McAfee vs. Microsoft Defender (Microsoft 365)
Gamers know firsthand how important it is to stay
safe and protected while spending time online! Microsoft Defender alone is not enough protection for the average end-user, and certainly insufficient for always-connected gamers.
Online threats have evolved far beyond just PCs, and McAfee is outpacing these threats with leading device, privacy and identity protections, while keeping PC performance front-and-center.
Let's take a look at a few key details from McAfee and Microsoft, some of which might be an important deal-breakers!
| McAfee | Microsoft |
|---|---|
|
Game with confidence, knowing McAfee has top scores in BOTH efficacy and performance. McAfee's leading protection won't slow you down. |
Microsoft Defender’s efficacy and performance protection capabilities lag behind McAfee’s |
|
McAfee's leading AI/ML technology offloads more scanning to the cloud, so your games have more of the resources they crave. |
Consumer online protection is a relatively new space for Microsoft. Focus is divided across operating systems, office software, PC and gaming hardware and many other areas. |
|
With 12x more malicious destinations blocked, you're free to search and browse with confidence, particularly helpful in between rounds and matches. |
Lacks people-centric protections and guidance |
| In games, your real identity is behind a gamertag/handle, but your info is still available online for sale. McAfee's enhanced privacy protections, including Personal Data Cleanup, help you control what personal info is available online, |
Identity monitoring is limited to the US |
|
Unlimited secure VPN powered by 5000+ physical servers around the world ensures that you have an optimized private connection wherever you choose to connect. |
Identity protection is limited to the US only and does not include credit monitoring, security freeze, credit lock, lost wallet support, and stolen funds coverage. |
|
In-game interruptions can be fatal; McAfee lets you disable alerts for interruption-free gaming. |
Limited privacy protection with Edge-only VPN, no data broker monitoring capabilities. |
Not only does McAfee stand out as the clear winner when comparing to Microsoft, but their features go beyond what Microsoft offers. McAfee is compatible with ChromeOS, a feature which covers an extensive gap in Microsoft's offerings!
McAfee also offers Personal Data Cleanup with scans and manual removal, meaning you'll be able to filter through all the personal data and see for yourself what risky data is out there.
Another very attractive offering for gamers is their VPN service with is available on all of their covered platforms (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, ChromeOS) while Microsoft's VPN offering is still in Beta. You'll be able to rest easy knowing that McAfee + Advanced & Ultimate offers Credit and Transaction monitoring, something which Microsoft does not offer. No more risky tactics needed to remember passwords! McAfee provides their customers with 5 user profiles on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, ChromeOS. The icing on the cake? All of these features mentioned are available to both users in and outside of the US!
All of this to considered, coupled with an emphasis on prioritizing PC performance, makes McAfee a clear choice for gamers to stay protected online!
This post brought to you by our partners at McAfee
