Difference Between McAfee LiveSafe And McAfee Total Protection

McAfee is a famous company in the proactive protective niche. Their antiviruses are not only robust with many security features and add-ons, which are useful in blocking any form of malware. LiveSafe and Total Protection are some of their best and popular packages. Both work similarly, but they have just a few different extra features. They are also designed to guarantee you with cloud security, endpoint protection, data protection and encryption, network security, security analytics, security management, server security, ensure real-time visibility into all activities on systems, web security and database security.

 They both provide 100% protection from any threat, including spyware, viruses, Trojans, spamware, malware etc. Both programs offer protection to multiple devices like iOS, Android, PC and Mac devices. Though many people believe that there is no real difference between LiveSafe and Total Protection, but basically it’s a marketing technique.

However, the only difference they have is that Mcfee Total Protection provides everything available on LiveSafe and more as far as cybersecurity is concerned. McAfee LiveSafe is not only an antivirus as it also offers a comprehensive digital security solution for your digital space in terms of cloud storage. In terms of cost, McAfee LiveSafe and Total Protection can be purchased at almost the same price. It is only the number of devices you intend to protect that will be a factor in determining the final cost.

McAfee LiveSafe

McAfee LiveSafe is designed to automatically detect the threats on your devices and remove them. As per the name, it saves, secures, and protects your devices against the malicious virus attacks. The best thing about McAfee LiveSafe is that with its one subscription, you can protect multiple numbers of PCs, MACs, Smartphones, and tablets against online threats and viruses. In fact, this one protection software is for unlimited devices.

Features Of McAfee LiveSafe

  • Web and email protection
  • Virus and spyware protection
  • Data security
  • File locking
  • PC and home network protection
  • Password Manger

What You Need To know About McAfee LiveSafe

  • McAfee LiveSafe is a comprehensive digital security suite which provides your device with anti-virus, identity and protection.
  • McAfee LiveSafe comes with a Personal Locker with a space of 1GB secured cloud storage. The cloud storage also includes advanced protection for the safety of your most precious data and vital documents in it. McAfee can store everything including your passport and your documents.
  • McAfee Livesafe has a different selling point. It boasts of secure cloud storage that protects cloud-based folders.
  • It is famous due to the fact that, it provides security for your documents, identity and data across all your devices, a factor that can be attributed to its latest scanning engine that offers 24/7 malware protection.
  • Parental control is not strong or as good as that of McAfee Total Protection.
  • McAfee LiveSafe offers an all-inclusive plan that offers protection across an unlimited number of devices.

McAfee Total Protection

McAfee Total Protection is a security suite which provides your device with anti-virus, identity, and privacy protection. It is considered as the real-time protection as it safeguards your devices from even the advanced kinds of rootkits, Trojans, malware, viruses, spyware, and other such threats without making any compromise on the battery life of your device. It includes things like personal firewall, vulnerability scanner, parental controls, crypto-currency protections, and password manager.

Features Of McAfee Total Protection

  • Web and email protection
  • Virus and spyware protection
  • App and web boost
  • Provides data protection and backup
  • Parental controls and VPN

What You Need To Know About Total Protection

  • McAfee Total protection is a premium version that provides the complete protection for any OS platforms including PC, Mac and Android.
  • McAfee Total Protection does not provide cloud storage. It protects your sensitive documents and files by encrypting them with 128-bit encryption and save them in a password-protected vault.
  • Total Protection’s selling point is that it boasts of being an award-winning web/email protection software that guarantees defense against viruses and threats with online and offline protection.
  •  It is famous for its password management feature which helps you create and store highly secure and unique passwords for each of your online accounts.
  • Parental control is fairly strong and good when compared to McAfee LiveSafe.
  • McAfee Total Protection offers three different plans based on the number of devices you need. The plans include: Single Device plan (supports one device), Individual plan (supports up to five devices) and Family Plan (supports up to 10 devices).

Also Read: Difference Between Kerberos And SSL

McAfee LiveSafe vs Total Protection: Key Differences

NB: Please note that product features and offerings can change over time, so I recommend checking the official McAfee website or other reliable sources for the most up-to-date information.

Feature Set

  • McAfee LiveSafe: Focused on providing comprehensive security across multiple devices and platforms. It often includes features like antivirus protection, firewall, device optimization, secure cloud storage, and identity theft protection.
  • McAfee Total Protection: Offers a broader range of features, including antivirus, firewall, web protection, performance optimization, password manager, and encrypted storage for sensitive files.

Device Limit

  • LiveSafe: Usually provides protection for an unlimited number of devices, making it suitable for households with multiple devices.
  • Total Protection: May have limitations on the number of devices covered, often offering protection for up to a certain number of devices.

Cloud Storage

  • LiveSafe: Often includes secure cloud storage for files and documents.
  • Total Protection: May or may not include secure cloud storage as part of its package.

