McAfee Help

Fix a protection problem

Most protection problems are fixed automatically by your McAfee software. For example, if a virus is detected on your PC, McAfee cleans or quarantines it automatically. However, there are some protection problems that change the protection status to "at risk" and require you to take action. For example, if real-time scanning is off, you must turn it back on. When a critical protection problem occurs, a notification is displayed in the protection status area with a recommendation on how to fix it. After you fix all of the critical protection problems, the protection status is "secure."

These critical protection problems change the protection status to "at risk" and require you to take action. After you fix all of the critical protection problems, the protection status is "secure."

Problem Action
The real-time scanning protection feature is off. Turn on real-time scanning by clicking Turn on in the notification that appears in the protection status area on the Home Page.
The firewall protection feature is off. Turn on firewall protection by clicking Turn on in the notification that appears in the protection status area on the Home Page.
Your subscription is expired. Renew your subscription by clicking Renew in the notification that appears in the protection status area on the Home Page.
You have not activated your software within 15 days of installation. Activate your software by clicking Activate in the notification that appears in the protection status area on the Home Page.
The spyware scanning protection feature is off. Turn on spyware scanning by clicking Turn on in the notification that appears in the protection status area on the Home Page.
The automatic updates feature is off and you have not checked for updates in 8 days. Check for updates by clicking Check now in the notification that appears in the protection status area on the Home Page, then click Turn on Automatic Updates.
The automatic updates feature is on, but an update check has not been done in the past 24 hours, and the last update installed is more than 8 days old. Check that your PC is connected to the Internet. If the problem persists, click Visit Technical Support in the notification that appears in the protection status area on the Home Page to get more help.
You have no virus and spyware protection installed on your PC. Visit the McAfee website (www.mcafee.com) to purchase virus and spyware protection.
Your third-party virus protection is off. Turn on your third-party virus and spyware protection.
You have no firewall protection installed on your PC. Visit the McAfee website (www.mcafee.com) to purchase firewall protection.
The Windows Firewall is off. Turn on Windows Firewall in the Windows Firewall tool in the Control Panel.