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- Average user rating: stars out of 707 votes Back to product review
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6 out of 7 people found this review helpful
2 stars
Version: McAfee VirusScan Plus 2007
"Underwhelming way to slow down your computer"
Pros: Purchased for $20 and sold it for $25.
Cons: Everything goes through the redesigned McAfee Security Center, which is still horrible.
Antispyware is built into VirusScan, Firewall is dumbed-down... these two components created nearly 20 services running that consume about 125-130MB in memory and severely hinder boot-up and shut-down times, along with noticeable program start-up delays.
Installation automatically turned on my Windows Updates (I had them disabled) and Microsoft started pushing about 50MB of updates my way.
The antispyware service eats 100% CPU during the times it kicks in.
Unfortunately McAfee, Norton, ZoneAlarm and PC-Cillin are all trying to be the end-all Swiss Army knife of security and all of them put a serious hit on performance. For reference, my system is well-maintained with a 3GHz processor and 1GB of RAM.
- 2 replies to this review
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I have only been using computers for about three years. I bought a new E-machine Windows XP Media Plus Tower with a large LCD monitor almost six months ago. The setup came with a supscription to McAfee Security Center, which includes the firewall, virus scan, and all the other necessary security programs, exactly like the one you mention in your review.
On the computer I had before this one, I originally had Norton's and although I had little knowledge at the time, I rather liked the way it worked, user friendly, especially for someone who had never used a computer before (I was 47 at the time, making me %0 yrs old now.)
My question is: if the security systems you mentioned in your review, McAfee, Norton, ZoneAlarm and PC-Cillin are attempting to be the "end all Swiss Army Knife of Security", and they all "put a serious hit on performance", then, and this QUESTION IS OPEN TO ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE WITH A NEWBIE IN NEED OF GOOD SECURITY PROGRAM, what, pray tell, do you use so "For reference, my system is well-maintained with a 3GHZ procesor and 1GB of RAM", to keep your system so well maintained, if not any of the top rated security systems?
I don't doubt you, because I have learned one important lesson in the time I have been learning to use computers: no matter what the manufacturer claims it's product can do, the best persons to ask about how well a program or any softrwear performs in the field is to ask someone who does not get their paycheck signed by those who sell, manufacter, or promote any of the products they advertise as being the end-all cure to your computer's security needs. The people to ask are the ones who have been using computers for the last decade or so, and as such have been using computers out in the real world, been assalted, raped, hacked and know from their own experience the best way to protect a computer system.
Another interesting bit of information I have noticed by looking for a security program is that for some reason, none of the brands you mentioned in your reveiw are considered "compatible" by the manufacterure of the programs. Norton claims you must uninstall all of any of the programs made by McAfee,Zone-Alarm, and PC-Cillin, even if they are not enabled, but would cost twice as much to replace rather than renew the subscription.
Basically, I am trying to get the best security for my computer for an afordable price. I welcome any and all advice from thoe who are more experienced and understand that not everyone has access to a credit card and can just instantly type in t credit card numbver or an e- check and have their securty needs met instantlyu. Nor do I thnkk that is prudent to do without adequet researech of available security softwear. Unfortunatly, my protection subscription seems to have run out about three weeks sooner than the date I was told it would by the helpful salesperson who explained what nmy security included in the purchase price of my computer. I still have my firewall, and have downloaded AVG free antivirus until I can get to the nearest Office Depot or Best Buy to get a cd rom for security. However, if there is sometrhing better than Nortons, or the other high end securty programs, I would like to know what they are.
Anyone who is willing to share their secret with the rest of us, please do so .
Needing your help and experitse,
Ancientgoddessoul
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i hear you! i'm glad to see others vent on these extremely poor "security suites" they end up doing nothing all that well. except clog up your machine's resources.
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