Following a comprehensive redesign launched in early October, the premium security suite McAfee Total Protection raises the bar. Widely awarded for its detection performance, this all-in-one solution aimed primarily at families offers a multitude of supplementary features to ensure comprehensive and effective protection. It can now compete with its main rivals Norton 360, Avast One, and Bitdefender Total Security to position itself among the best antivirus solutions on the market.
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Compatible with Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Android and iOS, the security suite stands out with a unified, easy-to-use interface and is accompanied by numerous educational resources. It relies on a state-of-the-art detection engine that is effective and proactive. In addition, it offers a wide range of extra features that would make free antivirus solutions blush, such as a VPN, a password manager, an identity monitoring module, and even a dedicated experts service in case of an incident.
Founded in the United States by the late John McAfee in 1987, the company is one of the pioneers of the antivirus market. After achieving enormous early success, it was sold by its founder and changed hands several times until 2010, when Intel acquired it for a modest sum of 7.6 billion dollars. The acquisition did not bear fruit, and Intel later decided to sell 51% of its stake in the company for only 1.1 billion dollars. Predominantly controlled by the investment fund TPG, McAfee—now part of a joint venture—faces fierce competition. The American publisher continues to push forward with innovations, such as the relatively rare Chrome OS support, dedicated expert assistance, unlimited users, and identity protection integration.
- mood30-day trial
- devices1 to 10 devices
- phishingIncludes anti-phishing
- local_atmIncludes anti-ransomware
- groupsParental control included
- New, coherent and didactic interface
- Effective protection overall
- Identity protection focus
- Some features are fewer (mobile apps)
- Approach that is broadly public-oriented and potentially divisive
The security suite has undergone a major redesign focused primarily on home use. Like Norton 360 or Bitdefender Total Security, McAfee Total Protection emphasizes feature richness. However, the quality of certain features leaves room for improvement. Identity protection and the password manager, for example, remain imperfect. As shown by recent tests from AV-Test and AV-Comparatives (see below), McAfee has made substantial strides in terms of protection. The suite also benefits from excellent software optimization, resulting in a low impact on the system.
Protection
No surprises: McAfee Total Security maintains an excellent level of malware protection, with notable performance in AV-Comparatives and AV-Test laboratories. In AV-Test’s evaluation, the solution nearly achieved a perfect score with a 99.6% detection rate for February to May 2023. For more common malware collected over an eight-week period (March/April 2023), it delivered a flawless performance for both months: 100% of the 15,664 AV-Test samples were correctly identified.
AV-Comparatives’ Malware Protection Test (March 2023) presents several measures, starting with offline and online analysis on 10,014 common threats. Distinguishing the two scenarios helps measure the product’s effectiveness without an Internet connection, where McAfee is neither exemplary nor disastrous, detecting 89.6% of threats. There are worse results (Trend Micro at only 60.09%), but far from the 98.1% achieved by Bitdefender. Moving to online analysis, thus leveraging McAfee’s cloud, detection rises to 99.7%, the best score in the ranking along with Norton. AV-Comparatives also conducts a protection test on the same dataset, which evaluates the antivirus’ ability to block threats during execution, acknowledging that a malware sample not detected by the static analysis may still be blocked effectively when executed and behavioral detection is engaged. And this is what happens, as McAfee achieves 99.9%.
AV-Comparatives uses separate measures for offline and online sample analysis. On the offline side, McAfee is among the weaker performers in the comparison, alongside Trend Micro, Microsoft, and Norton, while most still exceed 90% detection. Online, however, climbs to 99.6%. Another important AV-Comparatives figure is the protection rate: how many threats are actually blocked during their execution rather than just in a static scan? In the end, McAfee is among the few products tested that come close to perfection at 99.8%. Conclusion: even if all security nets do not catch every threat, malware does not infect the PC. However, this score should be nuanced, because in its latest “real world” protection test, which evaluates security solutions under real-world web conditions, McAfee did not allow any attacks that could compromise the system.
The other AV-Comparatives test is the Real World Test, where products are exposed to live malicious URLs during the benchmark, and all technologies, including URL blocking, are used. Initial results show a strong success for the solution with no infections and only 0.2% of threats where the decision is left to the user, and no infections.
