How to remove an mcshield error

The free file information forum can help you determine if mcshield.exe is a virus, trojan, spyware, or adware that you can remove, or a file belonging to a Windows system or an application you can trust.

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Mcshield.exe file information

The process known as On-Access Scanner service or NT On-Access Scanner service or McAfee On-Access Scanner service

belongs to software VirusScan or McAfee On-Access Scanner or VSCORE.14.0.0.349.x86 or VirusScan (Enterprise, ASaP & Retail.) or VSCORE.13.3.2.101.x86 or McAfee VirusScan Enterprise or McAfee.com McShield or VSCORE or VSCORE.13.3.0.132.x86 or VSCORE.14.0.0.435.x86 or VSCORE.13.3.2.116.x86 or VSCORE.14.0.0.423.x86 or McAfee McShield or McAfee Real-time Scanner or McAfee AntiSpyware Enterprise or VSCORE.14.0.0.384.x86 or VSCORE.14.0.0.433.x86 or VSCORE.13.3.0.139.x86

by McAfee (www.mcafee.com) or Network Associates (nai.com).

Description: The file mcshield.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files" or sometimes in a subfolder of the "My Files" folder (common is C:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\). Known file sizes on Windows 7/XP are 221,184 bytes (44% of all occurrences), 144,704 bytes and 18 more variants.
The program has no visible window. It is not a Windows core file. mcshield.exe is able to monitor applications and hide itself. Therefore the technical security rating is 34% dangerous, however also read the users reviews.
You may want to uninstall the associated program (Start > Control Panel > Add/Remove programs > McAfee VirusScan Enterprise or McAfee AntiSpyware Enterprise).

Recommended: Identify mcshield.exe related errors

If mcshield.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files\Common Files", the security rating is 27% dangerous. The file size is 171,168 bytes (19% of all occurrences), 225,403 bytes and 16 more variants. The program has no visible window. The file is not a Windows system file. File mcshield.exe is a Verisign signed file. Mcshield.exe is digitally signed. mcshield.exe is able to monitor applications and hide itself.
You may want to uninstall the associated program (Start > Control Panel > Add/Remove programs > McAfee VirusScan or Engine).

If mcshield.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows, the security rating is 80% dangerous. The file size is 15,713 bytes. There is no information about the author of the file. Mcshield.exe is located in the Windows folder, but it is not a Windows core file. The program has no visible window. Program starts when Windows starts (see Registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run). Mcshield.exe is not a Windows core file. mcshield.exe is able to record inputs.

Important: Some malware camouflages itself as mcshield.exe, particularly when located in the c:\windows or c:\windows\system32 folder. Therefore, you should check the mcshield.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.

Score

User Comments

I've turned of scheduled scans but it still takes over my CPU when it wants to. I hate the program but am scared to delete it.
Growltiger

my problem started when I installed Rapport. I thank the person who has pointed out that removing Rapport solves the problem. It was big, up to 95% of a two core machine
paris

Well known McAffee issue. Better change for different antivirus.
Krzys

It keeps your computer protected at sacrifice to 60-95% of your cpu power constantly. very annoying because the fan on my pc is slow so it keeps overheating.
Ricky

Has known issues on some PCs, see the McAfee support page for details of regular 100% CPU usage going back years. McAfee obviously don't care about their customers. I have work PCs that it's been installed on recently and it has seriously degraded their performance.
John

The problem I'm having is that McShield.exe begins it's mem consumption when I use Pandora and Firefox, as if it does not like those programs and will keep monitoring it thus causing mem problems.
ACH

The file is safe and essential for up-to-the-munute scanning. However, McAfee is generations behind their "State of the Art" claims in that they can't build a similar program that doesn't hog 70-80+% of cpu capacity. Mcshield.exe freezes websites, emails, uploads, downloads, and interferes with download managers because it is so cumbersome and internally complex that it can't do its job without tripping over its own programming code. It's true that you're better off with it than without it, but in my view, you're infinitely better off with a different AV software, altogether.
Bohemian

It was using about 50% of my CPU. I removed Rapport (which is sponsored by the banks) and n0w usage has dropped right back
Knibbsy

More comments can be found here:
(further information)

Summary: Average user rating of mcshield.exe: based on 156 votes with 9 reviews.

56 users think mcshield.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 8 users think it's probably harmless. 36 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 21 users suspect danger. 35 users think mcshield.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it. 24 users doesn't grade mcshield.exe ("not sure about it").

Mcshield scanner

Security Task Manager shows all running Windows tasks including embedded hidden functions (e.g. keyboard or browser monitoring, autostart entry). A unique security risk rating indicates the likelihood of the process being potential spyware, malware, keylogger or a Trojan.

Spyware Doctor detects and removes sleeping spyware, adware, trojans, keyloggers, malware and tracking threats from your hard disk. Ideal supplement to Security Task Manager.

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