Subscription for a subscription

 There is a growing trend for even reputable players in the subscription market to become shady. 

"Ancestry" is a family tree maker that has tiers of subscriptions. You get what you pay for works with the lower levels. But for the two higher ones your subscription only gets a pointer to another web site that needs its own subscription. These are world military and newspaper documents. I think that this is wrong. If I am to pay 'Ancestry' $59.95 to access these then I shouldn't have to pay another $30 per month to each on top.

Norton anti-virus is another one that keeps asking for more money on top of the basic subscription. Most of these are minor improvements and something you can do for free yourself with a little thought.

I was offered a deal for $80 for the rest of my years subscription to update Sue's HP Microsoft computer drivers. Instead I logged into the HP app and it did it for nothing plus much more, removing unnecessary files and a half dozen other checks and tidy ups.

I think there needs to be some regulations installed by Government authorities to make these companies more accountable. The internet reminds me of the wild west before law was enforced in the early 1900s. You really have to put your wagons in a circle and stand watch. In less than six months my credit/debit cards have been fraudulently used twice*. I've actually asked the bank to just send me an EFTPOS card this time. The others are too easily  compromised. The banks have a certain culpability in sending these out unsolicited. A card arrives in the post and is labelled Visa, Cash back Visa, Credit card, Debit card. You sign it put it in your wallet and forget about it. It has taken me years to work out what all these even mean. If I lose my wallet or these cards anyone can use them! It's bizarre when you think about it. Two level verification is a joke too. Merchants simply don't bother.

Have fun, don't sin and watch your back on the internet.

*In both cases the bank refunded the full amount.