Legit? Initial setup Malwarebytes Premium requested credit card or paypal

[WZZZ]

At initial setup for Premium trial, was asked for credit card or paypal. Was overwhelmed with setting up android phone for first time and gave complete paypal email + password. Wondering  if this was legit, or if I was scammed? Thinking now that I should have been asked only at trial expiration for any kind of payment information.

Edited December 1, 2017 by WZZZ

[mbam_mtbr]

Hi @WZZZ,

You confirm the purchase by verifying you have Malwarebytes for Android Premium.

From our Malwarebytes for Android FAQs:

To verify you have Malwarebytes for Android Premium:

1. Open Malwarebytes for Android.
2. Tap the menu icon.
3. Scroll down to General.
4. Tap Premium.
5. Look for a Your Premium account is activated message, as shown below.

Nathan

[WZZZ]

There, I'm seeing "You're enjoying all Premium features for a month....," which I expected, since this should be the trial version. But that doesn't answer my question whether MB should have asked for payment information at start of trial, which it did, or only when trial expires. Thanks, but please clarify if this is normal or not.

[mbam_mtbr]

Hi @WZZZ,

Yes, this is normal.

Nathan

[WZZZ]

Good enough. Thanks.

[WZZZ]

Actually, another question: What would have happened had I checked "SKIP?" Didn't notice that option the other day, as I was up to my eyeballs in setting up this new cell phone. Would I have been allowed to continue with the trial, and then prompted for payment information at its expiration? If so, I suppose there's no way to go back for a do-over. I'm not all that happy about Malwarebytes, as reputable as you are, having my complete paypal account signin.

Edited December 2, 2017 by WZZZ

[WZZZ]

paypal password changed. Absolutely nuts that Malwarebytes asks for full login credentials--I don't care if you are using the best encryption in the universe, that is something that should never happen.

Edited December 2, 2017 by WZZZ

[WZZZ]

Editing not possible after logout: I wanted to add that one of the reasons I may often use paypal for online payment is that the originating site sends me there for confirmation, and never sees the payment method, paypal login or any sensitive data. That way, I can avoid yet another site having access to or storing my c card credentials. I don't know if I'm talking to someone here who can do anything about this directly, but I wonder if you might be able to refer this to someone who would be able to consider setting this up in this fashion in the future. Thank you.

Edited December 2, 2017 by WZZZ

[mbam_mtbr]

Hi @WZZZ,

The payment message you received is through Google via the Play store, not Malwarebytes.  Thus, if any payment data is stored, it's through Google.  If you purchase any apps using the Play store, it uses that account to make the transaction.

Here's how to remove payment method from Google Play: Add, remove, or edit your payment method

Nathan

[WZZZ]

Thanks for that link. Now things are a little bit clearer.

So questions:

1. I removed PayPal as payment method. What will happen at the expiration of the trial, will I be prompted for a new payment method to continue?

2. Now that there is no longer any payment method, what will happen, if anything, to my current Mb Premium trial?

2. PayPal has now been removed from Payment Methods. But at my PayPal account, seeing Google under "pre-approved payments." Seems why Google wanted the password.

Quote

 

Billing Details

You've authorized use of your PayPal account for future payments to Google. You can cancel this authorization by clicking Cancel below

 

Now that PayPal has been removed as my payment method, seems logical that I should now go ahead and cancel. Pretty certain I don't want Google in PayPal pre-approved.

3. Finally, what is the annual cost for the Mb for Android license (single license)? And if I decide to pay now for a license, when does the annual period commence, is that after the expiration of the current trial or beginning with the date paid. Obviously prefer to have the annual period begin with the 30 day trial included, which would mean total 1 yr + 30 days.

 

 

Edited December 4, 2017 by WZZZ

[mbam_mtbr]

34 minutes ago, WZZZ said:

 

1. I removed PayPal as payment method. What will happen at the expiration of the trial, will I be prompted for a new payment method to continue?

You will get a notification that your trial is expired, and can choose to activate at that time.  You can activate via our app at any time: menu -> Premium

2. Now that there is no longer any payment method, what will happen, if anything, to my current Mb Premium trial?

It would have notified you with or without the payment method chosen no matter what.

3. Finally, what is the annual cost for the Mb for Android license (single license)? And if I decide to pay now for a license, when does the annual period commence, is that after the expiration of the current trial or beginning with the date paid. Obviously prefer to have the annual period begin with the 30 day trial included, which would mean total 1 yr + 30 days.

Only $11.99/year, and can be used on any mobile device that uses the same Google Account.  I'll double check, but I believe the subscription starts when you pay; ie, wait until the trial expires.

 

@WZZZ

[WZZZ]

Thanks Nathan for the help with this. Think it's now pretty much sorted out. Since I'm a total neophyte when it comes to android cell phones (any kind of smart phone, for that matter), it's quite possible that I may have missed something during the initial setup, such as a button for "further details," but the entire payment process with Google, and perhaps to a lesser extent with Malwarebytes, was fairly opaque. Somewhere along the line it would have been very nice/ethical of Google (Malwarebytes as well, to some extent) to offer some kind of clear notice or forewarning that by giving my PayPal info, I would be agreeing to have the Play Store set up a preapproved, recurring PayPal authorization--meaning that I was authorizing any and all future Play Store purchases through my PayPal account. I think I should have been given the option of using PayPal (or my c card, for that matter, if things behave similarly with that choice) just this once. E.g., if I buy something at Amazon, even though they may have my c card on file, I have the choice to select that card, or not, for any given purchase.

Edited December 5, 2017 by WZZZ

[Lorich]

I am trying to pay using PayPal for a Premium Account for my Windows PC.  But, when it goes to the PayPal screen, it asks for my credit card number.  I use PayPal so I won't have to enter that information. I saw the post about the Android and Google.  But, this won't apply to me, as I am using this for/on a Windows PC.  How can I pay using PayPal for use only on the Windows PC and not have to enter my credit card info again? 

And, based on the answer that you gave to WZZZ, it sounds as if the PlayStore will have my credit card info.  I do not have an Android Device, nor a Play Store account.  If this is the only way, is there a way for me to remove the recurring payment from the Play Store from my PC?  It seems like way too much trouble, and I don't know how to use the Play Store. 

Am I going to have to resort to just entering my credit Card number instead of using Pay Pal???

Edited April 15, 2018 by Lorich
Added more information and question

[mbam_mtbr]

Hi @Lorich,

The information above only applies to Malwarebytes for Android.  Google Play is the app store for Android apps, so it you won't apply to Windows.

I suggest asking your question in the Malwarebytes 3 Forum.

Thanks for reaching out!

Nathan