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What is McAfee LiveSafe with VPN: Next-level Identity and Data Protection
Linsey Knerl
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May 30, 2024
The days of simple antivirus protection are over. Today’s PC users need something much more powerful – tools that not only keep bad actors from accessing your devices and networks but also keep your online life safe and help you in the unfortunate event of a breach. McAfee has been a trusted name in security for over 30 years, and the latest bundle of McAfee+ essential services helps keep your devices secure while watching out for your personal data in every corner of the web.
According to McAfee, did you know that over 42 million people were victims of identity fraud in 2021, totaling $52 billion in losses? This was a 70% increase from 2020, showing that cybercrime is on the rise and getting more sophisticated.
What is McAfee+?
McAfee+ offers all-in-one protection services for your devices, online accounts, personal identity, and data. It’s an active technology that continually monitors the internet, including the dark web for any of your sensitive information, and provides restoration services should your identity be involved in a breach.
McAfee+ includes all of the privacy and security features you expect from an antivirus, firewall, and VPN service, plus proactive tools to keep your data out of the hands of cybercriminals.
The technology deployed by McAfee+ greatly reduces the chances your info will be exposed or exploited. However, it also comes through quickly in situations where you or a loved one finds their data has been compromised. With even the most secure shopping sites, banks, and hospitals experiencing breaches these days, you can never be too careful; McAfee+ has created a simple and convenient process for taking back your data (and your life). In the unfortunate event that you do experience fraud or online theft, McAfee+ goes one step further with its Advanced plan to reimburse you up to $1 million for the cost of getting your identity restored. The Ultimate plan reimburses $2 million and also offers additional coverage for ransomware losses.
Plans Available in McAfee+
Technology use differs from household to household, so McAfee has designed three plans with varying levels of protection. Choose from the following service plans to suit your needs. Each one is available for individuals and households at discounted annual plan rates:
Premium
This plan is the most affordable, giving users identity monitoring, password management, online account cleanup, scans for online data and accounts, as well as standard security features like firewall, antivirus protection, digital file shredder, VPN, and web protection.1 Use it with all the devices in your home. The Premium plan covers unlimited devices including mobile so that the user is protected on all their devices.
Advanced
When you want a bit more protection for your financial activities, the Advanced plan may be a better option. With all of the features of the Premium plan, it also includes financial transaction monitoring and credit monitoring from one credit reporting bureau. You’ll get access to your credit score and report one time a month, plus notifications of unusual activity on your accounts, as well as lost wallet protection, quick credit freezes, access to licensed identity restoration experts, and up to $1 million in identity theft coverage.
Ultimate1
Finally, when you want to leave nothing to chance, consider the comprehensive protection offered by the Ultimate plan. It gives you everything in the Premium and Advanced plans, plus an additional identity theft coverage to a total of $2 million, as well as up to $25,000 in ransomware reimbursement. You have daily access to your credit score and reports from all three reporting bureaus, credit lock, and the full services of a team of professionals who can clean up your identity data and private information if it’s exposed online.
This is the most secure and hands-off option of the three. If your data is breached or your identity is stolen, the McAfee+ team will initiate getting your data safely restored and see the case through until it's resolved. You'll have their support every step of the way.
McAfee+ features for you and your family?
The three McAfee+ plans offer so many perks, and each has its own role in helping to keep you safe when online. Whether you use your computer just at home or visit airports and coffee shops for their public WiFi network, you’ll want to help keep your PC secure with these enhancements.
Secure VPN: Set up your own secure connection and access the internet from anywhere you work or travel. Shop from a coffee shop or access your banking account from the airplane. With
VPN turned on, your data is kept safe from prying eyes and network pirates.
McAfee Protection Score: Discover any security weaknesses in real time by checking your McAfee protection score. With scores ranging from 0 to 1,000, you can see (at a glance) whether your device is vulnerable before you share any sensitive information. Aim for a score of 700 or more for a secure experience; better yet, get your number to 850 using established best practices for an excellent protection score.
Personal Data Cleanup: Do you know where your personal information has ended up? You may be surprised to see your data scattered across search sites, social media, and email marketing lists. Get your data back from data brokers by having your information removed from these places. McAfee+ will show you what data brokers are collecting your information and how to have them remove it.
Identity Monitoring: Breaches happen often, and criminals only need a few pieces of your information to use it in identity theft crimes. McAfee+ checks the web for your information after a breach, then notifies you up to 10 months before other services so that you can take quick action.
Credit Monitoring: This service alone is often sold for a pretty penny, but it's included as part of McAfee+ Advanced and Ultimate plans. Know when your score changes, new accounts show up on your credit report, or your social security number is used to access credit. With reporting from all three credit bureaus, you can be assured your credit profile is covered.
Identity Restoration and Coverage: What happens if, despite all efforts, your identity is used to open accounts or activate new lines of credit? That’s where the experts at McAfee come in. They can help you get these accounts closed and your information scrubbed so you can move on with your life. Added financial compensation for losses to your banking accounts or credit is available for McAfee+ Advanced and Ultimate plans.
Device Security: Finally, McAfee made a name for itself with malware defense, antivirus security, firewalls, and ransomware protection, and these services have been enhanced to handle the new threats coming from the advanced phishing techniques hackers use to exfiltrate data and the advances of artificial intelligence (AI). In fact, McAfee uses its own AI and machine learning to both improve performance and protect you from threats that don't even exist yet. From the moment you register your 30-day trial of McAfee on your new HP PC, you’ll get protection from software intrusions, hackers, and spies simply by keeping your McAfee+ software updated and running when you go online. The service is easy to keep up-to-date, too.
You’ll never have to take time downloading clunky patches or installing more and more software. McAfee+ handles it all and only notifies you if you need to tweak your security settings or take action on a security concern. It’s a largely hands-off solution that frees you up to do other things while it works quietly and securely in the background.
Why HP & McAfee?
Each new HP notebook or desktop you buy comes with McAfee services pre-installed. You won’t have to download anything or scout out the latest version of the software. When your 30-day free trial is over, you can continue using McAfee+ by selecting your choice of plan. You can enjoy uninterrupted security and safety when you shop, pay bills, watch movies, or chat with friends on social media.
Both brands understand that everyone uses their PC differently, but security is important to all. With McAfee’s award-winning technology ready to use from the moment you power on your new device, there’s no excuse to go unprotected or expose your data to criminals online. The seamless integration of McAfee+ enhances your HP computing experience so you can do more of the important things in life.
Summary
You may not think you are likely to become a victim of cybercrime but consider the stats: $2.3 billion was lost through imposter scams committed online in 2021. What would happen if you found yourself the victim?
The best defense to these crimes is to get a great offense. While McAfee+ is known for its defense against hackers and malware, it also goes the extra mile to search for problems before they start. From looking for your private information across message boards on the dark web to keeping tabs on the latest security breaches, you can take comfort in McAfee's approach to online safety.
You can’t be everywhere at once, but the possibility that your information will be is quite real. Just one security breach could result in your information being sold to criminals, where it could be used to open up new credit accounts, access your banking records, or log into your favorite shopping sites for unauthorized purchases.
Rather than stay up at night and worry about how the latest breach will affect you, why not leave it in the hands of a company with over three decades of experience in keeping people safe? McAfee+ and HP are offering the best of two great tech companies to help ensure your data stays with you and doesn’t end up anywhere else.
