Customer ask's.."what AV should I run??"

[bword]

I just spent hours trying to remove AVG from several workstations. Some would uninstall, some needed the removal tool, some failed using both. I had to reinstall it on two just to uninstall it again.

Did you happen to give revo uninstaller a try?

 

[Digital Micro]

Did you happen to give revo uninstaller a try?

I did. I have had this happen once before so I was going to use revo this time. AVG didn't even show up.

 

[bword]

Wow AVG is a pain lol

 

[David Herzog]

On my computer, I have Eset installed with a paid version of Malwarebytes.

 

[Calx]

Any crazy requirements or money down to get started with Bitdefender?

Nope, just find a supplier in your country, then resell with about a £20 margin. They also offer a kick back if customer renews direct after the first twelve months, around 20% of the renewal, but I haven't been selling long enough to get to the 12 month point yet.

Just contact them via the bitdefender website affiliate link.

 

[Moez]

So I just wanted to throw in my $0.02 on this. First off, strongly recommend http://www.antivirussales.com/. Perfect for reselling different consumer AV.

We have most of our business clients on RMM with AV. But our residential has been a bit different. I, like many, have argued that paying for AV is pointless when the free ones work just as good. And while this is still very true, I'm seeing more and more of the free options getting more and more naggy. In fact, we are finding many of our clients end up giving in and pay for the upgrade. As a result, we've started pitching paid AV at a rate lower than MSRP (we're talking about $10 off, nothing crazy). But for us, the value isn't really in reselling the AV, but having the customer come back to us for renewal. Even if we don't end up going onsite, it guarantees an annual conversation.

Sooooo, starting in 2016 we're doing something different. All of the profits from the sale/renewal of consumer AV will go to charity. We've already tried this with a couple of new clients in the last 2 weeks and they were all over it.

 

[bword]

That's a great idea. ^

 

[nlinecomputers]

AVG Free. I stopped selling it when they refused to give me free licences because I didn't buy enough!

So after being burned by them, you continue to load the adware version that will tempt them into sales instead of moving to a better product that you could sell? Techs really need to STOP loading any free AV on clients PCs.

 

[Diggs]

Some people get irate with software getting pushed that they don't want as it's become so common today. I'm not one to up-sell I guess. I have a quick discussion with the client/customer on the pros and cons of each (paid vs free)and their browsing habits. Free A/V fits some clients (and I will install if they request) and others know they need and/or are encouraged for something better.

 

[Xaff]

I personally prefer Webroot over the rest, but in my current position, I'm forced to sell Norton :/

 

[Alan's Computer Repair]

Common question I get is what antivirus should I run on my PC? Most of these people have more Malware then anything. I usually just install MS Security Essentials and ADBlock for them, most of the time because they dont want to pay for McAfee or Norton.

Wondering what everyone else does or advises for future protection?

I tell them I don't recommend any one of them, since none of them will prevent ALL infections. That usually gets their attention. I do explain that they should have something on their computer to help prevent infections and will install something for them if they have purchased it.

Some of them will ask me to install the free version of whatever, which I will do. However I tell them that I didn't sell it to them and don't support the program, it is in no way my fault or responsibility of their computer gets infected.

 

[GTP]

Common question I get is what antivirus should I run on my PC? Most of these people have more Malware then anything. I usually just install MS Security Essentials and ADBlock for them, most of the time because they dont want to pay for McAfee or Norton.

Wondering what everyone else does or advises for future protection?

Sensible customers! I wouldn't "pay for McAfee for Norton" either!!

 

[GTP]

Think seriously about getting setup to sell a managed product. It's a great sales pitch. "You could buy A or B, but if you let me setup C, then you get good protection AND it will tell ME when something goes wrong, like it stops working, it stops updating or you get infected. That let's me bring my professional expertise to bear in your protection 24/7. Plus it helps to tie them to you somewhat for service.

Im currently looking at "managed services" but my fear is that once the customer is signed up they will expect ALL work to be done for free!
If their HDD dies, for instance, they will say that it was because of something I didnt do!

 

[nlinecomputers]

Im currently looking at "managed services" but my fear is that once the customer is signed up they will expect ALL work to be done for free!
If their HDD dies, for instance, they will say that it was because of something I didnt do!

So? If you charge enough per head and have enough endpoints then you can take that hit easily and if you have a proper RMM product that is monitoring it then you should know in advance when the HDD is failing and can change it out BEFORE it dies. Saving the client aggravation. And even in an "all you can eat" contract the parts are NOT included. If they expect that you need to charge accordingly.

