McAfee said on Tuesday that it plans to release four versions of its new "Falcon" security products, which is designed to rival Symantec and newcomer Microsoft.
The four editions will vary in the number of security features, giving consumers the option to buy a less comprehensive package. Offering various editions also allows McAfee to try to sell its customers a more expensive option at a premium price. Microsoft's OneCare and Symantec's Norton 360 are pitched as one size fits all.
Marc Solomon, director of product management at McAfee, said in an interview that all four McAfee products would include the basic security features -- antivirus, anti-spyware and a firewall. Additionally, all editions include SiteAdvisor, which adds ratings to Web search results, and PC health tools for tasks such as hard drive defragmentation, he said.
At the bottom of the new McAfee lineup is McAfee VirusScan Plus, which includes only the basic features. Next is McAfee PC Protection Plus, which adds backup features and lets users back up data to a CD, DVD, external drive or a networked drive, Solomon said.
McAfee Internet Security Suite includes all the features of the lower-end products and adds phishing and spam shields as well as parental controls, Solomon said. Furthermore, the suite includes a feature that warns users when personal data such as a credit card number is being transmitted to the Internet, for ID theft protection, he said.
At the top of the line is McAfee Total Protection, which adds wireless network security as its only distinguishing feature over the McAfee Internet Security Suite. "As we come with new features, those would be included in Total Protection," Solomon said.
News source: ZDNet Australia
