Aggressive McAfee Security Scan Plus

What is it McAfee Security Scan Plus?

McAfee Security scan (now called Intel Security, now spun off again) is a legitimate vendor's product, but it is really just advertising.  It should be un-installed.  The program will do you no favors.  This article describes what the program does, and how you got it installed.  It may explain system instabilities on your computer.

Before describing what this program does, it is easier to explain what it does not.

Amazingly, it does not scan for viruses, or protect the system.  Instead, it monitors already running processes and will inform you if a virus was found.  It does nothing to preempt the virus.  It does nothing to protect the computer.  It will not tell you what files were infected, nor will it clean your system.

From McAfee's website, "(McAfee Security Scan Plus) Alerts direct customer to McAfee offerings if antivirus software, firewall protection or web security is out-of-date or not found.  Offers also appear for users who are protected but may want to consider other security software products."

In other words, advertising. 
 
This is pure, unadulterated junk.  It also causes browser problems.

McAfee is aggressively advertising this program and if you

allow it to install, it will encourage you to buy 

their full-fledged product. 

While this program is not a virus, it acts like one.

How did you get it?

The web is awash with people commenting they did not know where the software came from. Sadly, it is being installed by venerated companies, such as Adobe, Sun Java, and others.  The software comes as a payload, attached to those popular programs, and it installs almost surreptitiously.


Adobe Flash Player Install:  Shame

Not that anyone installs Flash anymore, but Adobe Flash Player (and its updates) installed McAfee's sin on to unsuspecting computers using a sneaky "Yes" on the default installation screen.  Note the subtle checkbox, a few steps into the installation process:

Similarly, Oracle/Sun Java threatens to install McAfee's product with this prompt, right at the moment you are tempted to click "next":

In other words, if you unexpectedly have this software, it is because you allowed it to install!  Money and other kickbacks are involved because why else would these companies do this?

My daughter caught her copy on her school's website, again with a default opt-in "Yes" being checked.  She clicked yes to install other, unrelated software, and got more than was hoped. In other words, her college (Idaho State University) sold their students to the highest bidder.


A Default YES is a Sin!

Vendors hocking this software with a default opt-in (yes-install-me-when-you-don't-expect-it) is a disservice to their customers and is a disservice to hard-working, already-protected computers everywhere.  This is reprehensible and shameful. 
 

Does it cause problems?  Yes.

While McAfee claims the program can run along-side other virus scanners, my experience shows otherwise.

Consider my daughter's laptop: Both IE and Firefox were crashing several times per hour.  The most recent change:  McAfee Security Scan Plus.  Having two virus scanners (McAfee and Microsoft Security Essentials MSE) running on the same computer is never a good idea.  We uninstalled McAfee.  This immediately cured the laptop's problems.

Past experience with McAfee's commercial and retail products has been poor.  Especially in the retail market, I found McAfee's products bloated, causing more problems than solved -- and this despite the awards bestowed by trade magazines.  McAfee mercilessly pesters for paid renewals, with many set to auto-deduct from checking accounts, and no recourse to stop the charges.  Behaviors like these, along with default installs, have not endeared me to their products. Symantec has not been much better.

More often-than-not, un-installing McAfees and Symantec's Virus scanners dramatically improved a machine's performance.  To un-install, open the control panel's "Programs and Features". 

But virus scanners are a necessary evil.  When you are done removing McAfee's software, install Microsoft's free (Security Essentials, now Windows Defender).


Reviews and Accolades:

I found a variety of other website reviewing Mcafee Security Scan Plus.  Of the 30 reviews, only one rated it as high as two stars -- and this review was cursory, where they clearly did not research.  Most reviews were emphatic with more than one exclamation points!!! 

• "Bloatware, junkware, whatever. It should be a crime to auto-install this junk. It does nothing for you, and takes up resources."
   
• "Latest Java update installs this bloatware!"
   
• "Crapware - Any company that does piggyback installs shows a true lack of concern for the user - For a "security" company to use these tactics should be criminal"
   
• "How do I give this no stars?! First it's McAfee which is bad. Second it's bloatware. And third it detects even less than a full install of McAfee."
   
• "Doesn't do a whole lot except consume system resources."
   

This article was originally published earlier in 2012, but was re-written to be more forceful, and lightly-touched in 2019.  I really hate this program and would not consider McAfee's software for anyone.  Frankenstein graphics added to give a little color to such a dreary subject.

Related Links:
Keyliner Review: Microsoft Security Essentials