62
Remove ALL
antivirus files
when you
switch
Before you use new security software, it’s
vital you uninstall every last remnant of your
old tool. Nik Rawlinson explains the most
effective ways of doing so
Type this CAPTCHA then click Next to fully
uninstall McAfeeW
e know from your emails
that many of you have
switched to new security
software in the past few
months. Some have uninstalled Russian
antivirus Kaspersky as a moral response
to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It remains
safe for individuals to use, according to
Ian Levy, technical director of the UK’s
National Cyber Security Centre – though
he said that people may need to switch if
Kaspersky “becomes subject to sanctions,
since the AV product would likely stop
getting updates” (see http://www.snipca.
com/41927).
Other readers have moved simply to
save money, prompted by the improved
performance of the free Microsoft
Defender. It came second in Issue 629’s
antivirus group test (behind Norton 360),
a result that we’d have thoughtimpossible back in 2013 when Microsoft
admitted its antivirus provided only
“basic” protection.
Whatever your reason for switching,
it’s vital that you fully uninstall your
existing antivirus because otherwise it
would clash with your new protection.
This includes wiping files your former
antivirus may have buried deep on
your system.How to uninstall your
antivirus software
Start by disconnecting from the internet.
Although you would be very unlucky to
pick up any malware from the web in the
few minutes you’re not running any
security software, it doesn’t hurt to be on
the safe side. Click the Wi-Fi logo on the
taskbar and, in Windows 10, click the
name of your active connection, followed
by Disconnect. In Windows 11, click the
Wi-Fi symbol above the name of your
current connection. If you’re using a
wired connection, remove the network
cable from your PC.
Most of the following steps can be
completed offline in Windows, but
antivirus programs are so complex that
you may need to use the developer’s own
tool for uninstalling them fully. You should
download these before disconnecting,
just in case you need them. In all cases
click ‘Yes’ if Windows’ User Account
Control asks permission to continue. And
if you want to remove Kaspersky, skip to
the box opposite.AVG Antivirus
Download AVG Clear from http://www.snipca.
com/41919, then right-click the
downloaded file, and click ‘Run as
administrator’. Click ‘No’ when prompted
to restart in Safe Mode. Select ‘AVG AntiVirus
Free’ on the menu, then click Uninstall.Bitdefender
In Windows 10, open the Bitdefender
Security folder in the Start menu and
right-click Bitdefender. Select ‘Uninstall’
in the context menu, then click Remove.
In Windows 11, open the Control Panel,
click ‘Uninstall a program’ and select
Bitdefender in your list of installed
programs. Click Uninstall/Change.F-Secure
Open Control Panel, click ‘Uninstall a
program’, then click ‘F-Secure SAFE’ in
the list of programs. With SAFE selected,
click Remove. If this fails to remove it,
you can try the F-Secure Uninstallation
tool (www.snipca.com/41911). Once itGet NORTON 360
for just £24.99
We’re selling the Gold award-winning
Norton 360 for just £24.99 on our
Software Store
(normal price
£179.99). Visit
http://www.snipca.
com/33247 and
click the red BUY
NOW button on
the right.25 May – 7 June 2022 • Issue 632