McAfee
McAfee is an antivirus and internet security suite that bundles virus scanning, a web safety browser extension and identity monitoring. It ships preinstalled on many new laptops and is sold as a yearly subscription with automatic renewal.
#16 in Security & Privacy ToolsAntivirus SoftwareNo free plan
Who it's for
Best for
Families wanting a web filter that blocks fake download links on a shared PC
IT departments needing enterprise controls for USB devices and blocked software
Not for
- PC owners who want quiet software that uninstalls cleanly
Careful buyers who dislike forced card details and auto-renewal
What users say
Pros
- The web safety extension blocks fake download links and suspicious pages before they load in the browser.
- Flags a save editor hidden inside a zip file on a micro SD card as a threat.
- A bundled year of protection ran with no disruptive notifications or interruptions.
- Enterprise editions block unauthorised USB devices, unapproved software and report incidents to a central console.
Cons
- Pop-up adverts interrupt games, photo edits and lessons to push extra upgrades.
- Removal leaves services and files running, needing a dedicated removal tool or a fresh Windows install.
- Auto-renewal keeps charging cards years after a subscription was cancelled or had expired.
- The background scanner eats CPU and memory, making laptops and games crawl.
- New, clean computers get warnings about viruses, full disks and dark-web leaks that are not real.
A selection of the review sources we used:
Summarized from public user reviews and community discussions. View details
Global Traffic Rank
Top 50k
Alternatives
Rank#16 in category#2 in category#3 in category#4 in category
Free planNoNoNoYes
ProBlocks suspicious links early, flags tools in zip filesRemoves malware, cleans USBs, real human help, scam blockingMalware removal, multi-device cover, simple scans, VPN bundleGenuine free protection, years of clean machines, hands-off use
Better forGetting free ongoing antivirus protection without paying for a yearly subscription.