McAfee VirusScan Question

[Ethix101]

Okay, I just started noticing a problem I've been having with McAfee VirusScan. It's actually been happening for a while, but I never put much thought into it and I'll explain that later.

It seems as though every week or so, McAfee finds a new 'Instant Update', and then tries to install it. The problem is that every time it happens, I get a message that says it couldn't connect to the server or something like that, which means that it's not actually downloading the update. After I get that message, I cancel out of it to try and download the update again, but even though it didn't actually download the update, it still stays that 'McAfee VirusScan is up-to-date. Virus Definitions (blah blah blah) 1/28/04 (1 Day Old)'. That's the main reason I never really put much thought into it. It always said it was up-to-date.
Anyway, If I search for the update again, it finds nothing.

I'm probably going to reinstall McAfee altogether, but I was hoping to get some feedback first.

Thanks in advance.


-Mark

 

[Burnout]

Want to know what I say? McAfee is the AOL of antivirus. You don't know how many computers have crashed during the installation of it. I recommend you download the free verion of AVG Anti-Virus from www.Grisoft.com. It doesn't use nearly as many system resources and the updates are almost daily.

Now, if you want to stick with Mcafee, just re-install it.

 

[Ethix101]

I only use McAfee because my dad bought it. I could really care less what brand it is as long as it works. Does AVG have a firewall? If not, do you know if there's a free firewall I could download? If I uninstall McAfee, I lose my antivirus and my firewall. Anyway, thanks for the link. I'll definitely try it.


EDIT: Hmm..apparently I can keep McAfee firewall even if I uninstall the virusscan. Cool.

-Mark

 

[Solid Fro]

Maybe your firewall is preventing the update?

 

[emad]

there's a 90% chance that the ports mcafee needs are blocked by your router or your firewall.

Burnout - you're mixed up between Mcafee and Norton - it's Norton that's the aol of antiviruses. Mcafee is, imo, the only one worth paying for - the newest version has daily updates which is quite nice.

 

[Ethix101]

Originally posted by emad
there's a 90% chance that the ports mcafee needs are blocked by your router or your firewall.

Hmm, that's possible I suppose. I got an update before I uninstalled it and it said it 'the server was busy' which is the same message I was getting before.
I'm not sure how my router or my firewall could have been blocking updates. The automatic update worked for like 6 months before I started having problems and I didn't change my firewall or my router.

Oh well. I'm still using McAfee firewall, but I've got AVG for my virusscan.



-Mark

 

[Shannon]

Ick...McAfee.

I had McAfee VirusScan and Firewall once. The firewall was an absolute POS; I couldn't even access half of the websites I frequent. 👎

I recommend you get Eset Nod32 as your antivirus application. PCUser did a AV test awhile ago and Nod32 got perfect scan results and had the fastest scan times. Oh, and you can't go wrong with ZoneAlarm as your firewall. 👍

 

[emad]

Originally posted by Shannon
Ick...McAfee.

I had McAfee VirusScan and Firewall once. The firewall was an absolute POS; I couldn't even access half of the websites I frequent. 👎

I recommend you get Eset Nod32 as your antivirus application. PCUser did a AV test awhile ago and Nod32 got perfect scan results and had the fastest scan times. Oh, and you can't go wrong with ZoneAlarm as your firewall. 👍

I guess it's a different experience for everyone then. I'm running McAfee with Blackice defender as firewall (in addition to port protection offered by my router). It runs amazingly on my desktop but mcafee strains my laptop heavily.

 

[Burnout]

No, I'm not confused. In my experience alone I have had over 5 computers crash soley because of Mcafee.

Last I checked AVG was the best, most throrogh, and system resource friendly free antivirus around. And it has very often updates.

ZoneAlarm as your firewall.

Oh yeah...Best free firewall around. I'll probably be installing it soon since I don't have a firewall.

The chances of Mcafee Firewall blocking it's VirusScan is very slim. I've had all sorts of different version of Mcafee, I mean, I was a long time customer. It never had a problem because of that. Mcafee would have poped up and asked if you wanted to let that program access the i-net anyways.

Norton, from what I've heard, is much better than Mcafee. But, if you can get stuff that'll do the same job atleast as well, if not better(not to mention using less system resources), for free...

To be honest, software firewalls do close to nothing. The only real way to get safety is to use a hardware firewall. This doesn't mean to totally disregard software firewalls because, metaphorically speaking, it is better to have a cheap lock on the door to your house than no lock at all.

[edit]I just re-read your post and I have a question. Do you have automatic update schedualing enabled? If so, that would be the reason Mcafee was always up to date.

 

[Super-Supra]

I've been using ZoneAlarm since November of 03' it's fantastic.👍