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    McAfee Not running

    Discussion in 'Security and Anti-Virus Software' started by waynehixson, Apr 7, 2012.

  1. waynehixson

    waynehixson Notebook Enthusiast

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    I now show McAfee not active and it wont turn on. i try to run Security center and it gives me a blank window on the screen
     
    waynehixson, Apr 7, 2012
    #1
  2. JOSEA

    JOSEA NONE

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    I would rule out a virus that may have disabled Mcafee first. Try running full scan with Mcafee or other Anti-virus program in safe mode.
     
    JOSEA, Apr 7, 2012
    #2
  3. waynehixson

    waynehixson Notebook Enthusiast

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    Turned out I think to be a Trojan of some kind. My IE was not working right either. The About IE winfow showed blank version and cypher numbers and i Couldn't log onto my Alienware site so I went to what I thought was a mcafee site. Called the tech support line and got someone in India. Sounded knowledgeable, he logged onto my computer and showed me what he called a Trojan. He told me McAfee wasn't compatible with Alienware and I'd need to buy something called AVG for $200! Now why would a McAfee rep tell me I needed another product? I hung up and disconnected immediately. Got on the Dell support line and got someone who helped me remove AVG. however, McAfee still wouldn't run so I ended up going back to an earlier restore point. Now McAfee is running again and I removed whatever I could find of AVG. hope I am safe now.

    Wayne
     
    waynehixson, Apr 8, 2012
    #3
  4. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

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    AVG is a free AV, there is also a paid version,but to me it sounds like you were redirected to a malicious site and then you called them. The $200 AVG makes me suspect something fishy.
     
    tijo, Apr 8, 2012
    #4
  5. Cploof88

    Cploof88 Notebook Guru

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    Haha good call disconnecting... we have had a couple of people bring in there computers when AVG has remoted into their computers and accidentally deleted system files instead of viruses. AVG only refunded them 100 out of the 200.
     
    Cploof88, Apr 8, 2012
    #5
  6. waynehixson

    waynehixson Notebook Enthusiast

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    What confused me was that I thought I was calling McAfee.
     
    waynehixson, Apr 8, 2012
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  7. waynehixson

    waynehixson Notebook Enthusiast

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    I bet they were not affiliated with AVG they were just going to give me a free copy and charge me.
     
    waynehixson, Apr 8, 2012
    #7
  8. MrDJ

    MrDJ Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    wayne wayne wayne. if i was you i would do a total clean reinstall NOW!
    you have been scammed and 1) if you phoned them get ready for a shock when you get your next bill. ive heard that some of these scam lines charge upto £30 a minute. hopefully this wasnt one of them.
    2) if you let them remotely access your computer then you are seriously asking for trouble now.
    as mentioned avg is free and the full avg antivirus suite is only £30 for a full year.
    mcaffe is crap. if i was you i would reinstall and then download AVAST or even Microsoft Security Essentials which are both free. then also make sure windows firewall is turned on and you should be fine to go.
     
    MrDJ, Apr 8, 2012
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  9. Baserk

    Baserk Notebook user

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    Seems like you have made use of iYogi Support or something like them.
    Such companies do offer support for most well known AV's/security suites but often there's no direct contract between the security software vendor and the support company.

    What probably happened is that iYogi (or the like) has tried to sell you an AVG program and their $100-200 annual support contract.
    These 'support companies' often work on the 'edge'; they aren't necessarily malicious as in pushing malware but staff will tell you lies in order to get you to pay for their 'annual/yearly contract'; f.i. there's no reason why McAfee wouldn't work on an Alienware notebook/pc.
    Now that you've allowed an unknown person access to your notebook/pc, I'd say it's OS and data are unreliable. Having (had) a trojan is another reason of course to regard your box as compromised.

    I'd advice to backup important data, do a full format ( not a quick format) and reinstall your OS.
    Also, change every password you've used while having these issues.
     
    Baserk, Apr 9, 2012
    #9