Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Security alert

Jan 12, 2015 2:19AM PST

My current virus protection (McAfee) will be expiring soon. I have been trying to download various virus, malware, Trojan etc programs to try as a replacement. Each time I attempt to download, I receive a message that reads, " Your current security settings will not allow this file to be downloaded." I have not changed ANY settings on my computer, and even tried to restore to an earlier time with the same results. I do not know how to proceed. Any help?

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Clarification Request
Why are you trying to download virus and malware?
Jan 12, 2015 2:32AM PST

Most of us will never purposely download a Trojan because the latest bad things sometimes can do deep damage.
Bob

- Collapse -
Why
Jan 12, 2015 3:05AM PST

SUPPOSE I should have included the words "security, detection and removal" in my question to clarify it for those who could not deduce this from reading the question. After all, no one would purposely download any harmful programs.......DUH!

- Collapse -
Why I asked.
Jan 12, 2015 3:10AM PST

Some have installed antivirus suites then go searching for virus and trojans to test their selection. I can't guess if you were one of those that wanted to test or forgot to include a few words.

There are reviews of the free and paid antivirus suites but here's the big news. WE continue to be the best defense. All the antivirus suites will not stop you from installing bad software.
Bob

- Collapse -
Why I asked
Jan 12, 2015 3:20AM PST

I did not install any software. I believe I may have an infected laptop, and in trying to download any programs for virus, Trojan, malware infection detection/removal, I receive the security alert mentioned in the original post.

- Collapse -
Grif has a post about this.
Jan 12, 2015 3:28AM PST
- Collapse -
Answer
How long until
Jan 12, 2015 3:22AM PST

McAfee expires ? Some of these AV programs lock your computer down and won't allow you to do anything until you renew .

Digger

- Collapse -
How long
Jan 12, 2015 3:31AM PST

The subscription expires in 85 days. I have run virus scans with the installed McAfee program, and it detects nothing. The performance of my laptop ( Dell studio xps w/i5 processor ) has decreased dramatically all of a sudden and this leads me to believe it is somehow infected. I have also run scans using Malware Anti Malware program and it detects not problems.

- Collapse -
Answer
OK, there's the symptom.
Jan 12, 2015 3:35AM PST

Now that we have Grif's advice the old slowdown complaint isn't always caused by a virus/trojan/malware. Grif's advice will usually find those things but if we say were running Torrents then it will go slower.

Other tests?

Try a new Windows user account.
Bob