Explanation of Subscription Agreement?

boomer54 · 2024-08-27T17:53:13+00:00

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3.1, Your Responsibilities: … "All messages You transmit through Bitdefender Solution shall identify You as the sender."

What, precisely, does that statement mean? Does Bitdefender have a means from which a user can send messages from within the Bitdefender application? Does it somehow tag emails or messages from other applications with their own identifier above and beyond that of the other applications? The statement seems creepy suspicious to me and is then chased with a whole bunch of additional verbiage that implies they analyze all our messages in whatever manner and by whatever means they choose. That's the kind of malware activities I want to be shielded from, not subversively subjected to by a company claiming to be a privacy champion.

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Gjoksi

Hello.

I think that the best answer to your question can be given by @Alexandru_BD, who works for Bitdefender.

So, wait for his response.

Regards.

Alexandru_BD

Hi,

Well, I think it's obvious that actual "messages" cannot be send from the Bitdefender UI. I think this clause is likely intended to ensure transparency and accountability in communication, preventing situations where communication from users to Bitdefender is sent without proper attribution or potentially used for deceptive purposes. Bitdefender does not analyze your private communications, if that's what you are asking. I think that the continuation of this Subscription Agreement paragraph is quite explanatory and provides detailed examples in relation to the actions to which the clause refers.

Bitdefender offers data security products and services. The company's goal is to ensure information and network security by providing quality products and services in these areas while also respecting privacy and personal data of customers, Internet users and business partners.

Should you have any privacy concerns, you may contact the relevant Bitdefender teams at privacy@bitdefender.com.

Regards,

Alex

boomer54

As a potential user who has no idea what the Bitdefender UI can or cannot do, no it is not "obvious". I wouldn't have gone to this trouble trying to understand the subscription agreement before installing the product if it was. You 'think' it's 'likely intended'… quite reassuring from a company representative. At least there's a clear statement that 'Bitdefender does not analyze .. private communications', albeit from someone with a vested interest in promoting the product. It's wonderful that you 'think' the continuation is 'quite explanatory', but I fail to understand the circumstances under which company lawyers would be compelled to defend the company against a user who failed to comply with those words. Thank you for your response, but it's not reassuring enough for me be comfortable installing the software. I have no intentions of engaging in nefarious online activities; I just want to be sure that my 'defender' isn't going to attack me for something that inadvertently violates a subscription agreement that I don't understand. After all, "YOU …AS AN INDIVIDUAL USER… ARE INDICATING YOUR COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS OF THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS"

The question was posted to this forum in hopes that knowledgeable, independent users in the general public would be able to provide enlightenment on the legal ramifications of the clause. For example, what circumstances would trigger enforcement? If 'actual "messages" cannot be send [sic] from the Bitdefender UI', then what would be examples of messages transmitted through Bitdefender Solution that would be tagged and identified with the sender? I understand about proper identification of messages sent to the company, but not the hidden implications of the sentence in question. The rest of the clause is pretty much standard across the internet, but when it follows the statement about "All messages" it smacks of the Bitdefender UI actively monitoring user's activities for such nefarious actions. Starting a new clause beginning with "It is Your responsibility to ensure…" would have disconnected that context.

And, by the way, the first sentence of 3.1 is obviously false: "A device enabled to access the Internet is required to utilize Bitdefender Solution." You can't force me to utilize Bitdefender on any of my devices enabled to access the internet. Maybe the software is really great, and maybe the next edition of the agreement will have better terms, but not as it is today. So, No. I do not accept the terms of the poorly crafted agreement as it stands.

Alexandru_BD

Hi @boomer54 and thanks for following up.

Point 3.1 refers to the fact that the Bitdefender Solution requires internet connectivity to function. It does not imply that you should use Bitdefender on all your devices to actually access the Internet, or that you are obliged in any way to install the software if you are using the Internet. In order for Bitdefender to work properly and to
successfully download the update files and update itself, it requires an internet connection. As you may know, antivirus programs rely on a database of virus definitions or signatures to detect known threats. These signatures need to be regularly updated as new viruses, malware, and other threats are constantly emerging. An internet connection allows the software to download these updates to ensure it can recognize and defend against the latest threats. Bitdefender needs to be updated daily, and it frequently updates its signatures multiple times within a day.

Furthermore, the software uses cloud-based technologies for detection capabilities. When a suspicious file or behavior is detected, the antivirus can query a cloud database to analyze the threat in real-time. This approach allows for more advanced detection methods that aren't limited to the definitions stored locally on the user's device. Features like web filtering, phishing protection, or safe browsing that monitor your internet activity in real-time to block malicious websites rely heavily on up-to-date databases and real-time threat analysis, both of which require internet access.

Now, I'm not a paralegal nor a legal advisor so I can explain in-depth the language used in the Subscription Agreement, and for this reason I have recommended you to contact the relevant Bitdefender teams who can provide you with more information and clarity. MY understanding of that paragraph is that it refers to unlawful use or user misconduct. For example, if someone thinks they are smart enough to get Bitdefender and then attempt to crack it open or mess with the program in a way that may compromise its security and would be a direct attack on Bitdefender infrastructure. Then that would be considered a 'message' and the Bitdefender teams will know where the attack is coming from, e.g. the software associated with the x,y,z accounts and will respond to that.

Should you reconsider Bitdefender, keep in mind that you can also test the product before enrolling in a subscription. All trial versions can be found at this link: https://www.bitdefender.com/Downloads/

The way I see it, all your questions can be answered just by sending that email. You can then decide whether Bitdefender is the right product for you or not. Finally, I would like to mention the fact that subscription agreement terms are often very detailed and use a specific verbiaje for several important reasons, such as compliance with laws, risk mitigation, definitions of the scope of services, limitations of liability, and user responsibilities, and they usually cover a wide range of possible situations, including payment defaults, service interruptions, or user misconduct. Such agreements often include specifics about the services provided, renewal processes, cancellation policies, and more. The list of information and clauses available in such a document is usually quite long and I think you will notice this regardless of the service or company you choose. First of all, I must congratulate you for going through this comprehensive information. And for taking the time to read my comments. Know that if you have any doubts, there are places where you can ask. The community is not really specialized in such matters, this is an environment where Bitdefender users, enthusiasts and fans can engage, exchange ideas, support each other and share their knowledge and solutions. It is also a place of ideation and provides valuable feedback to the product development teams. Support in the community comes mostly from Bitdefender users, but we also have Bitdefender staff around here. But this may not be the ideal place to ask about agreement clauses or legal matters. However, we do our best to share the knowledge we have.

By all means, don't let the verbiaje scare you away. If you did some research about Bitdefender beforehand, you know by know that this is a top-notch security solution and a leader in the cybersecurity industry, a trusted and awarded company that's been protecting millions of users and businesses since 2001, so there are really no 'hidden' practices or things to be concerned about when using Bitdefender. And I'm not trying to sell you anything, at the end of the day it's your call.

No matter the security solution of choice, stay safe out there.

Regards,

Alex