Password Manager

  • Total Protection: Often includes a password manager to help users securely store and manage their passwords.
  • LiveSafe: Might not include this feature.

Parental Controls

  • Total Protection: May offer more advanced parental control features, allowing parents to manage their children’s online activities.
  • LiveSafe: Might have more basic parental control options or not include them at all.

Encrypted Storage

  • Total Protection: May include encrypted storage for sensitive files and documents.
  • LiveSafe: Might not have this feature.

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

  • Total Protection: Some versions might include a limited VPN for secure browsing.
  • LiveSafe: May not include a VPN.

Device Optimization

  • LiveSafe: Might offer features for optimizing device performance and freeing up space.
  • Total Protection: Could offer similar device optimization features.

Support and Customer Service

  • Total Protection: Could offer more extensive customer support options, including priority access to support.
  • LiveSafe: Might have standard customer support options.

Subscription Tiers

  • Total Protection: Could have multiple subscription tiers with varying features and levels of protection.
  • LiveSafe: May also have different subscription tiers with varying levels of protection.

McAfee LiveSafe vs Total Protection: Key Takeaways

BASIS OF COMPARISON McAfee LiveSafe McAfee Total Protection
Description McAfee LiveSafe is a comprehensive digital security suite which provides your device with anti-virus, identity and protection.   McAfee Total protection is a premium version that provides the complete protection for any OS platforms including PC, Mac and Android.  
Cloud Storage McAfee LiveSafe comes with a Personal Locker with a space of 1GB secured cloud storage. McAfee Total Protection does not provide cloud storage.
Selling Point It boasts of secure cloud storage that protects cloud-based folders.   The Unique Selling Proposition of McAfee Total Protection is its award-winning antivirus scanner, web/email protection.
Popularity It is famous due to the fact that, it provides security for your documents, identity and data across all your devices, a factor that can be attributed to its latest scanning engine that offers 24/7 malware protection.   It is famous for its password management feature which helps you create and store highly secure and unique passwords for each of your online accounts.  
Parental Control Parental control is not strong or as good as that of McAfee Total Protection.   Parental control is fairly strong and good when compared to McAfee LiveSafe.  
Number Of Devices McAfee LiveSafe offers an all-inclusive plan that offers protection across an unlimited number of devices.   McAfee Total Protection Plans offer protection for a limited number of devices, the maximum being 10 devices.

McAfee LiveSafe Pros And Cons

Pros

  • LiveSafe allows you to protect an unlimited number of devices with a single subscription.
  • McAfee LiveSafe comprehensive security features like antivirus, firewall, identity theft protection, secure cloud storage etc.
  • The inclusion of secure cloud storage can be a convenient way to store and access your important files from different devices.
  • LiveSafe often includes features to safeguard your personal information and prevent identity theft, such as monitoring for potential breaches of your personal data.
  • Some versions of LiveSafe may include tools for optimizing device performance, freeing up space, and improving overall system efficiency.
  • McAfee’s user interface is designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate.

Cons

  • McAfee LiveSafe can sometimes have a noticeable impact on system performance, particularly during scans or updates.
  • Navigating through various settings and options could require some time and effort.
  • Renewing your subscription to McAfee LiveSafe after the initial term can sometimes be more expensive, especially if you’re seeking to continue the same level of coverage.
  • Some users have reported that McAfee software installations might come with additional bundled software or features that they did not specifically choose.
  • Like any antivirus software, there’s a possibility of false positives, where legitimate files or programs might be flagged as threats.

McAfee Total Protection Pros And Cons

Pros

  • McAfee Total Protection offers a comprehensive suite of security features, including antivirus protection, firewall, web protection, identity theft protection etc.
  • Total Protection often allows you to protect multiple devices under a single subscription.
  • Many versions of Total Protection come with a password manager that helps you generate, store, and manage complex passwords securely.
  • Total Protection may include advanced parental control features, allowing parents to monitor and manage their children’s online activities and screen time.
  • Some versions of Total Protection may offer a limited VPN, allowing you to browse the internet more securely and privately.
  • Total Protection include tools to optimize device performance, clean up unnecessary files, and improve system responsiveness.
  • Certain versions of Total Protection could include encrypted storage for your sensitive files.
  • McAfee generally offers customer support for their products, which can be valuable if you encounter any issues or need assistance with the software.

Cons

  • Like any security software, McAfee Total Protection can impact system performance, particularly during scans or updates.
  • Renewing your subscription after the initial term might lead to higher costs, especially if you wish to maintain the same level of coverage.
  • Some users have reported that McAfee software can display frequent pop-up notifications, which might be perceived as intrusive.
  • While McAfee offers customer support, the quality of service might vary. Some users have expressed dissatisfaction with the responsiveness or effectiveness of support services.
  • As with any antivirus software, there’s a possibility of false positives, where legitimate files or programs might be flagged as threats.
  • During installations, McAfee software might offer additional bundled software or features that users didn’t specifically choose.