What Is McAfee Virus Redirect?
Being redirected to a McAfee virus scam? Consider taking immediate action and scanning your system for adware and unwanted programs.
McAfee virus redirects our series of different webpages, that have been designed to scam you out of your money or your information, something which is also known as a phishing scam. The main way this works is you receive a web browser redirect, the tricks you that your antivirus product has expired in order to take it to a webpage where you should renew your license and pay a lot of money to the scammers.
This may be very risky to your computer system as you’re not only paying money for basically nothing, but you also give the scammers access to your financial information, like credit card details and Social Security number as well, which allows them to even do further damage to your accounts.
Redirects, like the McAfee Virus ones may be brought on your computer system as a result of having some type of adware or a browser hijacker that is showing them in the form of risky advertisement for profit. Another risk that this poses is that these pages may contain a virus themselves.
Read this article to understand more about how to remove the McAfee Virus Redirects from your computer completely.
McAfee Virus Summary
| Name | McAfee Virus |
| Type | Browser Hijacker / PUP / Scam Redirect |
| Removal Time | Less than 15 Minutes (for a full-system scan) |
| Removal Tool |
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McAfee Virus Redirect – How Did I Get It
McAfee Virus Redirects may be introduced to your device in the form of a browser redirect, by applications that are regarded as adware or ad-supported, just like the recently detected Health Adviser, Financesurvey.site and Adware.MacOS.CrazyGames ones.
This scam exists in multiple different forms, some of which we have recently seen:
- Your Antivirus Has Expired
- Your Antivirus Subscription Has Expired
- Your Antivirus Protection Has Expired
McAfee Virus Redirects could be introduced by some form of a potentially unwanted program, also known as PUP. Such a software could end up on your machine via these methods:
- If you have added it from some suspicious site advertising it via pop-up or redirect to include it.
- If it has been automatically installed by some other adware you already have on your computer.
These unwanted programs most often arrive on your computer via being included in the installers of other applications, where they may pretend to be a free extra added to one of the installation steps.
McAfee Virus Adware – What Does It Do?
The scam pages of the McAfee Virus Redirects look like the following:
McAfee Virus redirects or more importantly the software that is behind it can often cause different kinds of advertisements that lead to other websites as well. These ads include the following kinds:
- Banner ads.
- Pop-up ads.
- Redirect adverts.
- Push notification pop-ups.
- Text ads, highlighted on the sites you visit.
- Ad-supported results when you search something.
The McAfee Virus redirect page may include multiple forms of web trackers.
These are small objects that are left on your computer system in order to determine what what it is that you do online. Details that can be gathered from the webpage and your web browser include the following:
- Your bookmarked websites.
- What you have visited.
- Which pages you have visited.
- Your mouse clicks.
- Sites that you have bookmarked on your computer.
- What searches you have made.
- Where you click online and your mouse movement.
- IP and Mac addresses.
- Your mouse movements.
- The browsing history from your browser.
- The browsing history of your web browser.
Is McAfee Virus a Virus?
McAfee Virus Redirects is a phishing scam. It may be introduced by a browser hijacker – software that may also lead you to some other risky websites, like:
- Domains that may have viruses.
- Scammer websites.
- Fake survey scams.
- Fraudulent tech support scams.
- Redirect loop schemes of long URLs.
- Fake software download URLs.
- Phishing domains.
These are the main reasons why this program is classified as indirectly unsafe and should be gotten rid of from your computer as soon as possible.
How to Remove McAfee Virus Adware?
McAfee Virus redirects can be stopped if you remove the adware that may be causing them. This is achievable by following the removal instructions that are posted underneath this article. Keep in mind, though, that the most secure way to remove any form of malware is running an anti-malware program that will detect and remove the threat.
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.
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How to Remove McAfee Virus from Windows.
Step 1: Scan for McAfee Virus with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode
Step 3: Uninstall McAfee Virus and related software from Windows
Uninstall Steps for Windows 11
Uninstall Steps for Windows 10 and Older Versions
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 4: Clean Any registries, Created by McAfee Virus on Your PC.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by McAfee Virus there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Video Removal Guide for McAfee Virus (Windows).
Get rid of McAfee Virus from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall McAfee Virus and remove related files and objects
Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to McAfee Virus. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove McAfee Virus via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove McAfee Virus files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as McAfee Virus, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Video Removal Guide for McAfee Virus (Mac)
Remove McAfee Virus from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Erase McAfee Virus from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window:
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Uninstall McAfee Virus from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Remove McAfee Virus from Safari
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the McAfee Virus will be removed.
