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2.0 of 5.0 |
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McAfee AntiSpyware 2006 Version 2.0 |
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Publisher:
McAfee
Author:
McAfee
Release Date: 2005-08-05
ISBN/EAN: 0731944547541
New Price: $1.89 /
Used Price: $1.99 /
Collectible Price: n.a.
Buy
it Now!
Average Rating: 2.0
Number of
Reviews: 3 |
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| DO NOT BUY | Rating:  | | SLOW COMPUTER WAY DOWN.I REMOVED IT. I USE TREND MICRO. FAR SUPERIOR TO MCAFEE. | | Total Votes: 0, Helpful Votes: 0, Date: 2007-03-08 | | | | The Worst | Rating: | | The most terrible antispyware I ever used. The only thing worse is the Customer Support provided by McAfee. The online groups incompetence is surpassed only by the incompetence of the telephone support group. They need a good Systems Integrator to help them provide professional support. I'm done with them and will never spend another dollar on their products. | | Total Votes: 3, Helpful Votes: 2, Date: 2006-08-01 | | | | A big improvement over McAfee Antispyware version 1.x | Rating:  | The previous version of McAfee's Antispyware relied mostly on an antispyware definition database with active real time protection and did not include tracking cookie blocking. This new version 2.x is a quantum leap in antispyware protection. McAfee has not only improved its definition database and now included tracking cookie detection and active spyware blocking but it now monitors and blocks malicious changes to your Windows internet and system settings. These new monitoring capabilities have put McAfee on par with the best of the major antispyware products such as those offered by Webroot and ZoneAlarm. The McAfee interface has been changed also and it now is similar to the look and feel of the more recent version of the McAfee VirusScan program. If you don't like that McAfee interface or McAfee's attempt at installing its Security Center program then this Antispyware program may not be for you. However for most computer users this program is highly effective at blocking and removing most spyware, adware, and tracking cookie privacy threats.
Beyond using a good antivirus program the key to protecting your computer in an age of spyware threats is to use more than one program for security redundancy. Ideally you should be using at least one or two different paid for programs and one or more free programs to prevent spyware from invading your system. The best of the paid for programs is Webroot Spy Sweeper. If you are already using McAfee VirusScan version 10 then you already have the same McAfee antispyware detection database and you add redundancy by adding Webroot's excellent antispyware database while also getting Webroot's version of its Windows system and internet settings monitoring capabilities. If you are a fan of McAfee interface then adding McAfee Antispyware version 2.x to the VirusScan 10 program will still enhance your system security but you will not gain the same security advantage by simply using Webroot Spy Sweeper 4.5 or another major paid for program instead. I also recommend using the free Microsoft Antispyware beta no matter what you decide. The free to download Spybot S&D and Spywareblaster are also excellent free programs but should be used in combination with an active antispyware protection program such as McAfee's or Webroot's. One more program worthy of mentioning is ZoneAlarm Pro version 6.x. The new versions of ZoneAlarm Pro add antivirus and antispyware features integrated with the best software firewall available. Although it has great monitoring and triple firewall blocking capabilities ZoneAlarm Pro's antispyware active detection database is sub par as a stand alone antispyware scanning solution and configuring the ZoneAlarm Pro firewall settings can be a challenge for novice computer users. Some recent releases of ZAP 6.x have had some problems while others work great. More recently I like ZAP version 6.0.667 while not liking version 6.1.737 but results may differ and it depends on the software configuration of each individual computer system.
PROS: McAfee AS is very easy to install and configure, it does automatic updating for its definition database, its real time scanning is fairly fast and efficient, it does advanced monitoring for the Windows internet and system settings. The McAfee interface is simple, attractive and it updates the same way as other McAfee security programs. The program provides very good real time protection against spyware, adware, tracking cookies and malicious system changes. It is rated among the top five in "paid for" antispyware program solutions.
CONS: Even though it may be more efficient and use less system resources it is still not quite as good as the number one rated Webroot Spy Sweeper 4.5. Like all McAfee security software it tries to install the sometimes criticized McAfee Security Center program. Full system file scanning can take a long time to complete. Just like VirusScan it relies heavily on Microsoft Active-X control and Internet Explorer for its program updates. If you already are using McAfee VirusScan 10 you will probably gain more value by going with another top rated "paid for" antispyware program for better detection redundancy. The program detection scan has been reported in the past to have a higher than usual number of "false positive" spyware detections.
CONCLUSION: This is a great program to add another level of security when used in combination with other antispyware software. I have had good results using McAfee AS with the free Microsoft Antispyware beta. Advanced power internet users might also want the advanced triple firewall protection of ZoneAlarm Pro version 6.x. Even though I believe Webroot Spy Sweeper to be the best of the major antispyware programs I have found McAfee AS to use less system resources. If your system has a 1Ghz CPU or slower or less than 512K of RAM then consider using only McAfee Antispyware or Microsoft Antispyware beta for antispyware protection but do not use both.
THE BOTTOM LINE: The latest McAfee Antispyware version 2.x is a big improvement over version 1.x and its detection and prevention capabilities make it one of the better "paid for" antispyware programs available. I recommend this software as a simple and effective antispyware solution and give it a rating of four out of five stars. | | Total Votes: 0, Helpful Votes: 0, Date: 2006-01-06 | | |
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