Rating: 
Summary: good overall product, best major marketed AV product avail.
Review: Overall very good product for personal AV product
A safer bet than TM or Symantec, which seem to have fumbled, as much as I like Trend Micro...(refer to my other 2 reviews of AV 50ph7\/\/4|23)it's been great btchng @ the world...
thanks Z
Rating: 
Summary: Too good for its' own good!
Review: I bought this product because two of my friends had it and gave it wonderful reviews. I was told the security/virus features on it were top of the line. That was my biggest concern for I felt a little too unprotected using Norton AntiVirus and Norton Firewall. The program seems to work against itself a little too much! First, I immediately found that it was blocking ITSELF from accessing the internet for updates or accessing files for its' own virus scanning. Then the whole process of getting updates is annoying, it doesn't seem to do it by itself. You have to login to a webpage to get updates! Plus it always needs to pop up a bunch of windows to show me it's updating. I don't think that whole production to get an update is particularly necessary. During Virus scan it asks permission to view several files. However, it finishes the virus scan before I return to my computer to click "OK" to access the files. Possibly the worst problem is virus scan in email. When I send large files it scans as it sends, this prolongs sending and for some reason it times out the email server and NEVER sends the message. The SpamKiller works horribly. I didn't buy it thinking I would use it anyway since no SpamKiller is really that wise, but I gave it a try. All of the messages it thought were spam were real emails and all the emails it approved as real were spam! The Spyware killer included seems a bit buggy and the Document Shredder doesn't make you FEEL that it's working. Both ran but gave a bunch of errors. Mostly I think the errors happened because McAffee was keeping it from accessing certain files. The features in the entire suite all are very confusing. I don't know where everything is and it's complicated to run. It has so much stuff and it seems that it's just thrown about in these categories. I'm not a person who usually has problems with programs. I always like and understand this stuff, but McAfee always seems to be way out in left field. I swore I never would go back to them after their "Gaurd Dog" program gave me problems, but I figured it's been a long time and I'd give them another chance. It's sad to see they have improved little. What do I like about this program? I LOVE THE FIREWALL. It has caught tons of IP addresses trying to gain access to my computer. This proves that my Norton firewall was not doing the job as I suspected. It has also blocked harmful popups and sneaky downloads that want to take over my computer. The Firewall in this thing is totally flawless, I have had no problem with it yet. The entire program may run flawlessly if they just made sure it didn't block itself from running its own tasks!! I will most likely end up uninstalling everything and keeping the firewall. I will have to go back to Norton AntiVirus because this is just too buggy for me.
Rating: 
Summary: Released too soon
Review: Once the bugs are worked out of this product, it might be worth buying. However, in the mean time, be prepared to deal with a whole host of problems. Here is what I experienced: 1. Web update feature never worked properly. Eventually I figured out that one had to turn off the web popup privacy controls to allow the update window to open (incidentally, this is enabled by default). You'd think that McAfee would have at least tested this feature thoroughly with their own update servers.
2. Automatic update downloads failed part way through and would tell me to try again. After trying four or five times to update various modules of the software (each failed, and had to be restarted), I just gave up.
3. Antispam program would not allow me to send any e-mail (and yes, I set it up correctly). I would have updated the anti spam software, but I could not, because the updates always failed.
4. I checked out the McAfee forums, and official tech support seems to be AWOL. It is mostly staffed by volunteers and well-meaning amateurs. Be aware that you need to register this software to get any updates for it. Once you register, the clock starts ticking (1 year) on both the updates you can download and your AV subscription. Furthermore, you cannot download updates and store them. Essentially, this is "subscriptionware" you really never own this software. McAfee needs to provide freely downloadable updates for this software directly from their website. I did like the level of integration of the various modules - it seems more like an integrated whole than some of the other internet security suites out there. Also, the firewall and antivirus software seems to be pretty good, I had no problems with them. Also read the fine print - outlook 2002 integration is not supported in the Antispam program.
Rating: 
Summary: Works as Designed
Review: I made sure I followed instructions EXACTLY as written since there were reviews on this site that said there were problems. I experienced no such problems and the software has been working very well for my environment. I especially love the spam killer and popup blocker. I recommend this highly becuase you NEED the protection on the net.
