Some antivirus products strictly handle the core issues of cleaning malware from infested systems and preventing any further attacks. McAfee AntiVirus Plus 2013 handles the basics plus firewall protection, website reputation with antiphishing, and a number of other useful tools. It's not the very best at fighting existing malware infestations, but its wealth of bonus features may offset that weakness.
Many security vendors sell antivirus products in packs of one or three licenses. McAfee's 2013 line takes a different approach. You get your one license for $49.99, then add as many additional licenses as you want for $15 apiece.
If you're familiar with earlier versions of this tool, you'll find the new user interface to be quite a departure. Last year's antivirus used a narrow, compact form for its main window. This year it's morphed into a much bigger window, with large, touch-friendly buttons for Windows 8 compatibility. A separate Navigation Center offers alternate mouse-friendly access to all features; it's the only way to launch a few advanced features.
Difficult Installation
At one point in the installation process, McAfee's installer announces, "Please wait while we clean threats on your computer so your installation will be trouble-free." If only that were true! In fact, getting McAfee installed on my 12 malware-infested test systems was a real nightmare.
On eight of the systems, it did install and run with a few minor problems. I had to run the scan in Safe Mode on one system, because malware interfered. Another didn't install correctly at first, but worked fine after a full uninstall and reinstall.
One of the test systems can only in Safe Mode, because a ransomware program demands money to enable normal Windows bootup. McAfee will scan in Safe Mode, but it can only install under normal Windows. McAfee's Stinger tool targets specific Trojans and other malware that can interfere with the full antivirus. Stinger got rid of the ransomware, but after installation McAfee wouldn't update. A session with live chat support and remote assistance solved that one.
The activation and update processes failed on another system because malware actively blocked access to McAfee's websites. Stinger didn't help on that one, so I booted from McAfee's CleanBoot Recovery Disc and ran a full scan. That solved the problem.
Tough malware on a third system blocked installation. I ran Stinger and Cleanboot to no avail. After a lengthy remote assistance session, the support agent passed me along to Tier 2 support. Tier 2 eventually escalated my case to a free session with McAfee's Virus Removal Team. They eventually solved the problem, but wow, it took a lot of time.
That wasn't the worst, though. After McAfee installation, the fourth system lost all connectivity to the Internet. Stinger and Cleanboot didn't help. With no connectivity, I couldn't get remote assistance. I had to stay on the phone with tech support, following the agent's instructions, for more than two hours to solve the problem.
It's true that you'd only experience this frustration once, at the initial installation. Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus 2013 managed to install on the exact same test systems with only one minor hassle. Norton AntiVirus (2013) encountered the same problems McAfee did, but its built-in AutoFix along with Norton Power Eraser and the Norton Bootable Recovery Tool worked through the problems.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/YyT61CEMXNU/0,2817,2412835,00.asp
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