Mcafee VirusScan stopped working after MalwareBytes Install?

[thebooboo]

Hi everyone, last month I installed Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Pro alongside Mcafee Security Centre.

I'm ware that this is not recommended after reading numerous other forum posts.

However, at some point i the last month I got this message from The Windows 7 Action Centre:

Solve a problem with McAfee VirusScan

McAfee VirusScan has stopped working properly.

A newer version of this software is available for download that addresses this problem. McAfee, Inc. recommends updating to take advantage of security and stability improvements.

Click to download the update from the McAfee, Inc. website

Could this have been caused by MBAM pro - ie could it actually have broken VirusScan? Has anyone else had this issue? When I reinstalled Mcafee Security Centre it detected MBAM and removed it as part of the install.

[exbrit]

That's unusual.  I know about the McA installer balking at Malwarebytes if already there, and FYI it disables Windows Defender too, which can safely be restarted afterwards, but I hadn't ever come across this particular one.

Out of interest what version of SecurityCenter is this?

Double-click your taskbar icon to open it.

Click About at top-right.

Post the version.

Meanwhile try running the Virtual Technician, it fixes a lot of things usually.

http://mvt.mcafee.com/

Once run uninstall it via Control Panel/Programs.

It could simply be that the Windows Action Center had quite a time lag before it regsiters that everything is OK with installed software, so take it with a pinch of salt if McAfee itsefl says everything is fine.

Message was edited by: Ex_Brit on 29/01/12 11:23:47 EST AM

[thebooboo]

Hello again,

Sorry, I can't provide the version number from the time of the issue as I downloaded the latest Mcafee and re-installed after the alert.

In any case, I've remembered another issue I had with Mcafee which pieces the puzzle together a bit more, I've also posted this in the thread on MBAM forums here. http://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?showtopic=105424

On 11th December 2011 I ran a full scan with Mcafee Security Centre, with MBAM Pro active in the taskbar as well. The scan crashed part way through. The Mcafee software itself didn't crash, there was just an error message along the lines of "Sorry, there was a problem with your scan. Please try your scan again". I restarted the scan again and it completed. So whether the crash was due to a conflict with MBAM we don't know.

Presumably this threw an error into the bowels of Windows 7 and it got logged by the action centre, which checked the Mcafee website for a newer version of the software. This was odd however as Mcafee was set to auto update itself in any case.

However I think it's safe to say that this was the cause of the message in Windows Action Centre as it was dated for the same day.

Can any Mcafee experts speculate as to why it would throw an update alert into Windows Action Centre but not report a problem (other than the original scan crash) in Security Centre itself? The Action Centre alert persisted in spite of auto updates being set to on, and only went away when I re-installed Security Centre.

Many thanks

[exbrit]

We are just users like yourself so you'd be best asking these questions of Technical Support.  It's a free phone call or online chat linked under Useful Links at the top of this page.

Message was edited by: Ex_Brit on 30/01/12 7:25:29 EST AM

[sol]

I have MalewareBytes installed as well however, I have the freebie version. I just wanted that extra bit of protection. I do not have any issues with the two working together as well as the built in defender.

I am sure the pro version may have issues with another robust applicaitons. not sure I wouold have gone to the extreme approach twice.

[exbrit]

We believe that Malwarebytes Pro real-time scanning clashes with McAfee, that's why we only ever recommend the free version.  McAfee's installer will fail unless it's removed first.  The free version can be installed afterwards also re-enable Windows Defender if applicable.