McAfee Antivirus Review — Is It Good Enough in 2021?

McAfee Review: Quick Expert Summary

McAfee provides excellent real-time malware detection along with some of the best web protections on the market for an excellent price. McAfee also comes with a slew of added features, such as an intuitive dashboard that works across all operating systems and coverage for up to ten devices (US users can also get coverage for an unlimited number of devices, which no other top competitor offers).

McAfee’s antivirus scanner scored an impressive 100% malware detection rating in all of my tests across Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. It was able to detect and block a variety of threats, including viruses, trojans, spyware, ransomware, and cryptojackers.

McAfee also has more functions than most other antivirus programs, including:

  • Firewall and Wi-Fi network protection.
  • Anti-phishing protection.
  • Virtual private network (VPN).
  • Performance optimization.
  • Password manager.
  • Parental controls.
  • Identity theft protection(for US customers only).
  • Secure file storage.
  • And a lot more…

Most of McAfee’s features work exactly as promised — McAfee’s anti-phishing and anti-exploit browser plugin is one of my favorites, since it prevented more harmful sites in my tests than Chrome or Firefox. McAfee’s firewall and Wi-Fi defenses are also superior to those supplied by premium competitors such as TotalAV and Avira.

On the other hand, I don’t like McAfee’s VPN — It monitors user activity, does not enable torrenting, and blocks access to some major streaming services (McAfee’s VPN works with Netflix and Amazon Prime, but not Disney+ or Hulu).

Having said that, I still believe McAfee is one of the most cost-effective antivirus programs available. It comes with a high-quality malware scanner, a comprehensive set of security capabilities, and an intuitive dashboard – all for a very low price.

McAfee offers 1-year plans for 1, 5, 10, or unlimited devices (but coverage for unlimited devices is only available for US users), as well as heavily discounted 2-year plans for its Multi-Device and Family plans, making McAfee one of the most affordable premium antivirus suites in 2021. All McAfee programs come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so there’s no risk in checking it out.

Overall Rank #5 out of 66 antiviruses
Firewall Yes
VPN Yes (with unlimited data)
Free Plan No
Pricing Starting at $34.99/year
Money-Back Guarantee 30 days
Operating Systems Windows, Android, Mac, iOS

 

McAfee Full Review

McAfee is a high-end anti-malware program with a plethora of protection capabilities.

I spent a few weeks stress-testing McAfee’s security defenses on my PC, MacBook Pro, Samsung Galaxy, and iPhone, and I was blown away by how well it did in every category (especially considering that it has more extra features than almost any competitor).

McAfee is unquestionably one of the most outstanding internet security suites in 2021 — it’s extremely dependable, simple to use, and its 2-year membership rates are among the most affordable available.

McAfee Security Features

Antivirus Scanner

Traditional malware detection methods, such as checking files against McAfee’s massive virus database, as well as heuristics, which identify potentially harmful files based on their behavior, are used by McAfee’s antivirus scanner.

I installed several sorts of malware on my PC before evaluating McAfee’s antivirus scanner, including viruses, trojans, and spyware. After that, I set up McAfee and ran a comprehensive system scan. The scan detected 100% of my test malware. However, I can’t say I was surprised by the outcome.

This wasn’t the first time I put McAfee’s scanner to the test; a few months earlier, when I ran my regular series of malware tests, McAfee also came up with a flawless virus detection rate.

McAfee is one of the rare antiviruses with consistently excellent results against all kinds of malware — Only NortonBitdefenderTotalAV, and Avira can compete with McAfee, as they all correctly recognized and eradicated all malware samples during all of our testing.

McAfee’s full system scan took around 1 hour to complete — This is comparable to Bitdefender, although Norton and Avira’s scans are significantly faster, requiring only 40 minutes to complete. I also ran McAfee’s rapid scan, which took less than 2 minutes to complete, and McAfee’s custom scan, which took longer depending on the types of files I choose to scan (from a couple of minutes to 1 hour).

The only thing I don’t like about McAfee’s scanner is that it does cause some system slowdown. My PC performed slower than usual while McAfee was scanning it; I could still browse the internet and use word processing tools to get some work done, but viewing videos or playing games was out. 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. However, certain rivals, like as Avira and TotalAV, have no effect on the speed of a machine during system scans.