Rating:
Summary: A custom installation works great for Windows XP systems
Review: I purchased this McAfee Internet Security Suite 2004, v6.0 in December of 2003 after learning about the nightmare problems relating to Norton Antivirus 2004 and its required activation scheme. I had been using the Norton Antivirus as part of the Norton System Works bundle since the 2001 version ( while running Win98SE) . I now am running mostly Windows XP Pro & Home and I have one machine with Windows 98SE. I can relate with many of the reviewers who claim that this McAfee bundle of software is bad because I first tried to install the complete suite of programs in on my Windows98SE system and it was a complete disaster. The system locked up on boot, gave blue screens, and basically rendered the system completely unusable. I think I ended up booting in safe mode and doing a complete uninstall of the program. I was able to download a program from the Symantec site called RNAV 2003 which removed leftovers from the old Norton 2002 installation and I was able to reinstall the original Norton System Works 2002 with success. I then ran the WinDoctor program which removed any leftovers from the McAfee 2004 program. I put the McAfee software aside and forgot about it for the next few months. Moving forward to March of 2004...I had a Pentium 3 1Ghz notebook with Windows XP Home installed along with Norton 2003 and Zone Alarm Pro 4. My notebook had been slowing down so much with each successive Norton System Works 2003 update that it was practically unusable. My entire system was so slow it was insane. It would take fifteen seconds just for the Internet Explorer 6 web browser to open. I knew the culprit had to be the latest Norton Antivirus updates since it was just recently after an automatic update when it had become so much slower. So I went on the internet to read reviews on alternative antivirus software and read some good reviews about the same McAfee software that I had problems with before. I read that basically the "Privacy" part of the McAfee suite and in some cases the "McAfee Firewall" were suspected at causing most of the problems in the Security Suite. I ended up uninstalling my Norton System Works 2003 completely from my notebook. I left Zone Alarm Pro 4 on the system but I disabled it temporarily. I did a custom installation of McAfee Internet Security Suite 2004 only installing the Antivirus and the SpamKiller programs (along with the McAfee Security Center which is required ). This custom setup installed without a glitch. I did the simple registration, downloaded all the updates online, and I opted out of any junk being sent to me from McAfee except for AntiVirus threat notices they email you once in a while. My notebook seems to work great now. It is about five times faster than when it was running Norton System Works 2003. The McAfee Antivirus works well, the SpamKiller works good, I have had zero lockups and no real problems since making the switch. The only issue I had was when I re-enabled the Zone Alarm Pro 4 firewall software I had to open up all the McAfee programs for complete access before the McAfee Security Center would successfully "auto-update" itself. As a pre-caution to make sure the McAfee updates all download OK ....once in a while I shut down Zone Alarm and manually check for McAfee updates and it directs to the web site where it sometimes updates itself. Usually the auto-update feature seems to work fine though. I have also have had success on other systems installing the McAfee Suite in same way (custom install exactly as I did above without the Privacy service) but instead I would use Windows XP ICF (internet connection firewall). This setup seems to provide adequate firewall protection, doesn't slow down your system, and the McAfee online auto-updates work perfectly. I hear that the latest updates to the McAfee Firewall have improved it greatly but I haven't tried using it since Zone Alarm Pro 4 works very well for me. For users of Windows XP Pro & Home I think that this McAfee Suite 2004 is a good value and provides good protection and functionality for most users in it is installed without the Privacy Program. The McAfee Firewall can be tried also but make sure you run the online auto updates for it or you could use the Windows XP firewall instead. For users of Windows ME, 98, or pre-XP versions of Windows I recommend Norton Antivirus 2002, or 2003 (if you have a fast computer), or one of the other antivirus solutions such as Kaspersky or TrenMicro's PC-Cillin. IN SUMMARY: PROS: -Inexpensive to purchase compared with other Antivirus programs such as Norton. -Custom Install without the "Privacy" program works great on Windows XP based systems. -The Antivirus program is fast, efficient, and effective. -SpamKiller seems to work well (not perfect but good enough). -The interface ( McAfee Security Center) is attractive and simple to use. -NO PRODUCT ACTIVATION is required (but simple, non-invasive registration is required for updates from the McAfee site) CONS: -Full installation of the Suite is prone to causing major problems and system slowdowns especially on non-Windows XP systems. -The "Privacy" program is prone to causing major problems. -Unless you are using the bundled McAfee Firewall the online internet updates sometimes (but not always) need to be checked or done manually to pass through another company's software firewall such as Zone Alarm. -The software seems to intall and work best with Windows XP and has been reported as being very problematic for some Windows 2k, Me, and 98SE/98 users. CONCLUSION: I highly recommended it for Windows XP users when a proper custom installation is done without installing the Privacy program.
