While other companies have bee adding a wide range of features on their security software, McAfee Total 2012 sticks to its no-frills way of providing protection to your computer. But it has cool new features that make the software competitive enough.

The installation process was smooth and easy and the best thing about the process is you need not to register or confirm your email for the software download. It can be downloaded it from your online account on their website. Among the new things you can expect from this software in this year is the pre-installation scan that is less invasive and can be quickly done compared to other pre-installation scans of other security software.

McAfee retained their basic look for this new Total Security version which looks like an all text based website and complete with blue underlined links which take you to the different features that are present in the software. While this may be effective, it seemed to be a bit confusing. However, McAfee is doing its best to explain to users with getting too complicated.

There have been little changes with its interface and it holds the same simple home screen which supplies the user with the true time scanner, firewall, updates and subscription status. In the status area, you will find the familiar features sections that provide collapsible menus for Malware and Virus Guard, Email and Web Guard, Information Guard and Backup, Parental Controls and Home and Personal Computer Network Instruments.

McAfee has added and updated some features of Total Guard 2012 adding the Deep Page Guard that independently blocks websites that are identified as threats to security. The NetGuared feature of the suite uses McAfee Worldwide Danger Intelligence to establish if applications are sending the information to dangerous IP addresses. The software blocks the links and will inform you if there is something wrong with it. On the other hand, the Hacked Page Guard blocks hacked subframes from taking place on the screen and will let you know they were hacked.

The QuickClean features allow you to delete the unnecessary and old files from your computer which will enhance the performance of your computer. Other additional features include the Anti-Robbery File Guard that serves as secure storage space for files that you want to hide from prying eyes. The shredder feature of the software is constantly deleting files by rubbing out and writing over the sector where it was kept. The McAfee Total 2012 also includes Parental Control features.

McAfee Internet Security 2012 packs an extensive computer protection in single powerful and easy to use package to protect against various threats online on up to 3 personal computers. It also comes with a number of different features:

It comes with an integrated antivirus, anti-phishing antispyware, anti-spam, firewall and backup technologies that work together to fight the most sophisticated virus attacks. The software protection is capable of detecting, blocking and removing adware and spyware. The automated backup can store copies of highly valuable files wherever you want and then encrypting and storing the files in any external or network drive.

The ImageAnalysis feature is capable of enhancing the content protection by protecting your family against potentially dangerous contents and files. The SystemGuards is capable of watching for computer for specific behaviors that signal virus, hacker and spyware activity. The McAfee X-Ray for windows can detect and remove malicious applications like rootkits that hide from Windows as well as other antivirus programs.

The SiteAdvisor adds safety ratings into the site as well as search engine results according to the comprehensive spam and online scam safety tests. On the other hand, the SecurityCenter makes it easy for you to view the security status of your computer while checking for updates and fixing some potential security threats. The Network Manager feature monitors your computer allover your network for security weakness and this allows you to fix any security issue from the centralized map of the network. And finally, it comes with a built in computer performance and health tools that are designed to ensure that your computer running at its best performance.

Along with the features, McAfee Internet Security 2012 also offers multiple benefits to users. It advises and alerts users on dangerous websites through the McAfee SiteAdvisors safety ratings on the website. The Security service automatically and continuously updates with the current software and threat security data to all your computers. It is capable of protecting 3 computers and can easily ad or manage security for your home computers.

Another benefit it offers is it protects your online experience allowing you to surf the web, bank, shop and send instant messages in a secure and safe manner. In addition, it also backs up and restores important data through its automated backup and single click restore. This way your files such as photos and music are adequately protected. More importantly, it improves the health of your computer by cleaning unnecessary files on it.

Compared to other basic antivirus software, McAfee Antivirus 2012 has built a software firewall. In terms of protection abilities, the actual antivirus protection was enough with McAfee 2012 to stop the threats. The top features included in this software include adequate real time antivirus, decent anti-phishing, good USB scanning. However, the user interface is complicated to use when you really want to dig in the settings.

The interface is small and does not resize so you have no choice but to scroll through very tiny windows and some of which have a number of scroll bars and others open new windows. It is not that impressive in the navigation ranges. There were also some issues with the firewall software.

On the brighter side, McAfee Antivirus 2012 features real time protection that helps in stopping threats from entering your computer in real time. It also scans adware and spyware already on the system that also scans and blocks spyware from affecting your computer. Its firewall software is capable of monitoring, scanning and blocking unwanted intruders such as Trojans and viruses. The anti-phishing feature stops malicious websites from stealing personal and confidential information.

The antivirus and antispyware protection offers real time protection. Once the McAfee detects the virus, it shows a simple warning but you can navigate still to the infected site. McAfee Antivirus 2012 identified the most dangerous threats and clean or delete them. McAfee also features the pre-installation scan. However, it was only a light scan on the core folders. However, it did not immediately detect files infected with viruses but the real time scanning acted in immediately and then started cleaning up the computer with no trouble.

Viruses are not only attached in email but they are coming as well on USB devices. Malware threats could hide in various USB devices, cameras, MP3 players and almost anything that can be plugged into your USB port. Although McAfee did not initiate automatic scan of the USB drive so you need to run a full system manual scan. On the other hand, the manual virus scanning of McAfee Antivirus performed well enough in the detection and removal of majority of threats on the thumb drive. The USB detection and scanning is proactive and it scores well enough in most tests.

The adware and spyware protection was not that impressive but this did not outweigh the features of the software. Finally, the McAfee virus definition updates were also fine but the installation process is a little bit confusing.