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McAfee Reviews

4,941,320reviews on ConsumerAffairs are verified
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About McAfee

McAfee creates cybersecurity and antivirus software for both personal and enterprise systems. Founded in 1987, the company offers protection solutions, including antivirus, identity theft protection and secure browsing tools.

Visit www.mcafee.com
Pros
  • User-friendly and easy to navigate
  • Effective virus protection and security
  • Affordable pricing for good value
Cons
  • Frustrating customer service experience
  • Issues with auto-renewal charges
  • Technical support can be unhelpful

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McAfee Reviews

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    Page 1 Reviews 0 - 40
    PriceRatesHonesty & Transparency

    Reviewed Aug. 10, 2026

    I cannot recommend McAfee due to its excessive price and predatory nature bordering on behaving like invasive malware or virus itself. McAfee sets up many roadblocks to canceling its service. After canceling the service and uninstalling all of the product, I continued to receive popups. In order to stop this, I had to download and install a removal program from McAfee to get it off of my PC. Is it gone now? I honestly don't know. But I do know that I will never use them again. What they are doing should be illegal and I would gladly sign on to a class action suit if invited.

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    Sales & MarketingStaff

    Reviewed Aug. 8, 2026

    Constant pop-ups reek of malware, yet McAfee is the culprit. I should know better as an IT specialist, yet I was suckered into subscribing to an annual subscription only to continue to get advertisements for their next product. Shame on you, McAfee. Honor your products without preying on the innocent to gain additional subscriptions.

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      Customer ServicePrice

      Reviewed Aug. 4, 2026

      I am being bombarded with hundreds of unwanted pop-up messages from McAfee every time when I turn on my computer to check my email on Firefox browser. They invite me to subscribe or they warn me that I have one Trojan in my computer or that I need scan using McAfee system, meaning to subscribe to them. I called them, I emailed them and did chat with them and these idiots and incompetent people from McAfee only told me to close their pop-up messages using the X option on their upper right corner of their messages. Basically, they told me that they can't prevent me from receiving pop-up messages from them.

      The authorities should shut down the McAfee company or prosecute and charge them for Internet crimes. McAfee doesn't have any right to disturb my peace and well being for no reason whatsoever. Absolutely not recommended even for free and for any service. They are simply stupid and incompetent. Emil ** - email address **

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      Customer ServicePricePunctuality & SpeedBilling

      Reviewed July 31, 2026

      This company is awful. Do not use them. I called and cancelled twice, still being charged. The only way to stop it is to dispute on your credit card. They are rude. The wait time is over 12 minutes.

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      Reviewed July 30, 2026

      Horrible experience deleting them and then having pop ups, after deleting. Horrific. This was so exhausting and took a good 2 hours out of my day. I have health issues and severe anxiety, and I will never buy, recommend or use McAfee EVER!!! I do not give it a 1 star, I had to, to complete review.

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      Customer ServiceTechStaff

      Reviewed July 26, 2026

      Very good service provider, that's a good customer service and installation, thanks for help.

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      Customer ServicePunctuality & Speed

      Reviewed July 24, 2026

      Waited two hours on the phone, could not get live support.

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      Staff

      Reviewed July 15, 2026

      When I purchased McAfee for my computer I had the illusion that it would help my computer. I now have a serious problems when my computer occasionally blocks me from getting into my usual programs. Suddenly changes my programs while I'm using them. This was a complete waste of money. BUYER BEWARE.

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      Customer ServiceStaff

      Reviewed July 14, 2026

      Worst customer service ever. The representative was condescending and talked over me. Evelyn should find another career.

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      Customer ServiceSales & MarketingStaffBillingRates

      Reviewed July 10, 2026

      I have had McAfee for years and until today have been very satisfied. That all changed. I had to deal with an automated system about a possible scam concerning billing. It was impossible to communicate so repeatedly asked for live support and was put on hold for almost an hour. A sign to discourage one on one live communication. I can't trust that if I had a serious tech problem that I could get a live tech support person. I am contacting Norton today for a membership. They have excellent ratings as opposed to McAfee who has terrible reviews. I suggest if you are considering McAfee to research them. Horrible ratings and reviews.

