McAfee VirusScan upgrade blocks Lotus Notes email

Mail access is blocked once the computer has been upgraded with McAfee’s VirusScan Enterprise 8.5i and IBM’s email application is already installed.

Workers using the email manager receive a pop-up warning that they are not authorised to use the application. The pop-up can be closed, but the employee will not be able to continue using the program.

This problem can reoccur and affects networks using Lotus Notes versions 6.0 and 7.0, according to an advisory on McAfee’s website.

The issue is limited to a few customers running Lotus Notes who have installed the latest version of McAfee VirusScan,” a spokesperson for the security firm said in a statement.

McAfee’s engineering team is working hard to resolve this and the company is keeping customers informed of developments.

The Californian company has issued no solution to date, but recommends that businesses disable the server database and server mailbox scanners in the software.

However, IBM advises organisations to “completely disable” the anti-virus product.