This article shows you how to temporarily disable the McAfee Security Center anti-virus program on both a Windows and Mac system. If you no longer intend to take advantage of the features offered by this program, you can choose to uninstall it. It should be noted that even temporarily disabling the only antivirus software on the computer will expose the latter, and the data it contains, to all the risks and threats present on the web.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Windows systems
Step 1. Access the "Start" menu by clicking the icon
It features the Windows logo and is located in the lower left corner of the desktop. Alternatively, press the ⊞ Win key on your keyboard.
Step 2. Type the mcafee keywords into the "Start" menu
Your computer will search your computer for McAfee's anti-virus program.
Step 3. Select the McAfee LiveSafe icon
It should have appeared at the top of the "Start" menu and has "App Desktop" under its name. This will open the program window.
Step 4. Access the PC Security tab of the program interface
It is visible in the upper left of the McAfee window.
Step 5. Select the Real-time Scan item
It is located on the left side of the program window.
Step 6. Press the Deactivate button
It is located at the top right of the "Real-time Scan" page that appears.
Step 7. Select a time interval and press the Disable button
If you wish, you can set a time (using the appropriate menu "Specify when to restore real-time scanning") after which the program's real-time protection will be automatically reactivated. The default is 15 minutes.
If you need to manually re-enable McAfee real-time protection, choose the option Never.
Step 8. Press the Finish button
It is located next to the button Deactivate.
Step 9. Access the Firewall tab
It is the option visible under the heading Real-time scanning located on the left side of the program window.
Step 10. Press the Deactivate button
It is located in the upper right part of the page that appeared.
Step 11. Select a time interval and press the Disable button
If you wish, you can set an expired time which the protection provided by the program's firewall will be automatically reactivated.
Step 12. Close the "Firewall" dialog
Click the icon in the shape of X located in the upper right corner of the window.
Step 13. Go to the Automatic Updates tab
It is the option visible under the heading Firewall located on the left side of the program window.
Step 14. Press the Deactivate button
It is located in the upper right part of the "Automatic Updates" window that has appeared.
Step 15. Close the "Automatic Updates" dialog box, then select the Scheduled Scans option
It is placed exactly under the heading Automatic updates.
Step 16. Press the Deactivate button
It is located in the upper right part of the page that appeared. At this point, all McAfee protection services have been disabled.
Method 2 of 2: Mac
Step 1. Click the McAfee program icon
It features a white "M" inside a small red shield visible in the upper right corner of the Mac screen, exactly on the menu bar.
If the indicated icon is not visible, select the one in the shape of a magnifying glass, type the keyword "McAfee", then choose the item Internet Security from the list of results that appeared.
Step 2. Choose the McAfee LiveSafe - Internet Security Console entry
It is one of the options in the McAfee context menu.
Step 3. Go to the Home tab
It is located in the upper left of the McAfee LiveSafe main window.
Step 4. Select the gear icon
It is located in the upper right corner of the "Home" tab.
Step 5. Choose the Real-time Scan option
It is visible at the top of the drop-down menu that appeared. This will bring up the "Real-time Scan" dialog box.
Step 6. To disable McAfee real-time protection follow these instructions:
- Click the icon in the shape of padlock;
- Provide the account security password administrator computer and press the button OK;
- Select the cursor Real-time scanning placed in the upper right corner of the window;
- Close the "Real-time Scan" dialog box.
Step 7. Select the gear icon again, located in the upper right corner of the "Home" tab, then choose the Firewall option
The voice Firewall is placed below that Real-time scanning menu appeared.
Step 8. Disable the McAfee firewall
Simply follow the same instructions provided for disabling "Real-time Scan".
Step 9. Select the gear icon again located in the upper right corner of the "Home" tab, then choose the Automatic Updates option
It is placed under the heading Firewall.
Step 10. Disable McAfee Automatic Updates
Simply follow the same instructions provided for disabling "Real-time Scan" and "Firewall".
Step 11. Select the gear icon again and choose the Scheduled Scans option
It is located at the bottom of the "Mac Security" options section.
Step 12. Unlock access to the Full and Custom System Scan settings page
Click the gear icon and provide the Mac administrator account password, then press the button OK.
Step 13. Access the Weekly drop-down menu
It is located on the left side of the "Scheduled Scans" page.
If the indicated option is not visible, go to the tab Scheduled scans located at the top of the window.
Step 14. Select the Never entry
This prevents McAfee from automatically reactivating to scan your system.
Step 15. Close the program window
At this point McAfee should be completely disabled.
