McAfee

McAfee is an American cybersecurity brand whose origins lie in antivirus software and whose current business is focused primarily on consumer online protection. Founded in 1987 as McAfee Associates by programmer John McAfee, the company became one of the best-known names in personal computer security through products that detected malware, viruses, spyware, and other digital threats. Its business later expanded into firewalls, encryption, intrusion prevention, data-loss prevention, web safety, mobile security, cloud security, vulnerability management, and identity protection. The company went through several corporate identities. It operated as McAfee Associates during its early years, became part of Network Associates after a 1997 merger, returned to the McAfee name in 2004, and was renamed Intel Security after Intel acquired it in 2011. In 2017, Intel and private-equity firm TPG created an independent cybersecurity joint venture that restored the McAfee name. Thoma Bravo held a minority interest while Intel retained a 49 percent stake in the new company. McAfee's history includes substantial acquisition activity. It acquired or integrated businesses and technologies associated with encryption, firewalls, intrusion prevention, vulnerability management, web reputation, mobile security, data protection, secure gateways, and cloud-based security services. These transactions helped it evolve from a mainly desktop-antivirus vendor into a broader security provider serving both consumers and enterprises. The company also became known for major security incidents affecting its own products. In April 2010, a defective antivirus update identified as DAT 5958 caused millions of Windows-based consumer and corporate computers to malfunction. The event required emergency remediation and became an important example of the operational risks associated with security software updates. McAfee returned to public markets in October 2020 in an initial public offering on NASDAQ under the ticker MCFE. Its enterprise business was sold in 2021, after which the company concentrated on consumer products. In March 2022, McAfee was taken private by an investor consortium led by Advent International Corporation. Peter Leav had become chief executive in 2020, Greg Johnson succeeded him in 2022, and Craig Boundy became president and chief executive officer in July 2024. Its current portfolio includes McAfee+ subscription tiers, Total Protection, LiveSafe, Safe Connect VPN, mobile security, Safe Family, True Key, WebAdvisor, identity-theft protection, deepfake detection, and newer artificial-intelligence-enabled tools for identifying scams and manipulated media. Recent strategy has emphasized the consumer experience, online identity, privacy, mobile devices, artificial intelligence, and protection against increasingly sophisticated scams rather than the enterprise-security portfolio that characterized parts of its earlier history.

McAfee was founded in 1987 as McAfee Associates by John McAfee. John McAfee later left the company, and the business was incorporated in Delaware in 1992. During the 1990s, its antivirus products established the brand as a major personal-computer security provider. The company broadened its portfolio through acquisitions and internal development in encryption, firewalls, public-key infrastructure, network protection, and related technologies. In 1997, McAfee Associates merged with Network General, PGP Corporation, and Helix Software to form Network Associates. The enlarged company acquired Trusted Information Systems in 1998 and also purchased Dr Solomon's Group, a prominent European antivirus vendor. Its research organizations contributed to open-source projects and internet infrastructure while the commercial business continued to be led by antivirus demand. The early 2000s brought management changes and restructuring. Network Associates returned to the McAfee name in 2004 after selling non-core businesses, including Magic Solutions and Sniffer Technologies. In the following years, McAfee acquired companies associated with site reputation, vulnerability management, data-loss prevention, mobile data security, secure gateways, intrusion prevention, and managed email and web security. These deals expanded the company beyond traditional endpoint antivirus. In 2010, a defective antivirus update caused widespread Windows failures. Later that year Intel announced its acquisition of McAfee. McAfee operated within Intel as Intel Security, although products continued to use the McAfee name for several years. In 2017, Intel transferred majority ownership through a strategic partnership with TPG, creating an independent company that again operated as McAfee; Intel retained a minority interest and Thoma Bravo also invested. The independent company expanded alliances with technology providers and pursued cloud, endpoint, mobile, and consumer-security opportunities. It returned to the public market in 2020, but its enterprise business was sold in 2021. The remaining company concentrated on consumer protection products. In 2022, an investor group led by Advent International took McAfee private. Under its current consumer-oriented strategy, McAfee offers subscription security suites, antivirus, privacy tools, VPN services, identity monitoring and recovery assistance, family safety products, password management, web reputation tools, mobile protection, and services designed to detect deepfakes and scams. Leadership changed several times after the 2020 IPO; Craig Boundy became president and chief executive officer in 2024. Recent initiatives have connected the brand with artificial intelligence, manipulated-media detection, and consumer education about online scams.

