Is installing McAffee a good idea?

[Monk]

Has just bought a new laptop which came preinstalled with McAffee 30 day total protection software. I would like to know if anybody is using it and whether it is any good. Also, McAffee have a special online offer at the moment Total protection for 3users for about £32. I believe they are going to send me a reminder with a chance to extend my license although I don't believe it will be for this price. Thre are 2 more laptops in the household so getting the special offer seems a good idea. The thing is I don't know if I will have to uninstalled the current McAffee software before installing the new packet. I have never downloaded securitry software on line before so don't know what to expect. Will I get a license key for all 3 and will have to start from scratch? Or is it better to install it from a disk in which case I'm getting not such a great deal. Feel free to advise.

[Rik]

I would personally avoid McAfee like the plague, Monk.

[Monk]

Why and why would you recommend instead, Rick? Also, how easy is it to remove existing software. I have heard that it is difficult to remove.

[Rik]

It can be, but later versions of McAfee have been 'clean' to remove. If not, there should be a tool on their website. Personally, I'm a NOD32 fan, from Eset, others like Kasperky or F-Secure, and there are free options too.

[Monk]

Someone has mentioned Eset at work but I'm not sure what/which version I'd need to buy to get total protection. Would you mind naming the exact product Rik? By the way, thank you for your opinion.

[Glenn]

http://www.eset.co.uk/Products/Antivirus

[Rik]

Personally, I only use AV, Monk (or may I call you Thelonius? ). Others prefer the whole security package.

[quandam]

Monk

Go with Avast Free Home Edition (excellent) or pay for the upgraded version. Agree with Rik, avoid McAffee & Norton both overrated and costly.

[Monk]

Thanks to everybody for the responses and links. Will check it out. It would be a shame to buy an expensive piece of equipment only to have it invaded by a virus.

[Rik]

You're not wrong there. Make your choice and download before removing the McAfee, drop the 'net connection while you do it.

[Gary]

AV comparatives for December 2009. Symantec scores highly on performance as well in scanning times coming up as very fast along with Eset. In overall system performance Kaspersky just pipped Symantec, followed by Eset in third place. Times change, but McAfee is worth avoiding.

1.   Symantec, Kaspersky, Threats blocked, 99 out of 100
2.   AVIRA, 97 Threats blocked, 97 out of 100
3.   Microsoft, Avast, Threats blocked, 96 out of 100
4.   G   DATA ,   F-Secure,   ESET, Threats blocked, 95 out of 100
5.   Bitdefender, Threats blocked, 91 out of 100
6.   eScan, Threats blocked,  89 out of 100
7.   Trustport, AVG, Threats Blocked, 88 out of 100
8.   McAfee, Threats blocked, 86 out of 100
9.   Norman Threats blocked, 74 out of 100
10. Kingsoft Threats Blocked, 60 out of 100

[Sebby]

I would also avoid McAfee. It's bloatware and not all that good.

[Niall]

I stopped trusting Mc Afee when they released a virus years ago, so they could claim they were the only one that could clean it/block it.

Also http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-GB%3Aofficial&hs=Zgn&q=Mcaffee+fined+&btnG=Search&meta=&aq=f&oq=

They're not the most trustworthy company.

[john]

Monk

Go with Avast Free Home Edition (excellent) or pay for the upgraded version. Agree with Rik, avoid McAffee & Norton both overrated and costly.

I'd also recommend you install CCleaner, DRWEB and Malaware Bytes

[Gary]

I'd also recommend you install CCleaner, DRWEB and Malaware Bytes

Not if you are using Kaspersky it hates malwarebytes and any other form of web security CCleaner is ok though, it even asks to remove supersantispyware, this is the word from the Kaspersky forum, tbh that annoys me, I like a choice in what I install, Kaspersky has gone a bit Symantec in that way.

[David]

Would this apply to site advisor where Mc Afee is concerned ?

[Monk]

Thanks everyone.

[Rik]

Would this apply to site advisor where Mc Afee is concerned ?

I've stopped using it, David.

[David]

Thanks so have I now 

[stevenrw]

I had the same dilemma and after consulting the good folk on this forum I went with ESET Smart security (The full suite). I find it really good and unobtrusive. Furthermore I was going to need 2 licenses but my wifes lappy had Symantec and was not due to be renewed for a few months. The ESET sales were really helpful and I was able to buy a shorter license (cost reduced pro rata) for her machine so as to renew both at the same time.
I'd be happy to recommend, but quite a few of the guys here at work are happy with the free combination of Zone Alarm and AVG, so thats maybe worth considering...

[Rik]

Eset are very helpful with pro rata licensing I've found, Steven.

[T_M_D]

Has just bought a new laptop which came preinstalled with McAffee 30 day total protection software. I would like to know if anybody is using it and whether it is any good. Also, McAffee have a special online offer at the moment Total protection for 3users for about £32. I believe they are going to send me a reminder with a chance to extend my license although I don't believe it will be for this price. Thre are 2 more laptops in the household so getting the special offer seems a good idea. The thing is I don't know if I will have to uninstalled the current McAffee software before installing the new packet. I have never downloaded securitry software on line before so don't know what to expect. Will I get a license key for all 3 and will have to start from scratch? Or is it better to install it from a disk in which case I'm getting not such a great deal. Feel free to advise.

I am very happy with Microsoft's free Security Essentials - it is so unobtrusive I forget it is there. I don't much care for McAfee or Norton. Tina.