During CES 2014, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich said that the company plans to phase out the McAfee brand. The announcement arrives after McAfee Chief Marketing Officer Penny Baldwin said last month that the company would "see massive change" in "packaging and names."
According to reports, the security firm will continue to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary, and work alongside Intel employees who are currently working on security activities under the new "Intel Security" brand name. Only the red and white shield logo will remain.
"I've been begging them to drop the brand or fix the product," McAfee said in a telephone interview with Reuters on Tuesday.
John McAfee founded McAfee Associates in 1987, and then resigned from the company in 1994 with around $100 million in cash. He stayed in the spotlight for years to come with his "bored millionaire antics," but then made major headlines in 2012 when he went on the run after his neighbor in Belize was found shot in the back of his head.
After that whole escapade, McAfee was jailed in Guatemala and then deported to Miami after faking a heart attack. The latest antic is a video of McAfee reading letters from annoyed McAfee software users. The language is graphic, and the ladies are scantily clad. There's also plenty of drug use, foot licking and guns. Wahoo.
"Something went wrong. Fifteen years ago I had some beautiful software, and they took it over. I don't know what they did," he states. He then talks about his tax consultant, and whips out a gun. Overall, the comments merely echo his distaste for the association that links him to the antivirus software. He's also tired of getting hate mail regarding said software.
"I really am elated beyond description," he told CNN Money. "Everyone thinks I've written the worst software in the world. But I've had nothing to do with that company for 20 years."
The video seemingly tries to get under Intel's skin enough so that the chip maker gives up and changes the name. Chief Technology Officer Michael Fey told Reuters that the company is not concerned about the video because most customers know that John McAfee hasn't worked for the company in years. Yet Fey said it will be a relief once the association is severed, and the company could finally ignore his zany antics.
"As an employee I am happy to stop having to answer that," Fey said.
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