Support Start > Disabling McAfee Security Products

We've noticed that our customers frequently report connection problems caused by McAfee security software, particularly when sending or receiving email.

If you use McAfee security products and you have email, FTP or secure website connection problems, we recommend that you temporarily disable the McAfee software as a test to see if it's causing the trouble. (Be aware that disabling the software temporarily lowers your security protection; you should re-enable the software after the test.)

McAfee publishes many different security products, such as VirusScan Plus, PC Protection Plus, Internet Security Suite 8-in-1, and Total Protection 10-in-1. If your specific McAfee product is not discussed below, you should consult the documentation that came with the program to learn how to disable it.

Note: After downloading virus definition updates, McAfee may automatically re-enable scanning of inbound email. Thus, you may need to manually disable mail scanning again.

• McAfee AntiVirus — SecurityCenter 8.0 — VirusScan 12.0
• McAfee AntiVirus — VirusScan 9 (2005)

McAfee AntiVirus - SecurityCenter 8.0 - VirusScan 12.0

1. Open the McAfee Security Center (double-click the red M icon in the system tray)
2. Choose E-mail & IM
3. Click Configure
4. Make sure that Spam protection and E-mail protection are turned off

Close your email program. Be sure to wait at least 10 seconds to make sure any background process has shut down (especially if you are running Outlook). Then restart your mail program and try to send and receive email.

McAfee AntiVirus - VirusScan 9 (2005)

1. Open McAfee SecurityCenter (double-click the red M icon in the system tray).
2. The McAfee SecurityCenter window will open. In the left-hand column, click the virusscan tab.
3. Click Configure VirusScan Options.
4. The McAfee VirusScan — Options window will display. Make sure that the ActiveShield tab is selected.
5. Remove the check mark from the Scan email and attachments checkbox.
6. Click OK to save the changes.
7. You will see a message telling you that you need to restart your mail program for the change to take effect. Click OK to close the message.
8. Close the McAfee SecurityCenter window.

Close your email program. Be sure to wait at least 10 seconds to make sure any background process has shut down (especially if you are running Outlook). Then restart your mail program and try to send and receive email.