# Accidentally installed McAfee. How much trouble am I in? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 7, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accidentally-installed-mcafee-how-much-trouble-am-i-in/634025 "2012-09-07T19:09:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accidentally-installed-mcafee-how-much-trouble-am-i-in/634025/1 "2012-09-07T19:09:57Z")
Java wanted to update. I let it update. It had McAfee attached, and I didn’t pay attention enough to uncheck the box. One McAfee popped up its own dialogue an hour later, I uninstalled it. Am I OK, or this going to be lurking in my system? ---
**Author:** ![Qwakkeddup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/90ced4/32.png) [@Qwakkeddup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwakkeddup)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accidentally-installed-mcafee-how-much-trouble-am-i-in/634025/2 "2012-09-07T19:25:30Z")
If you go to programs and features to do an un-installation you should be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accidentally-installed-mcafee-how-much-trouble-am-i-in/634025/3 "2012-09-07T19:45:56Z")
That almost happened to me but I unchecked the box in time. If I had missed it I’d be infuriated… how dare they try to sneak their shit on my computer. Especially that intrusive pos Mcafee. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accidentally-installed-mcafee-how-much-trouble-am-i-in/634025/4 "2012-09-07T19:48:39Z")
it’s like fresh chewing gum on your shoe. make sure to get it all. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accidentally-installed-mcafee-how-much-trouble-am-i-in/634025/5 "2012-09-07T20:02:36Z")
Uh, I meant to say, “Accidentally installed McAfee,” in the title. I intentionally uninstalled it. Boy that title looks weird. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accidentally-installed-mcafee-how-much-trouble-am-i-in/634025/6 "2012-09-07T20:04:30Z")
Yeah, I was going to say, “Uninstalled? Easily? Patent your process”. ---
**Author:** ![Full\_Tilt\_Boogie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/2acd7d/32.png) [@Full\_Tilt\_Boogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Tilt_Boogie)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accidentally-installed-mcafee-how-much-trouble-am-i-in/634025/7 "2012-09-07T23:24:51Z")
\*\*Accidentally installed McAfee. How much trouble am I in? \*\*None whatsoever - merely uninstall it. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accidentally-installed-mcafee-how-much-trouble-am-i-in/634025/8 "2012-09-08T13:08:38Z")
Just be glad it wasn’t Norton (Symantec). Once you get that on your machine, you’ll never get it off. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accidentally-installed-mcafee-how-much-trouble-am-i-in/634025/9 "2012-09-08T16:10:04Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > Just be glad it wasn’t Norton. What’s up with Norton these days? Way,way back in the days of DOS, Norton was the ultimate answer to everything. There was Norton anti-virus, Norton disc doctor, etc. Peter Norton was featured on magazine covers as a hero. But for the last 15 years, I haven’t heard the name so much. ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accidentally-installed-mcafee-how-much-trouble-am-i-in/634025/10 "2012-09-08T18:44:26Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > What’s up with Norton these days? > Way,way back in the days of DOS, Norton was the ultimate answer to everything. There was Norton anti-virus, Norton disc doctor, etc. Peter Norton was featured on magazine covers as a hero. > But for the last 15 years, I haven’t heard the name so much. Yeah, Norton Utilities was da bomb, but Norton’s security software has a terrible reputation. I’d never install anything of theirs after being forced to use it on my last work PC. It’s like they were infiltrated by EA employees or something. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accidentally-installed-mcafee-how-much-trouble-am-i-in/634025/11 "2012-09-08T19:03:45Z")
Collusion with McAfee? Isn’t this just another reason to uninstall Java? ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accidentally-installed-mcafee-how-much-trouble-am-i-in/634025/12 "2012-09-08T19:06:27Z")
> [@Sudden\_Kestrel](#): > > Yeah, Norton Utilities was da bomb, but Norton’s security software has a terrible reputation. I’d never install anything of theirs after being forced to use it on my last work PC. It’s like they were infiltrated by EA employees or something. Since Peter Norton sold the Norton Utilities its gone downhill. _Way_ downhill. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accidentally-installed-mcafee-how-much-trouble-am-i-in/634025/13 "2012-09-09T15:29:59Z")
I think it would be very bad for either McAfee or Norton to get a reputation that it is difficult to remove from your computer. There selling points are that they protect your computer from unwanted software. They would be going against their own business model if they made it a PITA to uninstall their own software like it was spyware. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accidentally-installed-mcafee-how-much-trouble-am-i-in/634025/14 "2012-09-09T16:56:26Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > I think it would be very bad for either McAfee or Norton to get a reputation that it is difficult to remove from your computer. There selling points are that they protect your computer from unwanted software. They would be going against their own business model if they made it a PITA to uninstall their own software like it was spyware. These days “protecting your computer from unwanted software” is a trivial task accomplished by dozens of free, less obtrusive software. The Norton and McAfee business model takes that trivial task and preys upon ignorant new users through bundling agreements and scary subscribe-or-else warnings. Once upon a time they provided a valuable service, but competition heated up and they realized they could only stay afloat by suckering in people who didn’t know that better free options were available. Norton especially has gained exactly that reputation of being difficult to remove (alongside being a resource hog, etc.), which is why you’ll see them being criticized here and in pretty much any knowledgeable computer forum. ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accidentally-installed-mcafee-how-much-trouble-am-i-in/634025/15 "2012-09-09T17:09:02Z")
