Reviewers most often mention relentless pop-ups and upsell prompts that keep appearing even after uninstalling or cancelling. Many describe billing issues, including unwanted auto-renewals and repeated charges. Several users say the software interferes with local devices and internet access. A few give higher ratings for core protection but still point to frequent upgrade prompts.
Examples from available reviews (Nov 2025 – Mar 2026).
Automated renewals caused triple billing and refund refused.
“they overbilled me 3 times on the automated renewals.”
Persistent alarming pop-ups continued despite app removal and unsubscribe attempts.
“WARNING, INFESTED, TAKE ACTION AAAAAAAGH.”
Received repeated emails falsely claiming payment renewal failures.
“my renewal payment failed.”
Good product but constant upgrade pop-ups request additional payment.
“always asking me to upgrade in their pop-ups.”
Customers describe recurring billing problems and unwanted auto-renewals. Many say cancelling is difficult, and refunds are refused or slow. Several also report alerts and pop-ups continuing even after cancelling the service.
Users complain about unexpected price increases, repeated charges, and paid add-ons inside the app. Several mention extra paid fixes and say the cost doesn’t feel worth it. A small number still rate the core protection well despite the pricing complaints.
Multiple reviewers describe intrusive upgrade pop-ups that they can’t turn off. Several say they can’t fully remove preinstalled software and still see alerts after uninstalling. A few report the software blocking printers or cutting off internet access.
Reviews mention missed detections, false positives, and slow computer performance. Some users say the firewall or VPN needs manual reconnection or blocks local devices. Positive comments about how it works appear less often than quality complaints.
Customers report spam-like renewal emails, phishing-style messages, and unsubscribe attempts that don’t work. Support stories include calls that end abruptly and chat agents asking for payment details in insecure ways. Several reviewers also say follow-up after security incidents is weak.
Most accounts are negative, driven by intrusive messages, billing disputes, and support that doesn’t help. A minority say protection is acceptable but still complain about constant upsells. The mix of many one-star reviews and occasional higher ratings shows clear user polarisation.
For each review, the core experience based on original source reviews.
Sources: Trustpilot (20) · consumeraffairs.com (10) · Quotes shortened · As of: March 2026
Received repeated emails falsely claiming payment renewal failures.
“my renewal payment failed.”
VPN and firewall automation blocks local printing and devices.
“permanently locked out of local devices like printers”
Automated renewals caused triple billing and refund refused.
“they overbilled me 3 times on the automated renewals.”
Reviewer accuses company of blackmailing users and scamming.
“They need to be sent to court for blackmailing their users.”
Excessive pop-ups and additional paid features within the software.
“add ons on top of your subscription.”
Auto-renewal, unexpected £50 price increase and failed antivirus scans.
“They decide if you want to auto-renew your subscription”
Software blocked internet access, preventing university database access.
“Completely cut me off from the internet”
Preinstalled reminders to upgrade impossible to remove, expensive and useless.
“Useless, expencive.”
Cancellation was difficult and reviewer remains frustrated.
“I had it for two days and decided to cancel.”
Persistent alarming pop-ups continued despite app removal and unsubscribe attempts.
“WARNING, INFESTED, TAKE ACTION AAAAAAAGH.”
Cancelled subscription but still receiving pop-ups and ignored by support.
“They are not good people!”
Could only redeem one year of promised two-year free cover and received no response.
“McAfee only accepted one yrs' cover”
Excessive upsell pop-up ads drive reviewer to seek alternative antivirus.
“Too many up sell pop up ads!”
Software slows computer and requires manual firewall reconnection.
“It slows down my computer more than any other software”
Scammers impersonated McAfee and McAfee support was unhelpful afterward.
“What they were actually doing was stealing my data and my identity.”
Support insisted on insecure credit card verification over chat.
“asked me to provide my credit card details over the webchat”
Service charges repeatedly for additional fixes and offers poor results.
“you pay 159.99 for a basic service”
Receiving spam, scam and phishing emails and unsubscribing fails.
“Keeps sending me spam, scam and phishing E-mails”
Produces false positives and rarely detected actual viruses.
“The only time its scanned an actual virus is once.”
Removed option to turn off pop-ups; reviewer plans to leave.
“removed the option where I can turn off their pop-ups.”
Persistent pop-ups and red screen freezes continued after uninstall.
“A red screen will pop up saying that you have to delete it from your pc”
Paid for pro protection yet it failed to work and no refund given.
“It do anything they said.”
Support calls hung up and login issues persisted after long wait.
“I called 3 times and each time a support person hung up on me.”
Agent argued about removing device but eventually removed it.
“wanted to argue with me”
Preinstalled McAfee could not be fully removed and popups persisted.
“continuously got license renewal popups.”
Application persisted despite not paying; third-party remover only partly effective.
“remover didn't even work all the way”
Good product but constant upgrade pop-ups request additional payment.
“always asking me to upgrade in their pop-ups.”
Frequent intrusive pop-up ads waste reviewer's time significantly.
“instant pop ups I never asked for.”
McAfee installed unexpectedly and was difficult to uninstall.
“Somehow Mcafee got installed.”
This page combines submitted experiences with public reviews from platforms such as Google, Trustpilot, etc. Recurring points are summarised without changing the content of reviews.
McAfee makes cybersecurity software for consumer and enterprise customers. It offers antivirus, internet security suites, endpoint protection, plus VPN and firewall tools. Products are sold on subscription licences and through channel partners, with cloud-based management for business deployments. McAfee supports major desktop and mobile platforms and includes threat intelligence and device-management features.