I hate them both. I use avast
Got rid of both of them years ago . . . constant pains in the obamas. I use ESET at work and AVG at home. No problems and I’m thrilled. Had trouble a few years ago getting Norton the hell out of my computer though.
I haven’t used McAfee for years, so I don’t know what the current problems are. You might do a google search for “uninstall McAfee.” It would depend on your version of windows and also of McAfee. There is apparently a McAfee removal tool that you can get from McAfee itself, but I don’t know how well that works.
Good luck.
I use Kaspersky and Super Antivirus. Most others protect pretty poorly and shut down your computing experience.
Years on on an XP computer, I installed McAfee anti-virus. I later tried their firewall.
As updates became bloatware and slowed the computer ridiculously, I ‘uninstalled’ both.
Every few months, I would get a pop-up from McAfee asking me to re-try their software. I thought I had scrubbed everything McAfee from the computer. I had even gone through the registry file. Still, I would get the pop-ups, until I had other problems and had to reformat and reinstall XP.
Since then, I would never let anything McAfee on my computer(s), even though my cable ISP offers McAfee security software free to users.
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Now, on my Win7 laptop and desktop, I stay with Windows Security Essentials and Windows 7 firewall. They play nice with other software and do not seem to bog down my computers.
AVG Free is great. If you like it, get the paid version. Jumping from McAfee to Norton is jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
I am using Kaspersky, no problems to date. I ahve also heard that ESET is a good one.
I would just throw both in the can. Plenty of options out there, most (if not all) free to use, unless you want the deluxe package. AVG is good, I use Avira, heard good things about Avast . . . .
All, and I mean ALL, anti-virus programs are a drag on the speed. So I never use them. I bought a used desktop (Dell) on eBay for $75. I use it exclusively for surfing the net, such as now. If some one hacks into it, there is absolutely nothing on it of value.
My other computer is used strictly for my bank & broker. I never read emails or visit any other site on it.
I have a cheap switch to use a single monitor between the 2 computers. So my desk is not crowded.
If my surfing computer gets slow, I just reload the windows OS and copy my saved favorites for the browser and I am back in business. Usually 2 to 3 years before I do this. Then it runs as fast as when new and virgin.
In 15 years of operating like this I have not had a single problem to worry about.
Just get Microsoft's Security Essentials. It's free and easy.
Try IObit uninstaller.
Some suggestions.
One Anti-virus program won’t do the job.
Only one of your AV programs should be running in ‘real-time’.
The second should be loaded but not selected for ‘real-time protection’.
The third should be loaded and used to scan when you need it.
McAfee and Norton are pains in the butt, and CPU. And, as others have noted, hard to get rid of.
AVG and AVAST are OK, but seem to suck up too many resources and bug you about updates. AVG and AVAST also leave behind some ‘elements’ after you UNINSTALL THEM.
Microsoft Security Essentials is great, and automatically downloads new definition files.
Find at least one, if not two other AV programs to put on your computer that allow you to control whether they run in ‘real-time’ and you should have great protection.
Since there are hundreds of new (malwares/viruses/etc) created EVERY DAY, it helps if you consistently do SCANS with ALL AV softwares you pick to use, on at least a weekly basis.
I used AVG for years but over the lsst few months I kept getting the fake FBI/PayPal scam. I switched to Avast and have not had any problems since. I also use Malwarebytes and Super Anti-Spyware. I have a pretty powerful PC so I don’t worry about any load put on it by my security software.
McAfee provides a free standalone uninstaller that works quite well.
Google:
mcafee uninstaller download
to find it
Anti-virus programs can be as bad as the viruses themselves. If you have the ability to save files and reformat the hard drive, I would do that.
Most of the machines I clean have McAfee on them. I’m not a big Microsoft fan but their Security Essentials runs fine and is free. Throw in the paid version of Malwarebytes and you get good protection.
If you’re using a windows platform computer:
disable the mcafee service(s) in msconfig
then reboot the computer so that it doesn’t load
then try uninstalling mcafee.
If the uninstall doesn’t go right it could leave entries in the registry. Well, even if the uninstall goes smoothly programs still leave orphaned entries in the registry.
If all else fails you can always re-install the OS.
I use only Avast. The best anti-virus on he internet, and it’s free!
I use Webroot on my mac and winders machines. Very small footprint and with online coupons, fairly inexpensive.