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      Price

      Reviewed July 6, 2026

      The worst!!! They unauthorized charged me double the amount of what I initially purchased the next year, although I never subscribed for renewal and they never returned me my money!!!

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      PriceStaffHonesty & Transparency

      Reviewed June 15, 2026

      Mcafee is basically a virus itself. Overpriced for what it is, uses too many resources on your computer, and difficult to get rid of on purpose! Once in your computer it takes someone who knows what they are doing to root it out like an infection! One of the worst antivirus or security software packages I have ever used!!! Honestly, they should pay me for all the times I've had to help someone root out their crap after an autoinstall with something else, again, acting like a virus itself! Shameful, disgraceful, how they are still in business confuses me!

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      Verified purchase

      Reviewed June 12, 2026

      I switched to McAfee recently, and it has been the worst decision that I have ever made. My old program was Bitdefender, which worked perfectly. McAfee operates like a dumbed-down Bitdefender that barrages you with constant pop-ups asking you to buy add-on services. Bitdefender allowed you to turn off these constant pop-ups, not McAfee. I have spent many wasted hours with their support trying to get these pop-ups turned off, and they have been useless. I bought a program, not a license for McAfee to harass me daily.

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      Sales & Marketing

      Reviewed June 12, 2026

      I would have loved McAfee, but then they changed my default browser to Yahoo because of one box I forgot to unclick, and I literally watched it happen. Right after I accidentally hit submit!!!! I'M SO MAD!!!! I DO TECH. WATCH WHAT YOU DO!!!! UNCLICK EVERYTHING!!!! YOUR BROWSER WILL DEFALUT TO YAHOO!!!! What an awful experience. For the love of God, just watch what you click. Ads, cookies...Now they take over everything. It takes 3 times to put in a question to Chrome. McAfee, I'm a single parent, trying to build a business, get my doctorate, and just survive. And I am good at this, but I am having to work hard at trying to take back control over my own computer. The average person has no chance. Nice. Nice job. Unfair, McAfee. And not cool.

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      Price

      Reviewed June 3, 2026

      I did pay cheap plan that never worked. They were forcing me to pay more. I was threatened that I was going to lose my data and other things…. Bad company.

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      Verified purchase
      Customer ServicePricePunctuality & SpeedRefunds & PayoutsStaffBillingTransparency

      Reviewed May 17, 2026

      I trusted McAfee to protect my information, not take money from my account without permission. McAfee charged my credit card $160.86 without authorization and then made the situation even worse with poor customer service and unacceptable delays. When I reached out for help, I was told I may have to wait THREE WEEKS just for them to decide whether they will refund money they never had permission to take in the first place. That is beyond frustrating and completely unethical.

      Customers should not have to fight to get their own money back while being left in limbo with no urgency, accountability, or compassion. This experience has caused unnecessary stress and financial frustration. I expected professionalism from a company that handles sensitive customer information, but instead, I experienced disappointment, a lack of transparency, and terrible support. Consumers deserve better.

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      Customer ServiceSales & MarketingPricePunctuality & SpeedRefunds & PayoutsStaffBillingValue

      Reviewed May 6, 2026

      This software is just like what the rest of the world is turning into, GREEDY!! This is just another overly paid corporation building their bank accounts off people who actually work hard. Why advertise all this "computer protection" when that not what's actually offered without extra payments? Why offer subscriptions that do nothing but "inform" that there's things that are slowing the computer down but make me PAY for you to actually help? CLEARLY, I KNOW THERE'S, SOMETHING SLOWING IT DOWN IF I'M PAYING FOR PROTECTION!! Then, why tell me what I essentially "paying monthly" but don't offer that as an option? And the staff.. RUDE! And overall NOT worth it!!

