John McAfee#Death

McAfee was born in Cinderford, in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England,{{Cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.com/antivirus-software-pioneer-john-mcafee-195724894.html |title=Antivirus software pioneer John McAfee 'found dead' in Spanish prison cell after court approves extradition |website=Yahoo! News |date=23 June 2021 |access-date=23 June 2021 |archive-date=23 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623214612/https://news.yahoo.com/antivirus-software-pioneer-john-mcafee-195724894.html |url-status=live}} on 18 September 1945,{{Cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/john-mcafee-computer-programmer-and-antivirus-manufacturer-found-dead-in-prison-cell-lqcxtgz6j |title=Obituary: John McAfee, antivirus software designer, dies aged 75 |website=The Times |date=24 June 2021 |access-date=24 June 2021 |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624144408/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/john-mcafee-computer-programmer-and-antivirus-manufacturer-found-dead-in-prison-cell-lqcxtgz6j |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}} on a U.S. Army base (of the 596th Ordnance Ammunition Company), to an American father, Don McAfee, who was stationed there, and a British mother, Joan Williams.{{cite web |last1=Trujillo |first1=Mario |title=Software pioneer McAfee files paperwork to run for president |url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/252987-software-pioneer-mcafee-files-paperwork-to-run-for-president/ |website=The Hill |access-date=9 September 2015 |date=8 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909002804/http://thehill.com/policy/technology/252987-software-pioneer-mcafee-files-paperwork-to-run-for-president |archive-date=9 September 2015 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Carlson |first=Michael |url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jun/27/john-mcafee-obituary |title=John McAfee obituary |date=27 June 2021 |website=The Guardian |access-date=19 July 2021 |archive-date=29 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729205224/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jun/27/john-mcafee-obituary |url-status=live }} His father was from Roanoke, Virginia. In spite of primarily being raised in Salem, Virginia, McAfee said he felt as much British as American.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-24441931 |title=The strange life of John McAfee |first=Leo |last=Kelion |work=BBC News |date=11 October 2013 |access-date=2 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105134431/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-24441931 |archive-date=5 January 2019 |url-status=live}} When he was 15, his father, whom a BBC columnist described as "an abusive alcoholic", killed himself with a gun. He had spent his childhood living in fear that a beating from his father could happen at any time and struggled to make sense of why this was happening to him. In Running With the Devil: The Wild World of John McAfee, it is alleged that McAfee may have shot and killed his father, staging the scene to look like a suicide.{{Cite AV media|people=Rocco Castoro, Alex Cody Foster, Robert King |title=Running With the Devil: The Wild World of John McAfee |publisher=Netflix}}

McAfee received a bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1967 from Roanoke College in Virginia, which subsequently awarded him an honorary Doctor of Science degree in 2008.{{cite book |last=Woodford |first=Chris|author1-link=Chris Woodford (author)|title=Inventors and Inventions, Volume 4 |publisher=Marshall Cavendish |year=2007 |pages=1030–1033 |isbn=978-0-7614-7767-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YcPvV893aXgC&pg=PA1030 |access-date=23 February 2016 |archive-date=30 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160430084528/https://books.google.com/books?id=YcPvV893aXgC&pg=PA1030 |url-status=live |via=Google Books}} After receiving his bachelor's degree, McAfee began working towards a doctorate in mathematics at Northeast Louisiana State College, but was expelled in about 1968 because of a relationship with an undergraduate student, who became his first wife.{{cite news |title=John McAfee obituary |date=25 June 2021 |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/john-mcafee-computer-programmer-and-antivirus-manufacturer-found-dead-in-prison-cell-lqcxtgz6j |work=The Times |access-date=25 June 2021 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624144408/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/john-mcafee-computer-programmer-and-antivirus-manufacturer-found-dead-in-prison-cell-lqcxtgz6j |url-status=live}}

McAfee was employed as a programmer by NASA from 1968 to 1970.{{Cite news |last=Dean |first=Sam |date=2021-06-23 |title=Antivirus pioneer John McAfee found dead in prison after extradition ruling |url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-06-23/mcafee-antivirus-software-creator-found-dead-in-spanish-prison-hours-after-court-okays-his-extradition-to-the-us |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=31 March 2024 |archive-date=31 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331232832/https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-06-23/mcafee-antivirus-software-creator-found-dead-in-spanish-prison-hours-after-court-okays-his-extradition-to-the-us |url-status=live }} From there, he went to Univac as a software designer, and later to Xerox as an operating system architect. In 1978, he joined Computer Sciences Corporation as a software consultant. He worked for consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton from 1980 to 1982.{{cite AV media |date=27 June 2013 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjQ-AfRNG18 |title=John McAfee: I'm Behind Edward Snowden |publisher=Fox Business |via=YouTube |access-date=15 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224050223/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjQ-AfRNG18 |archive-date=24 December 2022 |url-status=live}} In 1986, while employed by Lockheed, he read about the Brain computer virus made for the PC, and he found it terrifying. Sensing a business opportunity, he went about creating an antivirus software that could detect the computer virus and remove it automatically. In 1987, McAfee created McAfee Associates Inc. to sell this software, which he named VirusScan. This was the first anti-virus software brought to market, and one of the first software products to be distributed over the Internet.

Initially McAfee did not seek a large userbase of paying users, but rather wanted to raise awareness of the need to be protected from computer viruses. However, by making people fear such malware, he managed to generate millions of sales, and by 1990 he was making $5 million a year. The company was incorporated in Delaware in 1992, and had its initial public offering the same year. In August 1993, McAfee stepped down as chief executive and remained with the company as the chief technical officer. He was succeeded by Bill Larson.{{cite news |title=Executive Changes |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/25/business/executive-changes-750593.html |access-date=25 June 2021 |work=The News York Times |date=25 August 1993 |archive-date=25 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625145612/https://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/25/business/executive-changes-750593.html?searchResultPosition=16 |url-status=live}} In 1994 he sold his remaining stake in the company. He had no further involvement in its operations.

After various mergers and ownership changes, Intel acquired McAfee in August 2010.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11025866 |work=BBC News |title=Intel in $7.68bn McAfee takeover |date=19 August 2010 |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031040203/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11025866 |archive-date=31 October 2018 |url-status=live}} In January 2014, Intel announced that McAfee-related products would be marketed as Intel Security. McAfee expressed his pleasure at the name change, saying, "I am now everlastingly grateful to Intel for freeing me from this terrible association with the worst software on the planet."{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25631183 |title=CES 2014: Director loses direction as teleprompter fails |work=BBC News |date=7 January 2014 |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105215258/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25631183 |archive-date=5 January 2019 |url-status=live}} The business was soon de-merged from Intel, once more under the McAfee name.

McAfee founded the company Tribal Voice in 1994, which developed one of the first instant messaging programs,{{cite web |last=Pontin |first=Jason |url=http://www.technologyreview.com/Biztech/14405/ |title=From the Editor |work=MIT Technology Review |publisher=Technologyreview.com |date=1 May 2005 |access-date=15 November 2012 |archive-date=16 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316103743/http://www.technologyreview.com/Biztech/14405/ |url-status=live}} PowWow.

In 2000, he invested in and joined the board of directors of Zone Labs, makers of firewall software, prior to its acquisition by Check Point Software in 2003.{{cite web |url=https://www.informationweek.com/zone-labs-to-get-funding-new-board-membe/6509869 |title=Zone Labs To Get Funding, New Board Member |date=2 October 2000 |access-date=17 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014111722/http://www.informationweek.com/zone-labs-to-get-funding-new-board-membe/6509869 |archive-date=14 October 2012 |url-status=live}} In the 2000s McAfee invested in and advertised ultra-light flights, which he marketed as aerotrekking.{{cite news |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/1615167/plagued-lawsuits-mcafee-founder-hunts-cures-belize |title=Plagued by Lawsuits, McAfee Founder Hunts for Cures in Belize |first=Jeff |last=Wise |authorlink=Jeff Wise |publisher=Fast Company |date=1 May 2010 |access-date=26 June 2021 |archive-date=16 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616140553/https://www.fastcompany.com/1615167/plagued-lawsuits-mcafee-founder-hunts-cures-belize |url-status=live}}

In 2000 he bought a large property in Colorado and opened a yoga and meditation retreat there. In the following year he authored four books on yoga and meditation.{{Cite web |last=Moss |first=Rebecca |date=July 24, 2012 |title=John McAfee: Anti-virus king turned relational yoga inventor talks latest endeavor (or prank?) |url=https://www.westword.com/news/john-mcafee-anti-virus-king-turned-relational-yoga-inventor-talks-latest-endeavor-or-prank-5833168 |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=Westword |language=en |archive-date=3 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203063111/https://www.westword.com/news/john-mcafee-anti-virus-king-turned-relational-yoga-inventor-talks-latest-endeavor-or-prank-5833168 |url-status=live }}

In August 2009 The New York Times reported that McAfee's personal fortune had declined to $4 million from a peak of $100 million due to the effect of the 2008 financial crisis on his investments.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/21/business/economy/21inequality.html |title=Rise of the Super-Rich Hits a Sobering Wall |newspaper=The New York Times |format=article |date=21 August 2009 |first1=David |last1=Leonhardt |first2=Geraldine |last2=Fabrikant |access-date=7 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116013404/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/21/business/economy/21inequality.html?_r=1&hp |archive-date=16 November 2012 |url-status=live}}

McAfee relocated to Belize in 2009, buying a beachfront property on the island of Ambergris Caye and later also some property near the mainland village of Carmelita, where he surrounded himself with a large group of armed security guards.{{Citation |last=Burstein |first=Nanette |title=Gringo: The Dangerous Life of John McAfee |date=2016-09-24 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6071534/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 |type=Documentary, Crime |access-date=2023-10-21 |publisher=Showtime Networks |archive-date=2 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002055131/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6071534/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 |url-status=live }}

