Is McFee spam killer that important? and a Virus Question?

Question

my subscribtion ran out yesturday but i still seem to have the Virus blocker working, and the Firewall.

Is the spam blocker that important, or i dont have to worry about it

and I still have the anti-virus protection from McFree, I thought it was supposed to expire at the same time too? does that mean ill have that forever?
tnx

Answer 1

Spam blocking is not that important (although blocking it makes reading your e-mail easier), but maintaining a current subscription for virus-checking is important because while your program may continue to work, it is not updated with new virus definitions and will therefore not work nearly as well in terms of blocking viruses.

Answer 2

When the subscription ran it does not mean the Anti virus is not to work anymore. It will still work but you won't be able to download the update for your virus databases. Every few days or so the virus databases need to be updaded with new datas to protect your pc against new viruses. Without it, newer viruses can get in your pc. If you like McAfee then you need to subscribe again and i think you'll have to do this every year and it will cost you. The alternative is to uninstall McAfee and download a FREE Antivirus scanner. Here's my recomendation: http://www.free-av.com/
Your browser also has some sort of spam blocker built-in, so it's not that big a deal. If you want there are quite a few apps that can do that. Try a Google search. You may also need an Antispyware app and firewall too. Try this FREE firewall here: http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp?dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en&lid=nav_za
There are free antispyware but i'll let you search for them. Just remember that some apps are not really free, they're just trial/tryout version. All the apps i listed above are completely free and they just as good as paid ones, with a few missing features that's all.

Answer 3

You will start getting more spam in your email without the spam blocker.

The AV program still works but does not update. It is only protecting your computer of old known viruses. You will not be protected against any new viruses from the day it expired. If you do not want to pay and renew it then please go here and download the Free AVG Anti-Virus program. It is excellent and provides automatic updates.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_avg_antivirus/

Answer 4

If your subscription expired, the software will continue to run, but you won't recieve new signature updates. So any virus created after your subscription ran out will not be protected against by McAfee.

I would consider the free (virus and spyware) solution from AVG (link below.) I would also consider purchasing a software package from Sunbelt Software called CounterSpy, very effective. There's a link to Anti-spyware reviews below also.

As for anti-spam, I wouldn't bother, but that's because I advocate google gmail. If you download e-mail to your computer using outlook, thunderbird or outlook express, I would definatly get anti-spam. But I would consider the free software called Spambayes.

Answer 5

.
I understand, and you want a good anti-virus, and anti-spam programs.
The solution:
Dowload 3 excellent programs
A. For removing and stopping virus , trojan attacks.
B. For removing mal-ware and adware that act to retrieve informaiton from your computer and your computer habits.
C. Anti-hijacking tool to remove attempts to hijack your home page and other.

A. Get AVAST
1. Remove what you have now. It didn't do right did it? And you are not sure it will work anymore. So >Dump it
2. Go to Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs and delete the anti-virus program you have now,
if you have one;
then use your Search feature, type in the name of your current anti-virus program
if you have one > right click and delete any instance it finds.

3. Get this neat free program
Get FREE Home version of an excellent anti-virus software = AVAST
http://avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html....
Install > run > do a thorough scan
and allow it to run on your computer all the time.
Whatever it finds > selelct DELETE

The annual registration and frequent updates are free too.

B. Get Ad-AWARE spy-removal tool from Lavasoft
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php
1. Download, install and run this program weekly or more.


C. Get anti-hijacking tool
called HiJack This
for any hijack problems you might encounter Get this FREE anti-Hijack software
1. The program is called HiJackThis 1.99
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3155.html
2. Download and run the program
BE CAREFUL what you delete,
from it's findings...because
it will find the offending program
and others that you may NOT want to delete.
Only delete the one that hijacked you.
3. Reset your home page
a. Surf to your homepage of choice
b. In Internet Explorer above click TOOLS > Internet Options > click button USE CURRENT.

h2h

Answer 6

the spam blocker itself has its pluses and minus's not something i would worry over.
but the anti-virus and firewall are the more important issues.
you will need to keep them up todate

Answer 7

its definatly not that important. people can still spam you or send a small virus, but nothing that does anything. unless you have a slow computer dont worry about it

Answer 8

no you no longer have either you will get no more updates for the antivirus i suggest you download a good free antivirus like avg
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5#avg-anti-virus-free

Answer 9

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I suggest you download AOL Active Virus Shield, It's based on the popular Kaspersky Lab Virus Killer.

There's links and also a great walkthrough with a step by step guide: http://walkthroughwizard.info/
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