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      Customer ServicePriceRefunds & PayoutsStaffBilling

      Reviewed May 5, 2026

      I am a senior who retired and closed down my company. I bought new devices and my account does not even include my current devices. I called McAfee to cancel my subscription after I had been auto renewed. I also really don’t use my corp card for business and did not see that my McAfee had auto renewal. I contacted McAfee and asked that the charges be reversed. Yes, the charges were from a few months ago. They said they would get back to me in 48 hours. They responded after 3 days and denied my requested credit. This is a horrible company. The agent I spoke with was understanding and helpful but he was not the decision maker. I want my credit card to be credited for the charges. Do not do business with McAfee.

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      Customer ServiceCoveragePunctuality & SpeedRefunds & PayoutsStaffBillingHonesty & Transparency

      Reviewed May 5, 2026

      2 months ago I just completed a scan and all systems report no action req. Later that day pop-ups started and within 10 minutes my screen is 1/2 covered with messages locking my computer and calling me a thief without saying the word. Saying he is going to make sure I'm going pay back all the money I had received. I was shocked and pissed!! I SAID I HAVE AN ACC. WITH MCAFEE. He said your acc, was canceled for non payment. I said I'll check, I knew I had it on auto pay so called the bank and the payment cleared 2 weeks earlier.

      He didn't contact me again and the pop ups slowed down, but it wasn't over. Next T-mobile contacted me and said I owe 180. Own the ph and have service with **. T mobile turned off the ph and locked it. Another employee committing a crime against me, so now going to sue mcafee security, tmobile. We'll see if walmart wants to stand by the other companies and lie to save their ass, we will see.

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      Punctuality & SpeedRefunds & Payouts

      Reviewed May 1, 2026

      Theft. Imagine they overcharge you and you don’t catch it until later. They still overcharged you. They still took your money. It is your money and they refuse to refund it?

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      Customer Service

      Reviewed April 29, 2026

      One of the worst customer service experiences I have ever had. Wouldn't renew if my life depended upon it.

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      Sales & MarketingPriceRates

      Reviewed April 27, 2026

      I am very disappointed with this company. To me, this company is a scam. It is way too expensive, and the people I was able contact were not very nice. I also found out that they have a low rating. I just want to get away from them.

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      Sales & MarketingPriceOnline & AppValue

      Reviewed April 26, 2026

      Poor preform protecting tablet, scan device stated no virus, yet pop-up ads still exist. Not worth the money.

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      CoverageHonesty & Transparency

      Reviewed April 21, 2026

      I honestly cannot believe how invasive and frustrating this software is. I installed McAfee WebAdvisor expecting basic protection, and instead it completely hijacked my browser. My default search engine kept getting changed to Yahoo without my permission, and no matter how many times I fixed it, it would revert back. That is not “security”- that’s aggressive and deceptive behavior.

      What’s even worse is that you **cannot simply uninstall this program like a normal application**. After removing it the standard way, it still leaves behind policies and hidden settings that continue to control your browser. I had to go out of my way to find and download a separate removal tool just to fully get rid of it. That is completely unacceptable. Software should NEVER override user preferences or require extra tools just to uninstall it properly. This feels more like malware than a security product. I would strongly advise anyone to stay away from this. There are plenty of other options that don’t take over your system and then refuse to leave.

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      Customer ServiceSales & Marketing

      Reviewed April 9, 2026

      I am constantly receiving emails stating that my photos and other information will be deleted. I am tired of their scare tactics and have marked their emails as spam but they still manage to get through. I would never subscribe to them for this reason alone.

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      Customer ServiceSales & MarketingPrice

      Reviewed April 4, 2026

      McAfee continuously, every day and many time 2-3 times a day, pops up a marketing message and wants me to pay them more money. That is annoying and also stops my typing when it pops up. I may be in the middle of typing (I don't need to watch the screen all the time), and see mistakes because McAfee stops the keyboard input for a second. That is not acceptable. When I buy a container of milk or something else, that company doesn't push ads in my face. Others may do this but if McAfee stops, they can get many more sales.

      PLUS, it ran a scan but took about minute. To scan my computer should take much more time than that to read and analyze all the files. Thus, I don't trust that it does a full scan. I look in the interface for things but many are just ads for upgrading. McAfee should stop the marketing tactics. It's annoying and that's the last thing you want your customers to experience.