Overall, McAfee’s antivirus scanner is among the very best on the market. With excellent malware detection rates, rapid scans, and simple scan scheduling, McAfee is a great choice for trustworthy protection against both known and zero-day threats. My only gripe is that the antivirus scanner slowed down my PC during a full system scan, but full scans can easily be scheduled for when you’re not using your computer.

Firewall

McAfee’s firewall is powerful, easy to use, and highly customizable — but if you’re not tech-savvy, it also runs perfectly well out of the box. Network invasions, exploit assaults, and malware programs attempting to interface with external sites were all discovered by McAfee during my testing. McAfee’s firewall protection was more accurate and effective than both Windows and macOS’s built-in firewalls.

McAfee’s firewall offers a wide range of security features, including the ability 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.
  • Whitelist specific programs.

I like the wide range of settings offered by McAfee’s firewall, but less tech-savvy users may simply enable the firewall to automatically block suspicious activity with absolutely no user input.

The only thing I don’t like about McAfee’s firewall is that its logs aren’t very detailed — McAfee will inform you what network activity has been restricted, but it will not tell you why or what you should do about it (other than leaving McAfee installed).

McAfee’s firewall provides state-of-the-art protection for network users — Its program blocking tool, network intrusion security, and sophisticated options for tech-savvy users are among my favorites. While I wish McAfee’s diagnostics provided more information on the threats it finds, it remains one of the best firewalls I’ve used in 2021.

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

A VPN encrypts all of your data and hides your online traffic by routing all of your web traffic through a secure server. Your IP address is also masked with a VPN, making it look as though you’re connecting from a different place. If you connect to a server in the United Kingdom from the United States, you’ll be granted an IP address from the United Kingdom, allowing you to browse the internet as if you were in the United Kingdom.

McAfee Safe Connect VPN is easy to use, has pretty fast internet connection speeds, and is good for basic online activities like browsing and streaming content. 

McAfee Safe Connect VPN offers 1,900+ servers in 41 countries, which is a respectable network, but not as large as standalone competitors like ExpressVPN (which has 3,000+ servers in 94 countries). Safe Connect VPN from McAfee safeguards user data with 256-bit AES encryption, one of the strongest encryptions available, as well as a kill switch (Safe Connect) that disconnects you from the internet if the VPN connection stops.

In my tests, I was able to access Netflix and Amazon Prime, but I couldn’t access Disney+ or Hulu. I also watched TV series and movies on lesser-known streaming services such as Pluto TV, but others, such as Crunchyroll, barred me. I recommend ExpressVPN or CyberGhost VPN if you’re seeking for a VPN that consistently works with streaming services.

McAfee Safe Connect VPN also blocked my torrent client from uploading or downloading files in my testing — My top recommendations for a good VPN for torrenting are ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN.

While there are aspects of McAfee Safe Connect VPN that I enjoy, it also has a few flaws. McAfee Safe Connect VPN, for example, has a bad privacy policy — McAfee Safe Connect VPN keeps logs of the websites you visit, your IP addresses, and even products you purchase online. It also lacks extra capabilities like split-tunneling (which allows you to pick which data goes via the VPN server and which goes through your local network) and obfuscated servers (to bypass firewalls in restrictive countries).

However, McAfee Safe Connect VPN performed really well in my speed tests — When connected to a local server (I’m in the United States), I experienced very fast speeds, and McAfee Safe Connect VPN maintained decent speeds for seamless browsing on distant servers in Europe and South America (although websites took 4-5 seconds to load in Australia).

While McAfee Safe Connect VPN provides an easy-to-use interface, fast speeds on local servers, and compatibility with Netflix, it tracks internet activity and IP addresses, does not support P2P traffic, and lacks many of the other features found in many standalone VPN providers. McAfee Safe Connect VPN, on the other hand, is safe and a good choice for regular web browsing and streaming.

WebAdvisor (Windows Only)

McAfee WebAdvisor blocks phishing sites, exploit attacks, and browser-based cryptojackers, and it also provides security ratings for some websites. It’s a free Windows-based program that may be downloaded independently as a browser add-on or included as part of Total Protection. Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Explorer are all supported by WebAdvisor.

WebAdvisor scans every website you visit for known exploit attacks and detects phishing sites using a vast, constantly updated phishing database.

WebAdvisor blocked all of the phishing sites and exploit attacks in my testing, detecting numerous dangerous sites that Chrome’s and Firefox’s built-in protections failed to detect.

