McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 7.1 - Any reason not to use it?

[John P]

Any reason not to use this as my Anti Virus software? Any negatives? It seems to install and update fine. I usually use Norton but my update license is expiring and I have 6 computers I need to protect.

 

[thecrecarc]

because its last generation and u should get 8.0?

 

[KoolDrew]

I don't like it, because of its terrible UI and the amount of recourses it takes up, but if you want you can. You might like it. Whatever you choose will have more to do with personal preference. I like an anti-virus that is very low on recourses so I use AntiVir. You check out the sticky for Shad's excellent review of anti-virus applications which includes McAfee and you can decide based on that.

 

[mechBgon]

And your work licensing covers home usage? If so, see if your McAfee/NAI grant includes VirusScan Enterprise 8.0i. Setup suggestions for 8.0i Otherwise, 7.1 is ok if you enable everything (heuristics, scanning within compressed files, daily updates, periodic scans). I liked 7.0 better than 7.1 though, it wasn't set to merely warn about spyware/adware, it actually did something about it (as does 8.0i).

If your licensing doesn't cover home usage, don't bring down the wrath of McAfee on your employer, is my advice.

 

[mechBgon]

You check out the sticky for Shad's excellent review of anti-virus applications which includes McAfee and you can decide based on that.

In all fairness, that's McAfee's dumbed-down home version in Shad's review, not the Enterprise stuff. But you guys are right on about the resource usage, VS Enterprise is thorough but heavy-handed on the resource usage at times. It particular wuvs .CHM files :evil:

 

[John P]

If your licensing doesn't cover home usage, don't bring down the wrath of McAfee on your employer, is my advice.

It's totally legit. I downloaded it from the Home Use software page at work, I'll double check the fine print again tomorrow. I figure if it's good enough for a big corporation it's good enough for me. I'll probably still use Norton for my main machine (I just bought Systemworks 2005 but it's only a one computer license) and McAfee on my kids machines and spares.

As far as being a resource hog - the machines I installed it on are (my kids machines) an Athlon XP 2500 and 2800 with Geforece Ti4200's with 512mb RAM. Will it really effect gameplay that much - Halo, Star Wars Battlefront, UT 20004, BFV, etc.. ??

 

[KoolDrew]

Will it really effect gameplay that much - Halo, Star Wars Battlefront, UT 20004, BFV, etc.. ??

I would notice a difference. That is why I like AntiVir. It is free and so low on recourses i don't even know it is running.

 

[mechBgon]

If it's set up to really play hardball, using all its options all the time, then it may affect level loading and stuff significantly when large files have to be read from disk. On my work system, VSE 8.0i can stall my A64 3000+ for 45 seconds at 100% CPU usage, when I try to open the Help file in Microsoft Access 2000 (it's a .CHM file). It would stall it for longer than that if 45 seconds weren't the "give-it-up" timeout period we're using.

If you want something lighter, then AntiVir might be good if you don't mind doing the updates manually.