Mcafee Viruscan: Free Dat files Vs Subscription

[Rockinghorse]

I've been seeing lately on several freeware sites mention of free virus definition updates to Mcafee (and other) Antivirus programs. From what I could tell, you simply copy the DAT files to your Mcafee DAT directory, and you're good to go.

Now, I've been paying 29 bucks annually to Mcafee to deliver these updates to me via the internet. Is this necessary? Could I obtain the same data legally from a freeware site, and suffer only by having to locate the right directory to put them in?

[Just Playin]

Originally Posted by Rockinghorse

I've been seeing lately on several freeware sites mention of free virus definition updates to Mcafee (and other) Antivirus programs. From what I could tell, you simply copy the DAT files to your Mcafee DAT directory, and you're good to go.

Now, I've been paying 29 bucks annually to Mcafee to deliver these updates to me via the internet. Is this necessary? Could I obtain the same data legally from a freeware site, and suffer only by having to locate the right directory to put them in?

Those manual updates only work with a paid subscription, you still have to pay for it.

[Shadow_Puter_Dude]

Extract it into the MCAFEE folder by typing "SDATxxxx.EXE /E" at the command line (this will extract its contents).

This should work from CMD.

[rogvalcox]

If you are wanting to get out of having to pay for antivirus service...then just use highly reputable FREE antivirus like...

http://majorgeeks.com/download886.html

I've used this on my laptop for a couple of years and it works great!!!! It is 100% free and it comes with FREE regular virus definitions updates, e-mail scanning, etc. and has an easy user interface!!!!

Roger

[Rockinghorse]

Originally Posted by Just Playin

Those manual updates only work with a paid subscription, you still have to pay for it.

Thank's, that's what I kind of suspected.



R*Horse

[Rockinghorse]

Originally Posted by rogvalcox

If you are wanting to get out of having to pay for antivirus service...then just use highly reputable FREE antivirus like...

http://majorgeeks.com/download886.html

I've used this on my laptop for a couple of years and it works great!!!! It is 100% free and it comes with FREE regular virus definitions updates, e-mail scanning, etc. and has an easy user interface!!!!

Roger

Thanks, I'll have a look. But Mcafee has saved my azz too many times for me to risk changing to an unknown (to me, at least) entity.

R*Horse