(Totally Redone) Worth it?
Written: Jan 04 '00 (Updated Jan 06 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Its better then a lot of scanners out there.
Cons: Not the best detection, can be confusing to use
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| xmetalfanx's Full Review: McAfee VirusScan |
I have had experience with four different versions of McAfee (well, 2 of them, and 2 "subversions"). I have had versions 3.09, 3.12, 4.02, and 4.03. I use to have an older computer with Windows 95 and the 3.xx (xx representing various numbers) scanner. At that time the only other scanner I had tried was Pc-Cillin. (I forgot exactly what version), and that just let 2 viruses go by, causing my computer to crash. McAfee scanned and cleaned the viruses (or delete the infected file). I have temporary used version 4.02. Hewlett Packard gave me the 16 bit version (Windows 3.1) with Windows 98 Operating System, and it crashed McAfee when I update 4.02 with 4.03's Data files. I do NOT blame that on McAfee one bit. It was awhile back, but I think all I had to do was enter my registration code for McAfee that "HP" gave me and McAfee gave me a free upgrade to the correct version. I have not had to deal with their customer service, so although I have heard that is was not the best, I cannot comment on that. The current version I have is 4.03.
McAfee tells you when "VShield" is not enabled. What this does is scan for viruses in the background when you are working. This takes up system resources and may slow down your computer when running different programs. It is a very good idea to scan your entire hard-drive once in a while, but this is a good feature to have. There are different components of VShield (depending on what parts of McAfee you have installed). The two main components are "System Scan" and "E-mail Scan."
In System Scan you can choose when you want files to be scanned, such as when programs are ran, created, copied, or renamed. You also have the choose of what type of files to scan for. Most of the time scanning "All file" is really not necessary. Most (not all) viruses come in .COM or .EXE formats, and not WAV file, not BMP files, ...etc. You can configure System Scan for what you want it to do when it finds a virus.
Some of these options include not being able to use the infected file, being able to continuously use the infected file. Other options include being able to clean, delete or exclude the scanning of the infected file (in future scans). When a virus is found, VShield, can be configured to send Network alerts, "DMI" alerts, you can set it to send you a sound alarm, and/or a custom message, whenever a virus is found. You can log the scans, select how big the log file can be, and you can select what to include (or not include) in the log file. Being able to exiled specific folders from the scan is also an option.
Internet Scan lets you scan your e-mail program, such as Microsoft Exchange. This is good for scanning attachments to e-mails. If you find that an attachment is infected you can configure your own custom message that will be sent to the original sender of the e-mail, and/or the user of the mail service.
You can also password protect the options of the scanner, so that if someone tries to change the options for VShield, they will need to enter a valid password to do so. Virus Scan can be set up to scan at specific times and intervals. This can be useful AND annoying. If you are working on something important and the virus scanner just happens to pop up and scan, it can slow down your computer and may cause program problems. I would try to set aside time each week to scan the entire hard drive. (This probably apples to all virus scanners) Personally, I do this before I turn my computer off on certain days, or when I am eating diner, but do not turn the computer off. It may take time to scan the hard drive, depending on it's size. When you find that it has protected you from a harmful file, I think your'll find that it is worth the time.
McAfee has an easy to use "Wizard," that guides you step by step in sending an infected file with a possibly new virus to McAfee. There is also an option that lets you make an emergency disk, in case of a virus infecting your hard drive, so you can not boot up. Unlike Norton, this disk is just to help you boot up to Windows or DOS. Sometimes if you get to DOS, you can not run the virus scanner. Norton has multiple disks, that practically put the virus scanner on the disk, so that if you need to run a scan, but can only get to DOS, you can run a scan of your computer.
The list of viruses in the database is located at a URL (Website). I do not like this feature because, if you are infected, and want to know about the virus, you have to get onto your ISP, and go to the website. Many other virus scanners, you can just click on a button, and they give you an in dept. description of the viruses it can scan for.
Personally I do not like this scanner. (Version 4.03 anyway). There are a lot of things that need to be redone. On competent sites that test each scanner every couple of months, there are NUMEROUS scanners that out perform McAfee. McAfee for me has missed numerous viruses, worms, and Trojans, that scanners such as Norton, or "AVP" have detected and removed easily. You can give it a try, but I would definitely get another virus scanner for protecting my computer
++Addition++
I forgot to mention the scanners that I believe are better. Detection wise, I think Anti Viral Toolkit, is the best (Http://www.avp.com). The easiest that I have used so far is Norton. I will not say too much about these products, since it is a Mcafee review, but please see my epinions on the other two anti-virus programs.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
xmetalfanx
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Member: Mike
Reviews written: 32
Trusted by: 12 members
About Me:
http://xmetalfanx.hollosite.com
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