McAfee VirusScan is blocking multiplayer

[Underseer]

I feel like such an idiot.

Somehow, McAfee VirusScan (version 8.0i) is blocking multiplayer both for Civ4 and Dungeon Siege 2. If I disable the scanner, I can connect to multiplayer stuff within the game just fine, but not if it is enabled.

I've dug through every preference dialog in the scanner, but can't seem to find what setting I need to change to allow mutliplayer gaming. Are there any other McAfee users around here who know the answer?

 

[Zydor]

I am not a McAfee user - but if you get no joy, try http://www.techsupportforum.com/general-security/66825-mcafee-hijackthis.html

its a good general sp forum, with a good McAfee thread - as you indicate its how you tell McAfee what the exceptions/acceptable links are

Regards
Zy

 

[CivIndeed]

I feel like such an idiot.

Somehow, McAfee VirusScan (version 8.0i) is blocking multiplayer both for Civ4 and Dungeon Siege 2. If I disable the scanner, I can connect to multiplayer stuff within the game just fine, but not if it is enabled.

I've dug through every preference dialog in the scanner, but can't seem to find what setting I need to change to allow mutliplayer gaming. Are there any other McAfee users around here who know the answer?

I havent used Mcafee a few years (last tested was 7.x), however, when i did, I discovered among many other issues (and reported to them several times before i gave up and switched products) that its WinSock LSP Filter had all sorts of problems, specifically, ones that would block/prevent all sorts of connectivity situations, including and specifically DirectPlay/DirectPlay Voice and the DirectPlay Voice Test.

There was no way to "disable" the WinSock LSP Filter in 7.x, except to uninstall the program. (Which is of course what i did, as i couldnt tolerate the plethora of problems in 7.x, but most especially the Winsock LP Filter issues.)

I really recommend uninstalling McAfee, and trying one of the other smaller AV programs, most of which are cheaper (even free for year) and use far less resources (HD space, RAM, CPU attention, etc), as well as end up being far less problematic and difficult to configure/troubleshoot.

I often recommend CA EZ AV to average end users:

http://www.my-etrust.com/microsoft/

Or, you can even try Microsoft's new AV/AS/Enhanced Firewall/Backup combo software, OneCare (it is a beta version, but its utterly stable and reliable):

http://www1.imagine-msn.com/minisites/onecare/Default.aspx?locale=en-us

 

[Underseer]

I use McAfee because the software and the updates are free (site license from work). I agree that McAfee is crap, but free is free, y'know?

Anyway, thanks for the advice. I've uninstalled McAfee and installed the MS OneCare beta. Hey, free is free, right?

PS -- the "performance tune up" for MS OneCare is crap.