Antivirus software, cheap licences online

abibee

I'm fairly aware where cheap Windows 10 licences come from, and their legality or otherwise. However, where do licence keys for Antivirus software originate? I'm needing a new licence soon, and Eset IS is £40 on the Eset site, or under £4 for Eset IS 2 year licence on Ebay. How do these sellers come about these codes? I'm just curious.


Please no replies talking about free v paid antivirus, or whether or not Windows Defender is good enough, etc., or if an antivirus is needed at all!

Neil_Jones

Similar principle to the Office and Windows keys, the OEM keys (that are designed to go on new computers) can be bought in bulk fairly cheaply from various IT suppliers and while they are officially not supposed to be sold without a computer, there is nothing to prevent this.

The principle is to bundle the software with the computer in the hope that when it runs out you'll go back to them next year so it can be a lucrative money spinner, but these days with the advent of anti-virus that is free and what is built into operating systems, the revenue stream dried up for that.

abibee

I see, so they are just as dodgy as a £3.99 Windows 10. I wonder if the antivirus companies let the codes slide, like Microsoft seem to with their cheap codes, that is from what I've read on the matter.

forgotmyname

MS only started letting the codes slide when they wanted everyone on windows 10. Prior to that they blocked dodgy serials on a regular basis.

[Deleted User]

Yep, they've always been available for one reason or another. Of course they're totally unnecessary anyway and I'd save my £4 and use Windows Defender instead.

JJ_Egan

Been using either free via bank or online keys for kaspersky going back over ten years .
Online never a problem Kaspersky system always accepts them .
Usually buy last years version with free upgrade to current year .