AfterDawn: News

Facebook joins up with McAfee for added security

Facebook has announced today that they have signed a deal with McAfee that will give all 350 million members a free six-month license for Internet security software.

"Now, if your computer is infected, you will be asked to run a scan ... and clean it before accessing Facebook," added Facebook project manager Jake Brill. "We're not aware of another free Internet service that takes this much responsibility for helping people keep their accounts secure."



After the six months, you will have to pay to continue using the license, but McAfee says the fee will be cheaper than the annual subscription price for the software in stores.

The software will run on Windows PCs only, with no expected Mac OS X or Linux deal coming anytime soon.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 14 Jan 2010 16:23

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• 25 comments

• jos22

  or they could use the free security package from MS

  14.1.2010 16:27 #1

• statomike

  So they all have another gigantic commercial shoved in their face in the form of an "app."

  14.1.2010 18:05 #2

• 21Q

  This has got to be a joke. 6 month license for a crappy service, and you will be forced to download it or you cannot access facebook? Ridiculous.

  14.1.2010 18:42 #3

• Ragnarok8

  There are lots of free AV programs out there, AVG, antivir and avast being the top 3 I know of. Although getting them to work for facebook for free might be another matter though.

  14.1.2010 21:33 #4

• dssacer

  pfff i guess McAfee is paying facebook to force in some way ppl to use their crap.so after the 6 month if u dont pay u wont be able to access facebook ?? or should we call it Mcbook or crapbook.

  14.1.2010 21:53 #5

• djeazyg

  Where does it say you MUST download it? I didn't read that. Did I miss something or are people complaining for no reason again?

  15.1.2010 00:31 #6

• DVDBack23

  This is free and OPTIONAL. If you have your own AV suite then you don't need to get it, plain and simple. There is no reason to complain over a large company giving away software for free for 6 months.

  15.1.2010 00:52 #7

• KillerBug

  Originally posted by DVDBack23: This is free and OPTIONAL. If you have your own AV suite then you don't need to get it, plain and simple. There is no reason to complain over a large company giving away software for free for 6 months.No, you don't need it at all. Sometimes I think that it is safer to run without virus software than with McAfee...at least you don't have any McAfee spyware that way. If they wanted to be nice, they would simply post a link to a much better free scanner. McAfee already provides 6-12 month free trials of their software to system builders for 6-12 months, and they still have to pay the system builder to include it...I am sure that facebook is also making money for distributing this malware.
  
  That said, anyone who is dumb enough to use facebook will end up destroying their computer with worthless spyware from companies like AOL and Yahoo anyway...so who cares if they install some more?

  15.1.2010 01:56 #8

• creaky

  Originally posted by KillerBug: McAfee already provides 6-12 month free trials of their software to system builders for 6-12 months, and they still have to pay the system builder to include it...I am sure that facebook is also making money for distributing this malware.
  
  That said, anyone who is dumb enough to use facebook will end up destroying their computer with worthless spyware from companies like AOL and Yahoo anyway...so who cares if they install some more?No malware, spyware (or adverts) from Mcafee all the years i used it, however i do agree with the dumb to use facebook comment. In similar news, someone else with my view on social'timewasting'networking ~ Ricky Gervais: Twitter is 'undignified' for adults and just 'showing off' for celebrities Quote:he had tried Tweeting but abandoned it in a matter of days because he found it pointless.No need to have AV on such sites, save money and time by simply avoiding such sites. Sorted.
  

  
  
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  15.1.2010 03:16 #9

• scum101

  Quote:with no expected Mac OS X or Linux deal coming anytime soon. the savvy unix and linux people would tell them where to shove it if they tried .. hehehehehehehe.

  15.1.2010 03:36 #10

• KillerBug

  Quote:No malware, spyware (or adverts) from Mcafee all the years i used
  I guess my definition of malware is rather broad...
  
  Something that is sold as protection, but offers no protection, and causes terribly slow performance is malware in my book. I guess it isn't a virus because viruses are free...and it is only a little bit spyware, but it still hurts the system without providing the protection offered by more efficient AV software. If Trojan made a condom like McAfee makes AV software, it would be coated with tobasco, sold in tamper-proof packaging, and would have more holes than a tea strainer. I have had to repair countless systems that were "protected" by McAfee, only to get a massive infection from a virus identified months before the first infection. AVG isn't top-notch, but it is free, fast, and it covers viruses newer than 6 months old.