In 2009, McAfee was interviewed in Belize for the CNBC special The Bubble Decade, in which it was reported that he had invested in and/or built many mansions in the USA that went unsold when the 2007 global recession hit. The report also discussed his quest to raise plants for possible medicinal uses on his land in Belize.{{cite web |url=http://www.zimbio.com/watch/zLx7RCsWlZn/The+Bubble+Decade/CNBC+Originals |title=The Bubble Decade |access-date=25 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417025600/http://www.zimbio.com/watch/zLx7RCsWlZn/The+Bubble+Decade/CNBC+Originals |archive-date=17 April 2015}}

In February 2010, McAfee and biologist Allison Adonizio started the company QuorumEx,{{cite web |url=http://quorumex.com/ |title=Quorum sensing inhibitor agents from the jungles and savannas of Belize |publisher=QuorumEx.com |access-date=15 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325201353/http://quorumex.com/ |archive-date=25 March 2010}} headquartered in Belize, which aimed to produce herbal antibiotics that disrupt quorum sensing in bacteria.{{Cite web |date=2010-06-22 |title=From Antivirus to Antibiotics, McAfee Searches for a Last Cure |url=https://gizmodo.com/from-antivirus-to-antibiotics-mcafee-searches-for-a-la-5569746 |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=Gizmodo |language=en |archive-date=3 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203063112/https://gizmodo.com/from-antivirus-to-antibiotics-mcafee-searches-for-a-la-5569746 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.fastcompany.com/node/1615167/print |title=Plagued by Lawsuits, McAfee Founder Hunts for Cures in Belize |publisher=Fast Company |format=article |date=1 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424054349/http://www.fastcompany.com/node/1615167/print |archive-date=24 April 2010}}{{cite web |url=https://gizmodo.com/5958877 |title=Secrets, Schemes, and Lots of Guns: Inside John McAfee's Heart of Darkness |first=Jeff |last=Wise |publisher=Gizmodo |date=8 November 2012 |access-date=9 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115231510/http://gizmodo.com/5958877 |archive-date=15 January 2013 |url-status=live}}

In June 2013, McAfee uploaded a parody video titled How to Uninstall McAfee Antivirus onto his YouTube channel. In it, he critiques the antivirus software while snorting white powder and being stripped by scantily clad women. It received ten million views. He told Reuters the video was meant to ridicule the media's negative coverage of him. A spokesman for McAfee Inc. called the video's statements "ludicrous".{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-johnmcafee-video-idUSBRE95J00Z20130620 |title=John McAfee resurfaces as ranting video star, mocks McAfee software |last=Finkle |first=Jim |date=19 June 2013 |work=Reuters |access-date=5 January 2019 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105201231/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-johnmcafee-video-idUSBRE95J00Z20130620 |archive-date=5 January 2019 |url-status=live}}

Also in 2013, McAfee founded Future Tense Central, which aimed to produce a secure computer network device called the D-Central.{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/john-mcafees-100-antinsa-device-this-is-coming-and-cannot-be-stopped-8851328.html |title=John McAfee's $100 'anti-NSA' device: 'this is coming and cannot be |author=James Vincent |date=2 October 2013 |work=The Independent |access-date=1 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712233400/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/john-mcafees-100-antinsa-device-this-is-coming-and-cannot-be-stopped-8851328.html |archive-date=12 July 2015 |url-status=live}} By 2016, it was also an incubator.

In February 2014, McAfee announced Cognizant, an application for smartphones which displays information about the permissions of other installed applications.{{cite web |url=http://siliconangle.com/blog/2014/02/11/john-mcafee-has-had-enough-of-excessive-app-permissions-introduces-cognizant/ |title=John McAfee has had enough of excessive app permissions – introduces Cognizant |publisher=SiliconAngle |date=11 February 2014 |access-date=11 February 2014 |first=John |last=Casaretto |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222003053/http://siliconangle.com/blog/2014/02/11/john-mcafee-has-had-enough-of-excessive-app-permissions-introduces-cognizant/ |archive-date=22 February 2014 |url-status=live}} In April 2014, it was renamed DCentral 1, and an Android version was released for free on Google Play.{{cite web |url=http://www.whoismcafee.com/dcentral1-app/ |title=DCentral1 App Now available for download |publisher=WhoisMcAfee.Com |date=3 April 2014 |access-date=4 April 2014 |first=John |last=McAfee |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407045517/http://www.whoismcafee.com/dcentral1-app/ |archive-date=7 April 2014 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dcentral1.android |title=DCentral 1 by John McAfee |date=3 April 2014 |access-date=4 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408021432/https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dcentral1.android |archive-date=8 April 2014 |url-status=live}}

File:John McAfee Def Con (14902350795).jpg 2014]]

At the DEF CON conference in Las Vegas in August 2014, McAfee warned people not to use smartphones, suggesting apps are used to spy on clueless consumers who do not read privacy user agreements.Danny Yadron, [https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/08/08/john-mcafee-at-def-con-dont-use-smartphones/ John McAfee at Def Con: Don't Use Smartphones] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712192223/https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/08/08/john-mcafee-at-def-con-dont-use-smartphones/ |date=12 July 2017 }}, The Wall Street Journal, 8 August 2014 In January 2016, he became the chief evangelist for security startup Everykey.{{cite news |last=Hardawar |first=Devindra |url=https://www.engadget.com/2016/01/10/john-mcafeee-everykey/ |title=John McAfee on his new startup and why he should be president |work=Engadget |date=16 January 2016 |access-date=11 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110150408/http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/10/john-mcafeee-everykey/ |archive-date=10 January 2016 |url-status=live}}

In February 2016, McAfee publicly volunteered to decrypt the iPhone used by Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik in San Bernardino, avoiding the need for Apple to build a backdoor.{{cite web |last=Hathaway |first=Jay |title=Antivirus Wild Man John McAfee Offers to Solve FBI's iPhone Problem So Apple Doesn't Have To |url=https://nymag.com/following/2016/02/john-mcafee-says-he-can-crack-that-iphone.html |website=Following: How We Live Online |date=19 February 2016 |access-date=24 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223133848/http://nymag.com/following/2016/02/john-mcafee-says-he-can-crack-that-iphone.html |archive-date=23 February 2016 |url-status=live}} He later admitted that his claims regarding the ease of cracking the phone were a publicity stunt, while still asserting its possibility.{{cite web |url=http://www.dailydot.com/politics/john-mcafee-lied-iphone-apple-fbi/ |title=John McAfee lied about San Bernardino shooter's iPhone hack to 'get a s**tload of public attention' |last=Turton |first=William |publisher=The Daily Dot |date=7 March 2016 |access-date=15 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515024010/http://www.dailydot.com/politics/john-mcafee-lied-iphone-apple-fbi/ |archive-date=15 May 2016 |url-status=live}}

In May 2016, McAfee was appointed chairman and CEO of MGT Capital Investments, a technology holding company. It initially said it would rename itself John McAfee Global Technologies,{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/05/09/john-mcafees-first-move-as-a-new-ceo-is-to-rename-the-company-after-himself/ |title=John McAfee's first move as a new CEO was to rename the company after himself |last=Tepper |first=Fitz |website=TechCrunch |date=9 May 2016 |access-date=10 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510050502/http://techcrunch.com/2016/05/09/john-mcafees-first-move-as-a-new-ceo-is-to-rename-the-company-after-himself/ |archive-date=10 May 2016 |url-status=live}} although this plan was abandoned due to a dispute with Intel over rights to the "McAfee" name.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mgtci.com/about-intro |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803212510/https://www.mgtci.com/about-intro |url-status=dead |title=About MGT |archivedate=3 August 2017}} He changed MGT's focus from social gaming to cybersecurity, saying "anti-virus software is dead, it no longer works", and that "the new paradigm has to stop the hacker getting in" before they can do damage. The first product for this purpose was Sentinel.{{cite press release | url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/john-mcafee-provides-update-on-mgt-sentinel-300438839.html | title=John McAfee Provides Update on MGT Sentinel | access-date=12 September 2023 | archive-date=4 October 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004231752/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/john-mcafee-provides-update-on-mgt-sentinel-300438839.html | url-status=live }}

Soon after joining MGT, McAfee said he and his team had exploited a flaw in the Android operating system that allowed him to read encrypted messages from WhatsApp.{{cite web |last=Morgan |first=Steve |url=http://cybersecurityventures.com/whatsapp-message-hacked-by-john-mcafee-and-crew/ |title=WhatsApp Message Hacked By John McAfee And Crew |work=Cybersecurity Ventures |date=15 May 2016 |access-date=16 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516201313/http://cybersecurityventures.com/whatsapp-message-hacked-by-john-mcafee-and-crew/ |archive-date=16 May 2016 |url-status=live}} Gizmodo investigated his claim, and reported that he had sent reporters malware-infected phones to make this hack work. He replied: "Of course the phones had malware on them. How that malware got there is the story, which we will release after speaking with Google. It involves a serious flaw in the Android architecture."{{cite web |last=Turton |first=William |url=https://gizmodo.com/john-mcafee-apparently-tried-to-trick-reporters-into-th-1776765480 |title=John McAfee Apparently Tried to Trick Reporters Into Thinking He Hacked WhatsApp |publisher=Gawker Media |work=Gizmodo |date=16 May 2016 |access-date=16 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516195937/http://gizmodo.com/john-mcafee-apparently-tried-to-trick-reporters-into-th-1776765480 |archive-date=16 May 2016 |url-status=live}}

McAfee moved MGT into the mining of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, both to make money for the company, and to increase MGT's expertise in dealing with blockchains, which he thought was important for cybersecurity.{{cite news |title=John McAfee Says Bitcoin Boom to Put MGT in the Black |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-24/john-mcafee-says-bitcoin-boom-to-put-mgt-capital-in-the-black |author1=Lily Katz |author2=Esha Dey |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |publisher=Bloomberg |date=24 May 2017 |access-date=3 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803212105/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-24/john-mcafee-says-bitcoin-boom-to-put-mgt-capital-in-the-black |archive-date=3 August 2017 |url-status=live}}

In August 2017, McAfee stepped down as CEO, instead serving as MGT's "chief cybersecurity visionary." In January 2018, he left the company altogether. Both sides said the split was amicable; he said he wanted to spend all of his time on cryptocurrencies, while the company told of pressure from potential investors to disassociate itself from him.{{cite news |title=MGT Splits From John McAfee, Turns Focus to Digital Coin Mining |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-26/mgt-splits-from-john-mcafee-turns-focus-to-digital-coin-mining |date=26 January 2018 |author1=Lily Katz |author2=Esha Dey |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |publisher=Bloomberg |access-date=13 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213021047/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-26/mgt-splits-from-john-mcafee-turns-focus-to-digital-coin-mining |archive-date=13 February 2018 |url-status=live}}

On 13 August 2018, McAfee took a position of CEO with Luxcore, a cryptocurrency company focused on enterprise solutions.