Eliminate McAfee Virus from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
Remove Push Notifications from Your Browsers
Turn Off Push Notifications from Google Chrome
To disable any Push Notices from Google Chrome browser, please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to Settings in Chrome.
Step 2: In Settings, select “Advanced Settings”:
Step 3: Click “Content Settings”:
Step 4: Open “Notifications”:
Step 5: Click the three dots and choose Block, Edit or Remove options:
Remove Push Notifications on Firefox
Step 1: Go to Firefox Options.
Step 2: Go to “Settings”, type “notifications” in the search bar and click "Settings":
Step 3: Click “Remove” on any site you wish notifications gone and click “Save Changes”
Stop Push Notifications on Opera
Step 1: In Opera, press ALT+P to go to Settings.
Step 2: In Setting search, type “Content” to go to Content Settings.
Step 3: Open Notifications:
Step 4: Do the same as you did with Google Chrome (explained below):
Eliminate Push Notifications on Safari
Step 1: Open Safari Preferences.
Step 2: Choose the domain from where you like push pop-ups gone and change to "Deny" from "Allow".
McAfee Virus-FAQ
What Is McAfee Virus?
The McAfee Virus threat is adware or browser redirect virus.
It may slow your computer down significantly and display advertisements. The main idea is for your information to likely get stolen or more ads to appear on your device.
The creators of such unwanted apps work with pay-per-click schemes to get your computer to visit risky or different types of websites that may generate them funds. This is why they do not even care what types of websites show up on the ads. This makes their unwanted software indirectly risky for your OS.
What Are the Symptoms of McAfee Virus?
There are several symptoms to look for when this particular threat and also unwanted apps in general are active:
Symptom #1: Your computer may become slow and have poor performance in general.
Symptom #2: You have toolbars, add-ons or extensions on your web browsers that you don't remember adding.
Symptom #3: You see all types of ads, like ad-supported search results, pop-ups and redirects to randomly appear.
Symptom #4: You see installed apps on your Mac running automatically and you do not remember installing them.
Symptom #5: You see suspicious processes running in your Task Manager.
If you see one or more of those symptoms, then security experts recommend that you check your computer for viruses.
What Types of Unwanted Programs Are There?
According to most malware researchers and cyber-security experts, the threats that can currently affect your device can be rogue antivirus software, adware, browser hijackers, clickers, fake optimizers and any forms of PUPs.
What to Do If I Have a "virus" like McAfee Virus?
With few simple actions. First and foremost, it is imperative that you follow these steps:
Step 1: Find a safe computer and connect it to another network, not the one that your Mac was infected in.
Step 2: Change all of your passwords, starting from your email passwords.
Step 3: Enable two-factor authentication for protection of your important accounts.
Step 4: Call your bank to change your credit card details (secret code, etc.) if you have saved your credit card for online shopping or have done online activities with your card.
Step 5: Make sure to call your ISP (Internet provider or carrier) and ask them to change your IP address.
Step 6: Change your Wi-Fi password.
Step 7: (Optional): Make sure to scan all of the devices connected to your network for viruses and repeat these steps for them if they are affected.
Step 8: Install anti-malware software with real-time protection on every device you have.
Step 9: Try not to download software from sites you know nothing about and stay away from low-reputation websites in general.
If you follow these recommendations, your network and all devices will become significantly more secure against any threats or information invasive software and be virus free and protected in the future too.
How Does McAfee Virus Work?
Once installed, McAfee Virus can collect data using trackers. This data is about your web browsing habits, such as the websites you visit and the search terms you use. It is then used to target you with ads or to sell your information to third parties.
McAfee Virus can also download other malicious software onto your computer, such as viruses and spyware, which can be used to steal your personal information and show risky ads, that may redirect to virus sites or scams.
Is McAfee Virus Malware?
The truth is that PUPs (adware, browser hijackers) are not viruses, but may be just as dangerous since they may show you and redirect you to malware websites and scam pages.
Many security experts classify potentially unwanted programs as malware. This is because of the unwanted effects that PUPs can cause, such as displaying intrusive ads and collecting user data without the user’s knowledge or consent.
About the McAfee Virus Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this McAfee Virus how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific, adware-related problem, and restore your browser and computer system.
How did we conduct the research on McAfee Virus?
Please note that our research is based on independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware, adware, and browser hijacker definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the McAfee Virus threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand this online threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.