Author Topic: Is mcafee webadvisor safe  (Read 37890 times)

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Is mcafee webadvisor safe
« on: April 08, 2017, 09:31:42 PM »
Hi I seem to just have this extension auto installed into my chrome, is it safe?


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Re: Is mcafee webadvisor safe
« Reply #2 on: April 09, 2017, 11:09:38 AM »
Is it safe though?

Offline Pondus

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Re: Is mcafee webadvisor safe
« Reply #3 on: April 09, 2017, 11:25:48 AM »
Is it safe though?
Maybe you should contact Mcafee and ask if there security program is safe    ;)

There is also something called google
https://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/1264/12-quick-tips-to-search-google-like-an-expert.aspx



Offline DavidR

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Re: Is mcafee webadvisor safe
« Reply #4 on: April 09, 2017, 11:26:18 AM »
Is it safe though?

I would look at it differently you have got along without it unaware of its function and you haven't missed it. Then along it comes without your knowledge and is installed, would you want that.

The web shield already takes care of your on-line protection, do you need anything more.
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Re: Is mcafee webadvisor safe
« Reply #5 on: April 09, 2017, 11:42:13 AM »
Ok, thanks I've just uninstalled it and avast has protection so it's alright. One question, does avast protect you on internet explorer because that's what I use instead of chrome

Offline polonus

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Re: Is mcafee webadvisor safe
« Reply #6 on: April 09, 2017, 12:48:55 PM »
It might have been there dormant since the OEM installation when you bought your device.

Sometimes before installing a resident AV solution, like you have avast, all remnants of pre-installed AV should leave your device.
Else you might be in for such unwanted pop-up asking for making a back-up or installing a browser extension.

Some extensions could go along with avast's like AOS goes well with Bitdefender's TrafficLight and DrWeb's url checker browser extensions. The overlapping detection might be helpful. AOS has large parts of the internet still as "terra incognita" and more of our world-wide users should help with feedback to avast development about webrep of visited sites etc.

But do not fully trust web rep as the WOT tragedy proved where it all could go drastically wrong (user data leaks to data slurpers by an interim CEO for sheer short term profit).

polonus
« Last Edit: April 09, 2017, 12:50:31 PM by polonus »
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Use NoScript, a limited user account and a virtual machine and be safe(r)!

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Re: Is mcafee webadvisor safe
« Reply #7 on: April 09, 2017, 01:03:48 PM »
So I shouldn't trust avast online?

Offline DavidR

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Re: Is mcafee webadvisor safe
« Reply #8 on: April 09, 2017, 02:04:45 PM »
@ polonus
I don't believe this is some dormant browser add-on as they generally don't install browsers other than the default MS browser/s IE, Edge. I certainly don't know of any manufacturer installing Chrome other than on Chromebooks. Not to mention the OP seems to know it wasn't there before.

Hi I seem to just have this extension auto installed into my chrome, is it safe?

So I shouldn't trust avast online?

@  AngryBug
The Web Shield is fine, if you also have the AOS browser extension possibly more so but it isn't an absolute must have. I now have it on only one of my systems, more for testing than anything else.
Windows 10 Home 64bit/ Acer Aspire F15/ Intel Core i5 7200U 2.5GHz, 8GB DDR4 memory, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD/ avast! free 24.2.6105 (build 24.2.8918.824) UI 1.0.799/ Firefox, uBlock Origin, uMatrix/ MailWasher Pro/ Avast! Mobile Security

Offline Pondus

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Re: Is mcafee webadvisor safe
« Reply #9 on: April 09, 2017, 04:57:38 PM »
McAfee SiteAdvisor comes bundled with some programs / updates (cant remeber what, possible java update)

Anyway to avoid things like that, you may install  Unchecky  >>  https://unchecky.com/

« Last Edit: April 09, 2017, 05:01:48 PM by Pondus »

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Re: Is mcafee webadvisor safe
« Reply #10 on: April 09, 2017, 08:42:42 PM »
I think it comes with avg

Offline midnight

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Re: Is mcafee webadvisor safe
« Reply #11 on: April 09, 2017, 10:14:46 PM »
I did have this installed on Firefox and the Iriduim Browsers but just read their privacy policy so unistalled it from both browsers.  It used to be called mcafee site advisor and I used it to search.
.

Offline Pondus

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Re: Is mcafee webadvisor safe
« Reply #12 on: April 09, 2017, 10:33:08 PM »
I think it comes with avg
;D   

AVG has its own web reputation, and so does avast
I very much doubt they would bundle a program from the competition




Offline polonus

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Re: Is mcafee webadvisor safe
« Reply #13 on: April 09, 2017, 10:54:11 PM »
Hi -midnight,

I  myself do not have the extension either. It is always good to know what battles are being fought over (y)our endangered privacy,
like with McAfee's SiteAdvisor. In 2004 it could not even been easily uninstalled from inside firefox (bug).

Especially as such extension services sometimes aren't allowed by law to call an (adware) spade an (adware) spade, because of a legal dispute. Sometimes adware posing as something complletely and utterly different can still hold a strong judiciary position, if they sue AV for flagging them as spyware/adware/riskware.

Expert in this field, Benjamin Edelman, has found this out early on in life: http://www.benedelman.org/spyware/

On such a dispute with Search7 read here: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/08/28/7search_sues_mcafee/

And also where McAfee's SiteAdvisor has become associated with certain Broadband Players (CDNs) as PlusNet for instance: https://www.plus.net/help/archive/other/plusnet-protect-user-guide/

So you see an adware related extension could rear it's ugly head from almost anywhere to help sell your data to third party vendors.
This is not only a threat to your privacy, but also means a threat to the overall security of all global users of the Interwebs.  :(

your avast forum-friend,

polonus (volunteer website security analyst and website error-hunter)
Cybersecurity is more of an attitude than anything else. Avast Evangelists.

Use NoScript, a limited user account and a virtual machine and be safe(r)!

Offline Coolmario88

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Re: Is mcafee webadvisor safe
« Reply #14 on: April 10, 2017, 02:59:31 AM »
I wouldn't recommend McAfee webadvisor, I used to use the product in my browser which was Internet Explorer back then. If you want something to tell you if a website is safe to visit or not use bitdefender trafficlight or common sense  ;D
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