WebAdvisor blocked all of the phishing sites and exploit attacks in my testing, detecting numerous dangerous sites that Chrome’s and Firefox’s built-in protections failed to detect. While it didn’t provide ratings for many sites, it did produce “Dangerous” ratings for several pirate sites, which I tested with Google. It also didn’t identify any safe sites as dangerous.

WebAdvisor can also review links on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. This link rating was remarkably accurate in my tests, designating most URLs as secure and accurately flagging phishing sites when a friend’s Instagram account was hijacked.

Overall, WebAdvisor is one of the best online protection tools on the market. Its built-in anti-phishing and anti-exploit defenses are superior to Chrome’s and Firefox’s, and its search engine and social media link ratings are quite useful, especially for less-advanced users who have trouble spotting dangerous websites.

Performance Optimization

Total Protection has a few good performance optimization features for desktops and browsers, but they aren’t very easy to find. McAfee’s performance optimization technologies are as follows:

  • QuickClean (Tracker remover).
  • App Boost.
  • Web Boost.

QuickClean by McAfee cleans your computer of cookies and other undesirable transient files. Surprisingly, it can only be accessed by clicking the “Tracker Remover” option on the PC Security tab.

QuickClean’s scan took less than 1 minute and freed up nearly 2 GB of space on my computer.

I especially like how easy it is to view the details of the QuickClean scan — McAfee divides files into a number of categories, with drop-down menus listing the precise file names that are labeled for deletion in each category. Advanced users may easily choose which files to keep, while less tech-savvy individuals can just let McAfee erase all of the files.

McAfee App Boost is a program that accelerates your computer by allocating processor resources to your open programs. after installing McAfee once, then uninstalling and reinstalling it, I was still unable to access the App Boost feature. In future releases, I hope McAfee works out how to make this capability more accessible.

McAfee Web Boost is a Chrome extension that prevents videos from auto-playing online — this can be good for increasing browser speeds, but it irritated me the most since it prevented thumbnail previews from loading on YouTube.

McAfee’s performance optimization tools are decent; I particularly appreciate QuickClean’s junk file cleanup, which is both informative and simple to use (though I don’t think the Web Boost extension is that useful, and I couldn’t use the App Boost option).

Password Manager

McAfee’s True Key password manager provides good password protection and decent functionality, but it’s missing some of the additional features included in the best standalone password managers in 2021.

True Key uses 256-bit AES encryption and zero-knowledge architecture to store and sync user data in the cloud, ensuring that no one else (even McAfee) can access your saved logins. McAfee’s password manager is compatible with Firefox, Chrome, Explorer, and Safari and may be installed on Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android devices.

True Key offers essential features like unlimited password storage across devices, credit card and document storage, secure notes, a password generator, and zero-click autofilling. However, I was dismayed to learn that True Key does not provide a secure 2FA option (you can log in with biometric scanning on mobile devices, but True Key does not support TOTP authenticators or USB tokens like Yubikey).

I also don’t like that True Key is missing features like secure password sharing, password vault auditing, or password breach monitoring like Dashlane and LastPass.

However, True Key is a good basic password manager. I found it quite simple to establish, save, and auto-fill passwords — you can even enable True Key to immediately enter your login information when you visit to a saved website (which is a good time-saver, but not a great feature to use from a security perspective).

True Key also offers simple master password recovery — if you forget your master password, McAfee will send you an email to change your password. While this is a convenient option for most users, it is also a risky practice, which is why top password managers like Dashlane don’t provide such simple account recovery solutions.

Overall, I like how user-friendly True Key is — True Key is a handy addition to Total Protection that may assist generate and storing unique passwords using superior encryption, even if its functions are limited when compared to the finest standalone password managers.

Parental Controls

McAfee’s Safe Family app offers excellent parental controls for Windows, Android, and iOS devices. With the purchase of the top-tier McAfee Total Protection plans, Safe Family is available as a separate download.

Safe Family allows you to:

  • Filter web content.
  • Limit device usage and internet access.
  • Block specific apps.
  • Track device location (within 10 meters).

I found Safe Family’s interface to be very intuitive and uncluttered when I tested it. I like that McAfee offers presets for every child’s app usage and web usage rules based on their age. You can then alter permissions for particular apps and content categories individually, add websites to be restricted, and arrange screen time for each child’s specific needs.