  15.1.2010 05:43 #11

• iamgq

  the are probably trying to form captain planet!

  15.1.2010 07:25 #12

• Bani666

  McAfee
  Norton
  F-secure
  
  The bad,
  The worst and
  The ugly.
  
  Quote:the savvy unix and linux people would tell them where to shove it if they tried .. hehehehehehehe.
  You bet I would :P

  15.1.2010 09:20 #13

• SProdigy

  Quote:Quote:No malware, spyware (or adverts) from Mcafee all the years i used
  I guess my definition of malware is rather broad...
  
  Something that is sold as protection, but offers no protection, and causes terribly slow performance is malware in my book. I guess it isn't a virus because viruses are free...and it is only a little bit spyware, but it still hurts the system without providing the protection offered by more efficient AV software. If Trojan made a condom like McAfee makes AV software, it would be coated with tobasco, sold in tamper-proof packaging, and would have more holes than a tea strainer. I have had to repair countless systems that were "protected" by McAfee, only to get a massive infection from a virus identified months before the first infection. AVG isn't top-notch, but it is free, fast, and it covers viruses newer than 6 months old.I think "bloatware" covers what you're suggesting. Norton is no better in that department, but it's better AV software than McAfee.
  
  Above poster in regards to AntiVir, AVG and Avast being among the best (and free) is correct: http://www.av-comparatives.org/

  15.1.2010 09:30 #14

• blizz26

  McAfee is total garbage. Even Microsoft dumped this years ago. Free Avira is better than this. I guess ill delete my Facebook account now. I do not trust McAfee. I take McAfee out of people computers, atleast 5 a week. I repair computers for a living and no that
  McAfee dosent work that great. McHackfee is terrible.

  15.1.2010 21:09 #15

• Morreale

  I have NOD32 Anti-Virus and Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware. NOD is nice and fast and if something gets passed it Malwarebytes will take it down.
  
  Using Norton is like a virus, slowly destroying your computer in my experiences. Really funny when at the end of the day Norton itself is infected with multiple viruses.
  
  I've used F-Secure too and I thought it was great, just used up a ton of resources. NOD is much lighter.

  16.1.2010 00:53 #16

• djeazyg

  I have never gotten a virus or attacked by spyware and I use nothing. Every once and a great while I will run some free virus software or spyware cleaner (I've tried all different kinds) and they never find anything. Ever. And for all those blaming Facebook for spyware and viruses, I use Facebook all the time and have no problems. None. Seems to me that people just need to be more careful and have better web surfing habits.

  16.1.2010 01:40 #17

• sanna691

  Its good to hear that facebook joins up with MacAfee.. The security is very important and needs to be taken care of as most of the viruses come from internet.. So this will prove to be a beneficial way for protecting our PCs from viruses and trojans..

  16.1.2010 02:20 #18

• sanna691

  SPAM removed

  16.1.2010 02:38 #19

• KillerBug

  Originally posted by djeazyg: I have never gotten a virus or attacked by spyware and I use nothing. Every once and a great while I will run some free virus software or spyware cleaner (I've tried all different kinds) and they never find anything. Ever. And for all those blaming Facebook for spyware and viruses, I use Facebook all the time and have no problems. None. Seems to me that people just need to be more careful and have better web surfing habits.That sounds a lot like the Catholic aproach to preventing AIDS...don't use condoms and don't f**k anyone except little boys.
  
  The fact is, if you have windows without AV software, then you have to avoid about 99% of the web to know you are safe...and even then it is a gamble, as companies like Microsoft and Adobe sometimes have viruses on their download servers.
  
  ESET Security Suite (NOD32's big brother) serves me very well...it finds at least one virus per week...sometimes in major software packages. For instance, you would think that EAC was a clean installer...but it comes with some yahoo spyware that no other scanner finds...Eset finds it.
  
