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McAfee

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5.4

Overall Score

Author: Jenna Vasquez

LAST UPDATED: April 7th, 2022

McAfee, founded in 1987, is a well-known cybersecurity solutions company that offers award-winning antivirus software to individuals, families, and enterprises. 

McAfee® Total Protection is the company’s premium antivirus product. This product is designed to help consumers secure and protect their personal devices and information from various cyber criminals and threats. 

he company offers the following three consumer-based McAfee® Total Protection subscription packages: 

  • The Single Device package  
  • The Individual and Couples (up to 5 devices) package
  • The Family (up to 10 devices) package 

Each package that is listed above includes a one-year subscription and offers many different features in addition to antivirus software including home network security, safe web browsing, encrypted storage, secure VPN, and more. 
Read on to learn more about McAfee® Total Protection and to see real customer McAfee reviews.

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The Good

  • Multiple Service Options
  • 30-Day Free Trial 
  • 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee 
  • 24/7 Customer Support 

Multiple Service Options

McAfee offers extensive security software for a variety of devices, including PCs, Macs, tablets, and smartphones. 
As previously mentioned, the company offers three consumer-based McAfee® Total Protection subscription packages.

These packages include: 

  • Single Device — This package costs $29.99 for one device for the first year subscription. This package involves antivirus software, secure VPN, performance optimization, home network security, access to security experts and online support, access to a secure password manager and McAfee® Shredder™, safe web browsing, and encrypted storage. 
  • Individual and Couples — This package costs $34.99 for five devices for the first year subscription. In addition to what is offered in the Single Device package, this package also offers multi-device compatibility and identity theft protection. 
  • Family — This package costs $39.99 for 10 devices for the first year subscription. This package includes everything from the Individuals and Couples subscription and is designed to help consumers protect their entire families on just one subscription plan. 

Each subscription package that the company offers lasts for one year. 

Consumers should note that some of the features within the packages mentioned above are only available if customers are enrolled in the company’s auto-renewal service. 

30-Day Free Trial 

Those interested in McAfee® Total Protection can try the service for free for 30 days. According to the company’s corporate website, with this 30-day free trial, consumers can obtain antivirus scans and can get threats removed before they pay for a yearly subscription service.

Additionally, the company’s free trial lets consumers protect up to 10 devices including devices that are Windows, Mac OS, iOS, or Android. 

McAfee’s website also states that the company does not require credit card information from consumers who wish to obtain a free service trial. 

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee 

McAfee offers a 30-day money-back guarantee to customers who are not satisfied with the company’s services. 
In order to obtain a full refund, customers can contact the company’s customer support team and request a refund or they can fill out and submit a “request a refund” form that can be found on the company’s website. 

It’s important to remember that customers can only request and receive a refund within 30 days of purchasing a McAfee product. 

24/7 Customer Support 

In addition to a 30-day money-back guarantee, McAfee provides around-the-clock customer support services. 
Consumers can get in contact with a security expert at any time. These security experts can help consumers who are in need of technical assistance, who want to request a refund, who need help with their account, and more.

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The Bad

  • Second-Year Subscription Price Increase 
  • Renewal System Inconvenience 

Second-Year Subscription Price Increase 

In terms of subscription pricing for McAfee® Total Protection, the company appears to charge a higher rate for the second-year subscription. 

These second-year subscription price increases may be more than what some consumers are willing to pay in comparison to the prices that are set for the first-year subscription. 

Consumers who are signed up for auto-renewal may want to pay close attention to the second-year subscription prices before their subscription is automatically renewed. 

Renewal System Inconvenience

There have been complaints about McAfee's default subscription auto-renewal system, which automatically re-subscribes customers for another year of service once the subscription is over. 

It appears to be a simple-enough process to turn the auto-renewal system off, but some might consider that an inconvenience. 

According to the company’s website, customers can take the following steps to turn off the auto-renewal system: 

  • Log into their McAfee account 
  • Select “My Account” at the top of the page 
  • Click “Auto-Renewal Settings” 
  • Follow the instructions on the page 

Consumers may also find it inconvenient that some service features are only provided if they are part of the company’s renewal subscription system.