McAfee Safe Family worked well during my tests, blocking all unwanted web content and apps. Safe Family banned all of these harmful sites, as well as logging my searches, when I tested it against a variety of content, including pornographic websites, violent games, social media sites, and sites promoting hate speech (this is really helpful for parents that want to stay informed about what kinds of content their kids are searching for).

One of Safe Family’s best features is its location tracking. You can track your child’s gadgets to within 10 meters, and your youngster can send you a quick update via the Safe Family smartphone app after they’ve arrived safely. I tried out the location tracking on my daughter’s iPad and was pleasantly impressed with how well Safe Family tracked her device – it was far more responsive and exact than Apple or Google’s “Find My” capabilities.

Overall, McAfee Safe Family is an excellent parental control app (which is why it’s on our list of the best antivirus programs with parental controls).

Identity Theft Protection

McAfee Identity Theft Protection service provides real-time monitoring for a huge variety of personally identifying information (PII) by using live dark web monitoring along with Experian’s credit network. Sadly, these safeguards are only available to users in the United States.

McAfee begins monitoring the dark web for any leaks of your sensitive data when you register an account and fill in your personal information. McAfee also keeps an eye on Experian’s credit network for any changes to your personal information that might show up in your credit report (change of address, loan application, etc.).

You can use McAfee’s identity protection to keep an eye on:

  • 1 SSN (Social Security Number).
  • 1 driver’s license.
  • 1 passport.
  • 1 international bank account.
  • Up to 10 medical IDs.
  • Up to 10 email addresses.
  • Up to 10 phone numbers.
  • Up to 10 credit and debit cards.
  • Up to 10 other cards (store cards etc.).
  • Up to 10 bank accounts.

McAfee also offers Social Media Monitoring, which warns you about potential privacy issues associated with the content you share on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Change of Address Monitoring can also be set up to keep an eye on any attempts to reroute your mail. You also get Identity Restoration, which is aid if you lose your wallet, credit card, or a document, as McAfee’s recovery team may assist you with cancellations, re-orders, and re-issues.

There are a few different levels of identity theft protection offered by McAfee. Users of Total Protection who don’t sign up for auto-renewal get dark web monitoring for up to 10 email accounts as well as dedicated support. The monitoring of 55 pieces of PII on the dark web is included in auto-renewal Total Protection plans (including phone numbers and more). Users who purchase Total Protection Ultimate also get $1,000,000 in Identity Recovery Insurance and $10,000 in Stolen Funds Reimbursement (Norton only includes stolen funds reimbursement coverage in its LifeLock Select plan, which is more expensive than McAfee’s).

Overall, McAfee Identity Protection is a strong identity theft prevention feature that uses a variety of tools to monitor a good range of PII — It’s a great and economical choice for people in the United States who want to protect their personal information.

Gamer Security

Gamer Security by McAfee is an optional download that comes with all three Total Protection options. The following is a list of what’s included:

  • Game booster.
  • Performance monitoring.
  • Cloud-based scanner.

McAfee’s game booster works a lot like BullGuard’s popular game booster — For multi-core CPUs, it allocates running programs to a distinct core, letting your games to maximize their performance on a proprietary processing core. While playing AAA games like Destiny 2: Beyond Light, McAfee’s game booster boosted my frame rate.

Gamer Security’s performance monitoring tool is like a supercharged version of the Windows Task Manager — It shows frame rate, CPU and GPU utilization, RAM, and internet speed in real time. All of these data is saved, allowing users to see what factors are affecting their CPU performance, which is valuable for both gamers and non-gamers.

The cloud-based scanner performed just as well as McAfee’s offline malware scanner, detecting 100% of the malware on my test PC. During the cloud-based virus check, however, I observed that my device performed more smoothly, allowing me to continue playing games without being harmed by McAfee’s scan.

Overall, McAfee’s Gamer Security feature is an excellent tool for gamers (or any users that want to keep an eye on their device performance with advanced metrics), additionally, its cloud-based scanner is an excellent tool to keep your system functioning as efficiently as possible.

Additional Features

McAfee Total Protection comes with a slew of additional security features, including:

  • File Lock. Protects files by encrypting them and storing them behind a password and a security question.
  • Anti-spam. Checks your email communications for spam and phishing emails and filters them out.
  • Home network analyzer. If an untrusted device tries to connect to your network, it will notify you.
  • Vulnerability Scanner. Ascertains that all of your programs are current.
  • Secure file shredder. Writes over your sensitive erased data, making them unrecoverable.