  Bloatware slows a system to do a job. (Microsoft Office)
  Malware slows a system without doing anything. (McAfee)
  

  [DFI M2RS] [Athlon 9950] [ATI 3870HD] [Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1600] [6GB Corsair DDR2] [4x Seagate ST31500341AS + 3ware 9690SA = 4.5TB RAID5] [2x Seagate 750GB + 2x Seagate 500GB + Adaptec 1430SA = 750GB RAID1 + 500GB RAID1] [Intel Gigabit NIC (PCI)] [LG 20X Lightscribe DVDR] [Coolmax 1200w Power Supply] [Logitech G15(first edition)] [Logitech G5(Second Edition)] [320GB Hitachi Boot] [320GB Hitachi Temp/Swap] [Modified and overgrown 4U Rackmount case] [22" & 24" screens mounted overhead] [Perfect Chair 085] [Logitech 5.1 Audio] [Windows 7 RC1]

  16.1.2010 03:35 #20

• bluedogs

  You would think they would pick a better AV program. Well I must admit as a techie this is going to mean dollars for me because the average user will automatically install it like they do with Adobe and it then conflicts with their current AV. I get a phone call and I charge them the earth for it to. Thanks facebook for giving me a whole heap of new coustomers.

  16.1.2010 15:12 #21

• djeazyg

  Quote:Originally posted by djeazyg: I have never gotten a virus or attacked by spyware and I use nothing. Every once and a great while I will run some free virus software or spyware cleaner (I've tried all different kinds) and they never find anything. Ever. And for all those blaming Facebook for spyware and viruses, I use Facebook all the time and have no problems. None. Seems to me that people just need to be more careful and have better web surfing habits.That sounds a lot like the Catholic aproach to preventing AIDS...don't use condoms and don't f**k anyone except little boys.
  
  The fact is, if you have windows without AV software, then you have to avoid about 99% of the web to know you are safe...and even then it is a gamble, as companies like Microsoft and Adobe sometimes have viruses on their download servers.
  
  ESET Security Suite (NOD32's big brother) serves me very well...it finds at least one virus per week...sometimes in major software packages. For instance, you would think that EAC was a clean installer...but it comes with some yahoo spyware that no other scanner finds...Eset finds it.
  
  Bloatware slows a system to do a job. (Microsoft Office)
  Malware slows a system without doing anything. (McAfee)Just used the trial version of Eset and it found a toolbar in Nero 9 that it didn't like. But it was something I have the choice of installing. Not something intrusive.
  You should probably know that I always download cracked versions of software before I buy it. Some I use once and throw it away and others if it's good enough I'll buy it. I get them from trusted sources and know they will be virus and spyware free.
  I also stay away from Torrents and all that other Peer to Peer shit. I never open untrusted mail and I don't just randomly click on everything I see online.
  I'm not saying that the Anti virus software isn't needed, I'm just saying you can live without it if your careful.

  16.1.2010 16:20 #22

• borhan9

  Great update but nothing that amazes me.

  16.1.2010 22:05 #23

• SProdigy

  Originally posted by djeazyg: I have never gotten a virus or attacked by spyware and I use nothing. Every once and a great while I will run some free virus software or spyware cleaner (I've tried all different kinds) and they never find anything. Ever. And for all those blaming Facebook for spyware and viruses, I use Facebook all the time and have no problems. None. Seems to me that people just need to be more careful and have better web surfing habits.You are either using a Linux PC or a Mac, otherwise you are living in danger. I've worked in IT for over 8 years as a PC Tech and cant attest to people having viruses/spyware even WITH protected systems!
  
  I'll never forget the "record" we had at my one shop. AntiVir scan found that 88% of the client's hard drive was filled with viruses! And guess what? They declined to have AV software installed after the reformat because they didn't feel it was necessary!

  20.1.2010 09:49 #24

• djeazyg

  Originally posted by SProdigy: Originally posted by djeazyg: I have never gotten a virus or attacked by spyware and I use nothing. Every once and a great while I will run some free virus software or spyware cleaner (I've tried all different kinds) and they never find anything. Ever. And for all those blaming Facebook for spyware and viruses, I use Facebook all the time and have no problems. None. Seems to me that people just need to be more careful and have better web surfing habits.You are either using a Linux PC or a Mac, otherwise you are living in danger. I've worked in IT for over 8 years as a PC Tech and cant attest to people having viruses/spyware even WITH protected systems!
  
  I'll never forget the "record" we had at my one shop. AntiVir scan found that 88% of the client's hard drive was filled with viruses! And guess what? They declined to have AV software installed after the reformat because they didn't feel it was necessary!WOW! Thats a lot of freakin viruses. I use Windows and I'm sure your correct. But like I said, even if I use the AV software it never finds anything. If I had that kind of an issue I'm sure I would use AV software religiously. Maybe I'm just lucky.

  20.1.2010 10:01 #25