# When is McAfee going to leave me alone? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 8, 2016, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-mcafee-going-to-leave-me-alone/759412 "2016-07-08T18:36:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-mcafee-going-to-leave-me-alone/759412/1 "2016-07-08T18:36:31Z")
My laptop came with McAfee installed. I uninstalled it, because I have other anti-virus/malware I prefer. It reinstalled with the relentless updates of Win10. I have not paid for it, in spite of warnings that I would not have it after some date, because my trial would expire. My trial expired a month ago, and I have uninstalled it again. It is still blocking websites, and popping up warnings that screw up things I’m trying to do. I really hate this program and want it to go away. What can I do beyond uninstalling it and not paying for it to make it go away? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-mcafee-going-to-leave-me-alone/759412/2 "2016-07-08T18:45:39Z")
McAfee is a pain in the backside to get rid of. There’s a special tool that you can download from McAfee’s web site that you’ll likely need to run. This site has more info and step-by-step instructions. > **[How to Uninstall McAfee Total Protection (with Pictures) - wikiHow](https://www.wikihow.com/Uninstall-McAfee-Total-Protection)** > > This wikiHow teaches you how to remove the McAfee Total Protection app from your Windows or Mac computer. Open Start . Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2016, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-mcafee-going-to-leave-me-alone/759412/3 "2016-07-09T01:57:37Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > McAfee is a pain in the backside to get rid of. There’s a special tool that you can download from McAfee’s web site that you’ll likely need to run. > > This site has more info and step-by-step instructions. > [How to Uninstall McAfee Total Protection (with Pictures) - wikiHow](http://www.wikihow.com/Uninstall-McAfee-Security-Center) Thank you, thank you, thank you, **ECG**. Mayhaps this can be added to the Malware sticky? Thanks again! ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2016, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-mcafee-going-to-leave-me-alone/759412/4 "2016-07-09T09:35:49Z")
Watch this hilarious video by John McAfee, the founder of McAfee Antivirus, but no longer associated with the company. How To Uninstall McAfee Antivirus [Warning: not safe for work] ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2016, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-mcafee-going-to-leave-me-alone/759412/5 "2016-07-09T09:41:35Z")
mcafee is or was owned by aol … ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2016, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-mcafee-going-to-leave-me-alone/759412/6 "2016-07-09T14:36:12Z")
The seems to be the thing these days - they can’t take NO for an answer! Neither on the computer or on the phone. I say I am not interested and they keep talking. I block the number and they call back using another number, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2016, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-mcafee-going-to-leave-me-alone/759412/7 "2016-07-10T01:35:38Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > It reinstalled with the relentless updates of Win10. BTW That might be the cause of the problem uninstalling… it might have been in the process of uninstalling but the reboot triggerred install of Windows updates… And so the mcafee uninstall got stuffed up… ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2016, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-mcafee-going-to-leave-me-alone/759412/8 "2016-07-10T01:46:36Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > mcafee is or was owned by aol … I don’t think that’s correct. But the company has been owned by Intel for a few years now. ---
**Author:** ![TwoCarrotSnowman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twocarrotsnowman/32/15879_2.png) [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2016, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-mcafee-going-to-leave-me-alone/759412/9 "2016-07-11T22:22:40Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > Watch this hilarious video by John McAfee, the founder of McAfee Antivirus, but no longer associated with the company. > > How To Uninstall McAfee Antivirus > > > [Warning: not safe for work] When I grow up, I want to be John McAfee. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2016, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-mcafee-going-to-leave-me-alone/759412/10 "2016-07-11T22:33:17Z")
There is no getting away from McAfee if he really wants to find you. Among other things, he has been accused of murder, weapons charges and drug manufacturing in Belize and, most recently, arrested for a DUI and weapons possession in Tennessee. If he wants to find you, he will. Did you have anything to do with burning down his house in Belize? If he believes you did, nothing will stop him. The man is very rich and crazy so lock your doors and call 911 immediately if you spot him on your property. It is the only way to remain safe. > **[John McAfee | Legal issues](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McAfee#Legal_issues)** > > McAfee was named a defendant in a 2008 civil court case related to his Aerotrekking light-sport aircraft venture and the death of nephew Joel Bitow and a passenger. > On 30 April 2012, McAfee's property in Orange Walk Town, Belize, was raided by the Gang Suppression Unit of the Belize Police Department. A GSU press release said he was arrested for unlicensed drug manufacturing and possession of an unlicensed weapon. He was released without charge. > In 2012, Belize police spokesman Raphael Martinez... ---
**Author:** ![albino\_manatee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/albino_manatee/32/2_2.png) [@albino\_manatee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/albino_manatee)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-mcafee-going-to-leave-me-alone/759412/11 "2016-07-12T00:22:25Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > mcafee is or was owned by aol … > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I don’t think that’s correct. But the company has been owned by Intel for a few years now. from what wikipedia has posted under “aol” … aol did bundle mcafee with aol’s security-center back in 2005 … but can’t find anything about aol owning mcafee. however … for anyone still using aol services or email … i suggest you do not subscribe to any security services aol offers. > **[AOL](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AOL)** > > AOL (stylized as Aol., formerly a company known as AOL Inc. and originally known as America Online) is an American web portal and online service provider based in New York City, and a brand marketed by Yahoo! Inc. > The service traces its history to an online service known as PlayNET. PlayNET licensed its software to Quantum Link (Q-Link), which went online in November 1985. A new IBM PC client was launched in 1988, and eventually renamed as America Online in 1989. AOL grew to become the large... ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-mcafee-going-to-leave-me-alone/759412/12 "2016-07-12T22:33:54Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > Watch this hilarious video by John McAfee, the founder of McAfee Antivirus, but no longer associated with the company. That is outstanding. They have to make a movie about his life, and it must star Robert Downey Jr. in the lead role. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-mcafee-going-to-leave-me-alone/759412/13 "2016-07-12T22:40:12Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > mcafee is or was owned by aol … No, never happened. AOL offered McAfee software under partnership. > [@TwoCarrotSnowman](#): > > When I grow up, I want to be John McAfee. You scare me.