Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: StarOfAfrica2 on August 04, 2006, 12:51:39 AM

Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: StarOfAfrica2 on August 04, 2006, 12:51:39 AM
Quote
"This vulnerability can be used to compromise systems running these McAfee consumer products and allow attackers to run code with the ability to modify/delete files [or] backdoor systems," Maiffret said in an e-mail exchange with eWEEK.

............................. ...........

Maiffret said his company's researchers were able to successfully compromise the following products: McAfee Internet Security Suite 2006, McAfee Wireless Home Network Security, McAfee Personal Firewall Plus, McAfee VirusScan, McAfee Privacy Service, McAfee SpamKiller and McAfee AntiSpyware.


Link.....

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1997344,00.asp?kc=EWEWEMNL073106EPW4
Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: Mickey1992 on August 04, 2006, 07:27:32 AM
I am about ready to dump McAfee.

I tried to upgrade to their new engine, but it failed because AdAware "conflicted" with the upgrade.  Yeah, right.

Then, without warning, McAfee turned on Windows automatic updates, eventhough I had disabled it.
Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: AWMac on August 04, 2006, 07:33:51 AM
Same here.....
Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: DREDIOCK on August 04, 2006, 07:36:39 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Mickey1992
I am about ready to dump McAfee.

I tried to upgrade to their new engine, but it failed because AdAware "conflicted" with the upgrade.  Yeah, right.

Then, without warning, McAfee turned on Windows automatic updates, eventhough I had disabled it.


so THATS how that happened!

Ok Time for a switch
Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: Skuzzy on August 04, 2006, 09:05:22 AM
Any program using ActiveX or .NET controls is a nightmare waiting to happen.  When McAfee switched to using ActiveX, I dumped them from my Wife's computer.  That was long ago, in a galaxy far, far, away.

Now, I just do not use any of them.  The major players have all gotten to be as bad as the virus's they are suppose to help detect.
Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: StarOfAfrica2 on August 04, 2006, 11:36:34 AM
I used to swear by McAfee, they found things Norton would ignore.  They started getting a little too chummy with Billgatesebub the Devil, and their product went downhill.  I havent used their stuff for almost 3 years now.  Still, I know alot of people do and figured it was worth passing along the warning.
Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: xrtoronto on August 04, 2006, 11:46:29 AM
I've  been using Mcafee for at least 10 years now. I will need to 'renew' in November this year.

After reading the above, I think I will be making a change too, but to what?

Does anyone know a good alternative to Mcafee? What do you use at home now (if not Mcafee)?
Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: x0847Marine on August 04, 2006, 01:03:08 PM
Quote
Originally posted by xrtoronto
I've  been using Mcafee for at least 10 years now. I will need to 'renew' in November this year.

After reading the above, I think I will be making a change too, but to what?

Does anyone know a good alternative to Mcafee? What do you use at home now (if not Mcafee)?


http://www.avast.com home version is FREE. Hasn't failed me in years.

I hear AVG, also free, works well.
http://www.grisoft.com/
Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: Maverick on August 04, 2006, 03:22:14 PM
I got rid of McAfee when my last subscription expired. It never operated as advertized, interupted things to self update even with the update feature supposedly disabled. Once I got rid of it my computer got noticably faster. To me mcafee IS a virus in the same manner aol is.
Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: DREDIOCK on August 04, 2006, 03:30:24 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Skuzzy
Any program using ActiveX or .NET controls is a nightmare waiting to happen.  When McAfee switched to using ActiveX, I dumped them from my Wife's computer.  That was long ago, in a galaxy far, far, away.

Now, I just do not use any of them.  The major players have all gotten to be as bad as the virus's they are suppose to help detect.


so which is your reccomendation?
Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: Skuzzy on August 04, 2006, 03:32:25 PM
I do not use an anti-virus program at all and have not for years (woah,..going on 10 years now), so I cannot make a recommendation.
Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: DREDIOCK on August 04, 2006, 03:36:11 PM
Ok so how do you keep your systems virus free?

who knows. Fill us in and you might be able to save us all enough money to open up second accounts for our families.

That would increase the bottom line of HTC then Hitech can give ya a nice fat raise or bonus:D
Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: Mustaine on August 04, 2006, 03:46:15 PM
Quote
Originally posted by DREDIOCK
Ok so how do you keep your systems virus free?
be smart with what you do :p


seriously, you don't just "get a virus" without doing something to get it.

don't go to sites you don't trust implicitly, diable ALL active x on your PC, never open any type of email attachment unless you are 1000% certian who it is from and exactly what it is. don't use the preview of emails in outlook, only view non-html messages on yahoo or any other, stuff like that.
Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: Skuzzy on August 04, 2006, 03:48:47 PM
Keeping a computer virus free is pretty easy, but there is no way most people will do it.  A virus cannot magically appear on your computer.  Most of the time it comes from the Internet through some mechanism.

1)  I have a hardened firewall at home.  It only allows port propagation on the ports I choose.  All others are blocked.
2)  I disable many (most) features (activexx, java, javascript...) of my browser.  Basically if it aint pure HTML, it aint getting looked at.
3)  My email gets scanned by my firewall/router (Linux box, by the way) and stripped of any attachments or HTML or any other scripting language.  If it aint ASCII, it aint getting to my computer.
4)  If a program requires ActiveX or .NET, it never gets installed.  I have a test system (not on my network) for checking beforehand.

