2012 Antivirus Software Ratings

McAfee AntiVirus Plus 2012

McAfee used to be the trusted name in antivirus software, but they've coasted on their name for far too long -- and this year it really shows. From virus protection, to usability, to resource usage, McAfee Antivirus Plus 2012 slipped down even further.

There are a few things going for them, namely McAfee's solid real-time protection, but their deep scanning and virus removal proved to well below par.

On top of that, we're seeing some serious system resource usage from McAfee.

McAfee's technical support is adequate on the self-help side of things. From forums to chat, most issues can be resolved. However, more serious support will cost you, and it gets expensive fast.

There aren't many extra features, but there are a few handy tools, which is nice. Despite this, McAfee Antivirus Plus 2012 doesn't cut it this year.

Good URL scanning isn't enough when your computer is bogged down and nearly unusable. And poor virus removal is just unacceptable.

	Next: Virus & Spyware Protection

McAfee AntiVirus Plus 2012 Features

• Real-time Antivirus
  
  Provides protection against current, real-time virus threats 24/7.
• Two-way Firewall
  
  Helps stop infections before they reach your computer. Monitors traffic between your computer and the Internet.
• Antiphishing
  
  Helps identify and block malicious sites that try to steal your identity by stealing your login information or credit card info.
• Search Protection
  
  Identifies dangerous virus sites right in your search results.
• File Shredder
  
  Permanently deletes files so hackers can't see your personal or sensitive files.
• PC Tune-up
  
  Cleans up your PC and keeps it running smoothly.
• USB Scan
  
  Scans USB devices for maximum security.