 

[GTP]

I "was" a happy Norman Security Suite reseller! I have been reselling Norman for about 20 years.
Almost 65% of my business is virus and malware removal. Norman Product renewals were a healthy percentage of of my yearly revenue!
I have seen infections on computers with "free" and "paid" versions of antivirus from all comers (to be fair, although rare, even Norman)
But, a good Antivirus-Antimalware is more than just endless configuration screens (Kaspersky, Norton, AVG, Trend Micro, anyone!)
A large percentage of my customer base are older people with older computers with limited resources. They only do email, websearches, Facebook, occasional Skype etc. Installing some AV's can quickly consume those resources, especially during scans! (AVG, Kaspersky)
Avast simply is "too good" meaning that it wants to grab anything and everything it thinks is suspicious! Free AV's drive you crazy with advertising!
I have various USB keys with all sorts of tools for diagnosing, scanning, cleaning, etc. etc infected computers.
If I plug any of these keys into a computer with Avast, (or AVG) it will remove many of the tools I use everyday (custom scripts etc)
They say that the "proof is in the pudding" and I must say that out of the many thousands of infected computers that I have dealt with in my 20 years I have seen many returned with the same problems they had to start with! Very rarely did I get a computer back with problems after installing Norman AV!
As you may be aware, Norman have been "acquired" by AVG Technologies. I spent may years building up a rapport with my customers using Norman products and telling customers to steer clear of "free" antivirus! For me personally I told my customers for many reasons not to use AVG!
Now I can see my revenue stream slipping away as my Norman customer update cycles near their end!
My Norman Wholesaler has already embraced AVG and is pushing hard for me to do likewise!
I have customers saying to me, "why would I pay for AVG when I can get it free?"
But, but, but the paid one does this and this...... Customers dont care for that!
So, I either have to eat "humble pie" or go with someone else. I have been looking into "SecuraLive" products. They have a local distributor (next suburb!) and a VERY competitive price for their products! SecuraLive has a light tread on resources and works well on older computers!
It uses the Ikarus scanning engine which seems to work well!

 

[fencepost]

Um, I think you mean Norton

I take that back, but I must admit I've never heard of Norman Security Suite and would probably not trust it if I encountered it in the wild.

For USB keys, you can still get some with hardware write protection. I think I may still have the best list, though it's horribly dated and unmaintained: http://www.fencepost.net/2010/03/usb-flash-drives-with-hardware-write-protection/

My initial thought would be to go with the Kanguru drives, but I'm not sure of availability of different brands in Oz. Would kind of suck if Kanguru wasn't available Down Under though.

 

[GTP]

Um, I think you mean Norton.....

uh.. No!
I meant NORMAN!
Maybe you should read the FULL post!.... just sayin'

 

[lan101]

I "was" a happy Norman Security Suite reseller! I have been reselling Norman for about 20 years.
Almost 65% of my business is virus and malware removal. Norman Product renewals were a healthy percentage of of my yearly revenue!
I have seen infections on computers with "free" and "paid" versions of antivirus from all comers (to be fair, although rare, even Norman)
But, a good Antivirus-Antimalware is more than just endless configuration screens (Kaspersky, Norton, AVG, Trend Micro, anyone!)
A large percentage of my customer base are older people with older computers with limited resources. They only do email, websearches, Facebook, occasional Skype etc. Installing some AV's can quickly consume those resources, especially during scans! (AVG, Kaspersky)
Avast simply is "too good" meaning that it wants to grab anything and everything it thinks is suspicious! Free AV's drive you crazy with advertising!
I have various USB keys with all sorts of tools for diagnosing, scanning, cleaning, etc. etc infected computers.
If I plug any of these keys into a computer with Avast, (or AVG) it will remove many of the tools I use everyday (custom scripts etc)
They say that the "proof is in the pudding" and I must say that out of the many thousands of infected computers that I have dealt with in my 20 years I have seen many returned with the same problems they had to start with! Very rarely did I get a computer back with problems after installing Norman AV!
As you may be aware, Norman have been "acquired" by AVG Technologies. I spent may years building up a rapport with my customers using Norman products and telling customers to steer clear of "free" antivirus! For me personally I told my customers for many reasons not to use AVG!
Now I can see my revenue stream slipping away as my Norman customer update cycles near their end!
My Norman Wholesaler has already embraced AVG and is pushing hard for me to do likewise!
I have customers saying to me, "why would I pay for AVG when I can get it free?"
But, but, but the paid one does this and this...... Customers dont care for that!
So, I either have to eat "humble pie" or go with someone else. I have been looking into "SecuraLive" products. They have a local distributor (next suburb!) and a VERY competitive price for their products! SecuraLive has a light tread on resources and works well on older computers!
It uses the Ikarus scanning engine which seems to work well!

In my opinion Bitdefender is pretty light on resources, but you can't use on anything older than windows 7 now. Vista and XP ended. I use Avira on those machines. I'm with you on the older machines with limited resources. On those I just simply use nothing additional on top of MSE. Some of them I even literally go with nothing because they are that bad. Thank goodness I don't get very many of those customers now.

 

[Digital Micro]

uh.. No!
I meant NORMAN!
Maybe you should read the FULL post!.... just sayin'

Maybe you shouldn't be a smart***. This isn't a comment section on a website where everyone attacks each other. We all try to help. He was just saying he's never heard of it, nor have I. We may not always see eye-to-eye on here about things, but we're not rude to each other.

 

[cypress]

Add me to the list that has never heard of Norman. I honestly thought you meant Norton every single time you typed Norman. It is just an honest mistake. I personally don't install free Anti-virus anymore. I stick with Kapersky, and have used Bitdefender as well before. I will be reselling Emsisoft come next year.

Get the right product but most importantly stand behind your work. I don't have issues when I do virus removals, if the client comes back with a re-infection and it is due to something they did then it is a new ticket.

I agree with the Kangaru Drives. I have one and that has all my repair tools on it and I absolutely love it. Must have.