McAfee advocated for the decriminalization of cannabis, an end to the war on drugs, non-interventionism in foreign policy, a free market economy which does not redistribute wealth, and upholding free trade. He supported abolishing the Transportation Security Administration.{{cite web |url=https://mcafee2016.com/issues/ |title=John McAfee 2016 – Libertarian For President: John McAfee On The Issues |website=Mcafee2016.com |access-date=30 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323221428/https://mcafee2016.com/issues/ |archive-date=23 March 2016}}

McAfee advocated increased cyber awareness and more action against the threat of cyberwarfare.{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/23/politics/john-mcafee-third-party-libertarian/index.html |title=John McAfee still thinks 'this is the year of the third party' |work=CNN |date=23 March 2016 |access-date=30 March 2016 |last=Watkins |first=Eli |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329120511/http://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/23/politics/john-mcafee-third-party-libertarian/index.html |archive-date=29 March 2016 |url-status=live}} He pushed religious liberty, saying that business owners should be able to deny service in circumstances that contradict their religious beliefs, adding: "No one is forcing you to buy anything or to choose one person over another. So why should I be forced to do anything if I am not harming you? It's my choice to sell, your choice to buy."{{Cite news |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/mar/31/inside-the-beltway-gary-johnson-john-mcafee-austin/ |title=Inside the Beltway: Libertarian hopefuls spar over Nazi-themed wedding cake on Fox forum |work=The Washington Times |access-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401140101/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/mar/31/inside-the-beltway-gary-johnson-john-mcafee-austin/ |archive-date=1 April 2016 |url-status=live}}

McAfee contended that taxes were illegal, and claimed in 2019 that he had not filed a tax return since 2010. He referred to himself as "a prime target" of the Internal Revenue Service.Louis Casiano, "John McAfee calls taxes 'illegal,' says it's been 8 years since he filed a return", Fox News, 4 January 2019, at [https://www.foxnews.com/us/john-mcafee-trashes-irs-in-series-of-tweets] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114071628/https://www.foxnews.com/us/john-mcafee-trashes-irs-in-series-of-tweets|date=14 January 2019}}.

In July 2017, McAfee predicted on Twitter that the price of a bitcoin would jump to $500,000 within three years, adding: "If not, I will eat my own dick on national television."{{cite tweet |last=McAfee |first=John |author-link=John McAfee |user=officialmcafee |number=887024683379544065 |date=17 July 2017 |title=@maguraaa if not, I will eat my dick on national television. |language=en |access-date=15 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220903054821/https://twitter.com/officialmcafee/status/887024683379544065 |archive-date=3 September 2022 |url-status=live}} In July 2019, he predicted a price of $1 million by the end of 2020.{{cite tweet |last=McAfee |first=John |author-link=John McAfee |user=officialmcafee |number=1150467506915676168 |date=14 July 2019 |title=Bitcoin is at the mid 10's and people worry. LMFAO!! Why do you pay attention to weekly fluctuations? Look at the past few months FFS! It's rising drastically. I'm still positive about my $1 mil BTC price by the end of 2020. Alt coins like MTC and Apollo will rise ten times more. |language=en |access-date=15 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820032419/https://twitter.com/officialmcafee/status/1150467506915676168 |archive-date=20 August 2022 |url-status=live}} In January 2020, he tweeted that his predictions were "a ruse to onboard new users," and that bitcoin had limited potential because it is "an ancient technology."{{cite news |last=Cuthbertson |first=Anthony |date=4 September 2019 |title=Bitcoin price dips towards $10,000 but john mcafee stands by $1m cryptocurrency bet |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/bitcoin-price-latest-john-mcafee-cryptocurrency-btc-bet-twitter-a9005846.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413172125/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/bitcoin-price-latest-john-mcafee-cryptocurrency-btc-bet-twitter-a9005846.html |archive-date=13 April 2021 |access-date=13 April 2021 |work=The Independent}}

{{see also|2016 Libertarian Party presidential primaries}}

File:John McAfee Feldman presidential campaign, 2016 logo.png

On 8 September 2015, McAfee announced a bid for president of the United States in the 2016 presidential election, as the candidate of a newly formed political party called the Cyber Party.{{cite web |last=Garcia |first=Ahiza |url=https://money.cnn.com/2015/09/08/news/john-mcafee-for-president/index.html?sr=fbmoney090815mcafee730story |title=John McAfee announces he's running for President |date=8 September 2015 |publisher=CNN |access-date=8 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911231649/http://money.cnn.com/2015/09/08/news/john-mcafee-for-president/index.html?sr=fbmoney090815mcafee730story |archive-date=11 September 2015 |url-status=live}} On 24 December 2015, he re-announced his candidacy bid saying that he would instead seek the presidential nomination of the Libertarian Party.{{cite web |last1=Swartz |first1=Jon |title=McAfee will run as Libertarian Party candidate for president |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/12/24/mcafee-run-libertarian-party-candidate-president/77877980/ |newspaper=USA Today |access-date=25 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225101320/http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/12/24/mcafee-run-libertarian-party-candidate-president/77877980/ |archive-date=25 December 2015 |url-status=live}} On the campaign trail, he consistently polled alongside the party's other top candidates, Gary Johnson and Austin Petersen.{{cite web |last=Schwartz |first=Zachary |url=http://www.theawl.com/2016/05/john-mcafee-libertarian-candidate-for-president |title=On The Campaign Trail With John McAfee |work=The Awl |date=5 May 2016 |access-date=7 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506142958/http://www.theawl.com/2016/05/john-mcafee-libertarian-candidate-for-president |archive-date=6 May 2016}} The three partook in the Libertarian Party's first nationally televised presidential debate on 29 March 2016.{{cite web |url=http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2016/03/31/fbn-s-john-stossel-hosts-libertarian-presidential-forum-featuring-johnson-mcafee-petersen.html |title=FBN's John Stossel Hosts Libertarian Presidential Forum Featuring Johnson, McAfee & Petersen |work=Fox Business |date=31 March 2016 |access-date=21 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521124658/http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2016/03/31/fbn-s-john-stossel-hosts-libertarian-presidential-forum-featuring-johnson-mcafee-petersen.html |archive-date=21 May 2016 |url-status=live}} His running mate was photographer, commercial real estate broker and Libertarian activist Judd Weiss.{{cite web |last=Doherty |first=Brian |title=John McAfee Will Be the Next President of the United States, Says John McAfee |url=http://reason.com/blog/2016/05/20/john-mcafee-will-be-the-next-president-o |magazine=Reason |date=20 May 2016 |access-date=16 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817154152/http://reason.com/blog/2016/05/20/john-mcafee-will-be-the-next-president-o |archive-date=17 August 2016 |url-status=live}}

McAfee came in second in the primaries{{Cite news |last=Garfinkel |first=Noah |date=24 July 2019 |title=Fugitive software tycoon John McAfee makes another run for Libertarian presidential nomination |language=en |work=Washington Examiner |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/fugitive-software-tycoon-john-mcafee-makes-another-run-for-libertarian-presidential-nomination |access-date=3 May 2020 |archive-date=6 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200506125722/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/fugitive-software-tycoon-john-mcafee-makes-another-run-for-libertarian-presidential-nomination |url-status=live}} and third at the 2016 Libertarian National Convention.{{Cite news |last=Bring |first=Daniel M. |date=28 January 2020 |title='It doesn't matter who the president is', says Libertarian presidential candidate John McAfee |language=en-US |work=Spectator US |url=https://spectator.us/brief-skype-conversation-john-mcafee/ |access-date=3 May 2020 |archive-date=14 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414233911/https://spectator.us/brief-skype-conversation-john-mcafee/ |url-status=live}}

• Adam Kokesh, talk show host and activist{{cite web |last1=Lesiak |first1=Krzysztof |title=Adam Kokesh endorses John McAfee |url=http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2016/05/adam-kokesh-endorses-john-mcafee/ |website=Independent Political Report |access-date=18 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519092348/http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2016/05/adam-kokesh-endorses-john-mcafee/ |archive-date=19 May 2016 |url-status=live |date=18 May 2016}}
• John Moore, Nevada assemblyman{{cite web |last1=McAfee |first1=John |title=Nevada Assemblyman John Moore, the most prominent... |url=https://www.facebook.com/officialmcafee/posts/620378254785025 |website=Facebook |access-date=31 May 2016 |archive-date=2 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202224423/https://www.facebook.com/officialmcafee/posts/620378254785025 |url-status=live}}
• L. Neil Smith, science fiction author and activist{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=L. Neil |title=My 2016 Endorsement |url=http://ncc-1776.org/tle2016/tle861-20160228-02.html |website=The Libertarian Enterprise |access-date=18 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623171959/http://ncc-1776.org/tle2016/tle861-20160228-02.html |archive-date=23 June 2016 |url-status=live}}

{{see also|2020 Libertarian Party presidential primaries}}

File:McAfee 2020 logo.png

Contrary to his assertion at the 2016 convention, McAfee tweeted on 3 June 2018 that he would run for president again in 2020, either with the Libertarian Party or a separate party that he would create.{{cite news |url=http://fortune.com/2018/06/04/john-mcafee-president-2020/ |title=John McAfee Says He Will Run for President in 2020 |last=Marinova |first=Polina |date=4 June 2018 |work=Fortune |access-date=23 January 2019 |archive-date=5 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180605015347/http://fortune.com/2018/06/04/john-mcafee-president-2020/ |url-status=live}} He later chose to run as a Libertarian.{{Cite news |date=7 July 2019 |title=Millionaire John McAfee planning US presidential run … from Cuba |language=en |work=South China Morning Post |agency=Agence France-Presse |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3017562/fugitive-millionaire-antivirus-guru-john-mcafee |access-date=3 May 2020 |archive-date=22 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522074052/https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3017562/fugitive-millionaire-antivirus-guru-john-mcafee |url-status=live}} He mainly campaigned for wider cryptocurrency use.

