# Using McAfee Online...and Off? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 23, 2003, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-mcafee-online-and-off/177033 "2003-05-23T14:15:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-mcafee-online-and-off/177033/1 "2003-05-23T14:15:19Z")
Stupid question, but I subscribed to MaAfee online. I assumed I was downloading the virus scanning software directly onto my hard drive. …as well as being entitled to downloading updates from their website. But… Instead of mindlessly clicking (when prompted) to scan now, I actually observed what I was doing. It seems to me everything is being done from their website, such as my periodic scans of my hard drive. If this is correct, then do I really have constant, ongoing protection against viruses (viri?)??? So, how exactly does this work, and how can I initiate my own virus scan without waiting to be periodically prompted to do so? Thanks, - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-mcafee-online-and-off/177033/2 "2003-05-23T14:27:48Z")
McAffee Online is just that: an online version of the virus scanning software so you don’t HAVE to download anything. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-mcafee-online-and-off/177033/3 "2003-05-23T15:26:12Z")
McAfee is what I was using when my last computer died a horrible virus induced death. I got several virus emails each day, and it never recognized any of them - for some reason I thought “it must kick in if someone tries to launch one” obviously not. With the new one, I tried it again - it caught nothing, of the 4 or 5 virus emails I got a day, it never caught one of them, I tried another virus program and it caught them as they were delivered… and actually scanned my hard drive. Concept. Went on line and found that many people had had my experience with McAfee simply doing nothing. So far as I can tell, all you’re paying for is an ugly icon in your systray. Not actual virus protection. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-mcafee-online-and-off/177033/4 "2003-05-23T17:15:32Z")
I use McAffee online and it gets everything that comes through. If I download an infected email, it alerts me then fixes the problem (deletes it). It checks for updates periodically and that’s the only time I have to log in to their site - when I am retrieving the updates. Honestly, I am on a cable modem so I’m always connected and I don’t know about having to be online to be scanned. Since you have to download definitions, though, i’d suspect you can scan without connecting to their site. Have you tried scanning while not online? Right-click on the M icon in your systray. Go to “Virus Scan Online - \> Scan for Viruses”. You can also go to “Options” under “Virus Scan Online” and set up scheduled scans and other preferences. I have been using it for 2 or 3 years now, never had a virus. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-mcafee-online-and-off/177033/5 "2003-05-23T17:23:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*McAffee Online is just that: an online version of the virus scanning software so you don’t HAVE to download anything. \*\* I use VirusScan Online, and I can say this is just not true. You have to download about 6MB of executables and data files to use this program. I’m not sure why they call it “online”, except that that’s where you buy it, and download the necessary files, instead of buying a CD-ROM. ---
**Author:** ![Daizy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daizy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daizy)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-mcafee-online-and-off/177033/6 "2003-05-23T17:37:27Z")
As a slight hijack… You may want to consider [AVG](http://www.grisoft.com/html/us_downl.htm?session=0c019a83ec2f3a289d37e502d9a06316) instead. It’s free, leaves only a small footprint, and I’ve had great success with it. As with all virus scanners… check for updates manually, daily, rather than leaving the software to check on it’s own. It only takes mere seconds. Daizy ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-mcafee-online-and-off/177033/7 "2003-05-23T17:51:46Z")
The only drawback to AVG is they only release updates once a month, whereas I get updates from Mcafee 2-3 times per week. And, BTW, I tested mine, and you can indeed scan for viruses without being online. ---
**Author:** ![Daizy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daizy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daizy)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-mcafee-online-and-off/177033/8 "2003-05-24T02:18:39Z")
**Fear Itself**? Are you sure? I’ve been running AVG for quite a while now, and haven’t found that to be the case. Daizy ---
**Author:** ![Daizy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daizy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daizy)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-mcafee-online-and-off/177033/9 "2003-05-24T02:23:17Z")
Actually, I’m certain it’s not the case **Fear Itself.** Updates in May were: 6th 12th 13th 18th April: 1st 8th 10th 17th 18th 24th [See for yourself.](http://www.grisoft.com/html/us_index.htm) Daizy