Anti-virus & banking?

Yorkie1

I suspect that this is a load of sales patter but wanted to check it out for sure.

In the process of getting a feel for a new laptop, a sales person at Currys told me that if I used free anti-virus and my online banking was compromised leading to fraud, the banks would not pay out because I hadn't used a paid-for version.

Has anyone come across this before?

I could also check this out on the banking forum but thought I'd ask here first.

KateBob

New sales ploy from the sounds of it.

Banks will probably try to blame you for any fraud however you got your anti-virus:(

RussJK

It's a blatant lie.

Still, if you're worried you can use a complementary guard like Prevx Safeonline (http://www.prevx.com/safebook.asp), but uninstall it if it slows your browsing.

Regardless of what someone from Curry's says, I wouldn't rely solely on an antivirus these days as they miss too much. Use passive protections like CloudDNS (http://www.clearclouddns.com/), Sandboxie (http://www.sandboxie.com), HOSTS protections like MVPS (http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm), Adblock + EasyList & Malware Domain Subscription (http://adblockplus.org/en/subscriptions)... All work together on my netbook without speed issues.

closed

total rubbish, the free ones often have better detection rates than the paid for ones, and banks compensate for fraud whatever provided you have taken reasonable care with your password

John_Gray

Yorkie1 wrote: »

...a sales person at Currys told me that if I used free anti-virus and my online banking was compromised leading to fraud, the banks would not pay out because I hadn't used a paid-for version.

Simply ask him (for it is undoubtedly a him) to provide evidence. That should stop him in his tracks...

free4440273

complete nonsense from the 'salesperson' (rot in hell ! ) lol ! / a free anti-virus such as Avast is , in many ways, far better than any of the paid-for / it's a ploy/ a con/ The man should be kicked and shot imo :cool:

Yorkie1

Thanks, all. 'Twas a woman and she gave 'evidence' from another customer who said they worked for a bank and agreed. Anecdotal at best!

free4440273

Yorkie1 wrote: »

Thanks, all. 'Twas a woman and she gave 'evidence' from another customer who said they worked for a bank and agreed. Anecdotal at best!

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: evidence ? a rose is a rose is a rose - not :beer:

JJ_Egan

Simply that salesman should be sacked for misleading customers .
Its a blatant lie and he / she knows it .

Currys rather buy from Del Boy .

jje

DCodd

strange that, considering some banks offer free anti-virus / internet security themselves.

cgk1

strange that, considering some banks offer free anti-virus / internet security themselves.

they offer free copies of 'pay' software, not quite the same thing - however even given that the saleswoman is talking bunk.