Rating: 
Summary: If it works fine, but if you try to uninstall
Review: It does not uninstall correctly, if you should happen to reinstall windows, and try to get virusscan to update it does really wierd things.
Rating: 
Summary: Essential protection
Review: McAfee is easy to install and contrary to what other reviewers wrote, if you have *purchased* it (not just downloaded a trial version), the updates are included.I configure mine to update automatically, and always have the latest virus definitions for maximum protection. McAfee can be configured to scan incoming email and outgoing email, or to scan your system in the background or on a specified schedule. If you use Outlook or Eudora for email, it is only a matter of time before a virus attempts to invade your computer. I would give it five stars except that recently a virus was able to get through and it deleted some important files. No virus has yet been able to get through Norton, which I have running on a different computer. I think I like the McAfee program better overall, though, and will continue to use it. Notice that currently with special offers you can get the program free. That is hard to beat.
Rating: 
Summary: Awful company - avoid McAfee like the plague
Review: Pros: -It can detect most viruses and updates are available almost every day - ... . Cons: - It won't always be able to delete/disinfect virus files that it detects - Starting around a month before your update subscription ends, McAfee "Buy New Subscription" pop-ups appear, you click on the x to close and they disappear...... for 60 seconds. Then they reappear, you click on the x ..... a minute later it comes back. There are only two ways to stop these popups - go online with your credit card number to McAfee.com to resubscribe to their update service or uninstall the McAfee program. Customer service and tech support both refused to tell me how to disable these continuously reappearing and incredibly annoying pop-ups. - Tech support is virtually non-existant, unless you call in to their $2.95/minute or $39.99/issue support lines. E-mails get canned, non-responsive answers. The FAQ section of their website has no responses to real questions and the "24/7" tech support chat system is always busy or non-functional - its unavailable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. - Having registered a previous version of a McAfee product may prevent you from getting updates on subsequent versions that the user legitimately acquires. I bought both Viruscan Professional 8.0 and Personal Firewall Plus, after getting VS Home 7.0 (both were free after rebates - the only reason I purchased them) and when the auto update tries to give me the current update of my new programs when I go online, it tells me "You are not authorized to receive this service." An e-mail to customer support got me back a confirmation that I am properly registered for the two new programs and I should have no problems. I guess continuing to receive the "You are not authorized to receive this service" response when I try to update the virus database isn't a problem for McAfee. However, it is a damn big problem for me. -Who knows what sort of spy-ware McAfee installs on your computer with its standard installation? A quick check with Windows Explorer reveals that their uninstallation procedure does not uninstall 100% of the components of the McAfee software you have installed, that is for sure. Avoid this horribly run company and its products. Even though it's not costing me any more than tax and postage after the rebates to re-subscribe, I think that's still the opposite of a bargain and I regret my decision to stay with McAfee. In retrospect, I should have gone with either Norton or one of the several freeware antivirus programs.
Rating:
Summary: DANGEROUS PRODUCT
Review: This product is dangerous. It is designed to give information. The McAfee company is also deceptive both in it's advertisements for the sales of this product and on it's support site. Examples: McAfee Instant Updater. Claimed by McAfee to have been "debugged" from the previous version 6. NOT SO! If the user chooses to configure the Updater to automatically update, then any answer given to user on new, available DATs will most likely be false. AND once the Updater has been configured in this way, it will ALWAYS malfuntion, even if the user reconfigures to manually update at a later date. What is the big deal? How can you tell if new DATS are there when the Instant Updater cannot now tell you the "truth"??? The vast majority of the time, it will tell the user that you are "updated" when in fact you are NOT. AND McAfee has claimed this problem was fixed, so how is the new and/or loyal user to know it was NOT? Hint: dig very deeply into ALL of the text files for the info McAfee provides you. To fix: You must now configure to manually update. The Instant Updater will appear to check for you anyhow, but you cannot trust it's function anymore. Click to manually check for new DATS manually. It is not difficult, but it must be done daily. Example of information loss: The Firewall looks to be mostly splash and more of a help to marketers on the Net. Why? The program deliberately unblocks essential programs to release information packets, including data from emails, to Internet marketers. The most notable and worrisome is the ICMP blocking option. McAfee claims it is blocked by default. NOT TRUE!!! It must be continuously manually checked and set to block. It must be checked throughout the entire online session. It "unblocks" itself when the user chooses to merely look at network activity on the cute splash screen. And it releases more packets of information. The