McAfee Mobile Security: Common Questions

• How do I get McAfee Mobile Security (MMS)?
  Go to your mobile device online store (Google Play Store or Apple Store) and search for McAfee Mobile Security (MMS). For the newer, McAfee Security app, search for McAfee Security.

  You can also download MMS at http://m.McAfeeMobileSecurity.com on your mobile device browser. For more information, see TS100342 – How to download and install McAfee consumer products.

• How do I get started with MMS?
  After you download MMS, follow the on-screen instructions to set up the app. You can use your existing McAfee account email address and password, or you can select to create an account. Your mobile device and data are then protected for as long as you subscribe to McAfee Mobile Security. For details about MMS registration, see TS101880 – McAfee Mobile Security Activation Flows.
• How can I access my MMS account online?
  You can use either of the following methods:
• From the McAfee website (http://home.mcafee.com):

1. Sign in with your McAfee email address and password.
2. Click My Account.
3. Select the device that you want to manage.

   NOTE: Not all MMS features are available at this location. For example, showing your backup data is not available. The View Backup Data button will redirect you to https://www.mcafeemobilesecurity.com/.

• From the McAfee Mobile Security website (http://www.mcafeemobilesecurity.com/):

1. Sign in with your McAfee email address and password.
2. Select the device that you want to manage.

   NOTE: For older accounts, you can sign in with the phone number and six-digit PIN.

• Can I install MMS on my memory card?
  No. MMS does not install on memory cards. MMS installs on the mobile device itself.

• Does MMS work on my phone?
  MMS runs on the major mobile device operating systems, including:
  • Android phones and tablets
  • iOS iPhones and iPads
• Will MMS drain my battery faster?
  Battery drain is negligible. With normal use, the device battery drains only 5% faster when MMS is installed. If you have an Android tablet that is not push-enabled, your battery might drain faster because of higher data use. Also, your battery might drain faster if you have automatic scan enabled.
• Can I customize MMS to suit my preferences?
  Yes. MMS offers many customizable settings. For example, you can:
  • Set MMS to automatically back up important data, such as contacts and text messages.
  • Change the Call Blocker setting depending on your preferences.
  • Customize how MMS protects you against viruses and spyware. You can decide how often MMS scans for malware, which parts of the phone are scanned, and which events prompt an automatic antivirus scan.
  • Set how often MMS updates its protection, and much more.
• Can MMS protect my SIM card too?
  No. MMS does not provide security for your SIM card. But, if you lose your device and your SIM card, you can use MMS to protect your device. You can then call your wireless service provider to disable the SIM card.
• Am I guaranteed to get my phone back?
  Unfortunately, McAfee can’t guarantee that you will get your mobile device back. We recommend that you back up your data automatically so you can always access your important information. If you lose your mobile device, remotely lock your phone to make it inaccessible.

• How can I protect my iPhone and iPad from viruses when MMS does not carry out a virus scan on iOS?
  iOS is designed to restrict apps from negatively impacting system security, stability, and user data. For example, all iOS apps are checked for malicious content and behavior. They are signed and verified by Apple before being uploaded to the Apple App Store. So, apps that you download from the App Store have already been thoroughly screened to protect your device and data.

  iOS also uses a technique called ‘sandboxing’ where apps are only granted access to their own data and resources. They are prevented from accessing data and resources of the operating system or other apps. This access makes sure that any issues can’t affect other apps that are installed or running on the device. For example, if an iOS app crashes, only that app is affected, and your device continues to work without issue.

  Because of the security measures implemented in iOS, it is not necessary to scan the device for viruses and malware with MMS. You can run apps on your iOS devices without undue fear of viruses, malware, or other unauthorized attacks.

• What kind of malware does MMS detect?
  MMS protects your mobile device from mobile malware and other digital threats including viruses, worms, spyware, keyloggers, bots, and potentially unwanted programs.

  NOTE: If you use an Android device, MMS also blocks access to risky sites when using the default Android web browser.

• How often does MMS scan for viruses?
  MMS automatically scans your device in real time. When you receive a message, access a file, or install an application, it is scanned instantly. MMS also scans your device on a set schedule. If you suspect your mobile device is infected, you can run a manual scan at any time.
• Which areas of the device does MMS scan?
  Scanning checks the file system on your mobile device, including messages, pictures, installed applications, and compressed files.

