McAfee SpamKiller 2005 6.0

List Price: $29.99

Customer Reviews:

Buy this only after a free trial [Posted on 2005-01-31]
I purchased, installed, used, and reviewed all Amazon customer reviews (version 5) prior to composing this review. McAfee Spamkiller. version 5, is rated 4.5 in most computer journals, but rated only 1.5 of 5 by Amazon reviewers. That's a big contrast. I used versions 4,5, and 6 and Norton's 2005 antispam also. I'm using McAfee version 5 now with Windows XP on a computer with 512 MB ram and a 1.6 GHz processor. I use Netscape 7.2 mail and Thunderbird Mail, both are Mozilla, POP3. I will not use Microsoft Outlook or AOL which contribute to spam. I run McAfee Spamkiller version 5 with ZoneAlarm, Norton AntiVirus, and Webwasher without conflicts.

I used McAfee's free problem by email technical support option. I received a clearly written and accurate response within 24 hours. The pay-as-you-go telephonic support or the subscription based support ($40) costs more than it is worth. McAfee SpamKiller is OK, good enough, but over priced. It is more versatile than McAfee version 6 or Norton's anti spam/spam killer version 2005.

Nevertheless, whenever I travel and my computer is dormant for several weeks and my mail is accumulating on the ISP server, my spam count drops to 10 percent. When I return from travel and turn on my computer and McAfee or Norton intercept my spam it starts a cascade of new spam even though the spam is never opened or replied and before I browse the Internet. In my opinion, there is something in the software that returns my now active address to spammers. It happens too often to be coincidence.

Spam killing is not easy for any home-based user protecting against professional spamming software developers who are usually more competent than those designing the spam killing tools. The tools are out-of-date before they are provided to the public. Killing spam is constantly a matching of wits requiring thoroughly reading the user's manual and constantly tweaking your settings. No spam killer is "install and forget." In my opinion McAfee SpamKiller 5 provides more versatile anti spam tools than any other general use spam killing software and it works well with Netscape/Messenger and Thunderbird/Firefox. It works best only after going to your mail preference menu, server settings, and turning off (1) check for new messages at startup, (2) check for new messages every __ minutes, and (3) auto download new messages. Also turn off Instant Messenger. You have to do this because McAfee software designers will not design a compatible system. Otherwise mail and McAfee are fighting each other. Hence McAfee versions 5 and 6 are not worth the price asked. But , version 5 is worth the discounted price charged by resellers.

If you insist on using Microsoft email products like Outlook, Instant Messenger, or using AOL you fight the spam battle with one arm tied behind your back and no spam killer will do much good.

DON'T buy this one! [Posted on 2005-02-25]
I'm using Windows XP Home with MSN Hotmail and cannot get this program to work at all, although when you pick the SpamKiller icon you get a screen that states it's active and working. I get a large number of both legitimate and spam emails every day, and the spamcounter displays zeros for the total counts of both legitimate and spam emails received, so I know it's not working.

I'm working with my fourth help technician from McCafee (help through emials instead of expensive phone calls), and still no results. This is the message I get when I to select the 'TEST' button during the install:

"The test did not complete successfully"
"SpamKiller cannot access your MSN Hotmail account"
"You must be a paid MSN Hotmail Subscriber to have SpamKiller filter your email"

The last technician gave me this email response:

" Even if your Hotmail is for free, this does not matter to SpamKiller when filtering. You may skip using Outlook Express and go directly to the website for your Hotmail/MSN account."

I am very frustrated with this product and definitely recommend you STAY AWAY from it. I wish there was a way to get my $30 back but I know that's a hopeless cause.

Horrible [Posted on 2005-09-08]
McAfee had taken a double steep backwards with this program, even their older versions were better that this newer one.
Email or Customer service is non existent with this company, unless you want to pay a very large phone bill to call, but for as email, forget it.
In Spamkiller when the messages are blocked you delete them and they should be gone? Wrong. Now when you open you email program(s)
The messages are there and you must delete them again.
Also if there is an unsure email and you select it as a friend, most times it will not show up in the email program.
The program freezes up and you must restart your operating system even with XP Pro. There should be a "0" Star rating for this program.
Mike

Does not work with Outlook or Outlook Express [Posted on 2005-09-20]
McAfees Spamkiller 6.0 does not work with Outlook. That's all there is to it. It will either delete 100% of your e-mail before you ever know someone sent you a message, or . .. you get 100% of everything, spam and all, depending on your settings. McAfee's support forum has 1000 ticked off people complaining of this and 1000 responses "Have you checked you settings". Apparently 1000 mad customers isn't a tip off to re-vist their program and check for bugs. I am positive the McAfee techs don't use this at home or they would instantly know it's a piece of junk. After a long call (not toll free) and 4 help desk entries I gave up and uninstalled Spamkiller 6. What a waste of money.

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