# Fuck McAfee and their shady business practices. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 27, 2012, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-mcafee-and-their-shady-business-practices/623282 "2012-05-27T22:05:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MostlyClueless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MostlyClueless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyClueless)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2012, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-mcafee-and-their-shady-business-practices/623282/1 "2012-05-27T22:05:39Z")
Yup, I’ve got McAfee. Came preinstalled. Every week or so, it bugs me with ‘helpful hints’ about upgrades or other crap they want to sell me. Annoying enough on its own, but so be it. Just now, I got a message (paraphrased) “One of the computers on your home network (ACTUAL NETWORK NAME OF COMPUTER) is insufficiently protected. Click here to buy McAfee for this computer.” What the actual fuck? They snoop around on my home network and have the gall to admit to it? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2012, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-mcafee-and-their-shady-business-practices/623282/2 "2012-05-27T22:58:46Z")
They gave you a convenient button to click… what more do you want? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-mcafee-and-their-shady-business-practices/623282/3 "2012-05-27T23:06:25Z")
Commercial protection, Mcafee, Norton, etc. are resource hogs. You don’t need them. We’ve had multiple threads on here about how to protect your computer without the commercial types. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-mcafee-and-their-shady-business-practices/623282/4 "2012-05-28T03:57:08Z")
What’s the big deal? Just type in scan c: /clean and get rid of that pesky Jerusalem B virus. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-mcafee-and-their-shady-business-practices/623282/5 "2012-05-28T04:04:44Z")
Uninstall it fer chrissakes. Install a less intrusive and free AV like Avast. Then install the also free version of Malwarebytes. You will not get a virus again, as long as you avoid the most questionable of all internet content. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-mcafee-and-their-shady-business-practices/623282/6 "2012-05-28T04:17:29Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Uninstall it fer chrissakes. Install a less intrusive and free AV like Avast. Then install the also free version of Malwarebytes. You will not get a virus again, as long as you avoid the most questionable of all internet content. This. A few years ago I was getting viruses all the time at home: shared computer with curious kids (OK me too). Since installing Avast I’ve had very few problems. If something did seem wonky, Malwarebytes came to the rescue. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-mcafee-and-their-shady-business-practices/623282/7 "2012-05-28T04:20:22Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Commercial protection, Mcafee, Norton, etc. are resource hogs. You don’t need them. [Nigel] How much worse could McAfee be? And the answer is none. None more worse. [/Nigel] ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-mcafee-and-their-shady-business-practices/623282/8 "2012-05-28T04:35:42Z")
I could only wish Microsoft had opened one of their niche stores in Oslo. For Windows 8, they’ve got this Microsoft Signature thing they’re rolling out, which is essentially removing all the bloatware that comes pre-installed with off-the-shelf computers. It’s not worth $99 to me, since I usually set up a pendrive with the new OS and run a clean reinstall immediately after I get a new machine anyway, but I would sure as hell point three quarters of my friends and family to the store. But I like the way they think. (And I’m crossing my fingers that they’ll make some sort of app for this they’ll release later.) ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-mcafee-and-their-shady-business-practices/623282/9 "2012-05-28T05:34:49Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > [Nigel] > How much worse could McAfee be? > And the answer is none. > None more worse. > [/Nigel] My McAfee started telling me it was time to renew, just click here about 8 months before it was time to renew. This was some sort of “Glitch” allegedly. Total scam I say. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-mcafee-and-their-shady-business-practices/623282/10 "2012-05-28T05:39:00Z")
Having dealt with both McAfee and Norton, I much prefer Norton’s “OMG SECURITY THREAT SECURITY THREAT: 9 cookies have been detected” to McAfee’s constant demands for renewal. (Yes, the program came pre-installed in both cases.) ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-mcafee-and-their-shady-business-practices/623282/11 "2012-05-28T11:41:55Z")
Just remember to wish Joshi a happy birthday. ---
