7 support, and even give you the advanced encryption options which makes this antivirus competitive.

With affordable prices and a 30-day money back guarantee, McAfee is a great option for protecting your devices.

McAfee Antivirus Review

Let’s look at the details of this company. Once you know the details, you can decide if McAfee is right for you.

  • Offers full featured protection
  • Anti-spam and Anti-Phishing
  • Intuitive and easy to use
  • Reliability is above average
  • Compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android
  • Personal firewall
  • Parental control
  • Game mode
  • Device Tune-up
  • 24/7 customer support
  • 30-day money back guarantee

Reliability

The biggest concern with any antivirus is reliability and security. The independent third-party companies are objective, and they work hard to test various antiviruses for their effectiveness. McAfee’s lab test results don’t disappoint.

AV-Comparatives is the most reputable virus testing company, and McAfee performed flawlessly in the traditional virus detection tests.

In real-time scanning, McAfee fell behind a bit, with average results. The performance is still good, though and better than many of the competitors.

It is important to note that McAfee has been inconsistent in some areas. For example, last August, they ranked number 5 with 100% virus detection. A month later, they fell to #14. AV-Comparatives publishes summary reports that include 5 independent tests so readers can get an accurate picture of the performance.

In the AV-Test, McAfee did great—they blocked 100% of threats.

Performance

Overall performance is important when looking at an antivirus. Users of McAfee report that there is not a significant drop in performance while using the software. While there can be as many as 20 background processes working, they don’t seem to slow down the device.

They use up to 200 Mb of RAM, which is not bad. There is hardly any drop in performance with this antivirus.

Malware Protection

McAfee earned 15 out of the 18 points in the AV-Test tryouts in 2016, making it the top antivirus in 2016.

The next year it earned a perfect score of 18. We have the upmost confidence that this software protects its users well.

Ransomware Protection

Ransomware is devastating to a computer or device. It is an app or program that infests in your device and encrypts any documents and images it can. McAfee successfully detects and eliminates most ransomware threats.

Phishing Protection

Phishing is when hackers send emails pretending to be reputable companies in order to gain personal information such as passwords from users. According to statistics, 50% of antivirus engines fail to protect the device from phishing. McAfee has a 100% phishing protection score which is very impressive.

Ease of Use

Users rave about how easy McAfee is to use. The main window gives users all the information they need and keeps them updated on the status of their computer or device.

The intuitive interface is user-friendly and includes parental control, anti-spam settings, a firewall, and quick and easy navigation.

To install any McAfee product, you will go online and activate the license key you get after paying for a package. If you click “Yes” for automatic renewal, you will get the company’s Virus Protection Pledge which means that if any antiviruses go undetected, McAfee will investigate and remove the viruses promptly. If they cannot remove the virus, you will get your money back.

The installation takes around 20 minutes or more, but once it’s installed, you are good to go. Users say that there is no strain on the CPU or RAM, meaning you can keep the software working in the background all the time, and it should not slow your computer or device down.

Scanning

The one thing we don’t like about McAfee is that the scanning button isn’t available with one click. Instead, you will use the “Scan for Viruses” button and then choose between a Full or Quick Scan. Unfortunately, custom scans are not available.

The first scan will take around 30 minutes, but scans after that will take less time. This antivirus ranks average in scanning speed. But the best thing is that it has an excellent virus detection rate!

Packages and Pricing

McAfee only offers two packages—McAfee Total Protection and McAfee LifeSafe. There are also free versions of the antivirus through Android and iOS. All packages come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

McAfee Total Protection

McAfee Total Protection, which is compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices,  features the following:

  • Secure Encrypted Storage
  • Anti-malware, anti-spam, and ransomware protection
  • PC Optimization Tools
  • PC Boost
  • Secure Payments
  • Identity Theft Protection (with 5 and 10-device licenses)
  • Parental Control (with 10-device license)

For one device, the cost is $39.99 a year. For five devices, the cost is $44.99 a year, and for 10 devices, the cost is $49.99 a year. As you can see, the more devices you cover, the more you save on this product.

McAfee LiveSafe

The difference between McAfee Total Protection and McAfee LiveSafe is that with McAfee LiveSafe covers an unlimited number of devices. The other features are identical between these two packages.

This package costs $104.99 a year with the option of a $5 dollar off coupon.

PC Tune-up

PC Tune-up is a service used for slow computers. McAfee helps improve the device’s performance by removing unnecessary apps and programs in order to free space. In addition, they set up a scheduled auto-organizational updates so that if anything needs cleared out, it is.

A one-time service is $69.95, and one year of constant support costs $179.95 with the McAfee Concierge Gold Package. It comes with TechMate, home network setup, virus/malware removal, software installation/configuration, and the PC and Internet tune-up.

Customer Support

McAfee is well known for its stellar customer support. The official websites features an extensive knowledge base along with a FAQ section. Most users will not need to reach out to customer support, but if they do, the online chat system is excellent option. You can also send emails or call the customer support representatives on the phone.

Even better, tech support is available 24/7. Users have said that customer service is professional and helpful.

Pros and Cons

Like any antivirus, McAfee comes with some features we like and don’t like. Looking at these pros and cons objectively will ensure that you are well informed and can make the best decision on an antivirus for your computer or device.

Pros:

  • Easy installation
  • Easy to use
  • Above average virus protection
  • Viruses are not only detected, but removed completely

Cons:

  • A little more expensive than some of its competition
  • Real-time protection is average
  • Average scanning time

The Bottom Line

As you can see, McAfee is worth your time and money. It’s great for detecting and eliminating malware, and you have the option of protecting as many devices as you like. The tools included are great perks. You really don’t have anything to lose—except viruses!

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