McAfee Internet Security Suite 2004 V6.0

by McAfee

Product Features

• Includes the latest VirusScan to protect your computer from viruses, Trojans, and worms
• Includes the latest version of McAfee Personal Firewall Plus
• Includes the full version of McAfee's powerful spam fighting tool McAfee SpamKiller
• Secure your personal identification and financial information
• Enhance your privacy by rooting out snooper programs attempting to track your Web surfing habits

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000CE220
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 2, 2003
• Average Customer Review: 1.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (66 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,372 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The Internet provides a vast wealth of information and entertainment at your fingertips. Yet, as soon as you connect, your computer is exposed to a multitude of privacy and security threats. Protect your privacy and secure you computer and your data with McAfee Internet Security. Incorporating McAfee's award-winning technologies, McAfee Internet Security provides one of the most comprehensive sets of privacy and security tools you can buy.

McAfee Internet Security destroys viruses, outwits hackers, secures your personal information, privatizes your Web browsing, blocks ads and pop ups, manages your cookies and passwords, locks down your files, folders and drives, filters objectionable content, and puts you in control of the communications in and out of your PC. McAfee Internet Security provides powerful protection for today's Internet users.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A custom installation works great for Windows XP systems, May 4, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: McAfee Internet Security Suite 2004 V6.0 (CD-ROM)

I purchased this McAfee Internet Security Suite 2004, v6.0 in December of 2003 after learning about the nightmare problems relating to Norton Antivirus 2004 and its required activation scheme. I had been using the Norton Antivirus as part of the Norton System Works bundle since the 2001 version ( while running Win98SE) . I now am running mostly Windows XP Pro & Home and I have one machine with Windows 98SE.

I can relate with many of the reviewers who claim that this McAfee bundle of software is bad because I first tried to install the complete suite of programs in on my Windows98SE system and it was a complete disaster. The system locked up on boot, gave blue screens, and basically rendered the system completely unusable. I think I ended up booting in safe mode and doing a complete uninstall of the program. I was able to download a program from the Symantec site called RNAV 2003 which removed leftovers from the old Norton 2002 installation and I was able to reinstall the original Norton System Works 2002 with success. I then ran the WinDoctor program which removed any leftovers from the McAfee 2004 program. I put the McAfee software aside and forgot about it for the next few months.

Moving forward to March of 2004...I had a Pentium 3 1Ghz notebook with Windows XP Home installed along with Norton 2003 and Zone Alarm Pro 4. My notebook had been slowing down so much with each successive Norton System Works 2003 update that it was practically unusable. My entire system was so slow it was insane. It would take fifteen seconds just for the Internet Explorer 6 web browser to open. I knew the culprit had to be the latest Norton Antivirus updates since it was just recently after an automatic update when it had become so much slower. So I went on the internet to read reviews on alternative antivirus software and read some good reviews about the same McAfee software that I had problems with before. I read that basically the "Privacy" part of the McAfee suite and in some cases the "McAfee Firewall" were suspected at causing most of the problems in the Security Suite. I ended up uninstalling my Norton System Works 2003 completely from my notebook. I left Zone Alarm Pro 4 on the system but I disabled it temporarily. I did a custom installation of McAfee Internet Security Suite 2004 only installing the Antivirus and the SpamKiller programs (along with the McAfee Security Center which is required ). This custom setup installed without a glitch. I did the simple registration, downloaded all the updates online, and I opted out of any junk being sent to me from McAfee except for AntiVirus threat notices they email you once in a while. My notebook seems to work great now. It is about five times faster than when it was running Norton System Works 2003. The McAfee Antivirus works well, the SpamKiller works good, I have had zero lockups and no real problems since making the switch. The only issue I had was when I re-enabled the Zone Alarm Pro 4 firewall software I had to open up all the McAfee programs for complete access before the McAfee Security Center would successfully "auto-update" itself. As a pre-caution to make sure the McAfee updates all download OK ....once in a while I shut down Zone Alarm and manually check for McAfee updates and it directs to the web site where it sometimes updates itself. Usually the auto-update feature seems to work fine though.

