Electronics

[HoosierGirl]

is it possible for your computer security protection to disappear from your computer??

i think/thought i had Trend Micro internet anti-virus security suite on my computer... came with it....i know that i installed it after i received the computer, but when i just looked for it on my programs list it is not there...so weird, so where would it be if not on the program list...running windows 8, did a search...icons came up but said to install for internet safety!!

i know that i had been getting status reports from Trend Micro for quite some time, but i haven't seen any for awhile??? that made me want to start looking...

wow, feeling vulnerable and pretty stupid.... eek!!

[gardenman]

Pretty much anything is possible. My best guess would be that there was a limited time on the Trend Micro suite and when that time passed the suite disabled itself. Someone else who had access to the computer could have also disabled it. It's also possible some malware came along and shut it down.

Most commercial security suites are subscription based and then must be renewed when the subscription ends. My best guess would be that the subscription expired and the software disabled itself until you renew your subscription.

[HoosierGirl]

thanks, gardenman, appreciate your response... that is probably a pretty safe guess, sadly!

i'm pretty sure it was supposed to be "lifetime" of the computer support, of course who knows what that means anymore

silly me for not paying more attention....

[glb613]

Windows 8 has Windows Defender installed by default which is it's own free anti-virus program. There is no need to pay for one unless you like a suite. If you've been online without protection, you need to enable or install a program ASAP. Update then run a full scan.

[okiebug]

Do you still have the CD with the software and the paperwork with your code for trend micro? That would give you the term of the program and a support number to call & get help finding out if it's just disabled or uninstalled, then reinstall it. In the meantime, go to their website & download the free version before you go online.

[stevieb]

On 5/21/2014 gardenman said:

Pretty much anything is possible. My best guess would be that there was a limited time on the Trend Micro suite and when that time passed the suite disabled itself. Someone else who had access to the computer could have also disabled it. It's also possible some malware came along and shut it down.

Most commercial security suites are subscription based and then must be renewed when the subscription ends. My best guess would be that the subscription expired and the software disabled itself until you renew your subscription.

The expiration thing is surely a probability, but it seems like you'd get an alert or two with an 'offer' to extend coverage? I know when my former product was due to expire I got emails from the company reminding me and also suggesting automatic renewal, etc...