14 DAY TRIAL // After revealing some time ago that it combats websites that trick users into signing up for products that come with hidden costs, by cataloging them as being malicious, Avast now gets a helping hand from the European Union’s new “Button Law.” Germany is the first country to adopt it and hopefully, others will follow.
The new law forces websites which offer paid services to clearly notify users that the registration process implies certain fees.
Basically, the classic “Register” button will be replaced with one that says “Zahlungspflichtig Bestellen” which roughly translates into “order with an obligation to pay.”
The legislation, resulted from the EU Directive 2011/83/EU on consumer rights, also enforces other similar rules. For instance, customers will also be clearly notified that the service they’re about to sign up for will cost money.
Internauts will also learn precisely how much the service costs, along with terms and conditions that state all the details of the contract.
Sites that don’t make use of the new button when offering paid services may think that they duped people, but in reality, any contract made with a company that doesn’t abide by the law is null and void.
Avast is familiar with shady websites that trick users into registering and paying for products that are normally free. That is why they recommend everyone to be careful when downloading a product that’s known to be free, especially if they’re asked to provide credit card details.
“Our message to computer users worldwide is that avast! Free Antivirus is just that – free. If a site tries to charge for the privilege of downloading it – leave immediately and tell us about it,” Avast’s Lyle Frink wrote.
The same rule applies to all free products. If you find a company that charges free software, ignore it and report it to security solutions providers who do a decent job in flagging potentially malicious sites.
To stay on the safe side, always download applications from the vendor itself, or from
trusted sources.
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