Regarding false positives, McAfee stands out among the best in both laboratories. In AV-Test’s tested period, only one false alert was recorded. For AV-Comparatives, the suite recorded seven false positives in Malware Protection Test and four in Real World Test, a higher figure than in previous years, reflecting the engine’s increased aggressiveness. Nonetheless, it remains a very effective and reliable antivirus on both counts.
If McAfee had some difficulty with the performance impact of its solution last year, things are somewhat better in 2023. For AV-Test, McAfee sits around the market average, depending on the benchmarks.
Interface and usability
2021 marked a major redesign for McAfee Total Security, introducing a brand-new, welcoming, and didactic interface. Like Norton, McAfee focuses on accessibility for the general public rather than complexity.
McAfee Total Protection basically shares the same assessment as F-Secure SAFE, but the American rendition is more successful and further refined in the latest edition of the suite. The guiding idea behind this redesign seems to be to present only the essential information and features that users may need and nothing more: the system’s security status, the latest actions taken, and quick access to the main modules. McAfee has slightly revised its approach and now directs users directly to specific modules: VPN, antivirus, or privacy-trace erasure, rather than to broad thematic sections. A hamburger menu also appears to provide quicker access to features. It is true that this interface—simplified and standardized—will not please everyone, but for a consumer-oriented product, this simplification may bring McAfee closer to its traditional user base. A few points still irritate: for example, the password manager and identity verifier open web pages in the browser. While having these sections available in a web interface is commendable, many would have preferred to access them in the app as well to maintain navigational coherence across the rest of the suite.
The module interface itself is fairly similar to previous versions, with a simple harmonization of fonts and visuals to fit this redesign. Across all screens, a breadcrumb bar lets you move between levels, correcting one of the major criticisms of version 23.
The firewall remains present, with different operating modes depending on whether you want the software to determine trusted applications or if you prefer to take control. Rules can be created for specific applications, network connections, and ports.
The protection of web navigation is still present, as McAfee debuted its Web Advisor service early on, which adds a reliability score to links you visit through a browser extension. Nothing particularly new here: the extension works with sites you visit, as well as search results and links suggested on social networks like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
The main protection modules
- McAfee Global Threat Intelligence: cloud-based protection
- Behavioral analysis
- Web Advisor: protection against malicious websites and fraudulent links on social networks
- Protection against vulnerabilities
- Firewall
- Antispam
Additional features available
The major novelty in McAfee concerns identity protection, with new tools that complement the password manager. Thus, similar to what F-Secure offered with Identity Protection, McAfee Total Security lets you submit your email and password for a data-breach check. If breaches are detected (and it’s very likely), the service guides you through the changes to make, and you can then mark the breach as resolved. Quite well done and educational, the feature also lets you monitor other information: phone number, date of birth, passport, health insurance, credit card, tax number, and bank account.
We appreciated the late but welcome addition of a VPN to the Total Security offer, and it remains well integrated into the interface across all versions, even the mobile ones. No evolution on this point: settings remain minimalist. You can at most choose a server in a specific country or use the nearest connection, and enable automatic connection on LAN or Wi-Fi networks.
Safe Family still offers a solid parental control solution, albeit now as a dedicated app. It is easy to configure and install, and it helps protect your children’s web navigation, set usage time windows, and locate your children on a map, with the app also available in mobile form.
We also finally find the TrueKey password manager. The password manager has not changed much and will mainly interest users who do not already have a dedicated solution. It lets you store credentials via a web interface and browser extension and generate strong passwords.
Key features
- VPN
- True Key: Password manager
- McAfee Safe Family: Parental controls
- Private files locking
- McAfee Web Boost: Web navigation optimization (block autoplay videos, etc.)
- App optimizer
- Cookie and tracker removals
- Vulnerability and outdated app analysis
Technical support
French-speaking technical support is accessible by phone and via a chat system from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday. Unfortunately, the publisher does not offer weekend support beyond forum access and an online FAQ. Users can rely on a quality service during business days, with trained and competent agents. A major strength for a family security suite.
