As with any spyware removal utility, the key thing with McAfee AntiSpyware isn't the installation itself, which follows normal Windows guidelines, but in making sure you update its definitions to include the latest spyware and malware threats. Compared to the rest of the spyware removal pack, to put it plainly, McAfee Antispyware 2005's setup is tedious. For a start, AntiSpyware makes extensive use of ActiveX controls, meaning those using alternate browsers like Opera or Firefox will have to change their default browser back to Internet Explorer in order to update the package.
Choosing to update involves registering the product with McAfee, then heading to the product Web site, at which point the main application itself makes the download call based on what it finds there. If you've sensibly set ActiveX controls to prompt the user -- a step even Microsoft sees as sensible -- you'll have to wade through a small army of ActiveX prompts to get to this point. Compared to even free packages like SpyBot or AdAware, which update internally without any browser intervention, this is a clunky procedure indeed.
Features
McAfee AntiSpyware 2005 actually installs two separate program components. There's the main Spyware utility, as well as McAfee SecurityCenter, which provides you with a security rating for your system split between AntiVirus, AntiHacker, AntiAbuse and AntiSpam, as well as a general Security Index, scored between 1-10.
This is partly a good idea -- it's never a bad idea to educate people about the need for computer security -- but it's also one massive great advertisement for other McAfee products, as there's a very prominent link to trial versions of other McAfee packages. As you can't just install the AntiSpyware component without SecurityCenter, that's a trade-off we're somewhat uneasy with.
As Spyware removal applications go, McAfee's offering appears somewhat bare-bones on the surface. Scanning is naturally the most prominent feature of the interface, and there are features to protect your system from becoming troubled in the first place, but that's pretty much the range of AntiSpyware's features.
Once you've scanned and removed any troublesome gremlins they're listed in case you need to restore something for key program functionality, although this list can be easily cleared if you just want peace of mind. Scans can be scheduled, and particular programs can be set to be automatically trusted, although thankfully this feature (which could get less experienced users into a lot of spyware trouble) is hidden within the options dialog box.
Performance
We tested McAfee AntiSpyware on the same test system used to check out Webroot Spy Sweeper. Proving the axiom that no one spyware removal app catches everything, McAfee found spyware left on our test system after previous testing with other spyware removal utilities -- although that doesn't necessarily mean that McAfee itself will catch everything. Once threats are detected, AntiSpyware offers the option to run the original program uninstaller (if it's present) or use AntiSpyware's own internal removal processes. There's no quarantine zone to speak of, although the program does offer the option to restore processes if you remove them and suddenly find that your favourite software has stopped responding. Scanning was surprisingly quick and relatively easy on system performance.
You'll certainly know that AntiSpyware is running, but it's totally feasible to be doing moderate-level computing tasks at the same time as you're keeping your system safe. If you're particularly privacy minded, it's worth noting that unlike many other Spyware removal applications, McAfee AntiSpyware doesn't count cookies as spyware, so if you want cookie cleaning along with malware removal, you'll need to look elsewhere. AntiSpyware's also rather light on detail when it comes to identifying what a particular threat actually is. It'll happily tell you where the suspect files or registry entries are located on your system, but that's as much information as you'll get out of the application itself.
Download McAfee AntiSpyware 2005 here.
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zippyfish
22/06/2005, 06:10 PM
ActiveX Threat
I find it totally incredible that any product aimed at combatting spyware insists that the user not only uses IE, but also that ActiveX controls are enabled, else it refuses to run updates. Surely the people at McAfee must have seen the glaring paradox in forcing a concerned user to open up their computer to outside forces by this unnecessary requirement.
The help file that comes with AniSpyware describes ActiveX controls thus "ActiveX controls turn Web pages into software pages that perform like any other program launched from a server". Indeed they do, and if you want to use McAfee AntiSpyware on your PC then you are going to have to enable them to do what they want.
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09/05/2005, 12:13 AM
it's fine
it work's well with the rest of the mcafee product's installed in my pc
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leo
21/03/2005, 05:16 PM
For those who want peace of mind for an affordable price
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