On 22 January 2019, McAfee tweeted that he would continue his campaign "in exile," following reports that he, his wife, and four campaign staff were indicted for tax-related felonies by the IRS. He said he was in "international waters," and had previously tweeted that he was going to Venezuela.{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/john-mcafee-plans-to-run-for-president-in-exile-using-thousands-of-masked-doppelgangers/ |title=John McAfee plans to run for president 'in exile' using thousands of masked doppelgangers |last=Reilly |first=Claire |date=22 January 2019 |work=CNet |access-date=23 January 2019 |archive-date=23 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123223416/https://www.cnet.com/news/john-mcafee-plans-to-run-for-president-in-exile-using-thousands-of-masked-doppelgangers/ |url-status=live}} The IRS has not commented on the alleged indictments.{{cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/tech/john-mcafee-is-running-from-u-s-authorities-and-running-for-president-on-a-boat |title=John McAfee is running from U.S. authorities – and running for President. On a boat. |last=Cruthers |first=Brooke |date=24 January 2019 |work=Fox News |access-date=24 January 2019 |archive-date=14 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514013238/https://www.foxnews.com/tech/john-mcafee-is-running-from-u-s-authorities-and-running-for-president-on-a-boat |url-status=live}} He defended Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara on Twitter, putting himself at odds with Libertarian National Committee chairman Nicholas Sarwark, who wrote, "I hear very little buzz about McAfee this time around ... making a defense of Che Guevara from Cuba may ingratiate him with the Cuban government, but it didn't resonate well with Libertarians."{{cite web |url=https://reason.com/2019/06/26/john-mcafee-libertarian-party-presidential-hopeful-is-running-his-campaign-in-exile-from-cuba/ |title=John McAfee, Libertarian Party Presidential Hopeful, Is Running His Campaign-in-Exile from Cuba |author=Doherty, Brian |date=26 June 2019 |access-date=14 July 2019 |work=Reason |archive-date=15 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715034305/https://reason.com/2019/06/26/john-mcafee-libertarian-party-presidential-hopeful-is-running-his-campaign-in-exile-from-cuba/ |url-status=live}}

In a tweet on 4 March 2020, McAfee simultaneously suspended his 2020 presidential campaign, endorsed Vermin Supreme, and announced his campaign for the Libertarian Party vice presidential nomination.{{cite web |url=https://reason.com/2020/03/04/libertarian-super-tuesday-big-night-for-jacob-hornberger-nota-john-mcafee-drops-out-and-backs-vermin-supreme/ |title=Libertarian Super Tuesday: Big Night for Jacob Hornberger, NOTA; John McAfee Drops Out and Backs Vermin Supreme |date=4 March 2020 |last=Welch |first=Matt |author-link=Matt Welch |website=Reason |access-date=24 June 2021 |archive-date=25 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225080252/https://reason.com/2020/03/04/libertarian-super-tuesday-big-night-for-jacob-hornberger-nota-john-mcafee-drops-out-and-backs-vermin-supreme/ |url-status=live}} The next day, he returned to the presidential field, reversing the suspension of his bid, as "No one in the Libertarian Party Would consider me For Vice President."{{cite tweet |last=McAfee |first=John |author-link=John McAfee |user=officialmcafee |number=1235615452841172992 |date=5 March 2020 |title=I regret that I must, Once again, Reverse my prior self. No one in the Libertarian Party Would consider me For Vice President. I must return to my run For President. BTW... Accoring to Reason Mag: I came in second In the North Carolina Libertarian Super Tuesday elections:) https://t.co/SX3hrN8ERQ |language=en |access-date=15 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127065249/https://twitter.com/officialmcafee/status/1235615452841172992 |archive-date=27 November 2022 |url-status=live}} The next month, he endorsed Adam Kokesh and became Kokesh's vice-presidential candidate, while still seeking the presidency for himself.{{Cite news |last=Welch |first=Matt |date=13 April 2020 |title=Judge Jim Gray To Seek Libertarian Presidential Nomination |language=en-US |work=Reason |url=https://reason.com/2020/04/13/judge-jim-gray-to-seek-libertarian-presidential-nomination/ |access-date=3 May 2020 |archive-date=23 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423093401/https://reason.com/2020/04/13/judge-jim-gray-to-seek-libertarian-presidential-nomination/ |url-status=live}} At the 2020 Libertarian National Convention, McAfee failed to qualify for the vice-presidential nomination.{{Cite web |date=24 May 2020 |title=Libertarian Party Picks Spike Cohen as Its Vice-Presidential Candidate |url=https://reason.com/2020/05/24/libertarian-party-picks-spike-cohen-as-its-vice-presidential-candidate/ |access-date=24 June 2021 |website=Reason.com |language=en-US |archive-date=4 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104044539/https://reason.com/2020/05/24/libertarian-party-picks-spike-cohen-as-its-vice-presidential-candidate/ |url-status=live}}

McAfee was named a defendant in a 2008 civil court case related to his Aerotrekking light-sport aircraft venture and the death of nephew Joel Bitow and a passenger.{{cite web |url=http://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/docket/CivilCourtCases/caseInfo.asp?caseNumber=CV2008-009723 |title=Civil Court Case Information – Case History (CV2008-009723) |publisher=The Judicial Branch of Arizona |date=28 April 2008 |access-date=26 June 2021 |archive-date=26 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626135108/https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Fjalla+One%7COswald |url-status=live}}

On 30 April 2012, McAfee's property in Orange Walk Town, Belize, was raided by the Gang Suppression Unit of the Belize Police Department. A GSU press release said he was arrested for unlicensed drug manufacturing and possession of an unlicensed weapon.{{cite news |url=http://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/69891 |title=GSU says McAfee's research facility had unlicensed weapons |work=Channel 5 Belize |date=2 May 2012 |access-date=4 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505070518/http://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/69891 |archive-date=5 May 2012 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |website=KVSmith.com |url=http://kvsmith.com/?p=651/print |title=Belize SWAT team raids antivirus pioneer McAfee |publisher=Ken Smith |format=article |date=7 May 2012 |access-date=2 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115032750/http://kvsmith.com/?p=651%2Fprint |archive-date=15 November 2012 |url-status=live}} He was released without charge.{{cite news |last=Jones |first=Patrick E. |url=https://news.yahoo.com/belize-police-urge-software-founder-appear-175045107--finance.html |title=Belize police urge software founder to appear |work=Yahoo! News |agency=Associated Press |date=13 November 2012 |access-date=26 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117034500/http://news.yahoo.com/belize-police-urge-software-founder-appear-175045107--finance.html |archive-date=17 January 2013 |url-status=live}} In December 2012, McAfee told a Wired reporter that from 2010 to 2011 he had made several posts to the drug discussion forum Bluelight discussing his use and manufacturing of the stimulant drug MDPV under the alias 'Stuffmonger'.{{Cite magazine |last=Davis |first=Joshua |title=John McAfee Fled to Belize, But He Couldn't Escape Himself |url=https://www.wired.com/2012/12/ff-john-mcafees-last-stand/ |access-date=2024-03-18 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028 |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624032228/https://www.wired.com/2012/12/ff-john-mcafees-last-stand/ |url-status=live }} As of March 2024, the Stuffmonger account had made 220 posts on the site in 2010 and early 2011.{{Cite web |title=Stuffmonger - User profile |url=https://www.bluelight.org/community/members/stuffmonger.169169/ |access-date=March 18, 2024 |website=Bluelight}}

In 2012, Belize police spokesman Raphael Martinez confirmed that McAfee was neither convicted nor charged, only suspected.{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/belize-mcafee-idUSL1E8MD5XK20121114 |title=Software pioneer McAfee says framed for murder in Belize |work=Reuters |date=13 November 2012 |access-date=1 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924172004/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/14/belize-mcafee-idUSL1E8MD5XK20121114 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=live}}

In January 2014, while in Canada, he said that when the Belizean government raided his property, it seized his assets, and that his house later burned down under suspicious circumstances.{{cite web |author1=Jose Pagliery |title=John McAfee enjoying new life in Canada |url=https://money.cnn.com/2014/01/08/technology/john-mcafee/ |website=CNN |access-date=14 August 2020 |date=8 January 2014 |archive-date=10 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510090745/https://money.cnn.com/2014/01/08/technology/john-mcafee/ |url-status=live}}

On 2 August 2015, McAfee was arrested in Henderson County, Tennessee, on one count of driving under the influence and one count of possession of a firearm while intoxicated.{{cite news |title=John McAfee arrested on DUI, gun charges in Henderson County |work=WBBJ 7 Eye Witness News |url=http://www.wbbjtv.com/video/john-mcafee-arrested-on-dui-gun-charges-in-henderson-county/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 June 2021 |quote=Software guru and West Tennessee resident John McAfee was arrested over the weekend on DUI and gun charges |archive-date=23 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623194520/https://www.wbbjtv.com/2015/08/04/john-mcafee-arrested-on-dui-gun-charges-in-henderson-county/}}