1. 2024Craig Boundy became CEO

   Craig Boundy was appointed president and chief executive officer.

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2. 2022Return to private ownership

   An Advent International-led investor group took McAfee private.

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3. 2021Enterprise business sold

   McAfee completed the sale of its enterprise business and focused on consumer security.

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4. 2020Initial public offering

   McAfee returned to public markets on NASDAQ under MCFE.

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5. 2017Independent McAfee joint venture

   Intel Security was separated into an independent company backed by TPG, Intel, and Thoma Bravo.

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6. 2011Intel acquisition

   McAfee became part of Intel.

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7. 2010Faulty antivirus update

   A bad antivirus update disrupted large numbers of Windows computers.

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8. 2004McAfee name restored

   The company returned to the McAfee name after restructuring and divesting selected businesses.

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9. 1998Trusted Information Systems acquired

   Network Associates acquired Trusted Information Systems, adding firewall and network-security capabilities.

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10. 1997Network Associates created

    A merger involving McAfee Associates, Network General, PGP Corporation, and Helix Software created Network Associates.

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11. 1992Delaware incorporation

    McAfee was incorporated in Delaware.

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12. 1987McAfee Associates founded

    John McAfee founded McAfee Associates as a cybersecurity and antivirus software company.

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A consumer-focused digital-protection provider combining antivirus, privacy, identity, device, family-safety, and emerging AI-threat protection services.

• McAfee+Consumer security subscription

  McAfee+ is the company's current subscription family, offered in Premium, Advanced, and Ultimate tiers. The packages combine varying levels of device security, privacy protection, identity monitoring, and related consumer safeguards.

• McAfee Total ProtectionAntivirus and internet security

  Total Protection is a multi-device security suite built around antivirus and online protection. Depending on the plan and market, it can include web safety, privacy, identity, and performance-related functions.

• McAfee LiveSafeConsumer security suite

  LiveSafe is a consumer protection product covering supported computers and mobile devices. It is positioned as an ongoing security service rather than a one-time antivirus utility.

• McAfee WebAdvisorWeb safety

  WebAdvisor helps users assess websites, downloads, and search results for indicators associated with malware, phishing, spam, or other online risks. It was formerly known as SiteAdvisor.

• McAfee Safe Connect VPNPrivacy and VPN

  Safe Connect VPN is a privacy-oriented service intended to encrypt supported internet connections and provide consumers with a more private browsing experience.

• McAfee Mobile SecurityMobile security

  Mobile Security products for Android and iOS extend McAfee's device-protection proposition to smartphones and tablets, with features aimed at mobile privacy, threats, and account safety.

• McAfee Safe FamilyFamily safety

  Safe Family provides parental and family-oriented controls intended to help households manage children's digital activity and online exposure across supported devices.

• McAfee True KeyPassword management

  True Key is McAfee's password-management product, designed to help users store and access credentials while using authentication and device-based security features.

• McAfee Deepfake DetectorArtificial-intelligence content detection2024

  Deepfake Detector is a tool introduced to help identify potentially AI-generated or manipulated video and other synthetic content.

• McAfee VirusScan EnterpriseEnterprise endpoint security

  VirusScan Enterprise was an enterprise endpoint antivirus product used to protect organizational computers from malware and related threats. It belongs to McAfee's former enterprise-focused portfolio.

• 2025Keep It Real

  Global

  A consumer-awareness initiative used advertising and accounts from people describing experiences with scams.

  Outcome. The campaign positioned scam education as part of McAfee's consumer-protection proposition.

