New Laptop With Trial Macafee Installed

soay_2

During initial setup the Macafee 30 day trial was somehow activated.
I don't want it & just want to have Windows Defender & no additional security. I know from my older laptop which had Norton preinstalled that it does not remove it from your programmes using normal uninstaller, but as I never activated it, it has not been a problem.
I have not as yet registered with Macafee & wonder if anyone can tell me what happens after the trial period a) if I do register or b) if I don't register. Do Macafee just disable it?
I don't mind if the programme remains on my computer as long as it doesn't interfere with anything.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.

RussJK

Just remove it.
http://www.appremover.com/

Out of curiosity, why don't you want any antivirus protection? There are reputable free antivirus programs; Windows Defender is only effective against spyware/adware.

closed

windows defender isn't sufficient to protect you from viruses, try avast free

jayme1

soay wrote: »

just want to have Windows Defender & no additional security.

bad bad bad idea (unless you really are not going to use the computer for any sensitive information ie passwords (you dont use email/facebook?) you're not going to use it for buying things online ect. writing documents?

defender is an on-demand security utility, as above says download the free avast, install it, then forget about it (it will auto update and keep you protected
go download avast then uninstall macafee from add/remove programs, and then install avast

therefore the protection of your computer will be:
avast 6
windows firewall
and windows defender (though you can turn it off if you like)

(also remember to burn any restore discs (very important and dont loose them))

RussJK

jayme1 wrote: »

defender is an on-demand security utility, [...] uninstall macafee from add/remove programs

(Windows Defender is a realtime guard as well as on-demand scanner.)

Best to use Appremover to completely remove McAfee, rather than solely through add/remove programs as remnants can be left behind and cause conflicts with future antivirus software.

Alternatively follow the McAfee instructions (which don't always work) to completely remove McAfee:

http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=TS100507
http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe

aliEnRIK

Russ

Another question about appremover if I may?

Is it only an uninstall utility? Or will it also remove remnants of av programs? (Like a removal tool would/should)

RussJK

aliEnRIK wrote: »

Russ

Another question about appremover if I may?

Is it only an uninstall utility? Or will it also remove remnants of av programs? (Like a removal tool would/should)

Yeah it can be used to remove remnants from past uninstalls; it has a second option to scan for a failed uninstall.

The first option will scan the computer for active security programs that it can get rid of, and will only remove something that the user has selected and explicitly asked to remove.

The second option to scan for failed uninstall takes quite a bit longer. I tend to run it on computers just to be sure, or it can be used after using the McAfee removal tool (or whichever vendor). It's come in handy once or twice actually.

soay_2

RussJK wrote: »

Just remove it.
http://www.appremover.com/

Out of curiosity, why don't you want any antivirus protection? There are reputable free antivirus programs; Windows Defender is only effective against spyware/adware.

Thanks for your advice
I have never used any antivirus on my other laptop which I have used for 4 years without any problems as the only people I know who have suffered a virus have actually had an antivirus product installed.
I just use Windows Firewall & Defender
If I use the appremover will it ask me for the actual version of Macafee & if so how do I find out?

closed

Without antivirus, you may never know, like saying you've been driving 4 years without a seatbelt, and never had an accident.

giraffe69

During initial setup the Macafee 30 day trial was somehow activated.

Happened on a laptop I was asked to setup. Removed Mcafee and installed Avast. You will maybe get emails to the address you registered but nothing else. Worth using a proper uninstall tool as others have recommended. You only have to read the threads here to realise the risk of picking up something unpleasant and then the grief you will get and the time you will waste will make you regret your no AV position. Regard yourself as lucky over the last 4 years and get a decent free AV Avast, Avira, MSE or for some but not all AVG) and have malwarebytes free edition in addition to run from time to time.

aliEnRIK

closed wrote: »

Without antivirus, you may never know, like saying you've been driving 4 years without a seatbelt, and never had an accident.

Slightly different, in that they could easily be infected, they just wouldnt know