With McAfee Mobile Security, you get a virus protection that is quite reliable. In AV-Test’s review, it let through a few malware attacks, but very few, and it still outperforms Google Play Protect by a small margin. There are also other reasons to consider it. The app offers several useful tools that can help you maintain a safer online presence. The browsing protection scans not only web links but also social media messages and other messaging services, warning you if you’re about to visit risky sites. There’s also phishing protection, which extends to SMS and includes security checks for Wi-Fi networks.
Additionally, it comes with identity monitoring, which tracks email addresses, phone numbers, credit cards, passports, bank accounts, and more. It alerts you if any of this information leaks online. This feature is better than most similar services, which usually only monitor email addresses.
The premium subscription I tested also gives access to a well-functioning VPN service, which you can essentially keep on constantly for more anonymous browsing. It offers servers in about 40 countries around the world that you can freely choose from. Some of these servers are acceptably fast, though not outstanding. However, don’t expect to use it for video streaming reliably, although it can work occasionally.
Watch out for the price when ordering
The basic app is free and can be downloaded from the Google Play Store for Android or the App Store for iOS. However, to access all premium features, a paid subscription is required.
For users seeking more comprehensive mobile protection, McAfee now offers its Total Protection plans, which include mobile device protection in addition to computers:
- Total Protection Basic ($29.99/year): Protects 1 device
- Total Protection Plus ($39.99/year): Protects up to 5 devices
- Total Protection Premium ($49.99/year): Protects an unlimited number of devices
After installing McAfee’s Android virus protection on your Android mobile, you can choose to completely skip the payment step. In this case, you still receive antivirus protection that ensures the safety of installed apps and allows you to manually scan the system. You also benefit from two additional features: manual Wi-Fi security checks and manual searches for leaked email addresses.
Mobile Security has a sleek, spacious interface with clear panels that give quick access to the most important features. However, the individual features and panels are unnecessarily large for a compact mobile app, which means a lot of scrolling is required to access everything. At the top, there’s a section called quick actions, with suggestions for actions the app recommends. Initially, these are things like granting the app the right permissions to function properly.
Afterward, you’ll receive periodic reminders to perform scans and other tasks to keep your phone secure. However, it’s a bit annoying that certain actions seem to pop up repeatedly, even though I recently completed and checked them off. It’s rarely empty in the “to-do list,” which can be frustrating.
Specifications
Product Name: McAfee Mobile Security
Tested: August 2024
Contact: McAfee www.mcafee.com/
Features: App control, privacy overview, browsing protection, VPN, Wi-Fi control, backup, identity monitoring
System Requirements: Android 9
Price Example: $29.99/year
Total Protection Plans
McAfee also offers Total Protection plans that cover Android devices along with other platforms:
- Basic: $29.99/year for 1 device
- Plus: $39.99/year for 5 devices
- Premium: $49.99/year for unlimited devices
- Advanced: $89.99/year for unlimited devices
All Total Protection plans include antivirus software, firewall, password manager, and identity theft protection. The higher-tier plans add features like VPN access and parental controls.
Other Options
- McAfee Internet Security: €13.53 for 1 year covering 10 devices, including Android
- McAfee Small Business Security: $94.99/year for unlimited Android/iOS devices plus 5 desktops
It’s important to note that these are introductory prices for the first year. Renewal prices may be higher. For example, the Basic Total Protection plan increases to $84.99/year after the first year.
