The first commercial anti-virus programmer to commit suicide: Who is John McAfee?
McAfee's fame does not only come from being an anti-virus programmer. He was also one of the most prominent names in the cryptocurrency world. His name was involved in much speculation.
John McAfee, who was born to an American father and an English mother, was born in England in 1945. John and his family move to America after Father McAfee's military service ends. McAfee, the alcohol-addicted father, died by suicide when John was only 15 years old. As it turns out, John McAfee's childhood was not a very colorful one.
However, after losing his father, he continues his education life without slowing down. He is completing his education at Roanoke College. McAfee makes his living by selling magazines while he is studying. In fact, it is known that he made good profits from the work he did during his student years. In addition to these successes, it is rumored that he started excessive alcohol consumption during his university years.
John David McAfee (18 September 1945 – 23 June 2021) was a British-American computer programmer, businessman, and two-time presidential candidate who unsuccessfully sought the Libertarian Party nomination for president of the United States in 2016 and in 2020. In 1987, he wrote the first commercial anti-virus software, founding McAfee Associates to sell his creation. He resigned in 1994 and sold his remaining stake in the company.
After his student life, McAfee started working in a company that coded punch card systems in the 60s. It is known that this job taught him the basics of early programming languages. He then starts a new job where he uses the IBM computer system. In the 70s, he worked at NASA's Space Research Institute. It is known that McAfee's addiction to drugs began during this time.
When the calendar shows the 80s, John reveals his entrepreneurial spirit. He has been investigating malware for a long time. He then decides to create and sell anti-virus products. He founded his company McAfee Associates, which made him known to many people. John's company quickly becomes successful and attracts attention. It is known that the company earns him $5 million a year.
Moving forward, McAfee's luck is running out. In 1992, a virus called Michelangelo, which was everyone's nightmare, paved the way for his work. Because institutions' interest and need for anti-virus programs are increasing. Naturally, the popularity of John McAfee and the company he founded is also increasing. But in 1994, he resigned from the company he founded. It is known that John, who is known to have sold his shares for 100 million dollars two years later, taught at Stanford University for a while.
When the calendar shows the 2000s, McAfee makes a radical decision. He moves to Belize, one of the Caribbean countries. There are rumors that John, who is known to have entered the pharmaceutical industry, is also involved in illegal activities. In addition to these rumors, he is questioned by the Belize Government for killing his neighbor in 2012. Upon this news, John's life attracts more attention from people. Everyone starts to wonder who this man is, who is always on the agenda with the strange news about him.
McAfee returns to America as a result of his experiences in Belize. For him, the doors of a new world are now opened: The World of Cryptocurrency.
A New Breath in Cryptocurrency: Ghost
After returning to America from Belize, John McAfee is turning his route to the cryptocurrency industry this time. He manages to make a name for himself as soon as he steps into this sector. This interesting man's claim that he knows the identity of Satoshi, the founder of Bitcoin, hits the world agenda like a bombshell. Thereupon, John explains that he developed a privacy-focused cryptocurrency premium called Ghost in 2020. After this move, he implemented his project. Unfortunately, his cryptocurrency adventure does not have a happy ending.
The SEC (US Securities and Exchange Commission) is suing him. The reasons for the case include the following: In 2017, he made misleading advertisements of ICO offers and suggested an ICO project to his followers on Twitter, earning 23.1 million dollars by creating perception and evading taxes. Although he completely denied these allegations, he was arrested in Spain on October 6, 2020.
John McAfee and His Questionable Death
In 2022, the judicial process regarding the suspicious death of John McAfee was continuing. A court in Spain ruled that McAfee committed suicide 7 months after his death.
The verdict, handed down by the court in the country's Martorell city, confirmed the findings of the original autopsy report into McAfee's death.
75-year-old McAfee; was found dead in his cell at the 'Centre Penitenciari Brians 2' prison in Barcelona on June 23, hours after his extradition to the United States was approved on charges of fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion.
Previously, Janice McAfee said that her husband was not suicidal and that he thought US officials were responsible for his death.