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Topic: Too Cheap Norton Internet Security on Ebay? Sump'thg Fishy |
Colm Chomicky
From:
Kansas, (Prairie Village)
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Posted 4 Jan 2010 5:12 pm |
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I bought a 3 computer - 2yr activation key off of Ebay for Norton Internet Security 2010. It sold for about $20. I guess I was rolling the dice but these sales were so obvious and too easy find that I figured that if there was something not legit, Norton has had more than ample opportunity to shut-down these suspect vendors who have ranked up months of well documented and very public sales. And doing a detailed search of Nortons site I saw no warnings on possible counterfeits, etc.
I had 2 computers and installed on both, seemed to be working great. Two years showing until expiration.
Well the first hint of something not being quite right was a about month later I got a 3rd computer and tried to install. Received Error "Exceeded Number of Licenses" Well heck this is supposed to be good for 3 computers, not just 2, but no panic I'll see what the guy in China says.
So the Chinese vendor sent me another key, no charge, for the 3rd computer and said something wrong with the first key. OK my 3rd computer is using that particular (newer) key.
Well a few months go by, and today my 1st set of computers show that the 2-yr subscription has lapsed. Wait I had 660 days left on the subscription last time I checked. Am I supposed to follow the Norton link and pay a huge price to get an express renewal?
Well, I read that other people were also suspicious of these cheap keys from China, but reported that Norton product support people still would support. Soo to heck with the China dudes. I live-chatted with a nice person in India through Norton Support link and told them how I bought the key on ebay, etc. They remoted into my computer, checked the key then reactivated the product.
I still suspect there is something fishy, even if Norton supports. Also I checked the Ebay seller's activity 100 percent positive feedback on 100's of Norton sales in the last year a few negative for non-norton electronic items a long time ago, but the last dozen sales show listings as removed.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150378831545
I am thinking products are not legit but Norton is just keeping mum. They probably have statistics on how many people renew direct on line after subscriptions expire at the 1 yr or 2 yr time frame. |
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Wiz Feinberg
From:
Mid-Michigan, USA
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Posted 4 Jan 2010 10:49 pm
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The sales of pirated software is a huge problem, worldwide. Norton products have been targets of pirates for as long as I have been involved with computers. Software makers who provide online program updates are able to check the validity of product keys when you, or the program, runs a check for updates. They are able to terminate your activation if the key is determined to be stolen, or misappropriated.
A key that is valid for use in China may not be valid if used in the USA. A GeoIp check can determine where a computer is located. A keyboard layout code check can reveal if it is in English or Chinese characters.
It is not unusual to find spyware and keyloggers embedded in foreign and domestic pirated software.
_________________
"Wiz" Feinberg, Moderator SGF Computers Forum
Security Consultant
Twitter: @Wizcrafts
Main web pages: Wiztunes Steel Guitar website | Wiz's Security Blog | My Webmaster Services | Wiz's Security Blog |
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Colm Chomicky
From:
Kansas, (Prairie Village)
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Posted 5 Jan 2010 5:49 am
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What the seller does is provide two options: 1) a link the Norton to download the software as a 30 day trial then you enter the key to purchase; or 2) if you already have Norton installed (but it has expired), just use the key that the seller emails to renew. The real Norton site then converts to the latest version if you are already running an older version. My product had been getting updates from Norton very regularly, and if there is a new virus alert those updates are generally within a few minutes. After a few months here it stopped working and Norton tech help remoted in and reactivated but did not change the key.
I have seen some speculation that overseas sellers are buying keys that are bulk OEM such as having 1000 licenses, etc., but after awhile these keys get overused or over booked assuming not everyone is going to install on 3 computers. |
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