In July 2019, McAfee and members of his entourage were arrested while his yacht was docked at Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, on suspicion of carrying high-caliber weapons and ammunition. They were held for four days and released.{{cite news |author=Crothers, Brooke |date=25 July 2019 |title=John McAfee released after being detained in the Dominican Republic |url=https://www.foxnews.com/tech/john-mcafee-released-after-detained-dominican-republic |url-status=live |newspaper=Fox News |access-date=26 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725215703/https://www.foxnews.com/tech/john-mcafee-released-after-detained-dominican-republic |archive-date=25 July 2019}} Weapons were seized, according to the Public Ministry.{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-dominican-usa-mcafee-idUSKCN1UL02T |date=26 July 2019 |first1=Ezequiel Abiu |last1=Lopez |first2=Anthony |last2=Esposito |editor1-first=Peter |editor1-last=Cooney |title=McAfee detained in Dominican Republic, released after four days |newspaper=Reuters |accessdate=24 June 2021 |archive-date=16 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016014518/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-dominican-usa-mcafee-idUSKCN1UL02T |url-status=live}}

On 11 August 2020, McAfee falsely stated that he was arrested in Norway during the COVID-19 pandemic after refusing to replace a lace thong with a more effective face mask. He later tweeted a picture of himself with a bruised eye, claiming it occurred during this arrest.{{cite web |title=The things the DoJ's latest move against McAfee has taught us |url=https://trendinginthenews.com/crypto-currency/the-things-the-dojs-latest-move-against-mcafee-has-taught-us |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424133704/https://trendinginthenews.com/crypto-currency/the-things-the-dojs-latest-move-against-mcafee-has-taught-us |archive-date=24 April 2021 |access-date=24 April 2021 |website=Trending In The News |language=en}} A photo of the alleged arrest shows an officer with the German word for "police" on his uniform, ostensibly invalidating McAfee's claim of having been arrested in Norway. The Augsburg police later said he tried to enter Germany on that day, but was not arrested.{{cite news |title=McAfee trägt statt Schutzmaske einen Tanga |work=Blick |url=https://www.blick.ch/news/ausland/millionaer-am-flughafen-augsburg-d-mit-privatjet-gestoppt-mcafee-traegt-statt-schutzmaske-einen-tanga-id16037999.html |url-status=live |access-date=13 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812224712/https://www.blick.ch/news/ausland/millionaer-am-flughafen-augsburg-d-mit-privatjet-gestoppt-mcafee-traegt-statt-schutzmaske-einen-tanga-id16037999.html |archive-date=12 August 2020}}

On 12 November 2012, Belize police began to search for McAfee as a person of interest in connection to the homicide investigation of American immigrant Gregory Viant Faull, who was found dead of a gunshot wound the day before, at his home on the island of Ambergris Caye, the largest island in Belize.{{cite web |url=https://gizmodo.com/5959812/john-mcafee-wanted-for-murder?tag=john-mcafee |title=Exclusive: John McAfee Wanted for Murder |author=Wise, Jeff |website=Gizmodo |date=12 November 2012 |access-date=9 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625051345/http://gizmodo.com/5959812/john-mcafee-wanted-for-murder?tag=john-mcafee |archive-date=25 June 2017 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/tech/u-s-antivirus-legend-john-mcafee-wanted-for-murder-in-belize |title=Exclusive: U.S. antivirus legend John McAfee wanted for murder in Belize |author1=Kaplan, Jeremy A. |author2=Liu, Alec |work=Fox News |date=12 November 2012 |access-date=13 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113024605/http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2012/11/12/us-antivirus-legend-john-mcafee-wanted-for-murder-in-belize/ |archive-date=13 November 2012 |url-status=live}} Faull was a neighbor of McAfee's.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/11/threatlevel_1112_mcafee/ |title=Murder Suspect John McAfee: I'm Innocent |last=Davis |first=Joshua |magazine=Wired |date=12 November 2012 |access-date=8 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140321121135/http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/11/threatlevel_1112_mcafee |archive-date=21 March 2014 |url-status=live}} In a contemporary interview with Wired,{{cite news |last1=Menchu |first1=Sofia |last2=Kriel |first2=Lomi |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/belize-mcafee-arrest-idINDEE8B501X20121206 |title=Guatemala detains software guru McAfee, to expel him to Belize |work=Reuters.com |access-date=26 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212221622/http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/12/06/belize-mcafee-arrest-idINDEE8B501X20121206 |archive-date=12 December 2012 |url-status=dead}} McAfee said he had been afraid police would kill him and refused their routine questions and evaded them. He buried himself in sand for several hours with a cardboard box over his head. Belize's prime minister, Dean Barrow, called him "extremely paranoid, even bonkers".{{cite news |title=John Mcafee is 'bonkers', says Belize prime minister |first=Nick |last=Allen |work=The Telegraph |date=15 November 2012 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/centralamericaandthecaribbean/belize/9681177/John-Mcafee-is-bonkers-says-Belize-prime-minister.html |access-date=15 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116162801/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/centralamericaandthecaribbean/belize/9681177/John-Mcafee-is-bonkers-says-Belize-prime-minister.html |archive-date=16 November 2012 |url-status=live}} He fled Belize rather than cooperate.{{cite news |last=Menchu |first=Sofia |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/belize-mcafee-arrest-idINDEE8B501X20121206 |title=Guatemala detains software guru McAfee, to expel him to Belize |work=Reuters |access-date=26 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212221622/http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/12/06/belize-mcafee-arrest-idINDEE8B501X20121206 |archive-date=12 December 2012 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news |title=Fugitive McAfee seeks asylum in Guatemala |work=AFB |date=15 November 2012 |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gcGbmN-CpxHfUnR0bWT1aXQeBVLw?docId=CNG.7c553bdf12ba7d7d1f681c11f209a379.231 |access-date=5 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208012112/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gcGbmN-CpxHfUnR0bWT1aXQeBVLw?docId=CNG.7c553bdf12ba7d7d1f681c11f209a379.231 |archive-date=8 December 2012 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/belize-mcafee-arrest-idUSL1E8N60A820121206 |title=4-Guatemala detains software guru McAfee, to expel him to Belize |work=Reuters |date=6 December 2012 |access-date=26 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130110023635/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/06/belize-mcafee-arrest-idUSL1E8N60A820121206 |archive-date=10 January 2013 |url-status=live}}

In December 2012, the magazine Vice accidentally gave away McAfee's location at a Guatemalan resort, when a photo taken by one of its journalists accompanying him was posted with the EXIF geolocation metadata still attached.{{cite news |url=http://www.technewsdaily.com/15768-mcafee-rookie-mistake.html |title=McAfee's Rookie Mistake Gives Away His Location |last1=Weitzenkorn |first1=Ben |date=4 December 2012 |work=TechNewsDaily |access-date=5 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121205005905/http://www.technewsdaily.com/15768-mcafee-rookie-mistake.html |archive-date=5 December 2012}}

While in Guatemala, McAfee asked Chad Essley, an American cartoonist and animator, to set up a blog so he could write about his experience while on the run.{{cite news |title=John McAfee Starts Blog While in Hiding |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/11/john-mcafee-starts-blog-while-in-hiding/ |work=ABC News |access-date=18 November 2012 |archive-date=19 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119102527/http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/11/john-mcafee-starts-blog-while-in-hiding/ |url-status=live}} He then appeared publicly in Guatemala City, where he unsuccessfully sought political asylum.{{cite news |title=John McAfee refused asylum by Guatemala |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-20629897 |access-date=24 June 2021 |agency=BBC News |date=7 December 2012 |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624070021/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-20629897 |url-status=live}}

On 5 December 2012, he was arrested for illegally entering Guatemala. Shortly afterward, the board reviewing his asylum plea denied it and he was taken to a detention center to await deportation to Belize.{{cite news |title=Software founder McAfee denied asylum in Guatemala, being deported to Belize |first=Sonia |last=Perez-Diaz |work=Global and Mail |date=6 December 2012 |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/software-founder-mcafee-denied-asylum-in-guatemala-being-deported-to-belize/article6028990/ |access-date=6 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121206201420/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/software-founder-mcafee-denied-asylum-in-guatemala-being-deported-to-belize/article6028990/ |archive-date=6 December 2012 |url-status=live}}

On 6 December 2012, Reuters and ABC News reported that McAfee had two minor heart attacks in the detention center and was hospitalized.{{cite news |author1=Gutman, Matt |author2=Laurent, Anne |date=6 December 2012 |title=John McAfee Suffers Possible Heart Attack at Guatemala Detention Center |work=ABC News |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/john-mcafee-suffers-heart-attack-guatemala-detention-center/story?id=17890926 |url-status= |access-date=6 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623194519/https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/john-mcafee-suffers-heart-attack-guatemala-detention-center/story?id=17890926 |archive-date=23 June 2021}}{{cite news |date=6 December 2012 |title=John McAfee: Software entrepreneur hospitalized in Guatemala after heart attacks |work=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-mcafee-heart-attack-20121206,0,2291425.story |url-status=live |access-date=6 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121207043629/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-mcafee-heart-attack-20121206,0,2291425.story |archive-date=7 December 2012}} His lawyer said he had no heart attacks, rather high blood pressure and anxiety attacks.{{cite web |date=7 December 2012 |title=McAfee in hospital scare after losing asylum bid |url=http://www.rappler.com/world/17478-mcafee-in-hospital-scare-after-losing-asylum-bid |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121210120249/http://www.rappler.com/world/17478-mcafee-in-hospital-scare-after-losing-asylum-bid |archive-date=10 December 2012 |access-date=8 December 2012 |website=Rappler.com |agency=Agence France-Presse}}{{cite news |last1=Salay |first1=Miguel |date=7 December 2012 |title=McAfee returns to Guatemalan detention center after hospital visit |work=CNN |publisher=Turner Broadcasting System |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/06/world/americas/guatemala-mcafee-asylum-rejected/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=8 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208023138/http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/06/world/americas/guatemala-mcafee-asylum-rejected/index.html |archive-date=8 December 2012}}{{cite web |date=7 December 2012 |title=McAfee ontslagen uit ziekenhuis |url=http://nos.nl/artikel/448809-mcafee-ontslagen-uit-ziekenhuis.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121210123401/http://nos.nl/artikel/448809-mcafee-ontslagen-uit-ziekenhuis.html |archive-date=10 December 2012 |access-date=26 December 2012 |website=NOS.nl}} McAfee later said he faked the heart attacks to buy time for his attorney to file a series of appeals that ultimately prevented his deportation to Belize, thus hastening that government's decision to send him back to the United States.{{cite news |last=Zarrella |first=John |title=John McAfee says he faked heart attack to avoid deportation to Belize |url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/13/justice/florida-john-mcafee/index.html?hpt=hp_t4 |work=CNN |access-date=14 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121217055611/http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/13/justice/florida-john-mcafee/index.html?hpt=hp_t4 |archive-date=17 December 2012 |url-status=live}}

