McAfee Total Protection vs Microsoft Defender Antivirus Comparison

• Total Protection Essential for 5 devices, renewal: $119.99 a year after the first year; the checkout gives this as the current renewal price
• Total Protection Essential for 5 devices, first year: Intro: $39.99 for the first year, for new customers
• McAfee+ Premium Individual, renewal: $149.99 a year after the first year ($49.99 in the first year); from the plan page, not checked in the cart

• Included in Windows: Built into Windows; not sold separately

The McAfee License Agreement says the antivirus protection may automatically send McAfee reports about suspected malware and unwanted software, that 'the reports may include files that contain suspected malware', that McAfee will ask permission first if it thinks a suspicious file is likely to contain personal data, and that 'You can turn off this automatic reporting from your antivirus protection in your product.' The privacy notice adds that the software collects device ID, telemetry, McAfee ID, IP address, web domains visited and web traffic data, and that the WebAdvisor browser extension collects URLs, search information and the name and size of downloaded files.

Cloud-delivered protection is on by default. When the app cannot decide about a file on the device, it sends the file's metadata to Microsoft: hashes, file name and size, signer, the process that touched it, the download address and IP, the hashed file path, and the device's OS version, locale and geographical location. If that is not enough, Microsoft can request the file itself. The default setting sends 'safe samples' such as .exe, .dll and .bat files automatically and asks you before sending a file likely to contain personal data. You can switch off sample submission or cloud-delivered protection in Windows Security; Microsoft's documentation says detection metadata is still sent when sample submission is off.

The privacy notice says McAfee does not 'sell' personal information under U.S. state law, but may share information with third-party advertising partners for cross-context behavioral and targeted advertising, that it collects mobile advertising identifiers, that mobile advertising partners may use location to target ads where location access is granted, and that it uses Meta's business tools to target ads. Opt-out is through the Individual Data Request form or Global Privacy Control. The Cookie Notice adds that free McAfee products may share device and advertising identifiers with web browsing or app usage with select partners for targeted ads, with an opt-out in the product settings.

Microsoft's privacy statement says Defender Antivirus automatically sends reports about suspected malware and unwanted software and may send files for inspection, asking first if a report may contain personal data. Windows required diagnostic data, which includes a Defender health event with a Defender machine ID, is stored with unique identifiers and used to keep Windows secure and to improve Windows. If you turn on the Windows setting Personalized offers, Windows diagnostic data is also used for tips, ads and recommendations. The statement also says Microsoft discloses personal data for digital advertising, and in response to valid legal process from law enforcement and government agencies.

McAfee, LLC is registered in California and has its headquarters at 6220 America Center Drive, San Jose. The privacy notice names McAfee Ireland Limited as the controller for consumers in the EEA and says McAfee may disclose data to law enforcement and government authorities, including for national security purposes and in response to subpoenas.

Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, Washington, is the data controller; for the European Economic Area, the UK and Switzerland it is Microsoft Ireland Operations Limited in Dublin. Microsoft takes part in the EU–US, UK and Swiss data privacy frameworks.

On 1 March 2022 McAfee Corp. announced the completion of its acquisition by an investor group led by Advent International and funds advised by Permira, with Crosspoint Capital Partners, CPP Investments, GIC and a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority; the deal was valued at over $14 billion and McAfee left the stock exchange.

Microsoft was founded in 1975 and trades on the stock market as MSFT. Its antivirus began in 2009 as Microsoft Security Essentials, became Windows Defender in Windows 8 and 10, and was renamed Microsoft Defender Antivirus in 2020.