Rating:
Summary: The best you can get!
Review: I deeply amazed how McAfee products are always mocked around by Norton lovers! The first and only reason could be that these Norton people have always used Norton and then suddenly tried something else. It happens that when you unistall Norton off your computer, it doesn't uninstall properly. Norton leaves leftovers to computer to prevent using other security software. That's my theory.
So - I use XP and I have never experienced any kind of a problem. McAfee virus protection especially is very good! Firewall is working good, not perfect, but with XP's own firewall it seems to co-operate just fine! Spam Killer fits well with Hotmail, but I don't know about other mail systems. The only thing that freezed my machine was Privacy Service, but maybe I didn't configure it right. So I switched it off. So simple! And the last point: McAfee doesn't slow my computer. No worries! Think people before you critizise!
Rating: 
Summary: Getting a refund
Review: I used Norton AntiVirus 2003 last year and thought I should buy a new copy since my subscription was running out. I had recently gotten spyware and wanted something heftier to keep those bad guys away. When I went to my local store to buy Norton, I saw this product and decided to give it a try since they use McAfee at work. Big mistake! The software constantly interrupts your workflow. I'd be writing an email and a pop-out warning would appear and make me tend to it. It was difficult to config the software so that it'd stop harassing me. I tried to access a website where I needed to login, and the site said I had cookies disabled. I was able to access the site after uninstalling McAfee. I contacted tech support 5 times with various issues, but they weren't very helpful, and I felt like I was talking to a bot. They just sent me the manual instructions instead of addressing my problem. I kept telling the tech/bot that it wasn't behaving like the manual said it should. It also took forever to shut down, and my system ran slower. When I uninstalled McAfee, my Eudora settings got screwed up and I had to fix all of the accounts. I contacted coporate hq about getting a refund, and I'm sending the info to them tomorrow.
Rating:
Summary: Startup Error
Review: I am currently running Mcafee Security suite on my laptop. It is a/has Dell, P4, 3.2g, 768MB RAM, 60G, XP Home. When I log into windows I have to enter my mcafee admin password. When I click login it takes me thru the register/setup form. When I complete the setup it tells me that I am already registered and then starts the whole register process over. It does this each time I start my computer. Also, if I try to update the product it starts the redundant register process all over. The tech support from Mcafee has been marginal at best, while the Dell support tech said "you might need to call somebody". The product does an excellent job of managing cookies and in and outgoing connections. The Security Suite has a lot of potential if they could just work the bugs out OR hire better support personel.
Rating:
Summary: Very good all-around protection
Review: I don't know what the problem is with the other reviewers for this product. I am running this on Win XP and it is all I could ever ask for in a security suite. It seems to have all bases covered and is fully customizable. Anti-virus program located six trojan horses that no other program I had could find and immediately cleaned them up. Much faster loading than Norton SystemWorks, which ran very slow and seemed to eat up more computer resourses. No one ever writes in to praise, only to complain, so I wouldn't put too much faith in a products star rating.
Rating:
Summary: Very disappointed
Review: We bought this to "protect" ourselves on the internet. After we download according to the easy to follow directions, we found out that we could not even log on to our internet server. We did not have another computer to access the "internet technical support." When we wanted to call for phone support, they wanted to charge us $39 for their service or $2.95 per minute of service. We were extremely disappointed. We'll buy Norton next time.
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