On 12 December 2012, McAfee was released and deported to the United States.{{cite news |title=McAfee Released, Leaving Guatemala For The U.S. |url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/12/12/167035105/mcafee-to-be-released-supporters-say |work=NPR |access-date=12 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213071424/http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/12/12/167035105/mcafee-to-be-released-supporters-say |archive-date=13 December 2012 |url-status=live}}

On 14 November 2018, the Circuit Court in Orlando, Florida, refused to dismiss a wrongful death lawsuit against him for Faull's death.{{cite web |title=United States District Court Ruling Case No: 6:13-cv-1746-Orl-31KRS |url=https://regmedia.co.uk/2018/11/15/faull_estate_v_mcafee_ruling.pdf |website=regmedia.co.uk/ |access-date=16 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117105031/https://regmedia.co.uk/2018/11/15/faull_estate_v_mcafee_ruling.pdf |archive-date=17 November 2018 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=John McAfee is 'liable' for 2012 death of Belize neighbour, rules court |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/11/15/john_mcafee_liable_death_neighbour_belize/ |website=regmedia.co.uk/ |access-date=16 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115221218/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/11/15/john_mcafee_liable_death_neighbour_belize/ |archive-date=15 November 2018 |url-status=live}} McAfee did not appear in court, lost the case by default and was ordered to pay $25 million to Faull's estate.{{Cite web |date=2019-03-19 |title=Estate of Faull v. McAfee, Case No: 6:13-cv-1746-Orl-31LRH |url=https://casetext.com/case/in-re-faull-4 |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=casetext.com |archive-date=3 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203063112/https://casetext.com/case/in-re-faull-4 |url-status=live }}

In January 2019, McAfee announced that he was on the run from U.S. authorities, and living internationally on a boat following the convening of a grand jury to indict him, his wife, and four of his 2020 Libertarian Party presidential primaries staff on tax evasion charges.{{cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/tech/john-mcafee-is-running-from-u-s-authorities-and-running-for-president-on-a-boat |title=John McAfee is running from U.S. authorities – and running for President. On a boat. |last=Cruthers |first=Brooke |date=24 January 2019 |work=Fox News |access-date=14 May 2019 |archive-date=14 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514013238/https://www.foxnews.com/tech/john-mcafee-is-running-from-u-s-authorities-and-running-for-president-on-a-boat |url-status=live}} At the time, the Internal Revenue Service had not independently confirmed the existence of any such indictment.

On 5 October 2020, McAfee was arrested in Spain at the request of the United States Department of Justice for tax evasion. The June indictment, which was unsealed upon his arrest, alleged he earned millions of dollars from 2014 to 2018, and failed to file income tax returns.{{cite news |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/john-mcafee-indicted-tax-evasion |title=John McAfee Indicted for Tax Evasion |author=Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Justice |date=5 October 2020 |access-date=5 October 2020 |archive-date=5 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005222421/https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/john-mcafee-indicted-tax-evasion |url-status=live}}

On 6 October, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a complaint further alleging McAfee and his bodyguard promoted certain initial coin offerings (ICOs) in a fraudulent cryptocurrency pump and dump scheme.{{cite web |title=SEC Complaint: John David McAfee and Jimmy Gale Watson, Jr. |url=https://www.sec.gov/litigation/complaints/2020/comp-pr2020-246.pdf |website=US Securities and Exchange Commission |publisher=United States Court, Southern District of New York |access-date=24 June 2021 |location=New York |pages=2–5 |language=en |date=5 October 2010 |url-status=live |archive-date=17 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017024032/https://www.sec.gov/litigation/complaints/2020/comp-pr2020-246.pdf}} It claims he presented himself as an impartial investor when he promoted the ICOs, despite allegedly getting paid $23 million in digital assets in return.

On 5 March 2021, the [[United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York|U.S. Attorney's Office for the

Southern District of New York]] formally indicted him and an executive adviser on these charges.

McAfee was jailed in Spain, pending extradition to the United States.{{cite press release |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/john-david-mcafee-and-executive-adviser-his-cryptocurrency-team-indicted-manhattan |title=John David McAfee And Executive Adviser Of His Cryptocurrency Team Indicted In Manhattan Federal Court For Fraud And Money Laundering Conspiracy Crimes |agency=U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney's Office Southern District of New York |access-date=5 March 2021 |archive-date=5 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305163907/https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/john-david-mcafee-and-executive-adviser-his-cryptocurrency-team-indicted-manhattan |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Shaban |first=Hamza |title=John McAfee charged with fraud over alleged cryptocurrency scheme |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/03/05/john-mcafee-charged-cryptocurrency/ |access-date=6 March 2021 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=7 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307114626/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/03/05/john-mcafee-charged-cryptocurrency/ |url-status=live}}

On 23 June 2021, the Spanish National Court authorized his extradition to face charges in Tennessee;{{Cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/spain-high-court-allows-john-mcafees-extradition-us-rcna1255 |title=Spain High Court allows John McAfee's extradition to the U.S. |website=NBC News |date=23 June 2021 |access-date=23 June 2021 |archive-date=23 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623194528/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/spain-high-court-allows-john-mcafees-extradition-us-rcna1255 |url-status=live}} 23 June 2021. McAfee is suspected of having committed suicide several hours after the authorization, though the official ruling has come under suspicion by the public, as McAfee made clear he had no intention of committing suicide by his tweet from 2019. The tweet, posted in November 2019, said: "Getting subtle messages from U.S. officials saying, in effect: 'We're coming for you McAfee! We're going to kill yourself'. I got a tattoo today just in case. If I suicide myself, I didn't. I was whackd. Check my right arm." It included a photo of a tattoo that said "$WHACKD."{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/john-mcafee-tweet-said-his-suicide-would-him-being-whackd-2021-6|title=2 years before his death, John McAfee posted a tweet saying, 'If I suicide myself, I didn't. I was whackd.'|first=Mia|last=Jankowicz|website=Business Insider|access-date=16 May 2024|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624230129/https://www.businessinsider.com/john-mcafee-tweet-said-his-suicide-would-him-being-whackd-2021-6|url-status=live}} The New York extradition case was still pending in a lower Spanish court.

McAfee married three times. He met his first wife, Fran, circa 1968 while he was working towards a doctorate at Northeast Louisiana State College and she was an 18-year-old undergraduate student.{{cite magazine | last1=Tarabay | first1=Jamie | last2=Bremmer | first2=Matthew | date=February 20, 2023 | title=Fear Made John McAfee Rich | magazine=Bloomberg Business Week | publisher=Bloomberg | pages=42 to 47 }} Their affair led to his expulsion from the college. He married his second wife, Judy, a former flight attendant at American Airlines, circa 1987; they divorced in 2002.

The night after McAfee arrived in the United States after being deported from Guatemala in December 2012, he was solicited by and slept with Janice Dyson, then a prostitute 30 years his junior in South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida.{{Cite web |last=Gutman |first=Matt |date=15 May 2017 |title=Tracking down John McAfee, mysterious cybersecurity tycoon: Reporter's notebook |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/tracking-mysterious-cybersecurity-tycoon-john-mcafee-reporters-notebook/story?id=47337598 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103001551/https://abcnews.go.com/US/tracking-mysterious-cybersecurity-tycoon-john-mcafee-reporters-notebook/story?id=47337598 |archive-date=3 January 2019 |access-date=5 January 2019 |website=ABC News |language=en |quote=...McAfee's wife Janice. He met her the day after our interview in Miami. She was a prostitute. He says he used that wad of cash to pay her for a day, and the night. A good time that lasted a long time. Four years already}} They began a relationship and married in 2013.{{Cite web |last=Cuthbertson |first=Anthony |date=23 November 2017 |title=John McAfee says violent cartels are out to get him – and his wife was in on it |url=https://www.newsweek.com/john-mcafee-says-belize-government-trying-kidnap-him-720189 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105070711/https://www.newsweek.com/john-mcafee-says-belize-government-trying-kidnap-him-720189 |archive-date=5 January 2019 |access-date=5 January 2019 |website=Newsweek |language=en}} She claims that he saved her from human traffickers. The couple moved to Portland, Oregon in 2013.{{cite news |last=O'Hara |first=Mary Emily |date=11 January 2013 |title=Software Millionaire John McAfee Says He Is Now Calling Portland Home |work=Willamette Week |url=http://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-29632-software_millionaire_john_mcafee_says_he_is_now_calling_portland_home.html |url-status=live |access-date=23 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130211090947/http://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-29632-software_millionaire_john_mcafee_says_he_is_now_calling_portland_home.html |archive-date=11 February 2013}}

In a 2012 article in Mensa Bulletin, the magazine of the American Mensa, McAfee said developing the first commercial antivirus program had made him "the most popular hacking target" and "[h]ackers see hacking me as a badge of honor." For his own cybersecurity, he said he had other people buy his computer equipment for him, used pseudonyms for setting up computers and logins, and changed his IP address several times a day.{{cite news |date=January 2012 |title=The M Files (interview feature) |page=21 |work=Mensa Bulletin}} When asked on another occasion if he personally used McAfee's antivirus software, he replied: "I take it off [...] it's too annoying."{{cite news |last=Thomson |first=Adam |date=7 December 2012 |title=Four hours with John McAfee |work=FT Magazine |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/fcc5bdda-3f36-11e2-a095-00144feabdc0.html |url-status=live |access-date=10 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121209203718/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/fcc5bdda-3f36-11e2-a095-00144feabdc0.html |archive-date=9 December 2012}}

According to a 2016 article, McAfee had been using the then legal drug alpha-PHP which he imported from China and which may have caused his paranoia.{{Cite web |last=Wise |first=Jeff |date=2016-09-30 |title=The Obscure, Legal Drug That Fuels John McAfee |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2016/09/the-obscure-legal-drug-that-fuels-john-mcafee.html |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=Intelligencer |language=en |archive-date=21 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121184711/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2016/09/the-obscure-legal-drug-that-fuels-john-mcafee.html |url-status=live }} McAfee reportedly previously used the stimulant drug MDPV beginning in 2010, and was a member of the online drug discussion forum Bluelight.