Pricing
Strongly competing with its compatriot NortonLifeLock, McAfee sharply reduced the price of its premium Total Protection suite by half in one year! This suite, priced at 44.95 euros/year for ten devices, is now among the cheapest in its category. Of course, it is not a free antivirus, but note that the publisher offers a “satisfaction guaranteed or money back” within 30 days and a full refund against viruses. The two other McAfee variants, Individual (29.95 euros/year for 1 device) and Multi-Device (39.95 euros/year for five devices), also saw significant price reductions this year. A very good thing, as McAfee’s previous exorbitant pricing was neither competitive nor justified.
- McAfee Total Protection: subscription at 29.95 €/year (1 PC/Mac/Android/iOS)
- McAfee Total Protection: subscription at 39.95 €/year (5 PC/Mac/Android/iOS)
- McAfee Total Protection: subscription at 44.95 €/year (10 PC/Mac/Android/iOS)
McAfee Total Protection: Clubic’s verdict
McAfee makes solid progress with this new version and, in the realm of security suites designed for everyday public use, stands among the best. Its new interface will surely annoy a power user who feels constantly guided, but for a solution aimed at technophobes, the guidance and interface consistency—across screens and across desktop and mobile—are commendable. With improved performance and only a few gaps on zero-day threats, while maintaining a low impact on the system, it re-establishes itself as a strong family-focused suite.
If McAfee Total Protection doesn’t fully meet your needs, consider Avast One, which offers an equally easy-to-use experience. The all-in-one solution shines with the antivirus efficiency and unlimited VPN. If, on the other hand, McAfee’s approach seems too simple for your expertise, check out our review of G DATA Total Security. Its interface is highly customizable and it includes performance optimization features. Finally, if you’re seeking a minimalist solution that spots and eliminates malware, see our article on Malwarebytes Premium—this software is for you.
McAfee makes a notable improvement with this new version and, in the realm of security suites truly designed for everyday consumers, ranks among the best. Its new interface will inevitably annoy a “power user” who feels perpetually guided, but for a solution aimed primarily at technophobes, the guiding work and the consistency of the interface—across screens and across desktop and mobile—are commendable. Yet McAfee still lacks that extra edge that would render it infallible, and while it maintains a high level of protection, it does show a minor dip on zero-day threats.
- Coherent and instructional new interface
- Effective protection overall
- Identity protection focus
- Some features are fewer (mobile apps)
- Broad public-oriented approach that can divide opinion
The security suite, following an extensive graphical overhaul, leans toward family use. Similar to Norton 360 or Bitdefender Total Security, McAfee Total Protection emphasizes functional richness. Nevertheless, the quality of certain features remains lacking. Identity protection and the password manager, for instance, still require refinement. As AV-Test and AV-Comparatives’ recent tests show (see below), McAfee has made significant progress in protection. The suite also benefits from excellent software optimization, resulting in a light footprint on the system.
Web Console and mobile apps
There are new developments on the web for McAfee, though not necessarily where one would expect. Don’t expect a management console for the suite comparable to Bitdefender or Kaspersky: the interface remains minimalist, primarily serving to download apps on various devices. The new McAfee introduces a new web application, McAfee Personal Protection (see Additional Features), a well-designed identity protection module that borrows the ergonomics of Windows, and integrates well with the Windows-style interface.
From a mobile app perspective, it’s somewhat confusing. Essentially, the publisher is supposed to have merged its three apps (Mobile Security, Web Advisor, and TrueKey) into one, which adopts the Windows version’s design. Practically, this app does exist on the Play Store, named McAfee Innovation. However, when trying to install McAfee on an Android phone via the QRCode from the Windows app, the link redirects to the old McAfee Mobile Security, still available. A bit strange, perhaps justified by the new version skipping certain features like anti-theft or system optimization. But for how long will McAfee Total Protection continue to be offered to Android users?
With that in mind, the new all-in-one app is quite pleasant to use and could be described as a “lite” version of the Windows suite, sort of a responsive web experience. It uses a card-based flow that informs you about your security level, actions you can take, or general security best practices, with action buttons that are precise and contextual to the widget’s question. This is a fairly radical shift from a traditional mobile suite, but the Services tab offers a more conventional access to the various features: antivirus scan, Wi‑Fi network security check, VPN activation, etc.