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The Bottom Line

McAfee is a well-known, trusted brand to consider for computer protection. The software performance measures up to that of competitors, and protection is available for most operating systems and devices.

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Star Rating

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3.7

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194 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

39%

4 grade

23%

3 grade

16%

2 grade

8%

1 grade

13%

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DaretoExpose Las Vegas, NV

Malware firewall and virus scanners. Has a backdoor superuser account that is hidden from the customer. This software was banned in 2016 by the Federal Government due to Russian Hacking during the 2016 elections. ISP's such as Cox Communication, uses McAfee as a paid service after they have hacked your property with zero day exploits, malware, viruses and more. Their favorite line to scare non-tech savvy customers is by telling them they have a Trojan/Virus. There is no such this as a trojan virus. Trojan Horses uses connection to a malware server or a compromised network using compromised links that re-directs its victims to malware websites. . Viruses are infections, software that contains viruses, malware, keyloggers and more.

5 years ago

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John Albuquerque, NM

I have now used the McAfee ALLACCESS service for 4 days. It started blocking all my LIVE and OUTLOOK mail, treating as spam. Took me several hours to find the correct settings. Also keeps removing (losing my homepage (even though I have a lock on it). Have tried to look for support on this, and it just takes me to a purchase another product page to fix this. I thought ALLACCESS was all-inclusive of McAfee services. Evidently not!! I got this because my son, who is an IT specialist recommended it to me. I have been dealing with computers since pc's first started coming out. But so far this product is very difficult to fine tune the setup , other than the default settings that it installs. Getting very frustrated and may just go back to MS Security essentials. Not sure if I would recommend this to anyone at this point.

11 years ago

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Stephen C. Taffe Windsor, CT

It slows down the computer even on startup and takes priority over every program and to stop the scanning is difficult. Also the full scan takes a very, very, very long time. I have scanned back to back to see if there was a real threat and if it was eliminated which, it seemed to say I had a virus every time or I needed a repair with some software, command issue. So I never knew if it was doing something or just pretending.

10 years ago

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Laurie Carleton Tyler, TX

A free trial of McAfee came on my new computer. After the free trial I bought it for a year. It's awful. It always turns itself off. I've had at least 6 attacks on my computer that it didn't prevent. The first couple they helped out. After that they wanted to send me to a special "virus" team and upcharge me over and above what I had already paid for them to prevent. Don't recommend them AT ALL and will not renew.

11 years ago

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hasmat ali Sacramento, CA

McAFee youguys left me in the middle of the road,with out informing me anything,youguys told me to pay 19,99 for one year service,and I paid it,but still McAFee youguys left me hanging,i talk to the service rep,she was one crazy customers service rep,i gave all the information she needed but still ,I didn't get no help,i have no security system working in my pc,and youguys keep popping up 5 to ten times daily,and not doing nothing,i trusted youguys McAFee and see what youguys done to me,thanks a lot.

11 years ago

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Teresa Martin Hartselle, AL

I would never recommend this product. Since installing, my computer has all but stopped working. It keeps telling me I do not have web protection and to buy now. You have to go around the world to get to your account to put in your verification code. There is no where for tech support. I miss Norton. They are so much more helpful. After the initial installation, BING ( which seems to be hated by everyone) showed up on my computer. I can only assume that it was installed with McAfee and impossible to remove. I would NOT recommend this product for any reason.

11 years ago

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Anne Burroughs Leesburg, FL

I have used McAfee for several years.I was satisfied until they took out of our checking account for auto renewal when we did not authorize it.When i called customer service ,One person i talked to tried to sell me a subscription for 49.95 then in the same conversation she changed the amount to 19.95.All i wanted was for her to put the money back into our account.After that i cancelled my subscription and went to a different company.

11 years ago

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Julie High Springs, FL

It's fine UNTIL you have a problem & need an operator to help you. Then I was on hold for about 45 minutes, then after speaking to an operator, I was put on hold another 30 minutes. THEN when I finally get an operator, I'm informed it's going to cost me $189 to $250 to have whatever done to fix the computer. And all I called about was it running slow & getting popups, telling me that I was running out of Disc Space on the HP Tools "E" drive thing. Soooo needless to say ASA my subscription runs out I will not be renewing it!!