In 2015, he resided in Lexington, Tennessee.

In December 2018, he tweeted that he had "47 genetic children."{{cite tweet |last=McAfee |first=John |author-link=John McAfee |user=officialmcafee |number=1078845703340867584 |date=29 December 2018 |title=@PugCoins @theemrsmcafee I have 47 genetic children. |language=en |access-date=15 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220911031022/https://twitter.com/officialmcafee/status/1078845703340867584 |archive-date=11 September 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-57591682 |title=The final years of John McAfee's controversial life |author=James Clayton |website=BBC News |date=24 June 2021 |access-date=24 June 2021 |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624144347/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-57591682 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |author1=Sarah Marsh |title=Fugitive U.S. tech guru: Cryptocurrency is next Cuban revolution |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-usa-mcafee-idUSKCN1U028D |website=Reuters |date=5 July 2019 |access-date=24 June 2021 |archive-date=7 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107232031/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-usa-mcafee-idUSKCN1U028D |url-status=live}} His third wife described him in a Father's Day message as "father of many, loved by few."

On 23 June 2021, McAfee was found dead in his prison cell, hours after the Spanish National Court ordered his extradition to the United States on criminal charges filed in Tennessee by the United States Department of Justice Tax Division. The Catalan Justice Department said "everything indicates" he killed himself by hanging.{{Cite web |last=Carranco |first=Rebeca |date=23 June 2021 |title=El fundador del antivirus McAfee, John McAfee, se suicida en una prisión de Barcelona |url=https://elpais.com/economia/2021-06-23/el-fundador-del-antivirus-mcafee-john-mcafee-se-suicida-en-una-prision-de-barcelona.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623193534/https://elpais.com/economia/2021-06-23/el-fundador-del-antivirus-mcafee-john-mcafee-se-suicida-en-una-prision-de-barcelona.html |archive-date=23 June 2021 |access-date=23 June 2021 |website=EL PAÍS}}{{cite web |last1=Li |first1=David K. |last2=Arisekola |first2=Segilola |last3=Dasrath |first3=Diana |date=23 June 2021 |title=John McAfee dies by suicide, hours after Spanish court authorized his extradition to U.S. |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/john-mcafee-dies-suicide-hours-after-spanish-court-authorized-his-n1272176 |publisher=NBC |access-date=23 June 2021 |archive-date=23 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623204006/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/john-mcafee-dies-suicide-hours-after-spanish-court-authorized-his-n1272176 |url-status=live}} An official autopsy confirmed his suicide.{{Cite news |title=Autopsy reportedly shows antivirus creator John McAfee died by suicide in Spanish prison cell |work=The Globe and Mail |publisher= |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-autopsy-reportedly-shows-antivirus-creator-john-mcafee-died-by-suicide/ |access-date=30 June 2021 |archive-date=30 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630073125/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-autopsy-reportedly-shows-antivirus-creator-john-mcafee-died-by-suicide/ |url-status=live }} A Spanish court also ruled McAfee died by suicide.{{Cite news|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/john-mcafee-died-by-suicide-spanish-court-rules-after-prolonged-delay-11644786188?mod=home-page|title=John McAfee died by suicide, Spanish court rules after prolonged delay|newspaper=Marketwatch |access-date=14 February 2022|archive-date=13 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213220215/https://www.marketwatch.com/story/john-mcafee-died-by-suicide-spanish-court-rules-after-prolonged-delay-11644786188?mod=home-page|url-status=live |last1=Swartz |first1=Jon }}

McAfee's death ignited speculation and conspiracy theories about the possibility that he was murdered. Such speculation was particularly fueled by a 2019 post McAfee made on Twitter that read, in part, "If I suicide myself, I didn't. I was whackd {{sic}}."{{cite tweet |last=McAfee |first=John |author-link=John McAfee |user=officialmcafee |number=1200864283766251521 |date=30 November 2019 |title=Getting subtle messages from U.S. officials saying, in effect: "We're coming for you McAfee! We're going to kill yourself". I got a tattoo today just in case. If I suicide myself, I didn't. I was whackd. Check my right arm. $WHACKD available only on https://t.co/HdSEYi9krq:) https://t.co/rJ0Vi2Hpjj |language=en |access-date=15 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221211359/https://twitter.com/officialmcafee/status/1200864283766251521 |archive-date=21 December 2022 |url-status=live}} McAfee's death drew comparisons to the circumstances of the death of American financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was found dead in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.{{cite web |last1=Greenspan |first1=Rachel E. |last2=Asarch |first2=Steven |title=QAnon followers are already spreading Epstein-like conspiracy theories about John McAfee's reported suicide |website=Business Insider |date=23 June 2021 |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/john-mcafee-death-suicide-qanon-jeffrey-epstein-conspiracy-theories-2021-6 |access-date=15 July 2021 |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624144330/https://www.businessinsider.com/john-mcafee-death-suicide-qanon-jeffrey-epstein-conspiracy-theories-2021-6 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=23 June 2021 |title=John McAfee: antivirus entrepreneur found dead in Spanish prison |url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jun/23/john-mcafee-dead-spain-prison-extradition |access-date=24 June 2021 |website=the Guardian |language=en |archive-date=23 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623232958/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jun/23/john-mcafee-dead-spain-prison-extradition |url-status=live}} Several times, McAfee claimed if he were ever found dead by hanging, it would mean he was murdered.{{Cite news |title=John McAfee's Ominous Suicide Tweets Stir Epstein-Style Conspiracies After Death in Jail |url=https://www.newsweek.com/john-mcafee-tweet-2020-surfaces-saying-if-he-dies-jail-its-not-suicide-1603546 |last=Villarreal |first=Daniel |date=23 June 2021 |work=Newsweek |access-date=24 June 2021 |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624070553/https://www.newsweek.com/john-mcafee-tweet-2020-surfaces-saying-if-he-dies-jail-its-not-suicide-1603546 |url-status=live }} The day after his death, his lawyer told reporters that while he regularly maintained contact with McAfee in prison, there were no signs of suicidal intent.{{Cite web |date=24 June 2021 |title=Lawyer saw no sign that software mogul McAfee would kill himself |url=http://www.reuters.com/world/lawyer-saw-no-sign-that-software-mogul-mcafee-would-kill-himself-2021-06-24 |access-date=24 June 2021 |website=Reuters |language=en |url-status=live |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201342/https://www.reuters.com/world/lawyer-saw-no-sign-that-software-mogul-mcafee-would-kill-himself-2021-06-24/}} McAfee's widow reaffirmed this position in her first public remarks since her husband's death, and also called for a "thorough" investigation.{{Cite web |date=25 June 2021 |title=Widow says antivirus pioneer John McAfee was not suicidal |url=https://apnews.com/article/john-mcafee-europe-business-technology-c3a6940808a8dd86a59ed71df0ff3fc2 |access-date=25 June 2021 |website=Associated Press |language=en |url-status=live |archive-date=25 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625134006/https://apnews.com/article/john-mcafee-europe-business-technology-c3a6940808a8dd86a59ed71df0ff3fc2}}{{Cite web |date=25 June 2021 |title=Software entrepreneur's John McAfee widow blames U.S. for death |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/software-entrepreneur-john-mcafee-was-not-suicidal-widow-says-2021-06-25/ |access-date=25 June 2021 |website=Reuters |language=en |url-status=live |archive-date=25 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625145741/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/software-entrepreneur-john-mcafee-was-not-suicidal-widow-says-2021-06-25/}}

On 14 December 2023, the morgue delivered McAfee's body to his family to be taken to the United States for his funeral. Until then, it had been kept in a refrigerator at the Justice City of Barcelona.{{cite news |last1=Pareja |first1=Pol |title=La familia de John McAfee recupera su cadáver dos años y medio después de su muerte en prisión |url=https://www.eldiario.es/catalunya/familia-mcafee-recupera-cadaver-anos-medio-despues-muerte-prision_1_10767732.html |access-date=15 December 2023 |work=elDiario.es |date=14 December 2023 |language=es |archive-date=14 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214164200/https://www.eldiario.es/catalunya/familia-mcafee-recupera-cadaver-anos-medio-despues-muerte-prision_1_10767732.html |url-status=live }}

In a November 2023 interview with Cointelegraph, McAfee's widow Janice McAfee claimed that he died without a will or estate which left her without any money and that she was working odd jobs to make ends meet.{{Cite web |last=Binder |first=Matt |date=2025-01-23 |title=John McAfee 'returns from the dead' to promote a memecoin on Elon Musk's X |url=https://mashable.com/article/john-mcafee-aintivirus-memecoin |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=Mashable |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2025-01-23 |title=John McAfee Is Back From the Dead to Hawk Meme-Coin |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/john-mcafee-back-dead-hawk-184657311.html?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAKKkVJEgOJ6JqxXgg-DV-8cI-KHQoce9h8N2gG2YSIQdp9LQuhSUOikGEneb6bw7YbHG1lRGrjGkBzLQf645lItE1e5aCzh0llyboRn7TSurUY5ITLuq_VxPfL6XNOz4ko2SKsCc54lnAlwt8Ylepvg9lWxFmRxDuKdKVdgR_xx6 |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US}}