user cannot choose to look at the logged warnings--the ICMP blocks will be lifted again--something that should not happen. The user cannot visit sites such as IMDB and other large Internet business without again, configured blocks such as the ICMP miraculously "unblocking" themselves again. When the user chooses to "save log" of the warnings and alerts, which INCLUDE the binary codes sent out, and any reconfiguration that has been done--again; McAfee unblocks specific safety nets to release even THIS information not only to itself, but to others, including Internet marketing information companies. The blocks lift again when users type in passwords to specific large and commercial sites. It lifts again when the site's emails are opened. Example: when a "SYN" port attack occurs, McAfee will block, BUT will also display a vibrant warning with the encouragement to trace---you do this, your vital blocks will be dropped again. They should not be lifting for these reasons!! And there is no warning at all to the user. Except for the fun little log listing that when the user clicks to look at . . . lifts the blocks again! The ONLY reason for the ping blocking programs to be lifted is when the user utilizes the "trace" system. Of course, the user must be aware that their ICMP is not going to go back up. This is not a virus problem, people. And it's not a buggy program. McAfee is not a stupid company. Tech support and site problems: VERY bad and deliberately so. Designed for optimum encouragement to buy. Example: "MyDoom" virus. Users had to go to the McAfee site to download DATS and STINGER. Of course, this was correct because of the specifics of the virus. HOWEVER, when the user tried to click on the "DATs" link, he was brought directly to a new, huge and brightly colored page advertising McAfee's latest Antivirus Package. At an incredible cost. This happened over and over several times, during which time, non-stop pop-ups appeared screaming warnings about the user's pc system being in danger without additional protection by affiliated companies. The "re-up" subscription was doubled in price from the time of purchase. Company rights? Sure. The timing? Superb. When users tried to access for help online, they were blocked, knocked offline, given obviously auto-generated "chats" for a short period of time before being "accidently" disconnected. Emails were not answered for weeks, and then not without threats of action. Callers who tried to call company numbers to express very real worries and concerns were put on hold indefinately and hung up on. This company is a disgrace. They are overt thieves. Their programs are NOT sloppily written. Any user should not let themselves be told by McAfee or even a buddy that they really do not understand software and that they are at fault. This dinosaur of a programmer knows a program design when she sees one. If you want to be lulled by a cheaper priced-company who uses the useless and out-dated word "user-friendly" as a encouragement to buy . . . If you want to be forced to pick up the phone and pay almost $3.oo a minute to tech support . . If you want to loose private information from your very own well-configured Firewall, with McAfee's sanctions, and then be bullied and frightened into believing that YOU are at fault for not being knowlegable . . .
Then by all means, this is absolutely the product for you. It is the ultimate in American marketing skills. My advice? Go with Norton. They've been around for decades doing professional work with far more applause from professionals and give truly legitimate awards. Always check out who gives any company their "Award-Winning" reviews. Watch how fast I'm booted.
Rating:
Summary: would not update and locked up internet explorer
Review: this product is the worst thing i have put on my computer to date. it installed ok but when i tried to update it lock up. it also caused problems with internet explorer and would not allow my home page to load. worst of all there is no support other than paying big $ for phone help or waiting for hours for email. they have chat support but it did not work correctly. i ended up buying norton and it works great so far.
Rating:
Summary: Not For Morons....
Review: This product works well. The critics who gave this product such negative reviews amaze me. I've never heard of people having problems with VirusScan to such a degree as these "experts". I have never had a problem with this software since version 3. I am an avid gamer, having built and configured hundreds of PCs. It works better than the Norton stuff, which has had some serious program conflict issues in the past. I have configured VirusScan to work in many different situations with no problems. I've never had a problem with the updating programs, in fact its running right now to update my virus DAT file. I've also run it to update my entire program over the web last week, nothing bad happened. I do know that if you install this software in an unstable environment (where the hard disk is bad in spots, where the OS has crashing problems) then it only makes the situation worse. The firewall works very well and it will crash Internet Explorer or Netscape if you don't configure it to recognize these programs. I think this is where the "experts" run into trouble. If you have a cable modem then VirusScan works even better. I took away one star due to the QuickClean Program. Although it does do a decent job cleaning out junk files from a PC, I don't like some of the features of this program, it needs re-tooling in my opinion. Just pay attention when you install and configure this program and you will have no problems.
Rating:
Summary: Not For Morons....
