Overview

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.

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.

2024
Craig Boundy became CEO
[1]McAfeeen.wikipedia.org
Craig Boundy was appointed president and chief executive officer.
2022
Return to private ownership
[1]McAfeeen.wikipedia.org
An Advent International-led investor group took McAfee private.
2021
Enterprise business sold
[1]McAfeeen.wikipedia.org
McAfee completed the sale of its enterprise business and focused on consumer security.
2020
Initial public offering
[1]McAfeeen.wikipedia.org
McAfee returned to public markets on NASDAQ under MCFE.
2017
Independent McAfee joint venture
[1]McAfeeen.wikipedia.org
Intel Security was separated into an independent company backed by TPG, Intel, and Thoma Bravo.
2011
Intel acquisition
[1]McAfeeen.wikipedia.org
McAfee became part of Intel.
2010
Faulty antivirus update
[1]McAfeeen.wikipedia.org
A bad antivirus update disrupted large numbers of Windows computers.
2004
McAfee name restored
[1]McAfeeen.wikipedia.org
The company returned to the McAfee name after restructuring and divesting selected businesses.
1998
Trusted Information Systems acquired
[1]McAfeeen.wikipedia.org
Network Associates acquired Trusted Information Systems, adding firewall and network-security capabilities.
1997
Network Associates created
[1]McAfeeen.wikipedia.org
A merger involving McAfee Associates, Network General, PGP Corporation, and Helix Software created Network Associates.
1992
Delaware incorporation
[1]McAfeeen.wikipedia.org
McAfee was incorporated in Delaware.
1987
McAfee Associates founded
[1]McAfeeen.wikipedia.org
John McAfee founded McAfee Associates as a cybersecurity and antivirus software company.

Products and positioning

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

Consumer security subscription
McAfee+
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.
Antivirus and internet security
McAfee Total Protection
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.
Consumer security suite
McAfee LiveSafe
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.
Web safety
McAfee WebAdvisor
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.
Privacy and VPN
McAfee Safe Connect VPN
Safe Connect VPN is a privacy-oriented service intended to encrypt supported internet connections and provide consumers with a more private browsing experience.
Mobile security
McAfee Mobile 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.
Family safety
McAfee Safe Family
Safe Family provides parental and family-oriented controls intended to help households manage children's digital activity and online exposure across supported devices.
Password management
McAfee True Key
True Key is McAfee's password-management product, designed to help users store and access credentials while using authentication and device-based security features.
Artificial-intelligence content detection · 2024
McAfee Deepfake Detector
Deepfake Detector is a tool introduced to help identify potentially AI-generated or manipulated video and other synthetic content.
Enterprise endpoint security
McAfee VirusScan Enterprise
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.

Controversies

2021
T-Mobile discloses customer data breach
T-Mobile said a data breach compromised information associated with about 7.8 million postpaid accounts and more than 40 million records of current and potential customers. It said names, phone numbers and account PINs for roughly 850,000 active prepaid accounts were also exposed. The company said it would offer affected customers two years of free identity protection services and recommended that postpaid customers change their account PINs.
Source
2010
Defective DAT 5958 antivirus update
A faulty antivirus update mistakenly identified a legitimate Windows system file as malicious, causing widespread system failures and requiring emergency corrective measures.
Source
2006
Stock-options practices controversy
The company faced accusations concerning questionable stock-options practices. CEO George Samenuk resigned and President Kevin Weiss was dismissed during the resulting management upheaval.
Source

Marketing campaigns

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.
Source
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.
Source

Brand decisions

2025
AI-powered scam detectionProduct launch
Background
Scams increasingly use text messages, email, video, and social-engineering techniques across mobile and desktop channels.
Action taken
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.
Source
2024
Expansion into AI-content detectionProduct launch
Background
Synthetic media and deepfakes became increasingly relevant to consumer trust and online safety.
Action taken
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.
Source
2021
Sale of enterprise businessStrategy
Background
McAfee reassessed its portfolio after returning to public markets.
Action taken
The company completed the sale of its enterprise business.
Aftermath
McAfee concentrated its operations on consumer cybersecurity and digital-protection services.
Source
2017
Creation of independent McAfeeM&A
Background
Intel decided to separate its security business through a strategic transaction with TPG.
Action taken
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.
Source
2011
Intel acquisitionM&A
Background
Intel sought to combine hardware, software, and security capabilities.
Action taken
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)
Source
2004
Return to the McAfee nameStrategy
Background
Network Associates was restructuring and divesting businesses that were less central to its security focus.
Action taken
The company sold selected operations and changed its name back to McAfee.
Aftermath
The change emphasized the McAfee brand and its security-specialist positioning.
Source

Recent events

2025
McAfee launched AI-powered scam detection[1]McAfeeen.wikipedia.org
Product launch · Product generation
The company introduced a tool for identifying suspected scam attempts in text messages, email, and video on mobile devices and Windows PCs.
2025
McAfee launched the Keep It Real initiative[1]McAfeeen.wikipedia.org
Campaign
The initiative used advertising and first-person accounts about scams to promote awareness of online fraud.
2024
Craig Boundy appointed chief executive officer[1]McAfeeen.wikipedia.org
Leadership change
McAfee appointed Craig Boundy as president and chief executive officer.
2024
McAfee expanded identity protection services[1]McAfeeen.wikipedia.org
Product launch
The company expanded services aimed at identity-theft protection and related consumer safeguards.
2024
McAfee introduced deepfake detection[1]McAfeeen.wikipedia.org
Product launch
McAfee introduced a tool designed to identify potentially manipulated or AI-generated video content.
2022
McAfee was taken private[1]McAfeeen.wikipedia.org
M&A
An investor consortium led by Advent International Corporation completed the transaction that returned McAfee to private ownership.
2020
McAfee returned to NASDAQ[1]McAfeeen.wikipedia.org
M&A
McAfee and its shareholders raised $740 million in an initial public offering, with shares trading under MCFE.
2017
McAfee became an independent Intel-TPG joint venture[1]McAfeeen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Intel Security was separated from Intel through a strategic transaction with TPG and resumed the McAfee name.
2010
McAfee antivirus update disrupted Windows computers[1]McAfeeen.wikipedia.org
Recall · Other
A faulty DAT 5958 antivirus update caused widespread failures on millions of Windows-based consumer and corporate computers.
2010
Intel announced acquisition of McAfee[1]McAfeeen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Intel announced a purchase of McAfee that valued the transaction at approximately $7.68 billion.

Related entries

Secure Computing