License expires AND FAKE 5-STAR REVIEWS

ArcherTC
(@archertc)

10 years, 1 month ago

UPDATE: After reviewing the 5-star reviews of the plugin, I have come to the conclusion that all of those reviews are from fake accounts. Many were created and posted around the same time, and then by those who have posted just this ONE review I believe this kind of trickery — especially by a site professing to be about security and trusted services (!!!!!) — deserves nothing but contempt. I have reduced my rating from 3 stars to 1.

WP moderators, please review the fake review accounts.

ORIGINAL COMMENT —->

I cannot speak to how well it works, because my hosting provider provides similar scanning and notification services (and even informed me of files that this did not pick up). More important: I have decided on two other programs from the repository (WordFence and Sucuri, if I am allowed to say so) to achieve the same, after receiving notice that the version here is merely a trial and, once expired, can only be renewed with a pro license.

I actually understand and appreciate the pro versus free model that many developers offer here. However, what has become best practice here on the repository is to include that information on the description page. It helps to avoid accusations of bait-and-switch tactics and clearly explains the benefit of additional review and investment.

Developer, please update the description so that users understand that they are downloading and installing a TRIAL version of the plugin that EXPIRES after one year if the user does not upgrade.

Thanks for your work.

Viewing 10 replies - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)

Andrew Nevins
(@anevins)

WCLDN 2018 Contributor | Volunteer support

10 years, 1 month ago

Many were created and posted around the same time, and then by those who have posted just this ONE review

That’s not really enough to go on.

Plugin Contributor siteguarding
(@siteguarding)

10 years, 1 month ago

You used this plugin before to analyze your website.

If you installed it again. It means plugin is good, you just dont want to pay for good plugins and services and want everything for free.

Good security cant be free 🙂

Thread Starter ArcherTC
(@archertc)

10 years, 1 month ago

@andrew, let’s ask:

@siteguarding: Did you, anyone that you know, or anyone that you hired create the review accounts and reviews associated with the 5-star ratings of this plugin? Please respond directly.

As I noted in my review, I have no issue with pro/commercial plugins. See Wordfence and Sucuri for great examples. So:

@siteguarding: To avoid user confusion or being accused of unscrupulous practices, will you be updating the description to let people know that installation means just a one year license?

Moderator Jan Dembowski
(@jdembowski)

Forum Moderator and Brute Squad

10 years, 1 month ago

*Looks, looks again. Looks a 3rd time*

UPDATE: After reviewing the 5-star reviews of the plugin, I have come to the conclusion that all of those reviews are from fake accounts.

…

@siteguarding: Did you, anyone that you know, or anyone that you hired create the review accounts and reviews associated with the 5-star ratings of this plugin? Please respond directly.

Hi @archertc, I’m the undisputed world champion Sock Puppet Fake Review Social Engineering Locating Detection™ person here. 10 five star reviews is nothing and while you may disagree, there is nothing to see there. Honest.

@siteguarding: To avoid user confusion or being accused of unscrupulous practices, will you be updating the description to let people know that installation means just a one year license?

To avoid confusion… Have you installed this plugin and used it? That is the only way your review would be valid if you did and reviewed your experience.

Plugin Contributor siteguarding
(@siteguarding)

10 years, 1 month ago

to @archertc: All reviews are real.

@archertc what are you discussing here or want to show to other users? Our 10 (5 stars) Reviews? or how good/bad our plugin?

Plugin has detailed descriptions. It doesnt have any time limits. You can use FREE version forever. The different between PRO and FREE only in the features.

Our plugin detects wide range of malware codes and it’s a great tool for website analyze. We update our database every day, sometimes several times per day.

But you didnt say anything about it. Looks like the features are not important for you.

For your information: TRIAL is for 14 days only (not 1 year as you wrote above) , after you have FREE version and can use it FOREVER.

Thread Starter ArcherTC
(@archertc)

10 years, 1 month ago

@jan Thanks for taking another look. I’m a zealous reader of reviews myself and give reviews when I can. And not just on WordPress.org plugins. I’ll defer to your eagle eye here. And, yes, I have been using the plugin. My first review (before the edit) was a 3/5.

@siteguarding I used your plugin, as I mentioned in my review above. In that period, my hosting provider detected files that your plugin did not. That was why I gave it a “meh” review. You say it would have been 14 days before I got any notice. Whether that or longer, I did not have a 5-star experience. Moreover, I received an email from you saying that the plugin subscription had expired; I received a notice in the backend as well. As I stated above, I did not realize that there was any kind of subscription or trial — probably because the description states nothing about a subscription or a trial.

But, as I stated before, I deleted the plugin in favor of WordFence and Sucuri. I think I’ll be just fine.

Thread Starter ArcherTC
(@archertc)

10 years, 1 month ago

@jan would you like me to adjust the posted review back to 3/5? That speaks to my experience, not to my suspicion regarding the reviews.

Otherwise, you can close this thread as is.

Moderator Jan Dembowski
(@jdembowski)

Forum Moderator and Brute Squad

10 years, 1 month ago

@jan would you like me to adjust the posted review back to 3/5?

I’d like you to rate the plugin and your experience at whatever you’d like. I was addressing the sock puppet fake reviews portion and was unclear if you actually tried the plugin or not.

And, yes, I have been using the plugin.

I’m good. 😉

Thread Starter ArcherTC
(@archertc)

10 years, 1 month ago

Hm. There doesn’t seem to be an edit option on the original post anymore. Is it closed?

Yes, I used the plugin. Yes, I rated it 3/5 based on my actual experience. My 3 was for “fine but not continuing to use it” based on the subscription/trial confusion and better alternatives.

The drop to 1 had to do with my suspicions regarding the reviews. As long as the thread is there to show the discussion, I’m fine with returning it to a 3/5.

Thanks!

Andrew Nevins
(@anevins)

WCLDN 2018 Contributor | Volunteer support

10 years, 1 month ago

It should be editable in the same place that you opened it: https://wordpress.org/support/view/plugin-reviews/wp-antivirus-site-protection#postform – though this is only the case for Reviews and not threads in general

Viewing 10 replies - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)

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