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More…Though McAfee Internet Security Suite ($70 for up to three PCs) packs a multitude of features, such as backup software, it needs to improve its focus on a security suite most vital task: stopping malware.
McAfee Internet Security Suite
PCWorld Rating, November 15, 2007
8 User Reviews Add your own »
$39.99
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- Lab Tested
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Pros
Ample features
Has backup program
Cons
Threat detection could be better
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McAfee Internet Security Suite
Internet Security Suite Review, by Erik Larkin November 29, 2007
When German security research company AV-Test.org pitted each suite in our "All-in-One Security Suites: Tried and Tested" story against a giant zoo of 674,589 dormant malware files, McAfee detected only 86 percent of them. That relatively poor showing put it in sixth place on that test among the eight programs we tested for our roundup. It showed similarly limited effectiveness in catching spyware and adware, identifying 85 percent for those threats, a below-average score.
The suite performed somewhat better in tests against unknown malware. Relying on a one-month-old virus definition database, it caught 17 percent of new (and hence unknown) malware files, good for third place among the eight suites. But when the task turned to cleaning up infected PCs, the McAfee package removed only half of the files and Registry entries implanted by malicious software.
In addition, McAfee was one of the slower scanners we tested, scanning a 723MB set of files for malware at a rate of 6 megabytes per second and finishing in sixth place on that test.
The suite's firewall successfully masked a protected PC from attempts to scan it from the outside. And by default, it allows all programs to connect to the Internet. To accommodate users who want the additional protection (but potential annoyance) of blocking unknown programs, McAfee uses a list of known applications to minimize pop-up alerts.
The suite also offers tie-ins for its anti-spam features to a good range of e-mail programs, placing buttons and a spam filtering folder for Outlook, Outlook Express, Windows Mail, Eudora, and Thunderbird. But if you install one of those programs after installing McAfee's suite, you won't get the anti-spam add-ins.
McAfee's parental controls display good, informative messages explaining why the program blocked a particular site--and it might be stricter than you are. It blocked a relatively straight-laced World of Warcraft fan site because the word "boner" appeared on one of the site's pages.
Other McAfee extras are data privacy options (you'll need to manually enter the data--such as credit card numbers--that you want to protect), and an EasyNetwork applet to help you set up a home network. You also get a full backup program that lets you schedule regular backups; this separate app didn't work the first time we installed the suite, but after reinstalling it, it allowed me to back up individual files and folders quickly.
You have to be on your toes to catch the quick-fading pop-up warning that appears when the suite finds a threat on your computer. You might expect to the program to post a record of such an important event in the top-level 'View Recent Events' window, in case you don't catch the entire warning the first time around--but you won't find the information there. Instead you have to dig down to the scan log to get it.
One last shortcoming: After correctly identifying a malware sample on a thumb drive connected to the protected PC, the suite reported that it had deleted the sample. But, the thumb drive was write-protected, so the file stayed in place. McAfee could more clearly communicate its actions to the user, both here and in logs.
McAfee Internet Security Suite has numerous useful extra features, but we wish that it had posted better malware detection scores.
Erik Larkin
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User Reviews
Average User Reviews for McAfee Internet Security Suite
3 Reviews Add your own »
- Latest User Reviews 3 reviews
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Reviewed by: AxeluteZero
Duration of ownership: 1 Year
Strengths: Good at scanning for viruses and malware.
Weaknesses: Terrible load times, slow to respond, hard to configure. Kept crashing after roughly 9 months of use - customer service was terrible.
Overall: If you can get it to load, and get it to respond (even on a fairly quick computer it took forever), then it's a decent protection package. However, if you really don't know a lot about protection programs or have a very short temper when it comes to computers, I suggest staying away - this package causes headaches and so does customer support.
