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67 of 71 people found the following review helpful. 30 of 30 people found the following review helpful. Versus McAfee 2009 and earlier, the interface is simplified, with many options gone, such as variable alerting levels. Although the installer still refers to the old SecurityCenter, there is no longer a program/option called that. When I disable on-access scanning, VirusScan displays a prominent warning-window on every login (including resuming from screensaver), that must be clicked away. Very annoying since I normally leave on-access scan turned off for performance reasons during gaming and certain other applications, turning it on when needed. It’s noteworthy that Microsoft’s Security Essentials antivirus (free for download) doesn’t have the annoying warnings. Scheduled-scan can’t be disabled, only rescheduled. Again an annoyance, Security Essentials allows disabling scheduled scans. On install, a SiteWatch browser Add-On is installed into Mozilla Firefox, and can’t be removed (just disabled). There’s no option to skip installing it, indeed, there are virtually no options presented during installation. If you think to use Add/Remove Programs, the deinstaller does offer an option remove SiteWatch but with a foreboding but vaguely worded warning that bad things may happen. Antivirus should never modify your other software without asking you first, and the option should be presented up-front. The McAfee installer also wants to remove “conflicting software” Spyboy Search&Destroy (a freeware anti-bot tool), yet Spybot isn’t a persistent program, and so wouldn’t be any conflict, except perhaps with McAfee’s revenue model. 2010 and previous versions didn’t complain about Spybot being already installed on the same machine. McAfee starts up with their firewall installed and running, no option to skip installing it as in past versions. This is even though I have the Windows firewall running. Running multiple firewalls is a very bad idea for performance and stability, and should never be the default setting. Mcafee throws an icon on the desktop (a pet peeve of mine, no option to skip)– who runs AntiVirus from the desktop?? And most obnoxious, the product popped up a window trying to sell me a renewal of the McAfee subscription on the first day I ran it– with 364 days remaining in my current subscription. I don’t like paid-software to advertise to me (and this was with all “alerts” pop-ups unchecked). Finally, the “Home Network” view is laughable, it shows the PC itself and the gateway– not the 3 other devices attached to the same switch, nor 1-2 additional on the wireless part of the same network. Whatever they’re doing is inadequate, and certainly doesn’t add any security other than of the false variety. These are too many quirks and issues for me in a product that needs to be stable and hassle-free. With the major fiasco with McAfee Enterprise AntiVirus less than a year ago still fresh in my memory, which left a huge number of corporate XP SP3 systems unable to boot (requiring manual intervention to repair each installation), it turns out, from a lack of testing an update on one of the most common corporate platforms. I find myself not confident in McAfee Antivirus. On the positive: AntiVirus 2011 does start up faster than older versions. In the era of the multi-PC household, the three-user license is very convenient to protect all machines in the household without violating EULAs or feeling silly buying multiple VirusScan subscriptions every year. The disk “clean up” tool is handy, although it doesn’t show either progress or results, though partial results are available via a separate screen, if you think to look there. But these smalls strengths are not nearly enough for me to find McAfee compelling, when Microsoft’s own Security Essentials antivirus is available for free, and doesn’t have the same annoying behaviors. The product barely earns 3 stars, only because I presume the the antivirus works as well as it has before. But I only suggest McAfee Antivirus 2011 for users who prefer the McAfee interface or want “other utilities” rolled into their antivirus. Otherwise, McAfee Antivirus Plus 2011 is Not Recommended. 18 of 18 people found the following review helpful. I like this program because it’s cheap and it comes with a firewall program with the antivirus. 3-users per disc is also great for those of us with multiple computers. McAfee has improved the interface and those annoying pop up messages can now be disabled. The next step up version (Internet Security) has the parental controls which I don’t need and the online backup which is a measly 1gb. Also, when playing games this program does not interfere. Overall, works great and does the job without the annoying pop up messages. |
Home screen with an easy-to-understand security bar and status area.
New and Better
mcafee still works, no longer the compelling choice
Silent and worry free