Is Windows Defender Free?

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[Just another Forum Poster]

Today I received an e-mail from PayPal with a charge of $300 USD for Windows Defender.  I have no idea if this is a scam; the mail did come from PayPal.  So someone (a Stanley D. Hise from San Francisco) has charged my PayPal account.   I did a quick Google search, and one site WTF? Do I Have to Pay for Microsoft’s Defender Antivirus Now? | PCMag   said that Defender was now linked to an Office 365 subscription.  I am running Windows 10 21H2 64-bit.  I figured that this forum would have persons who know the “official” answer.  Is Windows Defender still free to users like me?  Is the PayPal charge a scam?  Thanks.

• This topic was modified 1 year ago by Just another Forum Poster.

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Looks like a scam.
Windows Defender is part of Windows 10 – FREE.

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bsfinkel wrote:

WTF? Do I Have to Pay for Microsoft’s Defender Antivirus Now? | PCMag said that Defender was now linked to an Office 365 subscription.

Yes, but only the “new” Defender, not the “old” Defender (as explained in that article).

Here’s Microsoft’s attempt to “clarify” their typical naming confusion:

What is the difference between Microsoft Defender and Windows Security?

Microsoft Defender is a new cross-device app that helps people and families stay safer online. Microsoft Defender adds new features and a simplified, user interface. Microsoft Defender also brings valuable device protection to iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac, with malware protection, web protection, real-time security notifications, and security tips. Microsoft Defender is available in the Apple, Google, and Microsoft app stores and requires a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription to use.

Windows Security, formerly known as Windows Defender Security Center, is built-in security on Windows PCs to protect your device and data. Windows Security is pre-installed and automatically enabled. Windows Security includes Microsoft Defender Antivirus software that protects your Windows device and data against viruses, ransomware, trojans, and other malware unless non-Microsoft Antivirus software is active.

Microsoft Defender — Find answers to commonly asked questions (see FAQ #9)

 

bsfinkel wrote:

Is Windows Defender still free to users like me?

Yes.

 

bsfinkel wrote:

Is the PayPal charge a scam?

Yes. It’s possible for phishing emails to appear from PayPal:

Your next Phishing email may come straight from PayPal

PayPal Phishing Scam Uses Invoices Sent Via PayPal

 

Windows 11 Pro version 22H2 build 22621.2361 + Microsoft 365 + Edge

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Are you absolutely sure that the email came from PayPal? I strongly suspect that it did not and the email “return address” is not actually that of PayPal. Claiming, by email, that one owes PayPal for a purchase is a well-known scam. An immediate check of your credit account and other bank accounts is in order, just in case.  Anyway, file a protest with PayPal and state that you believe this to be a scam.

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I received one  e-mail.

From: Stanley D Hise <service@paypal.com>
Delivered to att.net/prodigy via mx3.slc.paypal.com [173.0.84.228].
Reply-To: Stanley D Hise <juliannmmmorgan@yahoo.com>

I am a retired e-mail administrator, and I think that I know how to interpret an RFC 5322 e-mail header.  As the mail came from PayPal (and that IP address is registered to PayPal), it seems legitimate.  But the Reply-To: line looks strange.  A Google search for “Stanley D. Hise” returned nothing.  I am not sure how this person/scammer? got hold of my PayPal information.  I looked at an e-mail from PayPal – my monthly cell phone charge – and it came via the same PayPal e-mail address.  But that had no Reply-To: address.

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bsfinkel wrote:

I am not sure how this person/scammer? got hold of my PayPal information.

What PayPal information was included (other than your email address)?

Did the email message start with your name or “Dear PayPal User”?

Windows 11 Pro version 22H2 build 22621.2361 + Microsoft 365 + Edge

1 user thanked author for this post.

Coldheart9020

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It looks legitimate, despite the Reply-To address being a Yahoo free e-mail account with the person’s name and e-mail address being utterly incongruous?

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Any email that portends (no, I did not mean “pretends”) to be a legitimate charge from a financial institution proffering a pending charge likely contains a link that one should not, by any notion, click on in order to investigate.  That’s what they want you to do.

Open your favorite browser, go to the known-good web site for that institution to investigate further.  Again, do not click on a link, for any reason, in any email that tells you that you owe money for any thing.

Such emails are known as “phishing”.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

2 users thanked author for this post.

Coldheart9020, Cybertooth

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While Microsoft will accept Pay Pal as a payment method, one must first go to the Microsoft account one wishes to use for a Microsoft purchase and add Pay Pal as a method of payment.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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I have been sent fake invoices for…..

McAfee

Webroot

Norton

— can’t remember how many others.  They want you to click and probably enter a CC number to get your “refund” back.  Of course they now control your CC number.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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Not only that but the ones that only give a phone number to phish for info. We get more of those now than attempts with links.

Never Say Never

1 user thanked author for this post.

Coldheart9020

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The payment is NOT from Microsoft; it appears on the invoice as Stanley D Hise, San Francisco.  I assume that this COULD be a MS retailer, but then Google would have found something.  I went to PayPal to try to complain about this charge, but PayPal would not let me do anything, I assume because the charge is in a “Pending” status.  I will check tomorrow to see if this charge has advanced from the Pending status.

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Tell us about messages from PayPal imposters

Forward suspicious email to phishing@paypal.com

When you aren’t sure if a message that appears to be from PayPal is really from us, don’t click on any links, call any listed phone numbers, or download attachments. Forward the entire email to phishing@paypal.com and delete it from your inbox.

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I have a Microsoft 365 account.  It is billed to a credit card.  Here is the email I received from Microsoft <microsoft-noreply@microsoft.com>

Do you have a Microsoft 365 account?

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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bsfinkel wrote:

The payment is NOT from Microsoft; it appears on the invoice as Stanley D Hise, San Francisco.

Was this “invoice” an attachment to the e-mail?

If so, then it’s extremely likely its fake and opening it might have infected your PC with some sort of malware.

Was this payment listed in the “Activity” section of your PayPal account when you logged in?

If so and you don’t remember approving it, it could be from an Automatic Payment you “unknowing” agreed to sometime during a previous purchase.

How to Cancel an Automatic Payment on PayPal

• Log into your PayPal account with your normal credentials.
• Click the “Settings” icon at the top right.
• Click “Payments”.
• Click “Manage automatic payments”.
• Find the payment you want to cancel and click “Cancel”.
• Follow the instructions to confirm the canceled payment.

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This was not an invoice.  It was an e-mail from PayPal stating that $300 USD was being charged to my account.  It listed the seller and a phone number.  I did call the phone number and talked briefly with someone who had a foreign accent.  Then, as I was not sure that Defender (whatever MS calls it these days) was still free, I hung up.  The charge are still pending on my PP account, so I cannot contest it.  Monday morning, if the charge is still in a pending state, then I will talk to PP support.  I want to know how this scammer was able to charge to my PayPal account.

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bsfinkel wrote:

I want to know how this scammer was able to charge to my PayPal account.

Did you read the two articles I linked at the bottom of the third post in this thread?

Windows 11 Pro version 22H2 build 22621.2361 + Microsoft 365 + Edge

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Thanks.  I had not had time to read them before.  One was hard to read, as an ad kept popping up, and I had no way to delete it.  I think that they describe my situation.

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I reported the scam e-mail to phishing@paypal.com for PP to investigate.  I do not see the charge on my PP bill, but I have not logged in to PP in a few days to determine if the charge is still pending.  I assume that PP will delete the charger after they research my report to phishing.

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