Bitdefender anti-virus

Not unusual...Sirius XM Radio does the same thing..(automatic renewal unless you opt out.) many others also do this.

I use Bitdefender, but the free version. Highly rated an works great. Does everything necessary, but no un-needed bells and whistles.

X2 for BitDefender Free! It's running now and I have done some secondary scans with other software like Malwarebytes and I have had no issues with BD Free.

My issue with BD Free is that when I wanted to install a program that I knew to be safe, BD didn't like it and wouldn't allow it. Unfortunately, there is no way to override this decision. I deleted the program and went with Avast, a program BTW, which is considered by some reviewers to be superior to BD.

Any of them are only as good as their last update!

I used Bitdefender and found it missed a great many bits of malware that were picked up by Spyhunter and Clamwin. I removed it after a week and despite their 30-day guarantee it took more than a month and my filing a dispute with my credit card company to get it resolved.

Malwarebytes is a similarly bad company with automatic renewal charges and ineffective software.

I use the free Clamwin for antivirus, the free Comodo for the firewall, and the expensive but very capable Spyhunter for removal of adware. I need all three despite using Noscript and Ghostry on Firefox. They help but are not 100% effective at blocking all adware tracking. I also do not use Facebook which is one of the very worst at tracking all your activity until your computer is shut down.

A Windows PC running the stoneage Microsoft Windows operating system costs me an extra $100 a year for the anti malware protection and an extra half hour a day of scanning and removal. Anyone who thinks that a Windows PC is cheaper than a Mac is ill informed.

I tried Bitdefender and was not a happy camper.

wintersun wrote:
I used Bitdefender and found it missed a great many bits of malware that were picked up by Spyhunter and Clamwin. I removed it after a week and despite their 30-day guarantee it took more than a month and my filing a dispute with my credit card company to get it resolved.

Malwarebytes is a similarly bad company with automatic renewal charges and ineffective software.

I don't advise paying for antivirus software, if a free version is available. They use the same core technology as the paid versions, but with fewer included features. Most of which are either not needed or can be obtained free from other sources. The only exception being the paid version of Malwarebytes, which is worth paying for its real time scanning. In fact, I've only used free AV software for 12-years and never had a system taken down by malicious software.

Bitdefender Free is top rated by multiple independent security sources, but has few options to customize. It's designed for those who don't want to deal with configuring AV software. So basically, install it and forget it.

I've also been suspicious of the legitimacy of Spyhunter due to the various complaints made against its company, and by noted computer support website BleepingComputers.com. Also, by Spywarewarrior.com. And would not personally recommend it.

BTW, I would totally disagree with the statement that Malwarebytes is "ineffective" as this is not concurred by major security testing organizations for effectiveness, including a top rating by AV-Test.org. In fact, I've tested Malwarebytes myself against difficult to detect keylogging rootkits. One of the most dangerous threats existing today. As in the Target customer credit exploit. No AV software, even the top rated could find it. Malwarebytes was the only software I found that could detect and disable it.

I have had a couple of experiences with not seeing the place to click to negate the auto renewal option.

The good news is that I use a virtual credit card for all of my on-line purchases.
It is called Shopsafe and is provided by Bank of America credit cards.
I go the the BOA site sign in and get a number that is keyed to my actual number but can only be once and for a time I specify. It is also time limited. I usually specify two months.
So if a company tries to auto renew they have to get in touch with me because the number is refused by BOA.

CitiBank used to provide a similar service but I don't think they offer it now. As far as I know BOA is the only one offering it at this time.