Virus software rip off

[slowworm]

This is a bit of a moan but also a heads up. I've just sorted out a new computer for my elderly mother and whilst setting it up discovered she'd been paying for McAfee anti-virus software. Now this should have cost £27.49 a year if you buy it every year but because she trusted McAfee she'd signed up to the auto-renew and had been stung for..... £109.99 a year !!!

Now I can stop the auto-renew from now on but she's ended up paying more in antivirus software than the laptop cost. Looking into it there doesnt seem much chance of getting any refunds but it does seem a con to me. And to make matters worse they claim to offer ransomware protection, not from antivirus companies it seems.

Anyway, worth checking if you or a relative has it.

 

[Kepis]

I always leave my renewal till the very last minute, last time i renewed mine, i got 24 months cover for ten devices for less than i had paid for annual cover when i first signed up.

 

[Turnip]

mcafee isnt that great, have a look at bitdefender, if you look for their reviews they usually have a discounted link, i cancel and re apply with the discounted link. Alternatively, go through the cancel renewal dance and see if they give you a discount.

 

[MikeeMiracle]

Not used any in many years now, they just grind your computer to a halt with constant scanning. Traditional virus's (virii?) are not really a thing these days, it's more about malware so your better off with something like https://www.malwarebytes.com/mwb-download which you can just run every so often plus it's free and does a better job than most paid for commercial software.

 

[brambles]

Mcafee IS a virus it spreads all over your PC and is a bugger to remove, nobody needs paid AV these days, the free ones are great and Windows Defender works very well on its own

 

[C_Claycomb]

I have ESET pro on a 3 year subscription that covers me and my folks on her two machines. Not sure whether it is much better or worse, but my computer is a self build that is around 10 years old and I don't have problems with the AV slowing it down, unlike windows updates that auto download.
Anyway, I feel better about paying for software if I can. I like to think that if they are running a paid business model, they are not having to figure out ways to make money from me and my data.

 

[Bearmont]

https://www.av-comparatives.org/ for indepth comparisons. Antiviruses can be worse than malware because they too have hooks that may weaken browser or e-mail security. I personally don't use any, because I know what gets downloaded and when in doubt I put it into a sandbox and see how it behaves.

That aside, Windows Defender is "good enough". Free Bitdefender is good too if you want something a little lighter on CPU. No one needs to pay for an antivirus.

 

[bearbait]

I just buy a new version of McAfee each year from Mr. Amazon at a small fraction of the cost of McAfee's renewal price. I just got 15 months on 3 devices for £12.99 instead of the £60 or so McAfee wanted to auto renew (albeit on 5 devices, but I only use it on 2).

 

[matarius777]

This is a bit of a moan but also a heads up. I've just sorted out a new computer for my elderly mother and whilst setting it up discovered she'd been paying for McAfee anti-virus software. Now this should have cost £27.49 a year if you buy it every year but because she trusted McAfee she'd signed up to the auto-renew and had been stung for..... £109.99 a year !!!

Now I can stop the auto-renew from now on but she's ended up paying more in antivirus software than the laptop cost. Looking into it there doesnt seem much chance of getting any refunds but it does seem a con to me. And to make matters worse they claim to offer ransomware protection, not from antivirus companies it seems.

Anyway, worth checking if you or a relative has it.

If McAffee have a Facebook page, it may well be worth posting a good moan about it there, stressing how they’re taking advantage of the vulnerable and elderly, but also praise them for how good they have always been previously and how disappointed you are (it always helps and puts them “on the spot”. It can often work, because they know the power of social media.

 

[Great egret]

Windows defender comes with Windows, so there is really no need to pay for "extra" virus-software.

 

[Broch]

And yet, I know at least one person who relies on Windows Defender that I get spam email from. I even get spam email from someone running a MacBook! - but Macs have been targeted more in recent years.

Like Chris, I have a block ESET license that I have kept going for over 20 years; I have never had malware or a virus but it has caught a few.

Have a look at:

Is Antivirus Software Really Necessary in 2023?

Do you really still need an antivirus in 2023? Read our expert's opinion to find out.

www.safetydetectives.com

But, you can also find 'expert' advice that says you don't need it - so it's a matter of personal budget, priority, and peace of mind.

 

[TeeDee]

Whilst all the IT peeps are peeping - whats a good VPN based in the UK?

 

[Broch]

I've heard good things about NordVPN that comes in at less than £3/month. There are cheaper ones though - nearer £2/month.

 

[Great egret]

But, you can also find 'expert' advice that says you don't need it - so it's a matter of personal budget, priority, and peace of mind.

Advice from a website that is sponsored by advertisements from anti-virus-developers is also not very trustworthy....
I work in IT for more than 25 years and managed multiple datacentres, i have seen the security centre from Microsoft in Seattle. There is no solution that is 100% virus/spam proof.

 

[Broch]

Advice from a website that is sponsored by advertisements from anti-virus-developers is also not very trustworthy....
I work in IT for more than 25 years and managed multiple datacentres, i have seen the security centre from Microsoft in Seattle. There is no solution that is 100% virus/spam proof.

Agreed, and agreed - but I also did IT security work - I don't trust anything that's free

 

[Bearmont]

I dunno about UK-based VPN, but Surfshark is a Dutch one that's quite good and inexpensive. Servers are obfuscated, there are no logs, so it's even geared towards the P2P crowd.

 

[sidpost]

First, for McAfee, don't use a live credit card. Get a virtual card when you sign-up and turn it off afterward.

For VPN, NordVPN is a solid choice. Be careful with cheaper alternatives to make sure they aren't a front for government agencies or criminal networks. Proton is one I would look into today but, NordVPN works well for me.

 

[Chris]

Whilst all the IT peeps are peeping - whats a good VPN based in the UK?

ProtonVPN is probably my favourite and arguably most secure. I also use their mail for my proper ‘secure’ email, where I may have personal/sensitive information. They’re very privacy focused.

Edit: Sorry, didn’t realise this was an old thread!

 

[lostplanet]

Another vote for Proton VPN if you need one.
I have used Avira free AV (get the occasional popup) ever since AVG free went bad. CCleaner free is good for tidying up. All these softwares can be configured not to annoy.

 

[sidpost]

NornVPN is good too but, I am also a Proton fan!