Free antivirus software article

sokkia_2

A Note of warning for anyone with Bit Defender Auto renew products

I took up an early renewal deal for my total security product on the 28/10/18 and was charged £23.99 for this. I received a confirmation email for this on 28/10/18. Despite renewing I continued to receive automatic emails stating that my product would expire in xx days over the coming weeks but assumed this was just automated and the system was yet to catch up. I subsequently received an email stating my product had expired on 23/11/18 however when I checked on Bitdefender Central it showed 365+ days remaining on my subscription so again ignored this. I subsequently received my credit card bill and despite paying £23.99 to renew in October I have again been charged an additional £44.96 on 22/11/2018, despite previously requesting my auto renew was switched off. Note I received no emails or receipts informing me of this second charge!

This is the second year running that despite having renewed early and having auto renew disabled I have been charged twice. Had I not checked my credit card this would not have come to light. This practice is verging on theft as no extension of subscription is auto activated you are just being charged for something you have already paid for. BEWARE

​​​​​​​I raised this with Customer Support via the portal on 28/11/2018, chased it on 05/12/18 yet it took until 16/12/18 to receive any response. They offered an extension of my subscription but no refund. I responded to this "offer" on 16/12/18 and as I type this have chased again as still no further correspondence.

Unless I receive a response before Christmas I will contact my credit card company and ask they refund the charges.

All users beware of this practice!

grumpycrab

sokkia wrote: »

All users beware of this practice!

A common practise by Anti-virus companies. Similiarly, a neigbour knew that McAffee regularly took £80 from them every year (how can McAffee AV cost £80!?) and they just assumed everybody paid this. When I told them this was an unecessary expense they had to ask for my help to cancel because they had no idea how to cancel...

RumRat

I'm not sure why people continue to be ripped off and purchase antivirus for home use.
If you don't buy it, you can't be charged twice.

dipsomaniac

RumRat wrote: »

I'm not sure why people continue to be ripped off and purchase antivirus for home use.
If you don't buy it, you can't be charged twice.

+1 i blame richard branson & david attenborough for everything

murphydavid

dipsomaniac wrote: »

+1 i blame richard branson & david attenborough for everything

Me too - and stop driving your car you are destroying the planet - Helicopters and support crew flying round pristine locations is fine.

Back on thread - I have Bitdefender free never paid a penny. What extra do you get if you pay? Apart from having your credit card raided that is.

randm

I have a question if that is okay, i am using avast free antivirus and have discovered the free password manager, i have tried to search on their site but am having problems, so question one, are the passwords saved anywhere,i.e. the generated ones which i could never remember if firstly avast doesn't autofill ( as i have had happen) , and if something breaks on my computer / crashes and i have to reboot the whole thing or buy a new desk top.


many thanks all.

grumpycrab

randm wrote: »

are the passwords saved anywhere

Yes, via cloud syncing. Lots of info here (but note I don't use Avast so am not recommending it!)
https://password-managers.bestreviews.net/avast-passwords-reviews/

sunsetboulevard

I have Bitdefender antivirus free edition on my laptop. Do I need to add any other security (preferably free) such as antispyware? My laptop has Windows 10. Thanks.

TwoFlowers

Just like to add an update to this. Both the Paid and Free version of Avast have been found to be collecting user data and selling it on to third parties. Just FYI.

dors01

I used to use Avast and before that I used Avira, however in 2019 I switched to McAfee Total Protection, mainly because it was bundled with Office 365 that I bought.
McAfee was always a resource hog but not anymore, I've been seriously impressed with McAfee Total Protection compared to Avast.
The 1st scan takes an age but after this, I don't even know it's running until I get a notification warning of a potential risk.
This is only my personal experience however, but for me....well done McAfee, they seem to have listened and responded to issues that people had with their old versions of a/v software.
:beer: