McAfee: A Great Antivirus for All Your Devices
Real-Time Malware Detection and Web Protection
McAfee is an antivirus software that provides excellent real-time malware detection and web protection for a great price. It can protect all your devices, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. In all my tests, McAfee’s antivirus scanner scored a perfect 100% malware detection rating. It was able to identify and block both simple and sophisticated threats, including viruses, trojans, spyware, ransomware, and crypto jackers.
McAfee antivirus is prompt at pointing out why a website is not safe and the need to move away from the website as quickly as possible. I decided to change my antivirus software to McAfee due to a bad experience in December 2022, where a report that took me five weeks to write was deleted from both my PC and a popular online storage – Dropbox. I was disappointed that Dropbox that claimed your documents are stored in the cloud and no one else will have access to it unless you give your login information details to a third party failed to prevent my documents from being deleted.
I did research to find out the best antivirus for PC and found out that McAfee had more positive reviews than all other antivirus in the market with a rating of over 9.5. I decided to give it a trial and I was not disappointed and all my devices including my mobile phone has McAfee antivirus installed.
Useful Extra Features
McAfee also offers a ton of useful extra features that most other antiviruses don’t have. These features include:
- Firewall and Wi-Fi network protection
- Anti-phishing protection
- Virtual private network (VPN)
- Performance optimization
- Password manager
- Parental controls
- Identity theft protection
- File shredder
- And a lot more…
Most of McAfee’s features work exactly as promised. I’m a huge fan of McAfee’s anti-phishing and anti-exploit browser extension, which blocked more dangerous sites than Chrome or Firefox in my tests. I also think McAfee’s firewall and Wi-Fi protections are better than similar protections offered by premium competitors like TotalAV, Norton and Avira.
Downsides
That said, the full scan can cause system slowdown, but you can schedule full scans for when you’re not using your computer. I would also like to see all of McAfee’s features integrated into a single dashboard. The VPN could use some improvement too. It is unable to access some popular streaming sites (it works with Netflix and Amazon Prime, but not with Disney+ and Hulu), and it doesn’t have extras like split-tunneling.
Great Value
Overall, I still think McAfee is one of the best-value antiviruses out there. It has a high-quality malware scanner, provides a wide range of security features, and is easy to use — and all of this for a very low price. McAfee offers 1-year subscriptions for all its plans as well as a discounted 2-year plan for its Plus plan, which has coverage for up to 5 devices. McAfee has a 30-day money-back guarantee on all its plans, so there is no risk in trying it out.
McAfee: A Comprehensive Review
Introduction
McAfee is a top-notch anti-malware software that offers a wide range of security features. I tested McAfee’s security protections on my PC, MacBook Pro, Samsung Galaxy, and iPhone for a few weeks, and I was impressed with its performance. McAfee is one of the most reliable antivirus programs in 2023, and it can cover from 5 to an unlimited number of devices, which is something no other antivirus offers.
Antivirus Scanner
McAfee’s antivirus scanner uses traditional malware detection methods and heuristics. This means it checks files against McAfee’s huge virus database and identifies potentially dangerous files based on their behaviour. I tested McAfee’s antivirus scanner by downloading a massive database of malware files onto my PC, including viruses, trojans, rootkits, ransomware, and spyware. Then, I installed McAfee and ran a full system scan. The scan detected 100% of my test malware. McAfee is one of the rare antiviruses with consistently excellent results against all kinds of malware. The only other brands that can compete with McAfee are Norton and Bit-defender, which both successfully identified and removed all malware samples during all our tests. McAfee’s full system scan took around 1 hour to complete, which is on par with competitors like Bit-defender, but both Norton and Avira’s scans are faster, taking only 40 minutes to finish. I also ran McAfee’s quick scan, which took under 2 minutes to finish, and the duration of McAfee’s custom scan depended on the types of files I chose to scan, from a couple of minutes to 1 hour. McAfee’s scanner does cause some system slowdown, which is the only thing I don’t like about it. When McAfee was scanning my PC, it ran slower than normal. But McAfee lets you schedule scans whenever you want, so you can schedule a full system scan to run when you know you won’t be using your PC. That said, some competitors like TotalAV don’t impact a system’s performance during system scans. Overall, McAfee’s antivirus scanner is among the very best on the market. If you’re looking for reliable protection against both known and zero-day threats, McAfee is a really good choice, with perfect malware detection rates, fast scans, and simple scan scheduling. My only complaint is that the antivirus scanner slowed down my PC during a full system scan, but you can easily schedule full scans during the night or when you’re not using your PC.
Firewall
McAfee’s firewall is powerful, easy to use, and highly customizable. In my testing, McAfee detected a variety of my test threats, including network intrusions, exploit attacks, and malware programs attempting to communicate with remote servers. McAfee’s firewall protection was as good as Norton’s Smart Firewall and substantially more accurate and effective than the built-in firewalls provided by both Windows and mac OS. McAfee’s firewall has a ton of security capabilities. For example, McAfee allows users to decide which programs can access the web, open and close specific network ports, choose 4 different levels of intensity for network protection, adjust trust settings for saved networks, activate software intrusion detection, and whitelist specific programs. I really like the variety of options that McAfee’s firewall provides, but less tech-savvy users can also simply set the firewall to automatically block suspicious activity with almost zero user input.
McAfee: Easy to Install, But Confusing Dashboard
McAfee Ease of Use & Setup
If you’re looking for an antivirus software that’s easy to install, McAfee might be a good option for you. The download and installation process only took a few minutes, which is great if you’re in a hurry.
After installation, McAfee offered to run an antivirus scan, which took about an hour on my PC. This is a good thing because it means that McAfee is thorough in checking for viruses and other threats.
The Dashboard
McAfee’s dashboard seems simple enough, but it’s more confusing than it needs to be. There are 6 main features on the home screen:
- Antivirus
- Tracker remover
- Check your protection score
- Secure VPN
- ID protection
- Protect more devices
While these features are useful, they can be overwhelming for someone who is not familiar with antivirus software. It would be better if McAfee simplified the dashboard and made it easier to navigate.
McAfee Mobile Security
Getting Started
McAfee Mobile Security is an app that you can download on both iOS and Android devices. You can activate your subscription by emailing or texting yourself a link from McAfee’s online dashboard, or you can just download the app from your device’s app store and enter your login information.
The Interface
The app’s interface is easy to use. You can activate some tools using the buttons on the screen, and the rest can be accessed from the menu at the top right corner.
Malware Detection
McAfee detected all of the Android-specific malware on my device after a 10-minute scan. This was impressive because many competitors fail to catch files like rootkits, adware, and data-gathering spyware apps.
iOS Protection
McAfee doesn’t offer an antivirus scanning feature for iOS because iOS apps can’t be infected with traditional malware files. However, it does offer excellent anti-phishing protections, which can detect malicious websites.
Features
Unfortunately, McAfee has removed the anti-theft features from its app, which used to make it one of the best mobile security apps. However, there are still some other useful features of McAfee’s mobile app, including:
- Wi-Fi network scanner. Scans every Wi-Fi network for security issues.
- Secure VPN. Encrypts your browsing traffic and protects your true IP address (but it’s not as good as standalone VPNs like Express VPN).
- ID theft protection. Alerts you if your email address is found in any data breaches.
McAfee Mobile Security is a great app to keep your device safe. It is easy to use and has many features to protect your device from malware and other security issues. Although it doesn’t have anti-theft features anymore, it still has many other useful features like a Wi-Fi network scanner, secure VPN, and ID theft protection. If you want to keep your device safe, McAfee Mobile Security is definitely worth checking out.
McAfee Customer Support
Introduction
Have you ever had a problem with your McAfee antivirus software and didn’t know what to do? Don’t worry, McAfee has got you covered with their customer support options. In this article, we’ll take a look at the different ways you can get help from McAfee and share our experiences with their support team.
McAfee Customer Support
McAfee offers several customer support options to help you with any issues you may have with their software. These options include:
- 24/7 live chat support
- 24/7 phone support
- Support forum
- Online knowledge base
Phone Support
If you have a pressing concern, calling McAfee’s phone support is a great option. When we had an issue with our plan, the phone support team was able to upgrade our plan, refund our purchase, and give us a discount in just a few minutes. It was a quick and painless process.
Live Chat Support
McAfee’s live chat support is also a great option if you don’t want to wait on hold. Before accessing the chat, we had to fill in a form with our details and submit our question in writing. Then we had to wait for an available support person. However, we only had to wait a few seconds for someone to become available, which is really good compared to slower competitors like Norton. Every McAfee support person we chatted with was knowledgeable, polite, and to the point.
Everything You Need to Know About McAfee Antivirus
Frequently Asked Questions
Is McAfee a good antivirus?
Yes, McAfee is a great antivirus software that can protect your computer from various types of malware. It has a 100% detection rating for trojans, rootkits, spyware, adware, and more. McAfee also offers affordable antivirus plans for individuals and families across a range of devices.
Will McAfee remove malware from my computer?
Yes, McAfee is a reliable antivirus that can scan your PC for viruses and protect it in real-time. It can detect all kinds of malware, such as ransomware, spyware, cryptojackers, adware, etc. Additionally, McAfee offers a Virus Protection Pledge, which means that the company promises to give users their money back at any time during their subscription if McAfee is unable to remove malware from their devices.
Will McAfee detect spyware?
Yes, McAfee’s malware scanner is designed to detect and remove every type of known malware, including spyware and adware. It also includes a real-time protection engine in all of its plans, which can block malware files like spyware from being downloaded or opened on your device.
Will McAfee slow down my computer?
Maybe. McAfee may slow down your PC during a full system scan, but users can also schedule scans during the night and avoid any slowdown whatsoever. When you’re not performing a scan, McAfee is unlikely to slow down your system. That said, if you’re looking for a very lightweight antivirus, take a look at Bitdefender, which is extremely easy on system resources.
Does McAfee have a free version?
No, McAfee doesn’t have a free version.
Is McAfee available for iOS and Android?
Yes, McAfee Mobile Security is available for both iOS and Android. McAfee’s mobile app offers advanced anti-malware and anti-phishing protection, a Wi-Fi security check, and a VPN. It’s one of the best mobile apps on the market today and is extremely affordable when purchased as part of any Total Protection multi-device plan.
Which McAfee should I buy?
It depends on what you need! To cover 5 devices and benefit from McAfee’s excellent malware protection and most of its extra features, you can opt for the Total Protection Plus plan. But if you have a larger household and would like unlimited device coverage, the Premium plan is a great option. If you want comprehensive identity theft protection, you should check out the Advanced plan. Finally, if parental controls are important to you, take a look at the Premium and Advanced family plans.
Can McAfee be trusted?
Yes, McAfee is safe and secure software that you can install on your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. McAfee is a legitimate cybersecurity company and doesn’t engage in any shady endeavors, such as logging your data and selling it to third-party advertisers. It scans, detects, and removes malware from your devices and helps prevent real-time cyber threats like phishing attacks, ransomware, rootkits, and trojans. It also offers a lot of extra features, including a firewall and a VPN.
Is there a better antivirus than McAfee?
To be honest, my favorite antivirus is Norton, which offers the best protection on the market. Its scans take less time to complete, it has better parental controls and a better password manager, and it comes with other features that McAfee lacks, such as webcam protection and cloud backup. That being said, McAfee’s malware detection rate is just as good as Norton’s, it’s also feature-rich, it offers competitive pricing plans, and it’s an overall excellent value.
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