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      Sales & MarketingPrice

      Reviewed March 30, 2026

      This company, or possibly someone imitating them, has been HARASSING ME FOR MONTHS BY giving me false security infringement warnings and making it ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE to bypass them unless I sign up for their services!!! Whoever it is needs to be charged with harassment and false advertisement! I HAD TO FIGURE HOW TO TURN OFF notifications to end it, and now they're back again!! If they bother you, turn off all notifications on your computer and report them!!!

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      StaffHonesty & Transparency

      Reviewed March 23, 2026

      Scum of the Earth. They are as vile as Norton. They soak you for a subscription, then harass you about being "at risk" to shake you down for more subscriptions. They won't solve your "problem" if you don't pay more. It's as obnoxious as it gets and raises suspicions that any problem with your computer are deliberate to get you to pay more. If they appreciated their customers and solved any problem without a shake down, there wouldn't be any reason for suspicion of their integrity and professionalism. As it stands, there's no observable evidence that they are honest or trustworthy.

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      Reviewed March 18, 2026

      If you are like me and install based on recommended settings you will end up with this constantly changing your search engine to Yahoo. It is by far the most annoying extension I have ever had, and shows an absolute lack of integrity from both McAfee and Yahoo.

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      Customer ServicePriceRefunds & PayoutsStaffBilling

      Reviewed March 14, 2026

      I was charged for a McAfee subscription twice after receiving a confirmation email that auto renewal was canceled. I was refunded but it was an unpleasant experience dealing with the chat reps as had had to essentially beg them to stop upselling me can cancel my subscription. I am afraid that it may happen again as I could not get the rep to confirm that this would not happen again. The chat rep was also unable to delete my billing information. I attempted to remove all billing information from my account but could not save the changes. Beware this is not a company you should consider doing business with.

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      Coverage

      Reviewed March 8, 2026

      I have been a McAfee customer for years with no complaints. I was recently a victim of malware and dealing with the consequences. McAfee provided recommendations to protect myself but their coverage failed.

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      CoverageSales & Marketing

      Reviewed Feb. 21, 2026

      Terrible, unethical and ineffective. Got free coverage with new laptop, never gave them any banking info, yet they took upon themselves to unconsentingly use information from my laptop purchase to renew me for another year. Made me jump through hoops to reverse it and now, after uninstalling and removing them from computer, I am still getting notifications trying to pressure me into rejoining. And they want me to download another one of their products to stop it from happening.

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      PricePunctuality & SpeedRates

      Reviewed Feb. 9, 2026

      An adequate anti-virus program, have not had any virus problems. Downside: As many others have noted, their constant pop-ups are an irritation and a time-waster.

      "We found 36 apps slowing you down" Button: Improve PC speed
      "12300 trackers might be collecting your data" Button: Block trackers
      "Security Scan Plus - Online Tracker Scan" Button: Stop Online Tracking ($34.99 upgrade, 1/2 price)
      "Speed up your PC" Button: Optimize now (File Shredder is installed)
      "Check Your Protection with a Quick Scan" Button: Run a Scan

      "Trackers may be following you on 4013 sites" Button: Hide my Browsing activity

      I have the software and it's doing it's job, but the constant popups are a detriment. I don't want to renew and also won't use Norton again. May go back to Kaspersky which I like very much but was reportedly being suppressed in the U.S. because it's linked somehow to Russia (I very much doubt that).

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      Reviewed Jan. 28, 2026

      I believe this is ran by bunch of liberals as they removed the option where I can turn off their pop-ups. If this is not changed by the time my subscription runs out, I will go somewhere else and I'm not alone on this. Maybe the Beekeeper needs to be sent in!

