Disable or enable virus protection

If you disable virus protection, your computer will not be monitored for virus activity. If you must stop virus protection, ensure that you are not connected to the Internet.

Note: Non-members or those on the Free AOL plan can subscribe to McAfee Internet Security Suite - Special edition from AOL for a substantially discounted annual fee.

IMPORTANT: We have launched a new version of McAfee and have slowly started migrating our users to the new version. Guess what? You can upgrade to the new version for free. Just keeping checking for McAfee updates and you could be the lucky one to have it first. If you don't get it now, don't worry, you will be able to get it by end of January, 2011. If you already have the new version, click the I have the new McAfee Security Center link below. If you have the older version of McAfee, do not click I have the new McAfee Security Center link below. Just follow the instructions below.

• I have the new McAfee Security Center

  How-to

  • Disable virus protection
  • Enable virus protection

  Disable virus protection

  Please note that disabling virus protection also disables real-time spyware, e-mail, and instant message protection. We recommend you not to disable real time scanning.

  To disable virus protection
  1. In the Windows taskbar, next to the clock, right-click the McAfee (M) icon, and then click Open McAfee SecurityCenter.

  Note: Alternatively, you can click Start, select All Programs, select McAfee, and then click McAfee SecurityCenter.

  

  Tip: If you're using Windows 7 and don't see the McAfee icon next to the clock, click the arrow next to the clock to reveal hidden icons. At any time, you can customize your Windows 7 System Tray.

  

  2. On the McAfee SecurityCenter window, click the Real-Time Scanning: On link.

  

  3. On the right side of McAfee SecurityCenter window, click Real-Time Scanning settings.

  

  4. Under Real-Time Scanning: On, click Turn off.

  

  5. In the confirmation dialog box, choose one of the following:

  • To restart virus protection after a specified time, click the When do you want to resume Real-Time Scanning drop-down menu, choose a time, and then click Turn off.
  • To completely stop virus protection from restarting, click the When do you want to resume Real-Time Scanning drop-down menu, click Never, and then click Turn off.

    

  6. Click X on the upper right to close the McAfee SecurityCenter window.

  IMPORTANT: If real-time protection is configured to start when Windows starts, your computer is automatically protected when you restart the computer.

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  Enable virus protection

  Virus protection continuously monitors your computer for virus activity; therefore, it is important that you enable virus protection on your computer.

  To enable virus protection
  1. In the Windows taskbar, next to the clock, right-click the McAfee (M) icon, and then click Open McAfee SecurityCenter.

  Note: Alternatively, you can click Start, select All Programs, select McAfee, and then click McAfee SecurityCenter.

  

  Tip: If you're using Windows 7 and don't see the McAfee icon next to the clock, click the arrow next to the clock to reveal hidden icons. At any time, you can customize your Windows 7 System Tray.

  

  2. On the McAfee SecurityCenter window, click the Real-Time Scanning: Off link.

  

  3. On the right side of McAfee SecurityCenter window, click Real-Time Scanning settings.

  

  4. Under Real-Time Scanning: On, click Turn on.

  

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The instructions given below are for the older version of McAfee.

How-to

• Disable virus protection
• Enable virus protection

Disable virus protection

Please note that disabling virus protection also disables real-time spyware, e-mail, and instant message protection.

To disable virus protection
1. On the Windows taskbar, next to the clock, double-click the McAfee ( M) icon.

Note: If you are using Windows® 7 and don't see the McAfee icon next to the clock, click the arrow next to the clock to reveal hidden icons. Please know that you can customize your Windows 7 System Tray. To know how to do so, read our online help article Customize Windows 7 System Tray.

2. On Advanced Menu, click the Configure tab.

Note: If you are unable to see the Configure link, click the Advanced Menu link.

3. In the Configure pane, click the Computer & Files link.

4. On the Computer & Files Configuration pane, under Virus protection is enabled, click the Off option.

5. In the confirmation dialog box, choose one of the following:

• To restart virus protection after a specified time, click the Select when to re-enable real-time scanning drop-down menu, choose a time, and then click OK.
• To stop virus protection from restarting after a specified time, click the Select when to re-enable real-time scanning drop-down menu, click Never, and then click OK.

  

6. Click X on the upper right to close the McAfee SecurityCenter window.

Note: If real-time protection is configured to start when Windows starts, your computer is automatically protected when you restart the computer.

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Enable virus protection

Virus protection continuously monitors your computer for virus activity; therefore, it is important that you enable virus protection on your computer.

To enable virus protection
1. On the Windows taskbar, next to the clock, double-click the McAfee ( M) icon.

Note: If you are using Windows 7 and don't see the McAfee icon next to the clock, click the arrow next to the clock to reveal hidden icons. Please know that you can customize your Windows 7 System Tray. To know how to do so, read our online help article Customize Windows 7 System Tray.

2. On Advanced Menu, click the Configure tab.

Note: If you are unable to see the Configure link, click the Advanced Menu link.

3. In the Configure pane, click the Computer & Files link.

4. On the Computer & Files Configuration pane, under Virus protection is disabled, click the On option.

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