Review: This product works well. The critics who gave this product such negative reviews amaze me. I've never heard of people having problems with VirusScan to such a degree as these "experts". I have never had a problem with this software since version 3. I am an avid gamer, having built and configured hundreds of PCs. It works better than the Norton stuff, which has had some serious program conflict issues in the past. I have configured VirusScan to work in many different situations with no problems. I've never had a problem with the updating programs, in fact its running right now to update my virus DAT file. I've also run it to update my entire program over the web last week, nothing bad happened. I do know that if you install this software in an unstable environment (where the hard disk is bad in spots, where the OS has crashing problems) then it only makes the situation worse. The firewall works very well and it will crash Internet Explorer or Netscape if you don't configure it to recognize these programs. I think this is where the "experts" run into trouble. If you have a cable modem then VirusScan works even better. I took away one star due to the QuickClean Program. Although it does do a decent job cleaning out junk files from a PC, I don't like some of the features of this program, it needs re-tooling in my opinion. Just pay attention when you install and configure this program and you will have no problems.
Rating: 
Summary: I RESPECT the positive reviews--but I'm going neutral...
Review: This program works very well--it was able to detect some viruses on my computer as soon as it was installed. It also helps greatly when downloading, as it IMMEDIATELY notifies you if you have a "worm" or other sort of virus. It has even saved me from other viruses sent to my computer over p2p software. I have a decent knowledge of anti-virus software, but I haven't used Norton since Windows 3.11 (YES, 3.11 not 3.1) in 1994. The software works as it's supposed to--it can scan every single file on your computer, skip certain ones if [for some reason] you want, you can query tasks, etc. It also has options like "file shredder" to totally erase data off your HD if you need that much security. I honestly haven't tried auto-update with this version, I manually installed; but I have done auto-update with versions in the past. The BAD is that although this program seems to use little resources--ocassionally (TWICE A DAY!) it eats up a TON of your virtual memory for no apparent reason. At first I thought it was some large files I was moving but I've done that several times after and the problem is not specific to that. This problem lasts at least 3 minutes--where your computer will slow to a crawl. CPU usage in "Task Manager" will remain low--like 10% or 12% but your "Page File" will be huge (500+ mb). This may have something to do with the size of your page file--but that's a ridiculous glitch. OTHERWISE the program is easy to install and maintain, it uses very little resources* except for that HUGE glitch imo. [Windows XP seems to operate at the same level as it does without the program.] The options on how to set this program up are fairly simple, e.g. "enable system scanning" to scan downloads, system files, etc. *(The important specs--my computer has an AMD Athlon XP 1800+, 256MB DDR 2100, 40GB 7200 rpm HD + 20GB 5400 rpm HD, GeForce 4 Ti4200) ***EDIT: In case anyone was confused I meant I have used McAfee in Windows 3.11 and stopped using Norton's antivirus programs at that time. I've stopped using this program, but it can come in handy when getting rid viruses. Also I meant that I manually installed the program and disabled auto-update [for virus database files] but kept it up to date. Auto-updating in previous software seems to have worked correctly.
Rating: 
Summary: Very good, after the updates
Review: To edit this review a final time after using the product for several months I would have to recommend it. However a previous reviewer is correct, VirusScan Pro 7 does install a network filter even if you disable email security features and do not install McAfee Firewall. Their support site confirms the filter causes network problems, yet they will inform you how to remove the filter if you ask. Also, the update process would run into the same patch error regularly. But they allowed me to download the full update file twice and that worked fine. This version of VirusScan really lets you have control of what and when you scan. It scans faster than the previous version, and is much more stable. All in all a great upgrade but be forewarned you may need to contact online support if updating fails.
Rating:
Summary: Don't even think about buying this piece of absolute junk!
Review: Unfortunately, I get a lot of viruses sent to me by mail. I use the Eudora Light mail client. McAfee VirusScan discovers the viruses Ok, but that's unfortunately not the end of the story. For each single incoming virus, this is what happens: 1) The pop-up window that's supposed to pop up and ask me what to do, actually does exactly so, and I click either "delete" or "clean", to get rid of the virus. 2) However, McAfee VirusScan fails doing so, and the pop-up window pops up again, with fewer alternatives. 3-10) This strange procedure with something failing and a new pop-up-window popping up is repeated about 10 times (note that we're still on the same virus!). 11) McAfee VirusScan makes the mail client lose contact with the server. 12) Checking mail again, the mail containg the virus is downloaded again, since McAfee VirusScan made Eudora lost contact with the server, and the server thus tries to re-send that mail. 13) Thus, step 1-12 are repeated forever! 14) I.e. the only way to check mail, is to deliberatly TURN OFF McAfee VirusScan, check the mail, and manually delete everything that look suspicous! 14) It seems IMPOSSIBLE to get any support from McAfee: I tried to use the web form, but I didn't get an answer; I tried the web chat alternative, but was disconnected after I'd first waited 30 minutes in the queue and then had typed in the entire description of my problem. I will NEVER EVER buy any product from McAfee again, that's for sure! This is the absolutely worst piece of junk that I've ever bought.
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