McAfee’s File Lock is a nice feature, but it doesn’t provide anything that Windows and macOS don’t already have. Although the anti-spam feature was useful a decade ago, Gmail and other popular email providers now all have strong anti-spam security.

However, I really appreciate McAfee’s home network analyzer, which provides a simple map of any network and allows users to identify and troubleshoot the devices on their router.

Another valuable tool is the vulnerability scanner, which evaluates all of the apps on your device and alerts you if any of them need to be updated (this is especially important because of the growing threat of zero-day attacks and software exploits in 2021).

I also enjoy McAfee’s secure file shredder, which can eliminate files from your desk completely in a matter of seconds.

Additional McAfee features are hit-or-miss, but I appreciate the company’s efforts to give such a comprehensive set of essential protections with its premium antivirus package.

McAfee Plans and Pricing

McAfee’s Total Protection plans are now offered in four distinct pricing tiers, with the Multi-Device and Family plans offering a significant discount to users who purchase the two-year subscription plans.

McAfee allows you to request a refund for any of its plans:

  • Within 30 days of purchasing your subscription,
  • Within 60 days of automatic renewal.
  • During the lifetime of your subscription if McAfee fails to remove malware.

In addition, all McAfee programs have additional benefits that are exclusively available to clients who subscribe to auto-renewal (the VPN, ID theft protection, and Gamer Security).

Single Device Plan — Good Protection for 1 Device

McAfee’s bottom-tier program has a lot of nice features, but it’s just for one device. These characteristics include:

  • Antivirus scanner.
  • Unlimited secure VPN (must be enrolled in auto-renewal).
  • Firewall.
  • Identity protection.
  • Web browsing and anti-phishing protection.
  • Password manager.
  • File encryption.
  • File shredder.
  • 24/7 online support.

If you only need protection for one PC (or Mac), McAfee’s Single Device plan has all the security features you’ll need, but it’s more expensive than Norton’s similar 360 Standard plan.

Multi-Device Plan — Complete Protection for a Great Price

McAfee’s Multi-Device plan includes all of the preceding plan’s capabilities, plus:

  • Gamer Security (auto renewal only).
  • 5 VPN licenses (auto renewal only).
  • 5 devices covered (Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android).

It’s actually less expensive than McAfee’s Single Device plan, and it provides outstanding protection across multiple devices. Furthermore, McAfee gives substantial discounts to those who sign up for a two-year subscription, making it one of the best deals available. This plan is a solid choice for users searching for good protection at a low price (but it isn’t as good for families due to the lack of parental controls).

Family Plan — Overall Best Value

McAfee’s Family plan includes all of the features of the Single Device and Multi-Device plans, as well as parental controls, for up to ten devices.

McAfee’s Family is available for a 2-year subscription for just a few dollars more than McAfee’s Multi-Device plan, which is a really good bargain. McAfee’s parental controls worked flawlessly on all of my devices, making this package an excellent choice for families.

Ultimate Coverage (US Only) — Unlimited Devices and Identity Theft Insurance

McAfee Ultimate Coverage is an excellent plan for users with a large number of devices — It will cover as many devices as you install it on, in addition to all of the benefits of the prior subscription (I can confirm I was able to install it on 22 devices during my testing).

Unfortunately, this unlimited coverage does not apply to McAfee’s VPN, as Ultimate Coverage restricts customers to only 5 VPN subscriptions.

For users who sign up for auto-renewal, Ultimate Coverage additionally offers a $1 million identity theft insurance policy. This plan is a great option for users with a large number of devices, as well as users who want their identity theft protection backed up by a substantial insurance policy.

McAfee Ease of Use and Setup

The download and installation of McAfee take only a few minutes. McAfee offered to run an antivirus scan right after installation, which took roughly 45 minutes on my PC.

McAfee’s dashboard is extremely easy to use. On the home screen, McAfee’s functionality is divided into three primary buttons:

  • PC.
  • Web.
  • Identity.

Each button opens a new window with a list of the most important features for each category. By selecting “PC,” for example, you can access the antivirus scanner, firewall, and software update checker.

By clicking on each button, you can access a variety of options. Clicking the “Antivirus” button, for example, brings up a menu of scanning options.