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      Punctuality & Speed

      Reviewed Jan. 27, 2026

      I would give it a negative 10 if I could. Even after cancelling it will continue to slow down your pc. A red screen will pop up saying that you have to delete it from your pc and it will freeze with the red screen and you'll have to restart it and hit for the best. I did delete it from pc and I'm still getting a pop up box with the done box already lit up. I will have to hover over the real bear for several minutes until it poops up so I can get a red x to exit out. I believe they've put a virus in their software that slows down your pc when you cancel and delete.

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      Verified purchase
      Customer ServiceRefunds & PayoutsMaintenance

      Reviewed Jan. 22, 2026

      Absolutely crap, I had the pro protection $214. It do anything they said. I got pics of its lack of effectiveness. When I called I got a song and dance why it’s possibly not working correctly! They did not refund me any amount for the two months of headaches!

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      Customer ServiceSales & Marketing

      Reviewed Jan. 17, 2026

      It took support 90 minutes to stop the pop up advertising that occurs 3x per minute. Eventually I wanted and was send an email for me to purchase a subscription. After following instructions, I could not log-in. Chat responded that I had to phone in. I called 3 times and each time a support person hung up on me.

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      Customer ServiceOnline & AppStaff

      Reviewed Jan. 2, 2026

      I reformatted my hard drive without removing the software. I contacted customer service as mentioned on their website for assistance in removing. The agent (only shows “agent” in the chat) wanted to argue with me stating that I can remove the device on my own even after I copied and pasted where it says on their website that we cannot remove the device on our own. Eventually the agent removed the device. Perhaps a learning opportunity here versus an agent that wants to argue with a customer regarding an issue that they’ve not trained on would be helpful.

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      Online & App

      Reviewed Dec. 24, 2025

      McAfee came preinstalled on my PC and my laptop. I already have an antivirus subscription that I'm happy with, so I "uninstalled" McAfee. I could not remove the folders from either and continuously got license renewal popups. I tried the removal tool on their website to no effect. I finally tried a third-party erasure program which got rid of the folders and seemingly the popups on the PC. The popups still show up continuously on the laptop though. I'm annoyed enough that if McAfee was the cheapest & best program, I'd still never recommend or use it.

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      Reviewed Dec. 10, 2025

      McAfee is good but I get constant requests to upgrade to eliminate different problems. They are always asking me to upgrade in their pop-ups. I do an automatic scan but to repair (I only had my computer one week) over one thousand problems I need to upgrade my package for $35 plus. I thought all of that was part of my original package, nope. All in all I am happy so far. I just wish the pop-ups to upgrade would stop.

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      McAfee author review by Shelley Elmblad

      Founded in 1987, McAfee is a longstanding and trusted name in antivirus software for consumers and business because of how the company has continued to advance products to keep up with a changing industry over the years. Now a part of Intel Security Group, the brand will be eventually be renamed.

      • Global threat intelligence: McAfee uses this process, which collects data from millions of sources from around the globe, to offer real-time protection against viruses and other malicious threats.

      • Protection for all devices: One McAfee subscription with a 30-day money back guarantee includes antivirus protection for all PCs, Macs, iOS and Android phones and tablets and Android watches. Anti-theft features for mobile devices lock down the device and can locate it when lost or stolen.

      • Parental controls: This feature offers filtering and monitoring of what children can access and see when they are online. You’ll have to upgrade to McAfee Total Protection at $89.99 to get parental controls. Two other options cost $79.99 and $59.99, and discounts may be offered for the first year.

      • True Key Identity Manager: This is a secure software password vault that is used to log into mobile apps, websites and devices using a combination of facial recognition, fingerprint or devices.

      • Home network scanning: McAfee can scan a home Wi-Fi network to detect unprotected devices.

      by Shelley Elmblad Financial Software Advisor

      Shelley Elmblad is a writer with years of experience covering small business, mobile apps, personal finance and tax software. Shelley’s goal is to help others choose the best software to run a small business, track personal finances and save money.

      McAfee Company Information

      Company Name:
      McAfee
      Year Founded:
      1987
      Address:
      2821 Mission College Blvd.
      City:
      Santa Clara
      State/Province:
      CA
      Postal Code:
      95054
      Country:
      United States
      Website:
      www.mcafee.com