Virtually everything we do today, from work to communication, is connected to the internet in one way or another. This connectivity offers a lot of convenience, but it’s also rife with dangers — and sometimes, a basic anti-virus software isn’t enough. The good news is that McAfee Total Protection has everything you need to keep yourself and your family safe, both at home and on the go, and offers broad-spectrum defense against malicious software, hackers, identity thieves, snoops, and other digital threats. Here’s what it can do.
The McAfee brand name is almost synonymous with antivirus software and has been a household name in the industry for decades. McAfee Total Protection takes a more complete approach than simple antivirus software, though: It’s a complete, all-in-one protection suite that shields you and your family not just against viruses and other malicious software but also against unwanted surveillance, identity theft, unsafe connections, and more. It’s great for families, and we also named it the best antivirus software for businesses because of the wide range of protection that it offers for multiple users.
Aside from award-winning virus protection, one of the most notable features of McAfee Total Protection is the Secure VPN. This lets you connect safely to Wi-Fi other than through your local wireless network. It’s no secret that public Wi-Fi is one of the riskiest ways to use the internet, but almost all of us have used it at one point or another. The problems stem from the fact that you don’t have control over the public Wi-Fi networks you connect to. That means you can’t be fully aware of what security measures (if any) the network owner has taken, or who else is also using the network — and what they’re doing on it.
This might not be a huge concern for general web browsing, but if you’re logging into your personal accounts, sending emails, or transmitting sensitive information, then you’re likely putting yourself at risk when using any public Wi-Fi network (and just because a network is encrypted and requires a password doesn’t mean it’s safe). McAfee Total Protection Secure VPN solves that by automatically securing your connection with bank-grade encryption and routing it through a secure channel every time you connect to public Wi-Fi or other hotspot. There’s no need for you to activate it, so there’s no chance you’ll forget to use it.
This allows you to surf the web, stream videos, do some shopping, or bank online, along with any other activities you want to do away from prying eyes, safely and privately. Secure VPN also works on computers, smartphones, tablets, and other devices both at home and on the go, so your activities, data, and even your location are all hidden from bad actors. Beyond your Windows PCs, McAfee Total Protection provides cross-device protection that extends your peace of mind to your Macs and iOS or Android mobile devices, so you can enjoy security at home and on-the-go-across all of your compatible devices.
Another feature we like about McAfee Total Protection is identity monitoring. As far as online threats go, you’re probably more concerned about someone getting access to your Social Security number, bank credentials, and other such sensitive information than you are about a hacker getting your YouTube password. Identity theft is a multibillion-dollar criminal industry (if you’d call it that), and if your information is compromised, then early detection and quick action are vital in preventing your data from being used illegally. The Identity Protection Service adds an extra layer of protection by monitoring your credit information to detect breaches and illicit access as soon as it happens.
For instance, in the event a data thief tries to open an account using your credentials, the McAfee Identity Protection Service will alert you to the attempt and guide you through what to do next. It also monitors the dark web (where stolen identity information is bought and sold) and detect if your data ends up in the wrong hands. You get a Protection Score as well, which the McAfee Identity Protection Service uses to keep tabs on the strength of your online protection and tighten it up and address weaknesses where necessary. If you want yet another layer of protection, then the upgraded McAfee Total Protection Ultimate plan entitles you to $1 million of identity fraud insurance, and help with the credit restoration process.
There are multiple McAfee Total Protection plans available depending on your needs, so you’re not forced to pay for features or user licenses that you won’t use. New customers can sign up for the Single-Device or Individual plan for an introductory price of $85 per year, which gets you a one-year license for a single user. The Multiple-Device plan offers five licenses for $70 for two-years — a discount of $85 off per year. Finally, the Family Coverage plan gives you 10 licenses for $80 for two-years, saving you $105 per year. Either of these is a fine choice for families or small businesses, but also organizations with big teams. Those who want the extra identity protection features should consider the McAfee Total Protection Ultimate package. This allows for an unlimited number of users for the introductory price of $70 for the first year, a cool $90 discount.
The absolutely absurd idea of putting a touchscreen display on a mouse isn't exactly new. Turtle Beach already did it with its Command Series MC7, which features a 2.25-inch control screen. But apparently, even that wasn't ridiculous enough for Arctic Fox Technologies. Its new Super Mouse looks like someone took the chunky old Atari ST mouse, slapped a touchscreen and scroll wheel on it, and called it an upgrade.
The result is a rather unusual-looking mouse that is now on Kickstarter, starting at $199. And as ridiculous as it looks, some of its features are genuinely intriguing.
Apple is less than a day away from launching its highly anticipated OLED MacBook Pro with a touch-sensitive screen. But it appears that the upgrade is going to cost a pretty penny. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is reportedly eyeing a starting price of $2,899 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, while the 16-inch version could start at $3,399 in the US.
"At $2,899, the 14-inch model would mark the highest starting price for a new MacBook Pro model, surpassing the $2,799 Apple charged for a 17-inch version introduced in 2006," says the report. The report claims that Apple is targeting a minimum price hike of $400 for its upcoming redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
I've spent a good amount of time digging into the spec sheet of the new M6 MacBook Pro (14-inch), and for all intents and purposes, this is a classic Apple "chip and connectivity" refresh. It's not a full redesign. The chassis, Liquid Retina XDR panel, speakers, ports, and battery, all of them carry over unchanged.
However, the M6 brings more cores, stronger on-device AI, higher memory bandwidth on the larger configs, and modern wireless. Here’s the practical rundown of what actually improved, and whether those gains are worth your money.