Participant

Answered

Remove the McAfee Installation

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
May 18, 2022
6 replies
23252 views

I know you have locked previous threads about this, but I feel so strongly about this I have gone out of my way to register and bring it to your attention again

Remove this disgusting practice of installing McAfee by default. The download page selects the installation of this terrible software by default and completely erodes trust in your brand and products.

Going forward I will be looking for viable alternatives to all Adobe software and this is likely the response of most of your customers after having to uninstall this trash.

Standards and accessibility

Correct answer Thomas37138984ub0b

I could not uninstall the MCAfee app through Windows settings. A McAfee advertisement came up. However exiting out of the advertisement window, stopped the uninstall process. I went to the Programs(x86) folder and under McAfee I searched for executables that might be related to the advert. I found "mc-webview-cnt.exe". I deleted this file, then uninstall worked.

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G. Lee5EDA

Participant

Adobe's practice of forcing McAfee on users who install Adober reader is abhorent. I have been trying to uninstall McAfee for hours, and I have been unable to do it. Once I get McAfee off my system, and find a viable Adobe alternative, I will never use another Adobe product, EVER.

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

Technically, you are not being forced. One can unselect the option--HOWEVER, one must notice it first!

To me, that's the tricky part. It's not like Adobe needs the money. I suspect they signed a long-term contract a long time ago when they did need the money.

I accidently installed it once installing the Reader. I simply uninstalled it and the problem was over. Annoying but not really a problem. AFAIK, Reader is the only program that does that. It wouldn't make sense to give up on ALL the Adobe producuts for the Reader. I've never encounted the option on any other installer including Acrobat Pro.

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

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Kenn5E66

Participant

Technically, you are not being forced. One can unselect the option--HOWEVER, one must notice it first!

By @Dave Creamer of IDEAS

I feel the problem is the checkboxes are not on the installer, they are on the the Adobe Reader download page.. On that page, the "Download Acrobat Reader" button downloads an installer for Reader and the additional software. When you run that installer, there is no checkbox to decline the additional software. All three are installed.

If you scroll a little bit further down on the Reader download page, you find part of the page that tells you that Adobe Express Photos and McAfee Security Scan Plus are part of the Acrobat Reader installation. It is that second section that allows you to uncheck the additional software and use a second "Download Acrobat Reader" button that will download a clean installer with just the Reader application.

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Gail34513620qtnu

Participant

Foxit PhantomPDF is what I use. I pay a reasonable one-time fee (2016 was $150 full editing version) and have it working great for years! Great customer service too. I had to use Adobe for Fincen reporting so I had to download something I didn't need. I'm having trouble with uninstalling this Mcafee as well. They don't even have a choice now. Before, I unchecked a button. When I try to uninstall, a small box pops up trying to convince me to stay, but we can't read everything and the only option is to close via x or minimize. It's hard to find the program files in Windows 11 too per the suggestion.

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Gail34513620qtnu

Participant

mc-webview-cnt.exe found this under the c drive program (x86) mcafee and it deleted the whole folder. Good riddance! Thanks for all your help.

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Gail34513620qtnu

Participant

I tried to download some other IRS document, but it won't let me unless I use Adobe. What kind of %$# is this? I use Photoshop and others from them, but now, I might also seek another software because that's just bullying and controlling.

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marco_1925!

Participant

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THIS REALLY REALLY REALLY WORK WORKED WORKED AFTER YEARS OF ADOVE BAD BAD BAD... 🙂

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killgorack_9665

Participant

I also registered to voice an opinion here about the abhorent practice of this. McAfee? Really? on a personal computer. There is no reason for it. I've heard in the past one could opt out of the install, now if that exists I dont see it. Slimey, underhanded practices that need to just be stopped.

Acrobat is awesome, it's being tarnished for sure. shame on ya,

T

Thomas37138984ub0bCorrect answer

Participant

I could not uninstall the MCAfee app through Windows settings. A McAfee advertisement came up. However exiting out of the advertisement window, stopped the uninstall process. I went to the Programs(x86) folder and under McAfee I searched for executables that might be related to the advert. I found "mc-webview-cnt.exe". I deleted this file, then uninstall worked.

AkanchhaS8194121

Legend

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your frustrating experience. Your feedback is valuable to us, we'd appreciate it if you can share it with our engineering team. https://www.adobe.com/products/wishform.html

Additional info:

The installation of McAfee security software is optional. While installing Acrobat Reader, at step-1 there's a dialog box to select or deselect. By default, the dialog is checked, but you can proceed with or without McAfee installation.

Thanks,

Akanchha

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Carlos2463214010rx

Participant

This is not true. I experience the same thing the original poster said. I unchecked McAfee during installation and it still installed it. Now I can't uninstall it. It is grayed out in Windows -> Settings -> Apps & Features. And I keep receiving alerts on my desktop from McAfee, asking me to purchase the software. How do I shut this off!?

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Marc36511149kyqw

Known Participant

Hi Carlos,

We apologize for the delay in response to your issue highlighted above.

If you continue to experience the same issue, we'd suggest you to once reboot the system and then look for McAfee scan plus under Apps and Features to remove it.

Is it still greyed out? If yes, then how about removing it from the desktop or the download location it's placed?

Thanks,

Akanchha

Might be a good idea, for you to not infect people in the first place.

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