I appreciate how simple it is to schedule a scan with McAfee, and I also like how easy it is to customize firewall protection, connect to a VPN, and perform system tune-up utilities from within McAfee’s desktop client.

McAfee’s parental controls and identity theft protections are all accessed through McAfee’s online dashboard, which is also pretty easy to use and access. I’d like to see McAfee incorporate all of those features onto its desktop app as well (like Norton and Bitdefender do).

All of McAfee’s capabilities are, for the most part, similarly simple to use. I had some difficulty discovering the system tune-up options, and I wish the McAfee dashboard featured the Gamer Security and Safe Family apps, but overall McAfee has designed an antivirus program that bundles over a dozen separate features in an intuitive and easy-to-use package.

McAfee Mobile App

McAfee’s mobile app, Mobile Security, is available for both iOS and Android. You can either email or text yourself a link from McAfee’s online dashboard to activate your mobile subscription, or you can simply download the app from your device’s app store and enter your login information.

The mobile app’s interface is uncluttered and easy to navigate. Some utilities can be activated with the screen’s buttons, while the others may be found in the menu in the top right corner.

McAfee detected all of the Android-specific malware on my device after a 10 minute scan. Many rivals fail to discover things like rootkits, adware, and data-gathering spyware programs, so I was delighted with the quickness and precision of this scan. Because iOS apps cannot be infected with standard malware files, McAfee does not offer an antivirus scanner for iOS.

I was particularly impressed with McAfee’s anti-theft protections, which include:

  • Remote alarm. You can remotely activate an incredibly loud alert if your phone is lost or stolen (it sounds like a Halloween toy screaming [seriously]).
  • Continuous tracking. You can select to get notified about your device’s position on a regular basis.
  • Last location. Notifies you of your device’s most recent monitored location before the battery runs out.
  • Thief Cam. Anyone who enters your PIN incorrectly three times is automatically photographed.

Other features of McAfee’s mobile app include:

  • Secure media vault. For photos and videos, a PIN/face ID-protected folder is available.
  • Back-up contacts. Contacts are stored in the cloud.
  • Safe Web. When you browse, it blocks harmful and phishing links.

When compared to the iOS version, McAfee’s Android version includes a few extra capabilities. Here are a few of my personal favorites:

  • App Lock. App Lock is a feature that allows you to lock your apps Allows you to protect particular apps with a PIN, making them inaccessible to anyone who use your phone.
  • Guest Mode. Guest Mode is a mode that allows you to interact with other Hides all of your personal apps from your phone.
  • Track Data Usage. Allows you to identify which apps consume excessive amounts of data.

McAfee’s mobile app is one of the most feature-rich and affordable on the market for both iOS and Android —  especially when purchased as part of McAfee’s Family plan.

McAfee Customer Support

McAfee’s customer support options include:

  • 24/7 live chat support.
  • 24/7 phone support.
  • Support forum.
  • Online knowledge base.

I really like being able to contact McAfee via telephone for pressing concerns. When I encountered a problem with my plan, McAfee’s phone support team was able to upgrade my plan, refund my purchase, and give me a discount on McAfee Total Protection — Family in a matter of minutes.

I also had a good experience with McAfee’s live chat support team. I had to fill out a form with my information and submit my inquiry in writing before I could access the chat. Then I had to wait for a support person who was available.

I used McAfee’s live chat a few times, and each time it only took a few seconds for someone to respond – which is excellent, especially when compared to slower competitors like BullGuard! Every McAfee customer service representative I spoke with was knowledgeable, courteous, and straight to the point.

McAfee’s chat agents always offered to take control of my PC through a downloadable applet and fix the issue for me while I watch them do it. This option may appeal to novice users, but I like to just ask for directions and do everything myself — and McAfee’s support team was happy with it as well.

My queries were always thoroughly answered, and each enquiry was assigned a case number in case I needed to follow up.

McAfee’s support forum is also quite active and responsive. There, both McAfee support personnel and the McAfee user community are accessible to answer your inquiries.  I got my question answered in less than 5 hours – which is rather impressive!

Unlike McAfee’s live chat and support forum, I found the online knowledge base to be quite annoying. A lot of the FAQ answers only pertain to older versions of the software, which makes it basically impossible to get the answers you need without connecting with a live support person. Most consumers shouldn’t have a problem with this because McAfee’s live chat and phone support teams are so attentive.

