Some antivirus software, like McAfee, provides comprehensive premium services, while titles like Adaware opt for budget-friendly simplicity. They each have strong anti-malware protocols that use the latest detection methods to stop unknown infections from getting through. However, the rest of their extra features vary.
McAfee is an all-around cybersecurity suite that offers protection from a range of threats. Along with malware detection, you get an anti-phishing browser extension and a firewall. The social media guard protects your privacy on networking sites, and the digital file shredder prevents hackers from accessing your deleted files. A subscription can be used on an unlimited number of devices, and the Security Management Console helps you locate and wipe them remotely. Plus, you get a PC tune-up feature to ensure these extra features don’t slow down your machine.
While Adaware still provides strong basic security, its list of extras is slightly shorter. Along with real-time protection, you get default port scans and an email security protocol. It includes a Safe Sender list so all your regular communications won’t be interrupted. Adaware also has impressive parental controls, which let you create age-based templates that block access to different sites and apps. The software is not quite as straightforward as McAfee—it takes two reboots to install, for example—but it’s considerably more budget friendly.