There are more details, but I figure the gist of it will cause most people to shy away from doing it.  Afterall, you will not be able to view 'youtube' or any other videos on WEB pages after you are done.  But, those can be a source of viruses, so I'd rather not deal with it.

The tradeoff for me is I get better performance, higher reliability (the more carp you ad the worse things get), and I really am not giving up anything worthwhile.
Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: Mustaine on August 04, 2006, 04:12:52 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Skuzzy
...There are more details, but I figure the gist of it will cause most people to shy away from doing it.  Afterall, you will not be able to view 'youtube' or any other videos on WEB pages after you are done.  But, those can be a source of viruses, so I'd rather not deal with it.

The tradeoff for me is I get better performance, higher reliability (the more carp you ad the worse things get), and I really am not giving up anything worthwhile.
there is some pretty fun stuff out there though...

I kind of look at it this way personally, I have a seperate hard drive i store "important" data on, but nothing is irreplacable. i look at funny stuff on the internet and get some nasty thing on my PC, it takes all of 2 hours to physically remove the 2nd HD, re-format the main HD, install and set up windows, install avast, put the 2nd HD in, scan, and I'm up and running.

with how fast and simple it is to set up a familiar PC, if I were you skuzzy I'd have a PC on the internet able to do all that "fun" stuff, and thats all it's for. it gets "infected" then dump and re-load.
Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: Skuzzy on August 04, 2006, 04:20:31 PM
I dunt have the patience for it.  None of my data files are on a local drive.  They are all on my Linux file server.  I just have the applications and the OS on my local computer.

When I want to use my computer, I do not want to be bothered with having to re-install stuff.

I really do not miss anything on the Internet.  I very seldom ever look for anything on it anymore.  It's gotten to be more of a pain than a help.  Heck, I have started going back to the library when I need to do research.  Google something and you get 17 bazillion worthless entries and have to weed through them to find the thing you want.
Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: Mustaine on August 04, 2006, 04:29:30 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Skuzzy
...Google something and you get 17 bazillion worthless entries and have to weed through them to find the thing you want.
true. you know they are actually teaching my buddies kids how to search the internet "efficently" :confused:
Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: StarOfAfrica2 on August 04, 2006, 04:44:32 PM
Uh oh.  I think he gave you a direct challenge Skuzzy.  

I smell a PWN!!  coming on.  :)
Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: Skuzzy on August 04, 2006, 05:16:39 PM
Pud-pullers are not a challenge Star.  Just an irritation.  Like a rash.
Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: Clutz on August 04, 2006, 05:46:08 PM
What is a library? I have heard of these before.:rolleyes: The internet is the information highway. Herpies virus and all its still good stuff. I aint going to give up my porn, sheesh. :furious
Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: Elfie on August 04, 2006, 05:59:35 PM
I use AVG anti-virus from http://www.grisoft.com it works well, has regular updates and its FREE. FREE = best 4 letter word in the English language imo ;)
Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on August 05, 2006, 01:17:04 AM
Nod32 on commercial side. http://www.eset.com

Lightweight, simple and effective.
Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: WhiteHawk on August 05, 2006, 06:41:13 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Elfie
I use AVG anti-virus from http://www.grisoft.com it works well, has regular updates and its FREE. FREE = best 4 letter word in the English language imo ;)


Yea AVG here also.  No problems for 5 years.
Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: cpxxx on August 05, 2006, 06:46:32 AM
McAfee came with this computer but I warned off it by a friend. I thought he was exaggerating but took it off anyway. Now I see why. I've used AVG for a while. A couple of viruses crept in. I suspect from my wife's emails :(  But otherwise no problems.
Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: Mustaine on August 05, 2006, 04:32:19 PM
Quote
Originally posted by StarOfAfrica2
Uh oh.  I think he gave you a direct challenge Skuzzy.  

I smell a PWN!!  coming on.  :)
not at all, i was just freaked that they are teaching 10 year old kids how to sucessfully find something on the interent.


just what happens when their highly tuned internet search capabilities are unleashed on their parents PC late one night with no-one watching?! :O



it's actually a class. internet usage, along with social studies i think. :huh :O
Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: StarOfAfrica2 on August 06, 2006, 12:44:41 AM
Hehe, Skuzzy pulled the post I was referring to.  Someone who wont stay dead stuck his head up for air and was giving Skuzzy the raspberry.  Unfortunately I cant edit my post now lol.
Title: Warning for McAfee users
Post by: Vulcan on August 06, 2006, 07:50:58 AM
I still use McAfee. I like it. But I use either the corporate or managed product (different to retail stuff).

Its worth noting that ALL the major AV vendors have had holes in the last 6 months. Trend, Symantec, Ca, McAfee etc.

If it wasn't McAfee then next choice for me would have to be  NOD32, they seem to be doing very well.

Oh, and for you guys using AVG. It rates extremely poorly in all major tests, <60% detection rates. So you may think you haven't had a virus in years but the reality is most likely otherwise. And that rating is for the commercial version - not the freeware.