In January 2025 McAfee's X (formerly Twitter) account became active announcing the launch of a new meme coin cryptocurrency and a chatbot titled Antivirus. A day later McAfee's widow Janice McAfee, who had access to the account, denied that his account was hacked and claimed the meme coin and chatbot were created to "honor John’s legacy and his memory", which generated a number of critical responses over it being a potential scam. As of January 2025 the meme coin has a market capitalization of $37 million, though the Antivirus X account was later suspended.{{Cite web |last=Binder |first=Matt |date=2025-01-23 |title=John McAfee 'returns from the dead' to promote a memecoin on Elon Musk's X |url=https://mashable.com/article/john-mcafee-aintivirus-memecoin |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=Mashable |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2025-01-23 |title=John McAfee Is Back From the Dead to Hawk Meme-Coin |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/john-mcafee-back-dead-hawk-184657311.html?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAKKkVJEgOJ6JqxXgg-DV-8cI-KHQoce9h8N2gG2YSIQdp9LQuhSUOikGEneb6bw7YbHG1lRGrjGkBzLQf645lItE1e5aCzh0llyboRn7TSurUY5ITLuq_VxPfL6XNOz4ko2SKsCc54lnAlwt8Ylepvg9lWxFmRxDuKdKVdgR_xx6 |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US}}

Gringo: The Dangerous Life of John McAfee is a Showtime Networks documentary about the portion of McAfee's life spent in Belize. It began airing in September 2016.{{cite book |url=http://www.sho.com/titles/3437264/gringo-the-dangerous-life-of-john-mcafee |title=Gringo: The Dangerous Life of John McAfee |publisher=ShowTime |date=2016 |access-date=25 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927103729/http://www.sho.com/titles/3437264/gringo-the-dangerous-life-of-john-mcafee |archive-date=27 September 2016 |url-status=live}} It covers allegations of him drugging and sexually assaulting his business partner from QuorumEx, Allison Adonizio, and ordering the murders of Belizean David Middleton and American expat Gregory Faull.{{ cite news |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/12/12887124/john-mcafee-rape-murder-accusations-gringo-documentary-tiff |title=New Showtime doc accuses John McAfee of rape and involvement in two murders |work=The Verge |date=16 September 2016 |author=Zelenko, Michael |access-date=10 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610145937/https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/12/12887124/john-mcafee-rape-murder-accusations-gringo-documentary-tiff |archive-date=10 June 2017 |url-status=live }}{{ cite news |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/john-mcafee-accused-of-rape-and-murder-in-explosive-new-doc |title=John McAfee Accused of Rape and Murder in Explosive New Doc |author=Yamato, Jen |work=The Daily Beast |date=9 December 2016 |access-date=10 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613034853/http://www.thedailybeast.com/john-mcafee-accused-of-rape-and-murder-in-explosive-new-doc |archive-date=13 June 2017 |url-status=live }} In an interview with Bloomberg's Pimm Fox and Kathleen Hayes on 8 September 2016, McAfee said these incidents were fabricated, and "Belize is a third-world banana republic and you can go down there and make any story you want if you pay your interviewees, which Showtime did."{{ cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2016-09-08/john-mcafee-showtime-s-gringo-documentary-is-fiction|date=8 September 2016|work=Bloomberg|title=John McAfee: Showtime's 'Gringo' Documentary is Fiction|access-date=10 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805163028/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2016-09-08/john-mcafee-showtime-s-gringo-documentary-is-fiction|archive-date=5 August 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/john-mcafee-showtimes-gringo-documentary-is-fiction/vp-AAiFeCk |date=8 September 2016 |work=MSN News |title=John McAfee: Showtime's 'Gringo' Documentary is Fiction |access-date=10 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201035916/http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/john-mcafee-showtimes-gringo-documentary-is-fiction/vp-AAiFeCk |archive-date=1 December 2017 |url-status=live}}

Glenn Ficarra and John Requa stated in 2017 they would direct a film about McAfee titled King of the Jungle, written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski. At various points, Johnny Depp, Michael Keaton, and Seth Rogen were reported to have taken roles and later to have left the project. Zac Efron was reported to star as journalist Ari Furman.{{cite web |author1=Mike Fleming |title=Bart & Fleming: Johnny Depp, Natalie Portman Drive Tempting Packages As Strike Talk Looms |url=https://deadline.com/2017/03/johnny-depp-natalie-portman-john-mcafee-film-packages-writers-strike-talk-1202052918/ |website=Deadline |access-date=14 August 2020 |date=27 March 2017 |archive-date=28 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328193751/https://deadline.com/2017/03/johnny-depp-natalie-portman-john-mcafee-film-packages-writers-strike-talk-1202052918/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |author1=Robert Mitchell |title=STX Close to Taking U.S. Rights to King of the Jungle With Seth Rogen, Michael Keaton |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/stx-king-of-the-jungle-seth-rogen-michael-keaton-1203131131/ |website=Variety |access-date=14 August 2020 |date=7 February 2019 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806222726/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/stx-king-of-the-jungle-seth-rogen-michael-keaton-1203131131/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |author1=Jeff Snyder |title=Zac Efron Replaces Seth Rogen in John McAfee Movie 'King of the Jungle' |url=https://collider.com/zac-efron-john-mcafee-movie-king-of-the-jungle/ |website=Collider |access-date=14 August 2020 |date=4 November 2019 |archive-date=5 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105170315/https://collider.com/zac-efron-john-mcafee-movie-king-of-the-jungle/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |author1=Borys Kit |title=Zac Efron to Star in John McAfee Comedy 'King of the Jungle' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/zac-efron-star-john-mcafee-comedy-king-jungle-1252230 |website=Hollywood Reporter |access-date=14 August 2020 |date=4 November 2019 |archive-date=5 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005230526/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/zac-efron-star-john-mcafee-comedy-king-jungle-1252230 |url-status=live}}

McAfee and his wife were interviewed on ABC News's 20/20 regarding Faull's murder.{{Cite news |url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Scoop-2020-on-ABC-Friday-May-12-2017-20170511 |title=Scoop |work=20/20 |publisher=ABC |date=12 May 2017 |access-date=14 May 2017 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513092512/http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Scoop-2020-on-ABC-Friday-May-12-2017-20170511 |archive-date=13 May 2017 |url-status=live}}

The 2022 documentary film Running With the Devil: The Wild World of John McAfee includes footage from an unreleased documentary by Vice, and interviews by Rocco Castoro, Alex Cody Foster, and Robert King.{{Cite news |url=https://www.engadget.com/running-with-the-devil-john-mcafee-netflix-documentary-review-130059579.html|title='Running with the Devil' offers an unpleasant glimpse at the 'real' John McAfee|publisher=Engadget|date=12 May 2017 |access-date=20 August 2022|language=en}}

The character of Mr. Boss in the Adult Swim animated series Smiling Friends was partially based on McAfee.[https://www.comingsoon.net/tv/news/1232214-smiling-friends-season-2-sdcc]

• Computer Viruses, Worms, Data Diddlers, Killer Programs, and Other Threats to Your System. What They Are, How They Work, and How to Defend Your PC, Mac, or Mainframe, (with Colin Haynes) St. Martin's Press, 1989{{Cite book |last1=McAfee |first1=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Uct6QgAACAAJ |title=Computer Viruses, Worms, Data Diddlers, Killer Programs, and Other Threats to Your System: What They Are, How They Work, and How to Defend Your PC, Mac, or Mainframe |last2=Haynes |first2=Colin |date=1989 |publisher=St. Martin's Press |isbn=978-0-312-03064-3 |language=en |access-date=10 June 2021 |archive-date=10 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610143120/https://books.google.com/books?id=Uct6QgAACAAJ&newbks=0&hl=fr |url-status=live}}
• The Secret of the Yamas: Spiritual Guide to Yoga, McAfee Pub, 2001{{Cite book |last=McAfee |first=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1j0CAAAACAAJ |title=The Secret of the Yamas: A Spiritual Guide to Yoga |year=2001 |publisher=McAfee Pub |isbn=978-0-9711569-0-6 |language=en |access-date=10 June 2021 |archive-date=10 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610142004/https://books.google.com/books?id=1j0CAAAACAAJ&newbks=0&hl=fr |url-status=live}}
• The Fabric of Self: Meditations on Vanity and Love, Woodland Publications, 2001{{Cite book |last=McAfee |first=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N0DKSVrTpZMC |title=The Fabric of Self: Meditations on Vanity and Love |year=2001 |publisher=Woodland Publications |isbn=978-0-9711569-2-0 |language=en |access-date=10 June 2021 |archive-date=10 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610142002/https://books.google.com/books?id=N0DKSVrTpZMC&newbks=0&hl=fr |url-status=live}}
• Into the Heart of Truth, Woodland Publications, 2001{{Cite book |last=McAfee |first=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gg9iZzNSN3oC |title=Into the Heart of Truth |date=2001 |publisher=Woodland Publications |isbn=978-0-9711569-1-3 |language=en |access-date=10 June 2021 |archive-date=10 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610143118/https://books.google.com/books?id=gg9iZzNSN3oC&newbks=0&hl=fr |url-status=live}}
• Beyond the Siddhis. Supernatural Powers and the Sutras of Patanjali, Woodland Publications, 2001{{Cite book |last=McAfee |first=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uREH_t3FjuoC |title=Beyond the Siddhis: Supernatural Powers and the Sutras of Patanjali |date=2001 |publisher=Woodland Pub. |isbn=978-0-9711569-3-7 |language=en |access-date=10 June 2021 |archive-date=10 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610142002/https://books.google.com/books?id=uREH_t3FjuoC&newbks=0&hl=fr |url-status=live}}

{{reflist}}

{{notelist}}

• {{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2012/12/ff-john-mcafees-last-stand/ |title=John McAfee Fled to Belize, But He Couldn't Escape Himself |date=24 December 2012 |last=Davis |first=Joshua |magazine=Wired |access-date=23 June 2021}}

• [https://www.c-span.org/person/?102358/JohnDMcAfee Appearances] on C-SPAN
• [http://www.whoismcafee.com/ John McAfee's website]
• {{IMDb name|2538937}}

{{McAfee}}

{{United States presidential election, 2016}}

{{2020 United States presidential election}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Subject bar|portal1=Biography|portal2=Business|portal3=Internet|portal4=Libertarianism|portal5=United Kingdom|portal6=United States|d=y|commons=y|commons-search=Category:John McAfee|q=y}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McAfee, John}}

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