Not everyone needs an antivirus plan with extra bells and whistles—sometimes a subscription covering the fundamentals is all you need. (Why pay for what you won’t use?) On paper, McAfee Total Protection fits that bill nicely. In addition to strong antivirus and firewall protection, this software package also throws in a VPN and a password manager, along with dark web monitoring and a couple security-oriented utilities for your PC. The problem is that not every feature is a winner, which diminishes Total Protection’s appeal.
WHAT DOES MCAFEE TOTAL PROTECTION INCLUDE?
Despite the low introductory pricing, McAfee’s entry-level plan is more comparable to rivals’ mid-tier offerings. The basics include malware, network, and online threat protection that scans continually for dangerous software and exploits on your PC, potential network intruders, and suspicious websites. Also included are a password manager and VPN with unlimited use; a tracker remover that wipes cookies, trackers, and browser history from your browser; and a file shredder utility. A separate Scam Protection app for mobile devices is available, too.
The Essential plan does not offer parental controls. You must upgrade to the McAfee+ Premium Family subscription for access to those tools.
PRICE
McAfee Total Protection varies in price depending on the number of devices covered. When purchased through the McAfee website, the Essential 5-device plan (used for this review) costs $40 for the first year, and then $120 per year afterward. The Basic 1-device plan runs $30 for the first year, and then goes up to $90 per year afterward.
Plans come with a . Annual users are signed up for auto renewal by default, and McAfee charges for the next year 30 days before your