Overall, I found McAfee’s support excellent — easily one of the best out of all antivirus brands that I have tested. And I was surprised that its live chat assistance is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for all users, so you can utilize it even if you’re on a free trial.

Is McAfee the Best Antivirus in 2021?

McAfee’s Total Protection is a well-rounded security suite, and its antivirus scanner is one of the best I’ve ever tested — In my tests, McAfee had a perfect detection rate, successfully detecting and eradicating all sorts of malware.

McAfee’s firewall (which is a significant upgrade over the built-in firewalls in Windows and macOS) and web safeguards are excellent. On a range of platforms, McAfee’s parental controls and mobile apps have superb features and accessible interfaces.

McAfee’s VPN and password manager are adequate, but they pale in comparison to the top standalone VPNs and password managers in 2021.

McAfee, on the other hand, is one of the best value premium internet security suites on the market., with a vast number of helpful features and super-affordable subscriptions for individuals and families. You’ll get superb malware protection for a cheap price whether you choose the Single Device plan for a PC or Mac, the Multi-Device and Family plans for 5-10 devices, or the Ultimate Coverage plan for unlimited devices (available in the US only).

Overall, McAfee is a robust antivirus that offers high-quality protection for PCs, Macs, Androids, and iOS devices, as well as outstanding customer assistance and a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Is McAfee a good antivirus?

Yes. McAfee is one of the top anti-malware scanners on the market, with a steady 100% detection rating for trojans, rootkits, spyware, adware, and other malware.

McAfee’s full system scan took roughly an hour to finish in my tests, which is comparable to top competitors such as Bitdefender but slower than Norton and Avira. McAfee allows you to schedule scans in advance, and you may also customize your scan (you can select specific files to scan).

For more information, see the Plans and Pricing section of this review. McAfee offers affordable antivirus plans for people and families across a variety of devices.

Will McAfee remove malware from my computer?

Yes. McAfee is a trustworthy antivirus that will scan your PC for viruses and protect it in real time. In my tests, McAfee consistently performed effectively, detecting all types of malware such as ransomware, spyware, cryptojackers, adware, and so forth.

McAfee Virus Pledge also backs this antivirus. This means that if McAfee is unable to eradicate malware from a user’s device at any point during their membership, the business will refund their money (Norton has a similar deal with their products, as well).

Will McAfee detect spyware?

Yes. The malware scanner from McAfee is designed to detect and remove all known malware (including spyware and adware). In addition, all McAfee plans have a real-time security engine that can prevent malware files, such as spyware, from being downloaded or opened on your device.

If you’re interested in learning more about the differences between standalone anti-spyware software and more complete anti-malware products, SafetyDetectives put up a detailed list of the best anti-spyware solutions for 2021.

Will McAfee slow down my computer?

Maybe. During a complete system scan, Mcafee slowed down my PC, although users may plan scans for later in the day to avoid any slowness. McAfee is unlikely to slow down your computer while you aren’t running a scan. However, if you’re searching for a very light antivirus, Avira and Bitdefender are both excellent choices.

McAfee Total Protection also comes with several great system tune-up tools that can help you optimize your system startup, clean up junk files, and speed up a slow machine.

Does McAfee have a free version?

McAfee doesn’t have a free version, but all of its plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee (extended to 60 days for auto-renewal customers).
Yes. Both iOS and Android users can use McAfee Mobile Security.

Is McAfee available for iOS and Android?

Yes. McAfee Mobile Security is available for both iOS and Android.

McAfee’s mobile app includes comprehensive anti-malware and anti-phishing protection, as well as a Wi-Fi security check, a VPN, and a private media vault. Advanced anti-theft protection is also included in Mobile Security.

McAfee Mobile Security is one of the best mobile security apps available today, and it’s quite reasonable when purchased as part of a Total Protection multi-device plan.

Which McAfee should I buy?

It depends!

Individual users using a PC or Mac should purchase the McAfee Total Protection Single Device plan (unless you’re a gamer, in which case McAfee Gamer Security is a better option).

The Multi-Device plan is for people with 5 or fewer devices who want coverage on multiple desktops or mobile devices, while the  Family plan is for parents who want parental controls and coverage for up to 10 devices. The Ultimate Coverage package, which allows you to install McAfee on an unlimited number of devices, is recommended for US users who want to protect more than 10 devices.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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