spc3rd
Williamsburg,#2Consumer Comment
Sun, March 20, 2011
Like you, I have McAfee Security Suite software (provided at no charge by my ISP). Within the program are "help" sections/links which will provide contact methods, including phone numbers. The first suggestion I have is this: if you should experience some type of future problem with your computer which you feel the need to run a full security scan, quick scan, or custom scan...once you initiate the scan...ALLOW IT TO FINISH.
I'm sure you are probably aware that there is no one particular antivirus software out on the market that will catch every virus/infection. A second suggestion is to also have available a reputable malware program, such as, Malwarebytes. (There are other good ones as well), and many offer both a free and paid version which you can download on-line.
In the case of Malwarebytes, the free version is what I would recommend, because it doesn't have the "real-time scanning protection" feature enabled like the paid version does. You should never have two antivirus programs running (in real-time) at the same time on the same computer; it can create problems.
Malwarebytes is not designed to replace your major antivirus software, whether you use McAfee, Norton (Symantec), Kaspersky, or some other AV software. It is intended simply to complement your existing major AV software...again...because no single major antivirus program available is able to catch every single virus or infection. Malware-detection software like Malwarebytes specifically develop their software to catch a lot of the "more detection-difficult/evasive" malware, Trojans, etc presently circulating that are not always detected by major AV programs.
Malwarebytes also provides for both a "quick scan" or "full scan"; with the full scan, you can select which drives you want scanned. Timewise (in my own case), a quick scan (approximately 173,000 items) takes approximately 7 - 8 minutes. Full scans will take longer obviously. You can also set the database update schedule...e.g every day, every other day, etc. Malwarebytes updates its software database every day, by the way. At the conclusion of each scan you run, Malwarebytes will generate an on-screen report of its findings and actions taken. Once you've reviewed the report, you can then automatically save it in the "log file." If the program does find malware, etc present, it will quarantine it (to prevent it from causing any harm) and you can decide what action you want to take.
Keep in mind also that computer security software companies are always a step or so behind the hackers, and various dispicable cretins who create malicious malware, viruses, and fake AV software programs. There are numerous variants of any "already-known" malicious programs floating around, and it takes time for the security software companies to become aware of any new threats, or new-variants and update their software accordingly, to detect them. Most of the major antivirus programs concentrate their enhancement/update efforts on the most significant/serious virus threats.
(As a sidenote here, please be aware there is a particularly malicious fake AV program called "System Tool" or "System Tool 2011" which is infecting a lot of computers including computers running McAfee Security Software). (This is not to be confused with your computer system's folder called, "SYSTEM TOOLS"). I would also recommend visiting McAfee's Community Forums website at: http://community.mcafee.com/.
There is a wealth of information available via active discussions, blogs, questions posted by computer users, etc. Information is also there - relevant to how to get rid of particular types of malware, viruses, etc. I've found the site to be of immense help, personally...particularly in providing info on the latest viruses, malware, fake AV programs, etc.
Hope this is some help to you and good luck!