Files McAfee's .DAT files are essentially records of known viruses.
Viruses are small programs that, if executed, can cause data loss.
McAffee uses the .DAT files when it scans the files on your computer to keep them virus-free. Because new viruses are created all the time, these .DAT files are also constantly being updated. The Computer Center recommends you update your .DAT files every week to ensure that your data is always safe from viruses. Check to make sure you have McAfee VirusScan installed on your computer. Look for a magnifying glass icon in your system tray, the area of your Start bar that holds your clock.