  NOTE: Protection features might vary by device.

• Does MMS scan message content and attachments?
  Yes. McAfee scans messages such as SMS, MMS, email, and attachments when they arrive on your device.

  NOTE: Email is not scanned on Android devices.

• Does MMS detect viruses on the memory card?
  Yes. MMS scans content on your SD memory card. You can configure MMS to scan each SD memory card inserted in your device.
• Can MMS stop over-the-air hacking attempts?
  McAfee stops you from downloading malicious and infected applications. MMS also protects you from risky websites you might access on your mobile browser. It does not block communication sent with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or IRDA interfaces.
• What happens when MMS detects a virus?
  MMS shows a full screen warning and lets you delete, quarantine, repair, or ignore the infected file. You can decide when you are notified about threats and how you want to respond to them.

  NOTE: If you have an Android device, you can’t repair infected files. You can only delete or ignore them.

• I ignored a virus warning earlier; how can I remove the virus?
  You can run a manual scan to see the warning again. MMS automatically reminds you to deal with the threat the next time you restart, or when a scheduled system scan is performed.
• I have not checked for MMS updates in a while; am I still protected?
  Yes. MMS keeps your protection up to date by updating the DAT files automatically and frequently. You can set MMS to update at intervals that are convenient for you. You can also check for updates anytime from the application menu.
• How can I see when MMS was last updated?
  You can view the log file from the application menu to see all events related to MMS. Events such as your last scan, last update, and any virus detections are shown in the log file. You can also reset the log file when you want.
• How much space do protection updates need?
  Protection updates are less than 5 KB. You can change the update frequency in the application settings.

• What is App Privacy/Protection?
  This feature checks your mobile device apps and lets you know the types of personal data and device functions that they can access and change. For example, some applications can access your location, contacts, network, calendar, and passwords, while others can access your microphone, camera, or GPS.

  With App Privacy, you get intelligent and up-to-date information about your apps, with easy-to-understand icons showing you the type of information each app can access on your device. This information enables you to keep applications you trust, and remove those applications that you think are sharing too much personal data.

• What can App Privacy/Protection tell me about an application on my mobile device?
  App Protection provides descriptions of the types of personal data or functions an application can access on your mobile device.
• Why are some applications trusted before I review them?
  App Protection automatically trusts the following:
  • McAfee apps
  • Apps that do not access your personal data
  • Apps that your device manufacturer preloads
  • Apps that are part of the Android operating system

• Does a trusted app need to be reviewed again after I update it?
  If you update a trusted app that has access to your personal data, App Protection asks you to review it.
• I think one of my apps is accessing too much data; what can I do?
  If you find out that an app can access more personal data or device functions than you originally thought, App Protection lets you quickly remove it from your mobile device.
• Does App Protection scan my mobile device for viruses and other threats?
  App Protection does not scan your device for threats such as viruses, trojans, or spyware. But, the Security Scan feature scans your device for threats and keeps you protected.

If you are using MMS 5.5.1 or later, you must now type your device PIN, and not your McAfee PIN for these features:

• Anti-Theft Lock and remote commands
• Uninstall protection
• SIM swap protection
• MMS setup (when configuring lock screen features)

If you are using an older version of MMS, continue to type your McAfee PIN when using these features.

To learn more about this change, see TS103009 – Lock screen changes in Mobile Security 5.5.1 (February 2020).

• Can I lock my device remotely if it is lost or stolen?
  Yes. You can send text messages to your mobile device to control it remotely. To lock your device, send Secure lock <PIN>. For example: Secure lock 123456.

  You can display a message on your locked device by sending Secure lock <PIN MESSAGE>. For example: Secure lock 123456 Please contact 1-800-555-5555 to return.

• What is the difference between the built-in lock on my mobile device and the MMS lock?
  The MMS lock lets you control your mobile device remotely. It also lets you display a message on the mobile device to request its return, as shown above.

  Also, MMS lock tells you when your mobile device is locked. You can have peace of mind knowing that your mobile device is protected.

• Can I send a remote alarm on my device?
  Yes. Sign in to your McAfee Mobile Security account online. Select the Alarm or Lock & Alarm option.

