McAfee asking me for permission instead of making its own decissions

[Bramster]

Hi All,

I have a netbook running the McAfee Security Suite.  It worked fine, but ever since it automatically upgraded the software to the newest version (I assume this is the 2011 version) McAfee is asking "weird" questions.

Questions like: If would like to give program .........../xxxx/yyyy/zzz/chrome.exe Internet access.

Why does it ask this ? I have no way of knowing if this really is my browser or some other program with the same name. I pay McAfee to make these kind of decisions.

Is there any way of telling McAfee that it should make its own decisions in these situations ?

Thanks in advance for your help

[Hayton]

Hi Bramster,

  Sounds like a Firewall setting is a bit strict somewhere. I get this sometimes. If you know how to check the settings then go to Firewall, go to Security Levels, and see what's selected. The default should be "Outgoing Access" (which is recommended).

If it's set to a higher security level that would explain why you're being asked all the time to give the ok to programs to connect.

If it's set to Outgoing or to Full Access then you would need to ask for advice from a Moderator or McAfee person.

The problem you describe, though, is probably easily fixable.

Message was edited by: Hayton on 13/10/10 16:20:01 IST

[Bramster]

I checked the setting and it IS set to "Outgoing Access"

See the image for the pop-up that McAfee wants me to answer.

How on earth should I be able to judge if it is safe to allow this or not ? McAfee is the specialist, not me !

Message was edited by: Bramster on 10/13/10 1:20:18 PM CDT

[Aldrin]

I understand you concern, However in order to prevent your computer from hackers/intrusion McAfee Firewall would give you an information and also would ask your permission whenever a program is attempting to access the internet for the first time. This would not happen all the time, rather it would ask you only once but at the same time if you click on Allow once then it would prompt again

Moreover, the program what you have mention above is Google Chrome (it clearly shows the name of the program) so you shall click on Allow always

[DoZe]

Mcafee has a very very very tiny list of programs it knows and gives recommendations for ,most programs like 95% of them it has no idea what they are , kind of crappy i don't understand why more programs aren't added , slack i guess, and i am not talking about programs that are used by few users , talking about programs used by LOTS of users, also i don't recommend you set outgoing access to all your programs this might be very risky, but well its your PC so the choice is yours.

I also want to add that it's not the 2011 version cause Mcafee dosnt yet have a 2011 version yet , only 2010.

The packages sold as 2011 have the 2010v inside.

Message was edited by: DoZe on 10/13/10 6:38:06 PM CDT

[Bramster]

Thanks for the help guys:

Moreover, the program what you have mention above is Google Chrome (it clearly shows the name of the program) so you shall click on Allow always

So how do you know this is a safe programm ? I assume you are judging this by the programm name only. I Think this is a very unsafe method.

If it is that simple why does McAfee not do this automatically ?

Any bad programm can have the name chrome.exe 

Even I can rename any exe file myself.

I am very disappointed in McAfee :-(((

[Dinz]

Hello Bramster,

Could you please have a check Smart Advice settings in your McAfee security center as it could have been set in such a way that it requires user intervention to make decision for firewall.

Open McAfee security center - Click on Web and email protection
Click on Firewall- Click on Smart Advice and advance settings.

Amd check if the Firewall decision options are right selected.

I have attached the screenshot for more clarity . . .

Regards,

Dinesh K

McAfee Online Community Moderator

[Bramster]

Hi Dinesh,

Thanks for your assistance.

Looks like my settings are correct.

[Bramster]

Anyone ?

Or is it normal that McAfee does not know if chrome.exe is safe or not ?

[DoZe]

www.virustotal.com knows , upload the file and see what the results are, its mostlikely legit but just to be sure

As previously mentioned McAfee doesn't have a vast knowledge of programs it knows, as you see chorme is not one of them and keep in mind that chrome is a browser used by 70million users (Source)i think its easyer to say the ones it knows , very very very few , of all the applications i use McAfee doesn't have any information(doesn't know what decisions to take in other words) on more then 90% of them , only Some windows files+1-2 more but thats about it , i guess McAfee finds it easyer to give all your programs outgoing internet access by default and stamp a Your computer is secure!(no action required) sign on the shiny interface rather then adding more programs to the list,detecting more malware and improving their products,new technologies etc that's work, and no one likes work right?  , it's not like keyloggers or other very nasty stuff that can communicate freely with the internet and send your passwords or other data away, but of course such programs are detected and removed from your PC instantly cause your protected by the largest dedicated security company so thers no risc, the support team can confirm  ! 🙂

Also mate i see from the screen shot posted by you that you don't have protection during startup enabled, trust me you don't want that staying unchecked.

Message was edited by: DoZe on 10/16/10 3:03:25 AM CDT