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Reviewed by: jhayann1
Duration of ownership: 1 Year
Strengths: Tons of features, easy to use, works with Mozilla Thunderbird email, affordable
Weaknesses: can bog down system though not as bad as Norton Internet security suite
Overall: I used Norton Internet Security for a few years, until the 2006 version came out. It bogged down my system so much that I didn't even bother using the PC because of the headaches I'd have to deal with! I'd end up disabling norton. Not only that, but I had converted to Firefox & Thunderbird, which is not supported by Norton. In the end, I didn't even wait for the renewal period; I purchased McAfee Internet Security 2007, as it was advertised as supporting Thunderbird & had features that I really like & found easy to use -- such as Identity protection, antispam, firewall, etc. It does seem to have updates to download/install daily so that gets annoying, but better to be safe than sorry! Plus it's so much faster than Norton, although I'm sure it's not the fastest out there. I'm up for renewal now, and plan on getting McAfee Internet Security 2008 - mainly for the Thunderbird support, its extra features (ID protection, spam, firewall, etc.) & its speed compared to Norton.
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Reviewed by: pablitomon
Duration of ownership: 24 Months
Strengths: report and monitor internet attemps/ Hits on my PC. Pretty bells sounds and graphs.
Weaknesses: Nightmare to update, renew, and if something goes wrong, another nightmare to uninstall. Poor Tech support. Very Expensive and not worth the hassle. Look for better protection else where./
Overall: As owner of my equipment I agree to abide by software protocols. McAfee is different. Once their softwae GRABS your PC. You can not escape. Sooner you will delete escential files than remove McAfee from registry. Software written not to be deleted. Scare?? yup.. I've experienced this FGIRST hand.So I welcome questions, advise and comments any time. p.s. I am still to habilitate my last PC at home.. 6 months after McAfee has "parasite" my unit...
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User Reviews From Around the Web
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Reviewed by: mat621
Strengths: all in one
Weaknesses: could be confusing
Overall: This suite provides several software applications all in one bundle which is nice but could also be confusing. If you need most of the their securities, this software could suit you best. However, for some people, what they need is just anti-virus and anti-spyware software. This would provide enough protection without buying a more expensive software.
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Reviewed by: asb002
Strengths: Multiple protections bundled into one software package, inexpensive
Weaknesses: Bloated, slow
Overall: Mcafee has unveiled an improved UI, which makes the software easier to use. It seems effective in protecting my machines from harm, but couldn't it do it without bogging down my computers so much?
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Reviewed by: manahil
Strengths: none
Weaknesses: crap, slows the system, constantly scans and updates
Overall: I had used McAfee Internet security 2006 and was greatly impressed with it. But when I upgraded to McAfee ISS 2007 version to my dismay it made my system into crap and made a mess of my computer. It slowed down the system to crawl and it was crashing every few minute. It completely bogged my system . There is no way to shutdown the program. It constantly updates and scans the system making things much worse. I finally uninstalled it and installed zonealarm firewall.
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Reviewed by: goodrisktaker
Strengths: A lot features, effectiveness, all-in-1, 3 users licenses
Weaknesses: speed, resources required
Overall: I have been using McAfee security products for years in one of my computers. It has improved the effectiveness over the years and was able to stop quite a few malwares. This IS 2007 product has a lot more features than I will actually used. It gives user more control on their setting. However, this product really needs a very serious improvement on how much computer resources it eats up when it is running. When the virus scan is doing the scan, my computer becomes almost useless. I have over 1GB of memory in my computer. When I click stop scanning, it takes a long while before actually stop scanning. It also takes a long time to even bring up the program control screen. I finally disabled the firewall and spamware features and just run the AntiVirus. I use the Microsoft Windows Firewall instead (I know it is not the greatest). My computer finally gets back some long desired resources and speed.
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Reviewed by: oh25ny
Strengths: All-in-one
Weaknesses: Blocks few well known websites
Overall: It was easy in installation and found it useful so far. I have installed on my computer and it provides more protection. However, it blocks me from accessing few website and I am not sure why. I purchased this software at staples and happy on overall product except on blocking mechanism for few websites.
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