McAfee WebAdvisor is a free software for Windows that protects your PC while you surf the Internet. The program works as a browser extension and tends to monitor user activities while using the web and doing searches, to try to avoid being affected by malware or phishing.
Installation is fast and McAfee WebAdvisor takes up very little hard drive space. When you open the browser after installation (in our tests we use Google Chrome), the plugin asks to be activated only once. After that, it starts working in the background, with low RAM consumption. In the following paragraphs, learn about the features of McAfee WebAdvisor and how to download the extension. It is worth mentioning that the plugin works only on computers with Windows, versions 7, 8, 8.1, and 10. Also, it is compatible with Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Internet Explorer browsers.
WebAdvisor Features
According to the company’s official website, WebAdvisor offers protection for downloads and also checks if the antivirus firewall is activated. Although the text does not explain how this works, in our tests the feature did not conflict with Windows Defender, and no alert was issued.
On the other hand, the user needs to stay alert for specific detail. When the app offers active protection for the search system, the tool tries to impose the use of Yahoo Search, this will replace Google Search in the browser. In this case, just do not accept the conditions and continue using your preferred search engine.
WebAdvisor is also able to correct the URL address when the user types in the wrong browser bar. If the link is some character is not correct, a McAfee page opens automatically and suggests the correct path.
Supported Platforms
McAfee WebAdvisor software is compatible with Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and 10, either 32 or 64-bit. As for the browser, the tool can work together with Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge of Windows 10, provided it is updated to “Fall Creators Update”, and Internet Explorer 10 or later.
How to download and Use WebAdvisor
To download WebAdvisor, simply access the McAfee website and click the “Free Download” button. The page in question will detect the browser that the user is using and direct you to the correct file. By double-clicking on the executable, in the “Download” folder of the computer, the extension will be installed quickly. For this, it will be necessary to accept the terms of commitment.
Once you start using it, simply activate the plugin in your browser’s extension menu and it will be ready to scan the visited sites for malware. In Chrome, for example, just click on the button “Extensions”, which has the figure of a puzzle piece, and enable the tool.
After that, the extension will start working in the background and there is no need to take any further action. By clicking the button of McAfee WebAdvisor, in the browser toolbar, the plugin shows the number of sites tracked and the number of blocks for being a potential danger to the user.
Privacy and Data Use
McAfee’s website has an extensive list of data to collect from the user and its most frequent uses. Before installing WebAdvisor, it is worth taking the time to read the “Privacy Policy” to know if you agree with the terms or not.
In summary, the company may collect information provided by the user at the time of registration, such as contact information, payment, and credentials for access to social networks, when necessary. Through the tool, it is also possible to collect data such as PC details, information about products viewed, and the apps used to access the network, among other information.
According to the legal terms, this collected material can be used to provide the necessary protection to the user or for commercial purposes. McAfee indicates that this data serves to customize customer service, conduct consumer research and market trends, and send product and service announcements, among other purposes.
How to Uninstall McAfee WebAdvisor
To remove the McAfee WebAdvisor extension, simply go to the browser plugin manager and ask to remove it. In the case of Google Chrome, for example, go to the button that simulates a puzzle piece, find the app in question and click the three points that appear next to it. Then choose the option “Remove from Chrome”.
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