I have also have had success on other systems installing the McAfee Suite in same way (custom install exactly as I did above without the Privacy service) but instead I would use Windows XP ICF (internet connection firewall). This setup seems to provide adequate firewall protection, doesn't slow down your system, and the McAfee online auto-updates work perfectly. I hear that the latest updates to the McAfee Firewall have improved it greatly but I haven't tried using it since Zone Alarm Pro 4 works very well for me.

For users of Windows XP Pro & Home I think that this McAfee Suite 2004 is a good value and provides good protection and functionality for most users in it is installed without the Privacy Program. The McAfee Firewall can be tried also but make sure you run the online auto updates for it or you could use the Windows XP firewall instead. For users of Windows ME, 98, or pre-XP versions of Windows I recommend Norton Antivirus 2002, or 2003 (if you have a fast computer), or one of the other antivirus solutions such as Kaspersky or TrenMicro's PC-Cillin.

IN SUMMARY:

PROS:

-Inexpensive to purchase compared with other Antivirus programs such as Norton.

-Custom Install without the "Privacy" program works great on Windows XP based systems.

-The Antivirus program is fast, efficient, and effective.

-SpamKiller seems to work well (not perfect but good enough).

-The interface ( McAfee Security Center) is attractive and simple to use.

-NO PRODUCT ACTIVATION is required (but simple, non-invasive registration is required for updates from the McAfee site)

CONS:

-Full installation of the Suite is prone to causing major problems and system slowdowns especially on non-Windows XP systems.

-The "Privacy" program is prone to causing major problems.

-Unless you are using the bundled McAfee Firewall the online internet updates sometimes (but not always) need to be checked or done manually to pass through another company's software firewall such as Zone Alarm.

-The software seems to intall and work best with Windows XP and has been reported as being very problematic for some Windows 2k, Me, and 98SE/98 users.

CONCLUSION: I highly recommended it for Windows XP users when a proper custom installation is done without installing the Privacy program.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars DO NOT WORK, February 19, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: McAfee Internet Security Suite 2004 V6.0 (CD-ROM)

I tried to install this product on a dell computer which came with a trial version. I uninstalled the trial version which had been expired before I install this new one. This product is total confused with the dell trial version and refused to allow me to update anything.

Called and emailed McAfee and their rep acknowledged that my receipt and I have a new version of legal copy. However, their web site still shows my registration is expired and no updates are allowed. Their rep told me to register using different email address. The problem is no matter how many time I try to install and uninstall it, it never asks me to register again. Since the virus definition are not updated, this product is virtuall useless at all.

Do not "UPGRADE" this product from previous version. You will waste your time and money because they want you to renew it online so they can make more money from you.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very Disappointing, December 18, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: McAfee Internet Security Suite 2004 V6.0 (CD-ROM)

I have used McAfee antivirus products for years on multiple computers, but this newest product and the technical "support" is truly disappointing. Installing MIS6.0 resulted in several problems, including blockage of all email access, blocked access to most websites, fatal crashes of unrelated programs, and more. The VirusScan8 component was never able to run.

With the free on-line chat tech help (with overseas techs, it seems), program patch downloads were provided that appeared to fix the bugs causing the email and website problems. But, the other problems were either never addressed or were not corrected after following long, tedious, very technical instructions that the techs were always "absolutely sure" would "fix your problem." (This was especially infuriating.) Way too many long hours over several days were spent on this. Also, even though I used their case number system for chat access, which assured me the techs would know all of the chat/case history, I always had to re-explain everything each time. Finally, a request for a refund made McAfee very unavailable. The product is non-functional and I don't expect to see any refund.

A bit of Net research reveals that a great many people are having similar very serious problems with this product. While it seems to work okay for some, the number of problem reports is truly alarming. Among the components, only the Firewall5.0 seemed to be fully functional and do its job admirably. VirusScan8.0 and the Personal Privacy Service seemed to be the sources of the really serious bugs. If you like McAfee, I'd recommend staying with a VirusScan of Version7 or lower until things improve (if they ever do). There are lots of good alternatives for the Privacy stuff, many of them free. And, I believe that spam filter programs are a waste of time and money, even if they work. (There are better alternatives. I've been spam-free for a year without any filter programs.)

When my current McAfee AV subscription expires, I plan to switch to another product.