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• 2007Security Innovation Alliance

  Global

  McAfee launched a partnership program intended to integrate third-party technologies with its security and compliance platforms.

  Outcome. The program was later expanded with additional technology partners.

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• 2025AI-powered scam detectionProduct launch

  Scams increasingly use text messages, email, video, and social-engineering techniques across mobile and desktop channels.

  What changed. McAfee launched an AI-powered tool intended to identify suspected scam attempts on mobile devices and Windows PCs.

  Aftermath. The product reinforced McAfee's shift toward continuous, multi-channel consumer threat detection.

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• 2024Expansion into AI-content detectionProduct launch

  Synthetic media and deepfakes became increasingly relevant to consumer trust and online safety.

  What changed. McAfee introduced a deepfake-detection tool and later partnered with Yahoo News to help identify potentially AI-generated images.

  Aftermath. The brand extended its consumer-protection message beyond malware and identity theft into content authenticity.

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• 2021Sale of enterprise businessStrategy

  McAfee reassessed its portfolio after returning to public markets.

  What changed. The company completed the sale of its enterprise business.

  Aftermath. McAfee concentrated its operations on consumer cybersecurity and digital-protection services.

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• 2017Creation of independent McAfeeM&A

  Intel decided to separate its security business through a strategic transaction with TPG.

  What changed. Intel Security became an independent joint venture using the McAfee name.

  Aftermath. Intel retained a 49 percent stake, while TPG became the strategic private-equity partner and Thoma Bravo held a minority interest.

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• 2011Intel acquisitionM&A

  Intel sought to combine hardware, software, and security capabilities.

  What changed. Intel acquired McAfee and operated it as part of Intel Security.

  Aftermath. The company was later separated from Intel through a TPG-backed joint venture.

  Transaction value. $7.68 billion (2010 announced value)

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• 2004Return to the McAfee nameStrategy

  Network Associates was restructuring and divesting businesses that were less central to its security focus.

  What changed. The company sold selected operations and changed its name back to McAfee.

  Aftermath. The change emphasized the McAfee brand and its security-specialist positioning.

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• 2010Defective DAT 5958 antivirus updateControversy

  A faulty antivirus update mistakenly identified a legitimate Windows system file as malicious, causing widespread system failures and requiring emergency corrective measures.

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• 2006Stock-options practices controversyControversy

  The company faced accusations concerning questionable stock-options practices. CEO George Samenuk resigned and President Kevin Weiss was dismissed during the resulting management upheaval.

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• 2025McAfee launched AI-powered scam detection

  The company introduced a tool for identifying suspected scam attempts in text messages, email, and video on mobile devices and Windows PCs.

  Product launchProduct generation
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• 2025McAfee launched the Keep It Real initiative

  The initiative used advertising and first-person accounts about scams to promote awareness of online fraud.

  Campaign
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• 2024Craig Boundy appointed chief executive officer

  McAfee appointed Craig Boundy as president and chief executive officer.

  Leadership change
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• 2024McAfee expanded identity protection services

  The company expanded services aimed at identity-theft protection and related consumer safeguards.

  Product launch
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• 2024McAfee introduced deepfake detection

  McAfee introduced a tool designed to identify potentially manipulated or AI-generated video content.

  Product launch
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• 2022McAfee was taken private

  An investor consortium led by Advent International Corporation completed the transaction that returned McAfee to private ownership.

  M&A
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• 2020McAfee returned to NASDAQ

  McAfee and its shareholders raised $740 million in an initial public offering, with shares trading under MCFE.

  M&A
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• 2017McAfee became an independent Intel-TPG joint venture

  Intel Security was separated from Intel through a strategic transaction with TPG and resumed the McAfee name.

  M&A
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• 2010McAfee antivirus update disrupted Windows computers

  A faulty DAT 5958 antivirus update caused widespread failures on millions of Windows-based consumer and corporate computers.

  RecallOther
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• 2010Intel announced acquisition of McAfee

  Intel announced a purchase of McAfee that valued the transaction at approximately $7.68 billion.

  M&A
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1. McAfee
2. McAfee official website