That said, the new all-in-one app is quite pleasant to use and could be described as a “light” version of the Windows suite, akin to viewing a website in a responsive form. It uses the same card-based flow that informs you about your security level, possible actions, or general security recommendations, with precisely contextualized action buttons depending on the widget’s question. This is a fairly radical shift from a traditional mobile suite, but the Services tab offers more classic access to features: antivirus analysis, Wi‑Fi network security check, VPN activation, etc.
On iOS, features are more limited, but the interface benefits from the same redesign. The antivirus analysis section naturally disappears, as iOS does not allow developers as much system interaction as Android. Remaining are network Wi‑Fi analysis, VPN activation, secure web browsing, and identity protection. Two features also appear to have been dropped: a photo vault and contact backup/restore.
Defensive modules
Although the McAfee interface has evolved considerably since our last test, the core features of the software have not really changed, and they did not need to change much. The software’s detection engine remains built on the same blocks: “boosted” behavioral analysis using artificial intelligence and “classic” analysis reinforced by Global Threat Intelligence cloud. Together, as the test labs show, you have solid protection against both known and unknown threats, with a relatively low rate of false positives.
The firewall remains, offering different modes depending on whether you want the software to auto-detect trusted applications or manually configure rules. Rules can be created for specific applications, network connections, and ports.
Pricing
Strongly competing with NortonLifeLock from the same country, McAfee halved the price of its premium Total Protection suite in one year! The latter, which is now 44.95 euros per year for ten devices, is among the cheapest in its category. Of course, this is not a free antivirus, but note that the publisher offers a “satisfaction guaranteed or money back” within 30 days and a full refund against viruses. The two other McAfee variants, Individual (29.95 euros/year for one device) and Multi-Device (39.95 euros/year for five devices), also saw prices drop significantly this year. A very good thing, because McAfee’s former exorbitant prices were neither competitive nor justified.
- McAfee Total Protection: subscription at 29.95 €/year (1 PC/Mac/Android/iOS)
- McAfee Total Protection: subscription at 39.95 €/year (5 PC/Mac/Android/iOS)
- McAfee Total Protection: subscription at 44.95 €/year (10 PC/Mac/Android/iOS)
McAfee Total Protection: Clubic’s verdict
McAfee shows significant progress with this new version and, in the category of security suites truly designed for mainstream users, it climbs to the top tier. Its new interface will certainly annoy a “power user” who feels constantly guided, but for a solution aimed primarily at technophobes, the guidance and the interface’s coherence—across screens and across desktop and mobile—are commendable. With improved performance and only a few gaps in zero-day threats, while keeping a low impact on the system, it reestablishes itself as a very good family-oriented suite.
If McAfee Total Protection doesn’t fully meet your expectations, consider our review of Avast One, which offers an equally easy-to-use interface. The all-in-one solution shines with an effective antivirus and unlimited VPN. If, instead, McAfee’s solution seems too simple for your expertise, check out our test of G DATA Total Security. Its interface is particularly customizable and it includes performance optimization features. Finally, if you’re looking for a minimalist solution that will identify and annihilate malware, then read our article on Malwarebytes Premium—this software is for you.
McAfee achieves a strong progression in this new version and, in the realm of security suites truly designed for general public use, ranks among the top. Its new interface will certainly frustrate a power user, who might feel constantly guided, but for a solution aimed at technophobes, one can appreciate the guiding work and the interface consistency across screens and platforms. It still lacks that extra edge that would make it infallible, and while protection remains solid, there are minor weaknesses with zero-day threats.
McAfee makes a strong leap forward in this new iteration and, among the truly consumer-friendly security suites, ranks among the best. Its new interface will surely irritate a power user who feels constantly guided, but for a product intended primarily for technophobes, the guiding work and interface coherence—across desktop and mobile—are noteworthy. There remains, however, a lack of that extra edge that would render it flawless, and while protection remains robust, there are occasional weaknesses with zero-day threats.
Daniel Brooks
I cover everyday products with a practical eye, from kitchen tools and home essentials to smart gadgets and consumer trends. My goal is to help readers understand what is genuinely useful, what is worth the price, and what deserves a second look before buying.