Unfortunately, these anti-virus programs have to work at such a low-level interface with Windows, they have to hook in so tight, they can be hard to uninstall. Add to that sloppy programming, people who need virus protection and don’t care how they get it, and the problem just doesn’t get fixed. And I don’t doubt that the marketing dept really does like that the software is hard to uninstall, especially if all you have to do is buy another years worth of updates and then you’ll never see the annoying popup again. But yeh, it certainly is ironic how the antivirus program is _ **almost** _ as bad as some of the gentlest viruses. But of course, not worse than the worst virus or trojan – an important distinction. ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accidentally-installed-mcafee-how-much-trouble-am-i-in/634025/16 "2012-09-09T18:37:03Z")
What are people’s thoughts about Revo Uninstaller? I’ve been using it forever, and it _seems_ to do a fine job of getting rid of crap. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve searched the registry manually, though. ---
**Author:** ![Smashed\_Ice\_Cream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Smashed\_Ice\_Cream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smashed_Ice_Cream)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accidentally-installed-mcafee-how-much-trouble-am-i-in/634025/17 "2012-09-10T06:51:11Z")
Can someone explain to me how having McAffee (or Symantec or whatever) would actually screw someone’s computer up? I’m being absolutely serious. What’s the issue? ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accidentally-installed-mcafee-how-much-trouble-am-i-in/634025/18 "2012-09-10T07:07:44Z")
> [@Smashed\_Ice\_Cream](#): > > Can someone explain to me how having McAffee (or Symantec or whatever) would actually screw someone’s computer up? > > I’m being absolutely serious. What’s the issue? Completely screwing up a computer is rare, as far as I know. It’s more that they gained a reputation for being: 1. Overpriced once free alternatives came on the market 2. Annoying nagware or automatic rebill-ware (in the case of Norton) 3. Resource hogs (especially Norton) 4. Difficult to remove (Norton) > **[Norton AntiVirus | Criticism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norton_AntiVirus#Criticism)** > > The FBI confirmed the active development of Magic Lantern, a keylogger intended to obtain passwords to encrypted e-mail and other documents during criminal investigations. Magic Lantern was first reported in the media by Bob Sullivan of MSNBC on 20 November 2001 and by Ted Bridis of the Associated Press. The FBI intends to deploy Magic Lantern in the form of an e-mail attachment. When the attachment is opened, it installs a trojan horse on the suspect's computer, which is activated when t On Janu... > **[McAfee Antivirus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McAfee_VirusScan#Criticism)** > > McAfee Antivirus is an antivirus software created and maintained by McAfee (formerly known as Intel Security, and Network Associates prior to that). Originally marketed as a standalone product, it is also bundled with McAfee Antivirus Plus, McAfee Internet Security, McAfee Total Protection, McAfee McAfee+ Premium, McAfee+ Advanced, McAfee+ Ultimate,  and McAfee Business Protection. > McAfee+ provides all-in-one protection for a user's personal info, privacy, and all their devices. It supports Win... Have they gotten better? Do the most recent versions still deserve those criticisms? No idea, but no one cares anymore because Microsoft Security Essentials, Avast, AVG, etc. are good enough and free. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accidentally-installed-mcafee-how-much-trouble-am-i-in/634025/19 "2012-09-10T07:40:07Z")
> [@Smashed\_Ice\_Cream](#): > > Can someone explain to me how having McAffee (or Symantec or whatever) would actually screw someone’s computer up? > > I’m being absolutely serious. What’s the issue? In 2010, McAfee update 5958 caused “millions” of enterprise PCs to be unbootable. > **[Millions of computers shut down as faulty anti-virus program causes havoc...](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1267950/McAfee-antivirus-program-fault-causes-millions-PCs-shut-down.html)** > > Antivirus vendor McAfee Inc confirmed that a software update had caused its antivirus program to target the harmless file, leading PCs to repeadedly reboot. That, and my experience of McAfee producing more pop-ups of its own than it blocks, led me to decide to never use McAfee. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accidentally-installed-mcafee-how-much-trouble-am-i-in/634025/20 "2012-09-10T09:00:04Z")
_Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes._ Or, _always_ look a gift horse in the mouth. Practically all the essential updates for free software these days come with extra junk which will install by default. Be sure to step carefully through the installation process and untick the option that will dump the unwanted stuff on you.