Suite as . . . (McAfee Internet Security 2009)

Member Name: tallpete33

Product:	McAfee Internet Security 2009
Date:	15/07/09 (96 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Complete package for home systems, 3 user license

Disadvantages: Site advisor poor, Yahoo toolbar issue

Having run MacAfee Internet Security 2008 (see my other review) for over a year with no problems on my laptop and desktop (both running Windows Vista Home Premium), I was quite happy to install McAfee 2009. I have just put it on my desktop for now so I can run a comparison with 2008 for a while and update this review with any findings.

Installation took 10-15 minutes including two restarts. You are given the option to install from the CD or internet, I chose the CD as I thought it would be faster, accepted the defaults and then let it download the updates straight afterwards. The whole process was quite smooth; it removed the previous version cleanly (with the upgrade version, obviously it won't do this) and recognised I was registered already so I did not need to enter my personal details. If you already have a different AV suite (e.g. Norton) installed, you will need to remove it first and I'd definitely recommend restarting Windows too.

Once complete, I had a look around the program itself. The interface itself is very similar to the old version and the default installation included AV, Firewall, Site Advisor, and Anti-Spam amongst others. Updating and running a manual scan is very easy - it's running one now without any performance hit. In day to day use, it is mostly unobtrusive which is exactly how it should be. It flags up if your protection is not up to date and it is just a question of clicking the "Fix" button and you're good to go.

For those who use local e-mail programs, Outlook and Outlook Express are supported. I access my personal mail (yahoo and hotmail) from the browser these days as the interface is just as good as these programs and as they do not store address books/mails locally you will have everything you need at any PC and not lose data in the case of a hard disk crash. That's my personal preference but Outlook/Express users should be supported ok however I can't comment on how the McAfee works with it.

Site Advisor does what it says on the tin and is useful but not exhaustive by any means. I opened some adult sites (for research only, of course) and it had no data on them so was of not much help there. Obviously the database will be updated, but as more dodgy sites will be born each day so it's an ongoing battle. What I wasn't so happy about was the way the software tried to install the Yahoo toolbar with Site Advisor and make Yahoo the default search engine. There is obviously a commercial tie-in there but I'm happy with my Google toolbar and declined, thanks. It actually diasbled my Google toolbar, though I could add it again after a restart. Cheeky.

Network Manager is a nifty tool that lets you check all your home machines (i.e. those that connect to the same wireless router) are up-to-date. As most updates are installed automatically anyway, it shouldn't be needed too much but it's useful to have in the days of laptops buried away in teenagers rooms. It will also show if your neighbour has managed to hack into your broadband too.

There is also a "Lockdown Firewall" utility that stops internet connections instantly which may be of use if you suspect you're under attack from hackers or have a virus you don't want to spread etc. Of course there is always the on/off switch on your router!

Overall, it's a slight but not ground-breaking improvement on 2008 and at about around £25 for a 3-user license it is quite reasonable for most homes. You can also buy the upgrade package (if it's cheaper) if you already have 2008 installed.

After seeing many friends having problems with Nortons over the years, I have run McAfee 2008 problem-free for 12 months and confidently expect more of the same with the 2009 version.

(also reviewed on amazon)

Summary: Recommended for peace of mind

Variety of features:
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