How do I turn off antivirus software to install new software?

Factual Questions
1

I’ve discovered that many antivirus software suites do not have an “off” button, which I find very frustrating for troubleshooting or installing new software. I am currently trying to install a wireless router, but the instructions specifically say I need to turn off my personal firewall, and I can’t find a universal “off” switch in my firewall software! The newly installed antivirus software I’m running (which includes the firewall) is called “Eset Smart Security”. I am not running Windows Firewall.

In the past I’ve just thrown my hands up in disgust and completely removed my antivirus software. I’ve come across this problem with both McAfee and Norton software suites. What gives here, why can’t I have control over this software and whether it runs or not?

2

For Eset Smart Security: Ctrl + Alt + Delete > Task Manager > Processes > ekrn.exe > End Process

Both McAfee and Norton should be killable… just right click on the icon in the system tray and hit “Exit” or “Quit”.

Make sure you restart your computer after installing the router so your firewall and virus stuff comes back.

3

FYI, if you need to uninstall Norton Anti-Virus or any other Symantec security software, download and run the Norton Removal Tool from the Symantec website. (By the way, it seems to me that you don’t want your security software to be too easy to disable, since if it were easy, the malware could do this itself.)

4

Doesn’t work. I’ve tried this with other software suites and it doesn’t work with Norton or McAfee either. They either can’t be killed or come back in a second or two. This is why I’m so frustrated.

5

I’m unsure how my router is supposed to interact with my previously installed ESET software. I’m at the point of just uninstalling the ESET suite…

6

Most antivirus and firewall software I’ve seen have a control to turn them off. They’ll warn you that it’s a very BAD IDEA, but you can still do it.

No need to kill the process. Open up your firewall control panel and look for it.

7

I have ESET smart security on my laptop. If I need to install anything I just right click on the Eset icon on the tab bar and select turn off firewall or whatever its called. Seems to work for me.