**Author:** ![Jamicat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-mcafee-and-their-shady-business-practices/623282/12 "2012-05-28T18:42:11Z")
Just the other day, as one of my cats kept swiping at my pointer on the screen, I thought I’d get one of them there fancy fish tank screen savers, and watch the kitty fun… 🙂 :dubious: 😕 :eek: :mad: Good thing It was the weekend and had the time and tools to fight back. I hate Hackers. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-mcafee-and-their-shady-business-practices/623282/13 "2012-05-28T23:50:30Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > This. A few years ago I was getting viruses all the time at home: shared computer with curious kids (OK me too). Since installing Avast I’ve had very few problems. If something did seem wonky, Malwarebytes came to the rescue. Note that porn sites are apparently fairly clean these days - it’s[church sites](http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2012/05/malware_and_computer_viruses_they_ve_left_porn_sites_for_religious_sites_.html) you need to look out for. The porn sites know it’s bad for business to distribute malware (at least the main ones), and the church sites are put up by volunteers who don’t know the first thing about locking down their sites. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-mcafee-and-their-shady-business-practices/623282/14 "2012-05-29T00:37:26Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Note that porn sites are apparently fairly clean these days - it’s[church sites](http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2012/05/malware_and_computer_viruses_they_ve_left_porn_sites_for_religious_sites_.html) you need to look out for. The porn sites know it’s bad for business to distribute malware (at least the main ones), and the church sites are put up by volunteers who don’t know the first thing about locking down their sites. > [@](#): > > When it comes to computer viruses, you’re now more likely to catch one visiting a church website than surfing for porn. I find this strangely humourous. ETA: And I really need to coach my kids about visiting these rogue church websites. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Laudenum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-mcafee-and-their-shady-business-practices/623282/15 "2012-05-29T11:30:47Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Note that porn sites are apparently fairly clean these days - it’s[church sites](http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2012/05/malware_and_computer_viruses_they_ve_left_porn_sites_for_religious_sites_.html) you need to look out for. The porn sites know it’s bad for business to distribute malware (at least the main ones), and the church sites are put up by volunteers who don’t know the first thing about locking down their sites. What do you mean the main ones? Are there really ‘big players’ in free online porn? ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-mcafee-and-their-shady-business-practices/623282/16 "2012-05-29T15:10:10Z")
> [@Laudenum](#): > > What do you mean the main ones? > Are there really ‘big players’ in free online porn? Absolutely. Redtube, Youporn, etc… Joe ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-mcafee-and-their-shady-business-practices/623282/17 "2012-05-29T15:11:40Z")
> [@Laudenum](#): > > What do you mean the main ones? > Are there really ‘big players’ in free online porn? Yes, plenty. I won’t link to them, but just to name a few: Fapdu RedTube YouPorn SubmitYourFlicks MyFreeCams (though this site looks sketchy, because of lazy programming, it’s free of malware, AFAIK. I actually don’t go there myself.) Tube8 Most of these sites operate by having small clips that are given to them from pay-porn-sites, and also full of ads from said porn sites, to entice you to sign up. So you’ll get a three or four minutes video, and think to yourself, “Man, I’d really like to see that full-length…and others like it…maybe it is worth $10 a month…” ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-mcafee-and-their-shady-business-practices/623282/18 "2012-05-29T15:52:06Z")
According to alexa, xhamster, xvideos and pornhub are in the top 100 most visited sites online. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-mcafee-and-their-shady-business-practices/623282/19 "2012-05-29T15:56:15Z")
> [@MostlyClueless](#): > > Yup, I’ve got McAfee. Came preinstalled. > > Every week or so, it bugs me with ‘helpful hints’ about upgrades or other crap they want to sell me. Annoying enough on its own, but so be it. > > Just now, I got a message (paraphrased) > > “One of the computers on your home network (ACTUAL NETWORK NAME OF COMPUTER) is insufficiently protected. Click here to buy McAfee for this computer.” > > What the actual fuck? They snoop around on my home network and have the gall to admit to it? McAfee is a virus disguised as virus protection. It sucks up resources, puts ads in your face, and is nearly impossible to remove. This last bit was the final straw for me – I was trying to remove it from my dad’s computer a couple of years ago so I could install Avast and it was ridiculously difficult. Infuriating. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-mcafee-and-their-shady-business-practices/623282/20 "2012-05-29T19:47:57Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > McAfee is a virus disguised as virus protection. It sucks up resources, puts ads in your face, and is nearly impossible to remove. This last bit was the final straw for me – I was trying to remove it from my dad’s computer a couple of years ago so I could install Avast and it was ridiculously difficult. Infuriating. Frustrating as this may be, I would count nearly impossible to remove as a feature, not a bug. If anti-malware programs were easy to uninstall, some hacker would figure out how to write a virus that would do it without your knowledge. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-mcafee-and-their-shady-business-practices/623282.md?page=2)