Are you talking about this: I have toyota corola?

Many programs use SQLite internally and McAfee decided to store the database files in C:/Temp

Sqlite is a great embedded database.
If you are storing lots and lots of information in a JSON file, CSV file, or coming up with your own serialisation... Chances are, sqlite is going to do it better.
I know loads of android apps use sqlite for storage. I've also managed to open quite a few programmes "proprietary" file format in sqlite.

The program needs to store multiple temporary files (one per virus definition update, or scan results or whatever purpose).

It looks like they simply picked sqlite as a format because the data has a structured format and that way they leverage databases robustness, easiness to read and query the data.

The comment appears to be from 2006. Sqlite mightve had some limitations then that necessitated creating a new (temporary) database file as a subset of larger database for performance reasons or to allow multiple processes to read/write them and then consolidate data back into the single database.

Virus definitions?

Al sorts of applications would enjoy a database to log all sorts of stuff, store results, capture events, etc.

SQLite is great because it doesn't necessitate another infra dependency as it is stored to file

Was gonna say, this wouldn't happen on John's watch. /S

Then mcaffee_ would be appearing in unrelated sqlite-using applications

Why would sqlite put references to an unrelated product in their codebase?

He was an interesting one but not a good one.

Did you just expect people that call random devs at random times to actually read any information on a website?

Yup, you found the developer. That's his phone number.

It's not exactly a new change either. In 2006 people weren't going to the specific page from duckduckgo, they were probably finding the sqlite homepage, and then tracking down the contact info.

20 years later it's probably better to maintain consistency with the prefix than to change it even if it's weird.

The way I understand the users didn't necessarily realize McAfee is responsible, just that a bunch of sqlite files appeared in temp so they might not connect the dots here anyway. Or even know McAfee is installed considering their shady practices.