Early Life and Education
John David McAfee was born on September 18, 1945, in Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England. He moved to Salem, Virginia, as a child and later became a U.S. citizen. McAfee studied mathematics at Roanoke College in Virginia, where he earned a bachelor's degree. He later pursued a master's degree in mathematics from Northeast Louisiana University, now known as the University of Louisiana at Monroe. His early career included work as a programmer for NASA's Institute for Space Studies in New York City Forbes.
Before founding his own company, McAfee held positions at several technology firms, including Lockheed Martin and Booz Allen Hamilton. He worked as a software engineer during the 1970s and early 1980s, gaining experience in systems programming and early computing security. These roles provided the technical foundation for his later development of one of the first commercial antivirus programs.
Founding of McAfee Associates
McAfee founded McAfee Associates in 1987, creating one of the first commercial antivirus software programs. The company's flagship product, VirusScan, became widely used for detecting and removing malware on personal computers. McAfee Associates grew rapidly during the late 1980s and 1990s as personal computer adoption increased worldwide.
Growth and Public Offering
McAfee Associates went public in 1992, and the company expanded its product line to include firewall software and other security tools. Under McAfee's leadership, the company became a major player in the cybersecurity industry. He served as CEO until 1994, when he left the company and sold his remaining stake. The company was later acquired by Intel in 2010 and rebranded as Intel Security Intel Security.
Later Career and Legal Issues
After leaving McAfee Associates, John McAfee pursued various business ventures, including investments in cryptocurrency and the development of the privacy-focused browser Quorum. He became a prominent figure in the cryptocurrency space, often promoting alternative digital currencies. McAfee also launched several other technology startups and consulting firms during this period.
McAfee faced significant legal troubles in the late 2010s and early 2020s. He was charged with tax evasion by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice for failing to file tax returns for multiple years while earning income from promoting cryptocurrencies SEC. In June 2021, he was arrested in Spain at the request of U.S. authorities. He was released on bail while fighting extradition. McAfee was found dead in his prison cell in Barcelona, Spain, on June 23, 2021, while awaiting extradition proceedings.