11 years ago

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Luke Swierczynski Troy, MI

This is literally the worst antivirus I've ever experienced second to norton. I had used this on my parents computer since I got a free trial and within 6 months their computer was destroyed with malware. Had to do a fresh install to remove it all.

4 years ago

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Barbara Field Zebulon, NC

I experienced a continuous problem with the Java and Adobe starting in Oct/Nov 2014. After scheduling numerous appts for repair (which were never answered at time scheduled) the problem continued and continued and continued. I originally paid $60.00 for this repair and to date the problem is STILL NOT REPAIRED.

11 years ago

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Garth Clayton, IN

I used McAfee a few years ago, in one years time I had to format my hard drive 4 times to get rid of virus' that McAfee wouldn't. no Customer support. Then I tried Norton 360, it was just as bad. Now I'm using Webroot it's been the best so far.

11 years ago

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Aron Columbia, SC

I had two viruses using McAfee software on two different laptops.Would have figured I would learn after the first virus.(BUT NO) I used it again only to get another virus plus malware on the second laptop.I wont use it again

12 years ago

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Thomas Nuffer Lindon, UT

Honestly the worst anti-virus I've ever used. It uses so much of your resources constantly and just makes your computer slower overall. it annoying has pop-ups trying to make your pay more money for it. And the worst thing is it's stock on so many computers, and most the people with it don't know what it's doing to their computer. This is true with a lot of free antiviruses but this one takes the cake for the worst one.

4 years ago

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r vido Orem, UT

I bought a new computer and it had a free trial of McAfee virus protection. I bought a year's worth for $20 at the end of the trial. Then the fun started! It wouldn't load. Naturally, I called customer service and was told that the protection I bought was not compatible with my computer but that they could sell me a compatible protection for a mere $200.00!! I said forget it and refund my money. They refused!! They refused!! This company runs a scam, as simple as that!!

5 years ago

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Kenneth Okerlund

I stopped using Mcafee after my trial period with them ended. I have been pretty on top of which antivirus software I want and I wasn't too happy with what they offered nor their pricing.

9 years ago

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klaus griffis Laurens, SC

good and bad.good the 1st year.bad the 2nd yeari was automatically charge but it still keeps telling me that i need to buy it to get coverage. i'm trying to cancel it,but can not get a hold of anybody.

11 years ago

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Clay Thurgood Salt Lake City, UT

I have a lenevo computer and it constantly bugs me about how “my virus protection has run out” and they won’t stop. They are sneaky and have it so you have to click an almost invisible x button cause if you press the ok button it will buy it for you.

4 years ago

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Gabe Burton Riverton, UT

doesn't protect your computer from crap. It's basically malware itself at this point. The program is huge, it takes up so much RAM and space that your computer is seriously better without it. Not to mention the spam notifications every 5 minutes if you don't renew right away. trash.

5 years ago

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Leonard Thompson Show Low, AZ

I purchased this software for my laptop and have had nothing but problems. It has done nothing to protect my computer and is always popping up reminding me to do something. It’s way overboard and has done nothing of good quality.

5 years ago

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Aaron Secaucus, NJ

Annoying. Comes *installed* by default on many older computers, an installation which does nothing but beg you to pay for it. There are better & less obnoxious options. Have you heard the stories about the guy who created it?

5 years ago

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Mason Allen Provo, UT

I had it on one of my work laptops and it drove me nuts. It kept sending notifications for the most random updates and I could not get it to stop popping up notifications. It is supposed to prevent pop ups yet it was popping up more than anything else on my computer.

5 years ago

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Johnny Austin, TX

McAfee would not download on my computer for renewal even after using it for years. Customer service unable to help.

11 years ago

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Bob Calabasas, CA

crap and terrible, just don't use it go for avast! or some other free software that actually grants detection

11 years ago

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BingBong Davenport, FL

Sham of a company that is the very thing they say the protect against.

5 years ago

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Lois Shelton Dandridge, TN

It keeps telling me I am not secure! I darn well better be!!!!!!!!!!!

11 years ago

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Sandy Seaside, OR

We loaded it on our computer, and basically crashed our computer. We had to delete it. Not happy.

8 years ago