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McAfee Internet Security for Mac Review: Internet Security Software |
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| Offers standard, reliable security for your Mac with a simple, easy interface; a bit expensive since it offers few features | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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McAfee Internet Security for Mac is actually an improvement over the PC version of McAfee. While it doesn't offer the same features (a big downside considering the expensive $79.99 sticker price), it has a much sleeker and simpler interface and offers the same consistent, trusted protection that McAfee is known for.
Installation One of the simplest installations we experienced from the Mac versions of security software. No extra personalized questions or set ups. No restarting your browsers or computer. The software is ready to go once you complete the simple install. Interface Surprisingly, McAfee's interface is actually a little sharper than their PC version. It is also the simplest and most intuitive interface that we saw while reviewing security software for the Mac. It only has two sections, Dashboard as well as Scans and Updates. The Dashboard section houses the main page, which lets you know if your computer is secure. It also has a History and Log section, which details the history of any security events on your computer. The only real extra feature that McAfee offers is the Quarantine area that is featured in the Dashboard section. It allows you to section off any files that you think might be compromised so that they don't infect your computer. The last option in the section is the My Account button which directs you to your browser and takes you to your account on the McAfee website. The Scans and Updates section houses exactly what you would expect: Scans and Updates. McAfee Internet Security for Mac offers three different scans, the Full Scan, Scheduled Scan and Custom Scan. The Full Scan scans your entire computer, while the Custom Scan allows you to choose which files you want to scan. The Scheduled Scan allows you to schedule out specific custom scans. The Update section allows you to update your software with McAfee's database so it includes all the most recent data on security threats for Macs. Antivirus and Antimalware/Performance Despite the recent rash of attacks on Mac computers, there are few viruses and malware out there that can easily penetrate a Mac, which makes testing the security software difficult. But McAfee has always done well with independent testing when it comes to the PC version of the software. Unfortunately, McAfee ended up faltering in the most recent round of tests from AV-Comparatives, an independent antivirus testing organization. In the Whole Product Dynamic Test, which looks at how the different components work together against viruses, McAfee scored 0 out of 3 stars, a first for McAfee. Part of why it was ranked so low was because the software is designed to warn you about malicious web addresses that you might be visiting, not block them, which is one of the key components to the test. The software also historically tends to be sensitive and blocks several safe sites or files. We did perform our own individual Mac-specific tests of the software, and it performed exactly as it should. It blocked every test virus we threw at it, as well as some safe software already on our computer. As far as performance is concerned, the software still performs at the quick speeds it is known for, without slowing down your computer. Conclusion The protection is solid. The interface is simple and easy to use. Overall, McAfee offers a great standard security software suite. The problem is the price compared to the lack of features. If the price was $40 less, it would be comparable to Eset in both price and features, but the $79.99 could be a lot for many users to shell out. System Requirements: Apple Mac OS X 10.5 or higher AV-Comparatives ratings on a variety of tasks related to the antivirus and anti-malware product. "Known Malware" refers to a product's ability to catch pre-identified viruses, while "Unknown Malware" refers to its ability to detect brand new viruses. Older scores may reflect previous software versions. All AV-Comparatives scores are based on the PC version of McAfee.
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**Score indicates impact of antivirus product on system performance. Average of performance tests by AV-Comparatives. 
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