An antivirus is software that protects against computer viruses, a type of malware that self-replicates by inserting its code into other software programs. The best antivirus programs scan files to protect your computer and devices from such threats, while keeping resource consumption to a minimum.

What is the Difference Between Malware and a Virus?

Malware is a term for any type of malicious software, regardless of how it works, its intent or how it’s distributed. A virus is a specific type of malware that self-replicates by inserting its code into other programs.

Should I go for free or paid antivirus?

Usually free antivirus software offers baseline malware protection that may not be sufficient to combat the ever-evolving threat landscape, particularly when it comes to the wide variety of zero-day threats and/or digital threats that go beyond just antivirus. Rest assured that with our free 30-day trial you’ll get all the features of our flagship McAfee® Total Protection suite, including antivirus, web protection, password manager, file encryption and more. Take advantage of our free trial and gain greater peace of mind every time you use your devices.

How to avoid a fake antivirus software?

Fake antivirus software is one of the most persistent threats on the internet today. Masquerading as legitimate antivirus software, fake antivirus software is in fact a malicious program that extorts money from you to “fix” your computer. And often, this new “antivirus” program disables legitimate security software that you already have, exposing you to real threats. These rogue programs try to hook you while you’re browsing the web by displaying a popup window that warns you that your computer may be infected, and that you need to download (fake) security software to fix the problem. This type of software is often referred to as “scareware” since the pop-ups use messages like “You have a virus,” as a way to get you to click. Most of us are eager to get rid of any potential problems as quickly as possible, which in turn has made the bad guys who make fake antivirus software so successful. Once you agree to the purchase, the cybercriminals end up with your credit card details and other personal information, and you get nothing but malware in return.

What is McAfee's Virus Protection Pledge?

When you purchase a qualifying McAfee antivirus suite and opt-in for automatic renewal, you will gain access to our Virus Protection Pledge. With this, you have our 100% Guarantee that if a supported device gets a virus, a McAfee expert will remove it, and if we can’t, we will offer a refund on your purchase price. From the moment you subscribe, you can rest easy knowing that we’re here to help keep your devices virus-free with our multi-layered protection.

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Award-winning antivirus and new Scam Detector

Essential

5 Devices

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Premium Individual

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Advanced Individual

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Individual plans

Family plans

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Scam Detector
Family member protection
Identity features
$1M (USD) Identity theft coverage
$25K (USD) ransomware coverage
Identity restoration experts
Lost wallet protection
Identity monitoring
Password manager
Privacy features
Online Account Cleanup		Scans	Scans
Personal Data Cleanup		Scans	Full-service
Social Privacy Manager
VPN - virtual private network
Security features	5 devices	Unlimited devices*	Unlimited devices*
Parental controls
Antivirus
View all included	Buy	Buy	Buy
File shredder
Tracker remover
Web protection
Advanced firewall
Expert online support
McAfee Protection Score
	Buy	Buy	Buy

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Scam Detector
Family member protection
Identity features
$1M (USD) Identity theft coverage
$25K (USD) ransomware coverage
Identity restoration experts		x2
Lost wallet protection		x2
Identity monitoring
Password manager
Privacy features
Online Account Cleanup	Scans (2 adults)	Scans (2 adults)
Personal Data Cleanup	Scans (2 adults)	Full-service (2 adults)
Social Privacy Manager
VPN - virtual private network
Security features	Unlimited devices*	Unlimited devices*
Parental controls
Antivirus
View all included	Buy	Buy
File shredder
Web protection
Tracker remover
Advanced firewall
Expert online support
McAfee Protection Score
	Buy	Buy

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McAfee Total Protection

Essential personal protection for individuals/couples

Protection for today’s security needs, keeping your identity and privacy safe with secure VPN and identity monitoring.

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30-day money back guarantee

Essential - 2yr

2 years of online protection for 5 devices.

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30-day money
back guarantee

McAfee secure
guarantee

Basic 5 Devices

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1yr subscription

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Basic

1-year subscription for security for 1 device.

NEW Scam Detector

Identify risky texts, emails, and deepfake videos and block risky sites, even if you accidentally click.

Award-winning antivirus

Protect your computer and personal information from hackers and criminals.

Firewall

Secure your firewall and block hackers from accessing your home network.

Password manager

Securely store and manage all your online passwords in a single location.

File shredder

Delete sensitive files completely to ensure no traces are left behind.

Secure VPN: 1 license (Unlimited)

Protect your personal data and location from prying eyes, and safely access public Wi-Fi.

Identity monitoring

Monitor up to 10 email addresses and get expanded monitoring with auto-renewal turned on.

Online security experts

Get technical assistance and peace of mind from our dedicated team and support knowledge-base.

Web protection

Browse freely and safely with ease.

Protection Score

See how safe you are online and easily fix any weak spots.

Multi-platform compatibility

Protect your compatible Windows, Mac OS, iOS and Android device.

Basic

1 Device

1yr Subscription

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Next-gen Threat Protection - PC Protection with AI

Award-winning PC  protection just got faster and stronger with AI

Announcing Next-gen Threat Protection with even stronger, real-time protection against known and new online threats using AI.

Get up to 3x faster scans for PC performance that won’t slow you down. 
Advanced firewall provides up to 10x more protection from risky outbound connections using state of-the-art threat intelligence.
Award-winning "Top Product” from AV-Test.org.

How does McAfee antivirus secure your devices?

Real-time threat protection

24/7 protection for everyone’s devices from ever-evolving malware and online threats.

Easy to use

Connect all your computers and smartphones and easily manage them from a single dashboard.

Leader in consumer security

Trusted protection for over 600 million devices. Keeping you safer online is what we do best.

Virus Protection Pledge

100% guarantee we’ll remove viruses on your devices, or we’ll give you your money back**

Award-winning antivirus and new Scam Detector

Live your life online freely and confidently with award-winning online protection

Swipe left/right to compare plans.

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Looking for additional options?

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Renew your protection today

Looking for more affordable protection?

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Basic

Basic

Scams move fast. McAfee’s Scam Detector moves faster.

Award-winning PC protection just got faster and stronger with AI

How does McAfee antivirus secure your devices?

Real-time threat protection

Easy to use

Leader in consumer security

Virus Protection Pledge

Live your life online freely and confidently
with award-winning online protection

Award-winning PC  protection just got faster and stronger with AI