When preinstalled (as multiple major OEMs do), or when bundled in unrelated installers in these sorts of ways, it matches the definitions of scam excellently, and protection racket not badly.

When you uninstall, they give you an opportunity to type a reason. I wonder if anyone actually reads my accusations of them being scammers and bad people. I have uninstalled McAfee from more people’s computers than I care to remember.

If a software package can't be uninstalled through the normal process and needs a separate uninstaller program, it is similar to malware. Many anti-virus suites and anti-cheat software require this. Take from that what you will.

10 Years ago. Complete garbage spyware.