‘Killer Software’ - John McAfee A Murderer??

This story brings a whole new meaning to the term ‘killer software’. John McAfee, founder of McAfee Antivirus Software, is on the run in Belize where he is wanted for questioning in the murder of a 54-year-old American, Gregory Faull, killed by a gunshot wound to the head.  McAfee has since fled from Belize authorities and has told Wired Magazine he is innocent and fears he will be tortured or killed if taken into custody.  This is bizzarro world!

John McAfee wanted for questioning in a murder – who’d a thunk?

When I read this the other day I was still reeling from the surprise revelations about General David Petraeus, General John Allen and their relationships with Paula Broadwell and Jill Kelley.  It’s sure been a strange week for news and, on my personal ‘weird-o-meter’, I’m still not sure whether the Petraeus et al story is more weird than the idea of a tech tycoon like John McAfee being wanted for murder!

Awful stuff and the first software I remove from a new computer

According to Wired Magazine, McAfee’s troubles may have started because of several dogs he kept on his compound.  His neighbour, Greg Faull, had complained about the dogs barking viciously at folks walking on the beach.  Then, just last week 4 of McAfee’s 11 dogs were poisoned.  It wasn’t long after his dogs were poisoned that Faull was found shot to death in his home. 

This isn’t McAfee’s first brush with the law in Belize.  He has a penchant for collecting firearms and his house was raided earlier this year to see if any of the guns were illegal.  That case is pending.  McAfee is known to be an active drug user and has his own lab where he has apparently been trying to figure out a way to manufacture synthetic crystal meth.  He sure seems like a wacko.

John McAfee founded his anti-virus company in 1987 initially offering it as Shareware.  He developed his business and eventually took it public in 1992.  Then, in another very weird story, he cashed out for $100 million after accusations he had hyped the arrival of a virus known as Michelangelo simply to boost company sales.  I vaguely remember that scam.  McAfee has no relationship with the company today as it is now owned by Intel who bought it for upwards of $7 billion.

I’ve never installed McAfee Antivirus software on any computer I’ve owned even though I see it is constantly being promoted and offered as a free trial all over the Internet.  At least from now on, I’ll have something to think about whenever I see it pop-up on my computer screen.  McAfee, like Norton Antivirus, has to be the most bloated software on the market and guaranteed to slow your computer.

It’s been a great week for weird stories but this one is tops!

So, for a news junkie like me, I’m still out there in limbo with John McAfee on the run and the General’s trying to stickhandle their way out of complete disaster because of their girlfriends.  By the way, if you think blogging takes up a lot of time, how in the world did this General Allen manage to pump out 20,000 to 30,000 emails over a 2 year period?  Who was running the war when he was e-mailing?

Have a great Thursday, and thanks again for visiting!