Should I remove McAfee once it's expired?

I have two computers that came with McAfee Antivirus software, and now that the subscription period is over, they no longer have any obvious function, and I would like to remove the program to free up some resources. I've yet to do so, because I'm not sure if the program still provides any protection or not, since it throws false positives for trojans when I run HouseCall. I'd like some insight from you knowledgeable folks over here.

 

The machine I'm currently using is an Iconia W500 tablet running 32-bit Windows 7. It came with McAfee Antivirus Plus which includes Security Center (version 11.6), Virus Scan (v. 15.6), Personal Firewall (v. 12.6), Site Advisor (v. 3.6), and Quick Clean & Shredder (v. 11.6). My other computer (which I am unable to access right now) runs 64-bit Windows 7, and has a similar McAfee suite. I use Ad-Aware and HouseCall on both machines, and the more powerful one has MalwareBytes, and I am not opposed to installing antivirus software to replace McAfee, but I'm not sure what to use.

 

Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you for reading.

 

-James

It is always recommended to keep any ONE antivirus on your computer. If you have more than one keep only one which you like and remove the others. If you have multiple antivirus it will create issues to each others and will make trouble to both. If you want McAfee, go ahead and purchase the license so that you will get protection from McAfee in future too. If you like Malwarebytes go with them. But never go for 2 antivirus in one PC.

 

You can remove McAfee if you do not wish to purchase McAfee for future use since it is not going to help you without a license.

Edited by Social Jeevi, 30 August 2013 - 05:15 AM.

I would personally not pay for Mcafee, it causes a lot of problems with your system and can be a resource hog. If you do decide to use another anti-virus then remove Mcafee using this tool: http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe

 

Ad-Aware is also considered not a good anti-virus and dated, I would replace it with another free anti-virus such as Microsoft Security Essentials or Avast! free.

 

Malwarebytes is a good program and I would recommend it on all your computers, it works well along side an anti-virus to give you extra protection.

 

xXToffeeXx~

Hey there James, wanted to throw in my 2 cents.

 

I would  - unless you have a lot of money - uninstall the McAfee - and then stick with any one of the many good free AV apps that are out there.

 

If you are happy with HouseCall, then you should keep it using, but it appears that HouseCall is an online / on demand scanner, yes?

 

If so, the other free apps that you can install will more often than not provide some level of Real Time protection, where as HouseCall will only let you know you've been infected after the fact and once you've actually elected to scan your machine.

 

Among the free AVs out there that seem to be well liked among the BC community:

 

MSE   (Microsoft Security Essentials)

Avast

Avira   (although there are some concerns about using the recent version)

Ad-Aware (which you appear to already have installed, at least on one of your machines)

Panda

 

That's not a complete list but one to help you get started.

 

 

I also do want to make note about something that Social Jeevi said, which was "If you like Malwarebytes go with them. But never go for 2 antivirus in one PC"

 

This is half true - you should never run more than one Antivirus software on a computer at one time. This can lead to any number of issues, esp. some False Positives.

 

However, Malwarebytes is not an Antivirus app but rather an Anti Malware app and can/should be used side by side with any number of Antivirus apps to provide you with a multilayer of protection.

 

For example on my main machine (which is a Win 7, 64 bit) I have been running the Free version of Avast along side the Free version of Malwarebytes (or MBAM) and these two have kept me (thus far) out of harms way, as I don't *always* surf safe...

 

So there you go.

 

Perhaps a bit more that 2 cents worth but wanted to try to help.

 

Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

Winterland

 

I agree with xXToffeeXx~.

Although McAfee is as good as any other well known anti-virus program, it requires numerous services and running processes that consume a lot of system resources and often results in complaints of high CPU usage. Anti-virus software components insert themselves deep into the operating systems core and create files/folders/registry entries in various locations. If you do a Google Search you will find there have been numerous complaints about it affecting system performance. Those issues plus the cost factor are the primary reason many folks look for a free alternative as a replacement. McAfee is better utilized in an Enterprise system environment protecting many client computers.

See Choosing an Anti-Virus Program.

It is always recommended to keep any ONE antivirus on your computer. If you have more than one keep only one which you like and remove the others. If you have multiple antivirus it will create issues to each others and will make trouble to both. If you want McAfee, go ahead and purchase the license so that you will get protection from McAfee in future too. If you like Malwarebytes go with them. But never go for 2 antivirus in one PC.

 

You can remove McAfee if you do not wish to purchase McAfee for future use since it is not going to help you without a license.

It isn't true,if you tweak/configure each AV,you can have more than two antiviruses,I currently have Emsisoft Internet Security Pack,and Kaspersky Internet Security 2014,they both work eachother,after getting tweaked.

Thank you all for your advice. I'll get rid of McAfee and replace it with another program.

 

-James

Thank you all for your advice. I'll get rid of McAfee and replace it with another program.

 

-James

Yes,wise. McAfee was used to be sluggish,slow & resource-hogging. I can't say the same about new version since I never gave another chance to it. I'm happy with my current security config.

It is always recommended to keep any ONE antivirus on your computer. If you have more than one keep only one which you like and remove the others. If you have multiple antivirus it will create issues to each others and will make trouble to both. If you want McAfee, go ahead and purchase the license so that you will get protection from McAfee in future too. If you like Malwarebytes go with them. But never go for 2 antivirus in one PC.
 
You can remove McAfee if you do not wish to purchase McAfee for future use since it is not going to help you without a license.

It isn't true,if you tweak/configure each AV,you can have more than two antiviruses,I currently have Emsisoft Internet Security Pack,and Kaspersky Internet Security 2014,they both work eachother,after getting tweaked.

Bleepingcomputer is a family oriented site primarily for novice users who may not know how to "tweak" their systems. As such, we do not recommend using more than one anti-virus. Further, Microsoft and major Anti-virus vendors recommend that you install and run only one anti-virus program at a time.

• Microsoft Security Tips: Should I use more than one antivirus program?

• Symantec's statement
• AVG's statement
• Bitdefender's statement
• Microsoft Security Essentials statement <- click Details

 

 

It is always recommended to keep any ONE antivirus on your computer. If you have more than one keep only one which you like and remove the others. If you have multiple antivirus it will create issues to each others and will make trouble to both. If you want McAfee, go ahead and purchase the license so that you will get protection from McAfee in future too. If you like Malwarebytes go with them. But never go for 2 antivirus in one PC.
 
You can remove McAfee if you do not wish to purchase McAfee for future use since it is not going to help you without a license.

It isn't true,if you tweak/configure each AV,you can have more than two antiviruses,I currently have Emsisoft Internet Security Pack,and Kaspersky Internet Security 2014,they both work eachother,after getting tweaked.

 

Bleepingcomputer is a family oriented site primarily for novice users who may not know how to "tweak" their systems. As such, we do not recommend using more than one anti-virus. Further, Microsoft and major Anti-virus vendors recommend that you install and run only one anti-virus program at a time.

• Microsoft Security Tips: Should I use more than one antivirus program?

• Symantec's statement
• AVG's statement
• Bitdefender's statement
• Microsoft Security Essentials statement <- click Details

 

Yes but I'm just saying. Not everybody knows how to tweak,but they should keep in mind that it's possible.

Telling the average user to mess around with stuff they shouldn't mess around with is bad advice. It can turn a PC into an expensive doorstop. 

@ frankp316

 

+ 1

This is not a forum generally used by the "egg-heads" but more family users

Regardless of "tweaking" there is always a chance you have not got it 100% correct. For this reason the main companies that supply Antivirus programs can have an inbuilt policy to prevent successful "tweaking", or often it is listed in their EULA, so in some cases this would make it illegal .....

I'm a family user as well,I've ten years of computer experience is the only difference...i didn't say I learned it over a night and became an "egg-head".

Tweaking is illegal? well...who cares. YouTube hosts 700,000 videos from bands like Kreator,Nirvana,Black Sabbath,Testament & Exodus. Does it make YouTube illegal as well? who cares,as long as you get music you love without facing the court.  I've been tweaking for like 7 years...if I mess something up,which is 0.1%,I can always revert it using back-up software like Rollback RX -- Which is in my multi-layered security config.

Edited by Jesus H. Christ, 01 September 2013 - 11:37 AM.

Then let me clarify.

Bleeping Computer is a family oriented site where we offer assistance to those who know very little about computing. As such, our forum discussion board is primarily targeted more for the novice user as they comprise most of our membership. We provide help based on that premise since it is impossible for us to know the extent of a member's background, knowledge level and experience until we get to know them.

<snip>
Tweaking is illegal? well...who cares. YouTube hosts 700,000 videos from bands like Kreator,Nirvana,Black Sabbath,Testament & Exodus. Does it make YouTube illegal as well? who cares,as long as you get music you love without facing the court.  <snip>

We care. In fact it's part of the Bleeping Computer forum rules.
You would do well to take some time to read them. But in this case I'll point out the rule/s you decided to ignore and infringe on.

Pornography, warez, or any other illegal transactions may NOT be linked in any shape or form.

No subject matter will be allowed whose purpose is to defeat existing copyright or security measures. If a user persists and/or the activity is obviously illegal the moderators reserve the right to remove such content and/or ban the user. This would also mean encouraging the use or continued use of pirated software is not permitted, and subject to the same consequences.

Encouraging the taking music from youtube and discounting the risk of court is showing disregard for our rules. Do yourself a big favor and read our rules, all of them and abide by them from now on.