• I have the thief’s device number; what can I do?
  McAfee recommends that you file a report with the police or local law enforcement.
• What does MMS track?
  MMS lets you track all activity on your mobile device. You can see when a new SIM card is inserted in your device on the Track page. You can also use the backup feature to track all sent and received text messages, and see all incoming and outgoing calls. This tracking gives you a record of your own usage or helps you track down a thief’s device number.
• Can I track the geographical location of my mobile device?
  Yes. You can view your mobile device’s location in real time from the MMS website. Go to https://www.mcafeemobilesecurity.com/, sign in, and click Location.

• What data can I back up, upload, restore, and wipe?
  • Back up: Contacts, text messages, call logs, and calendar items.
  • Upload: Photos and videos.
  • Restore: Contacts, text messages, and calendar items.
  • Wipe: Contacts, text messages, email messages, calendar items, photos, videos, and your memory card.
• How can I back up my data?
  You can back up data from your mobile device, or from the MMS website. You can also set up your MMS application to back up your data automatically. Here’s how:
  • Manual Backup from your mobile device: From the MMS application on your mobile device, select Backup, and then choose the data you want to back up.
  • Manual Backup from the MMS website: Sign in to the MMS website, select Backup, and then choose the data you want to back up.
  • Auto Backup: From the MMS app on your mobile device, select Backup. From the Settings menu, select Auto Backup, and then choose how often you want to back up automatically. Only new data is backed up, so you do not have to worry about excessive GPRS use.

    NOTE: If you have an Android device, Auto-Backup is performed once a day. To preserve battery life, Auto-Backup is done only when the device is being charged.

• Do I incur any data charges when I back up or restore my data?
  There is no extra charge for using MMS to back up or restore your data. But, depending on your data plan, you might incur extra data charges from your wireless service provider. Also, if you are outside Singapore, the US, and the UK, your operator might charge for international text messages when commands are sent from the website to your mobile device.

• How does MMS protect me against malicious websites and phishing attempts?
  When you surf the internet using your Android browser, MMS automatically blocks malicious websites using SiteAdvisor technology. McAfee SiteAdvisor gives you real-time protection against mobile phishing and browser exploits. In addition, MMS provides website safety ratings for each site you visit.
• How often does McAfee update its protection against newly created risky sites?
  McAfee detects thousands of new threats each day and updates its site ratings database every hour. In addition, MMS includes daily protection updates for known browser threats.

• How safe is my data?
  Our servers and communications use technology that has standards as high as those standards used by banks and credit card companies. Some of the MMS technology was initially developed for police and military use. It has all needed encryption and communication security to make sure that no one can view your private content – not even our staff. There have been no reported cases of data privacy or integrity loss. You have total control; data is uploaded only if you choose to upload it.

  If you have concerns, you can choose not to use the data upload feature.

• I am worried about data charges – will I be using 3G or GPRS on MMS?
  We use a data connection to update your protection and back up and restore your data, so you might incur data charges. But, you can decide how often protection updates occur and when to back up or restore your data to minimize the data charges. Check your data use terms and rates with your wireless service provider. There might also be minimal data use when your mobile device informs the server of its status, such as whether the mobile device is locked.
• What is 3G or GPRS?
  General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and 3G are data services for your mobile device. They allow you to use the internet, send Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS) messages, and other activities that require data transfer on your mobile device.
• How do I set up 3G or GPRS?
  Newer mobile devices have 3G or GPRS set up for you. If your mobile device does not have 3G or GPRS set up, call your wireless service provider to help you set it up.

• Wi-Fi Security
  MMS Wi-Fi Security informs you whether you are connected to a secure or insecure Wi-Fi network. Secure Wi-Fi prevents intruders from listening in on your web traffic by periodically performing Address Resolution Protocol spoofing detection.

  Wi-Fi security is under the Web Security component, and can be enabled or disabled from Web Security Settings. By default, this protection is enabled (On).

  A message displays when your device is connected to a Wi-Fi network. It tells you if the connection is secure or unsecure.

  Another message displays when MMS detects any security issue with the Wi-Fi network. It might automatically disconnect you for your protection. This action enables you to check and verify your connection. Once verified, you can always reconnect to your preferred Wi-Fi network.

Source : Official McAfee Brand
Editor by : BEST Antivirus KBS Team