McAfee Internet Security Suite (2005)

...scan of my system - McAfee again not picking them up. It was set to scan all files, hidden included. I then scanned again with Kasperky online, and deleted the threats.

I also don't personally like the way the products bundled with this package all work together (Firewall, Anti Virus, Anti Spam, Privacy Control, Shredder etc.), and when you disable one, the icon in the system try turns black instead of the usual red, indicating something ...
...get a message stating that McAfee cannot close and have to stop the shut down, to close it down manually from the system tray icon (the only part of the programme running! It's certainly never open fully when I try to shut down!).

I'm afraid, it's coincidental, but I received my 'You can now write an option on this product' from Ciao message, shortly after I uninstalled it, and reinstalled my Norton Internet Security 2005. It slowed ... more

PRODUCT SALES INFORMATION:

* Anti Virus provides comprehensive protection agsinst viruses, worms, trojans, spyware, adware and other unwanted programmes.

* Firewall provides protection against hackers and on-line intruders.

* Spamkiller programme uses a multi-layered filtering engine to help keep inboxes free of spam.

* Integrated with MS Outlook and Outlook Express toolbars.

* Stealth programme detects hidden keyloggers that try to capture and steal your passwords.

* Web bug protection detects and filters out this unnanounced and unwelcome form of internet tracking.

* Improved pop-up and ad-blocking speeds up your web browsing.

* Shredder programme enhanced privacy and security through data erasure.

* Wormstopper looks for suspicious activities and stops mass-mailing threats.

* Cookie management and blocking allows you to accept only the cookies you want.

* Filtering of objectionable content for web surfing, popular instant messaging applications, and Usenet newsgroups.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:-
Microsoft Windows XP, 2000, Me, or 98
CD-ROM Drive (for installation)
70Mb hard disk space
128Mb RAM memory
Pentium 233 Mhz processor or higher
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher
Internet access for downloading updates

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Sorry guys, but I'm about to have a little rant about this one!!

I've always used and recommended to others, Symantec's products when it comes to internet security, anti virus, anti spam etc. but became a bit jaded when the last 2005 version drastically slowed my machine and didn't pick up on a threat one day, that McAfee's online scanned picked up on and erradicated.

I therefore decided to purchase this 2005 version of McAfee's Internet Security Suite on Ebay for £15. (brand new, sealed box, usually £50 in the shops). For that money it was worth a try I thought....

It was extremely easy to install, very straightforward, prompts you all the way though from installing, registration, activation and set up/configuration as you would expect, generally easy to use on a daily basis - however on daily use I found some of the features to be annoying.........

Several threats got through, even though I check sometimes twice a day for updates. I have a continually on, broadband connection and my PC is in a middle room in my house - I walk past it several times a day, keeping it up to date as I go, and it is left on and connected permanently for work reasons. I also dial in to my company's server in the office, as I work from home, so I need to be free of all threats and keep everything up to date, so I don't compromise their system!

I was hugely disappointed when I suspected I had a problem, as my system was 'playing up' and odd things were happening - websites started to open up on my screen without my intervention, so I did an online check with Kaspersky. It found three worms on my system that were active, so I carried out a virus update, disconnected from the internet and did a full scan of my system - McAfee again not picking them up. It was set to scan all files, hidden included. I then scanned again with Kasperky online, and deleted the threats.

I also don't personally like the way the products bundled with this package all work together (Firewall, Anti Virus, Anti Spam, Privacy Control, Shredder etc.), and when you disable one, the icon in the system try turns black instead of the usual red, indicating something is switched off. Yes, fine, I switched it off myself, but how do I know if something else is actually wrong with the system, if it's always showing as black!!!

I had to switch off their Anti Spam because after using it for a couple of months, after it downloaded an update it suddenly decided to block ALL my emails, even though I'd added all of my contacts to the 'allowed senders' list. I didn't realise it was blocking them, as it was over the weekend - my quietest time - but some of my friends thought I wasn't talking to them anymore, as I usually reply to them within a few hours!

Once an email is blocked, you can 'allow' them, but they don't go back into your inbox, which would be useful. They just go into an 'allowed list' - you can only read them via a preview pane arrangement, you can't access attachments, so I had to ask people that had sent attachments to re-send them - after switching the anti spam off of course, so it didn't block them again!

Also I find that when sending an email, the 'sending/scanning' box displays for quite a long time. It may only ba four/five seconds, but that seems like an age when you're trying to do something underneath it! I think generally most email scanning programmes are fairly guilty of this though!

Also too, I noticed that I got messages, sometimes once a day, saying 'McAfee email scanner has to restart, an error has occurred' so I dutifully click on 'OK' and it restarts. Sometimes too, when trying to shut the system down, I get a message stating that McAfee cannot close and have to stop the shut down, to close it down manually from the system tray icon (the only part of the programme running! It's certainly never open fully when I try to shut down!).

I'm afraid, it's coincidental, but I received my 'You can now write an option on this product' from Ciao message, shortly after I uninstalled it, and reinstalled my Norton Internet Security 2005. It slowed my system down yes, but it doesn't crash my system. I guess I shall have to carry on with Norton and do the odd McAfee free online scan, just to make sure!!!!!

One thing I would say, in it's favour though, would be the firewalls' integration with HackerWeb. This enables you to report hacking attempts at the click of a button. It automatically compiles and sends a report, with all the information Hackerwatch need in order to stop and maybe even prosecute hackers! Always a good thing! Also, it tracks where the hack came from and gives you information as to their domain name. In the past, programmes would only give you their internet providers details, but this actually gives their domain name, i.e. fredbloggs.btinternet.com. Handy if they registered their actual name as their domain!!!

Hopefully I haven't put you off it too much, it's just my personal experience, which is, after all what this is about. I'm sure other people find it to be exactly what they need and never have any problems! Good luck, and thank you for reading my rant!

 

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