Five things you should know about Antivirus software pioneer, John McAfee

Antivirus software pioneer John McAfee was found dead in his jail cell in Spain on Wednesday, a prison official said, shortly after a court approved his extradition to the United States where he was wanted for tax evasion.

Here are five things you should know about him:

Family and personal life

McAfee was born to a British father and an American mother on September 18, 1945.

At age 15, his father committed suicide by gunshot.

In 1963, he got a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Roanoke College, which also gave him an honorary Sc.D. degree in 2008.

In 2013, McAfee married Janice Dyson, who was 30 years younger than him, ABC News reported.

Software Programming

McAfee was the founder of McAfee Associates. He established the antivirus software company in 1987 but resigned from the company in 1994.

McAfee made his big break as the pioneer of the first commercial antivirus software.

In 1997, McAfee Associates and Network General came together to form Network Associates.

After then, he founded several companies includingTribal Voice, QuorumEx and Future Tense Central, among others.

In companies like Everykey, MGT Capital Investments and Luxcore, McAfee held leadership positions.

Other business interests 

As a serial entrepreneur, McAfee had other business interests aside software programming.

Such interest include cryptocurrency, herbal antibiotics, and yoga.

Political ambition

McAfee, in his lifetime, also delved into politics. In 2016 and 2020, he sought to be nominated as the United States Presidential candidate under the Libertarian Party.

However, he was unsuccessful in his pursuit.

Arrest and death

McAfee was arrested in Spain on the grounds of tax evasion on October 6, 2020.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission had brought civil charges against McAfee.

The Commission stated that he could face up to 30 years in prison, upon conviction.

He is alleged to have deliberately failed to file tax returns between 2014 and 2018, despite earning millions from consulting work, cryptocurrencies and selling the rights to his life story, AFP reported.

While awaiting extradition to the United States, McAfee was found dead on Wednesday in prison in Barcelona, Spanish. He was aged 75.

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