McAfee Virus Scan version 9 2005

 McAfee Virus Scan 9

The Same as it ever was.

Faster, Smaller and well done.

While McAfee has retained much of the look of the previous version, there are enhancements beneath the hood. For existing users, there are no programs out there that are this small, this fast and this solid.  With only Symantec as a serious rival, McAfee still remains a respectable choice.  The only down side is that end users cannot install both McAfee and Symantec at the same time.  Picking which one remains a matter of choice. 

In the coming week, I will have a summation of Norton Anti Virus. Until then, McAfee is still looking very very good.

Thursday, October 21, 2004

McAfee VirusScan version 9 2005

Web site: www.mcafee.com

Price: $ 49.00 Direct

Check web site for downloading only prices 

One of the big selling points with McAfee Virusscan version 9, along with the remainder of the programs in the new 2005 line up, is that they are relatively small files.  Avoiding bloatware like the plague, Mcafee has wisely kept the programs slight. Clearly an attempt to make downloading easier and more efficient, McAfee is really promoting the idea of software as a service, and moving away from the physical box. Certainly boxed software is not dead. You can still purchase these programs in the nicely designed red box. But clearly, McAfee is putting some effort into making the internet downloading process a much better experience. 

Considering the small foot print of their programs, and their adaptability online, McAfee may very well be moving closer to the idea of software as an online service. For broadband users, the download of a ten meg or 12 meg file is not a big issue.  With Viruscan measuring a meager eight point something megs, dialup users on faster connections should have no problem negotiating the downloaded version.   

For loyal existing users, Version 9 does not bring radical change. Even the interface bears a marked resemblance to its predecessor. More incremental than revolutionary, McAfee has kept the programs key strong features, faster scanning, smaller sized program and a scanner that does not take up every system resource you have around while scanning.  

Beefed up scanning of email and large email attachments, the program works well within Outlook and Outlook Express. Other supported applications include Eudora and Pegasus. The inline filtering only works with Pop/SMTP accounts , but other account types can be scanned upon access. Considering that the target market for the program is end users with Pop accounts, this not a big problem. 

Like any good virus scanner, this one immediately alerts you if a slew of emails are being sent at one time or if someone is sending more than five emails in less than 30 seconds. As protection against new or not yet discovered viruses, this is always handy, if not a bit irritating at times.  

Not unlike its Firewall program, Virusscan has plenty of online help to aid you in tracking found viruses and the like. As was the case with the last version, this one does not log cleaned viruses or keep a log history. 

Another, but very small issue, is that once the program is open, one has to return to the little “M” that rests in the far right corner of the task bar to make any real changes or select options. The fact that you cannot do that with the open interface of virus scan is usnusal. While this does keep the scanner interface clean, it would be nice to be able to easily access them within the program itself. 

Summation 

McAfee has once again created a strong able virus scanner. Small in size, modest in system requirements while running, there is precious little to find fault with in this update. Working with Windows 98 through XP, and relatively fast, McAfee is still keeping pace with their rival Symantec. 

Resting at the high end of the virus scanning universe, for most pros virus scanning has been pretty much a McAfee and Symantec world with everyone else slugging out second place, the gaps between the programs are closing fast.  In an ideal world, end users could very well use both. However, one can only install one at a time. 

For existing users who have already bought into the McAfee suites, upgrading is really a no brainer. For those that want full protection and do not want to overload their system, this is about as efficient as virus scanning will probably ever get. 

While you can buy subscriptions, my only advice is just go out and get a totally new virus program every year.   With viruses becoming more sophisticated, software more complex, it just makes sense to simply buy new software.