NOTICE: To anyone using SecureTeam Agile.NET code protection

[defa0009]

I received a notice from SecureTeam Agile.NET saying that they will not be supporting anyone if you do not update your payment. Basically the email is saying if you don't update to their new payment platform they won't support you or give you any updates and your current product may not work anymore. It also goes on to say that they won't be able to find you in their records if you don't update. So you basically have to buy the service again... sounds like a real scam tactic to me. What do you think?

Here is the email...

To ensure uninterrupted access to your subscription benefits, we kindly request that you place a new order via our new payment provider, Stripe. The process is quick, secure, and ensures that your subscription remains active without any disruptions.

Why this is important:

• Our agreement with Digital River is ending, and we will no longer have access to your records. Without this transition, we will be unable to support your subscription.
• Next week, we will release a new version with support for Windows 11 24H2. Without completing this transition, you will not have access to this update.

What you need to do:

• Click the link below to place your new order with Stripe. Once your order is confirmed, we will provide guidance on how to cancel your existing Digital River subscription to avoid double billing. Your subscription period will be aligned with the date of your original purchase, so you won’t lose any of your subscription benefits.

Important: Please complete this action in the next 3 days. Failure to do so will prevent us from being able to support you, as our agreement with Digital River is ending, and we will no longer have access to your records.


Important: Next week we will be releasing a new version with support for Windows 11 24H2. If you do not complete the transition, you will not receive this update

If you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out. We’re happy to support you through this process.

Thank you for your understanding and prompt attention to this matter.

Michael Avidar
Client Services SecureTeam Software Ltd.

[Sparkyboy]

We have also received this email.

Get this -they want us pay nearly $1000 again (i.e. paying twice for the same subscription) and then they will guide us through the process of getting a refund for our first payment. Gee, thanks. What a tempting offer.

I'm struggling to think of any legitimate reason why this would be necessary.

And what's this about not having access to customer records after the changeover? They know who their customers are. And if they don't they can download it from Digital River before they end of their relationship.

And what's with the sudden urgency? They must have known they were switching systems a long time ago.

Nothing about this adds up.

[defa0009]

Here is their follow up to my email....


To: SecureTeam Client Services <[email protected]>
Fri 2024-12-13 10:33 AM

Why don't you release the update now before moving to the new payment system. You're using this update as a way to force people into updating over to the new payment system. And why do you want your customers to pay again for something they already paid for and then have them go to you to get a refund? Sounds like a scam to me.

And you didn't answer my questions... you just repeated what was in the original email:

I already have my account set to not auto renew so why would I need to do this?

Is my current service that I already paid for going to stop working if I don't make the transition?

---

From: SecureTeam Client Services <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, December 13, 2024 10:24 AM
Subject: RE: Agile.NET - Code Protection for NT - Order 942235127: Payment Update 2nd Notice

We kindly ask that you complete the transition process within the next 3 days. We will follow up with the guidance on receiving a refund for you Digital River purchase earlier this year.

Our agreement with Digital River is ending, and after this period, we will no longer have access to your records. This will prevent us from providing you with the support you may need.

Moreover, next week, we will be releasing a new version with support for Windows 11 24H2. If you have not completed the transition, you will not have access to this update. This could impact your ability to run indicators or strategies on updated systems.

We strongly encourage you to complete this process as soon as possible to avoid any disruption in service or product updates. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.


Regards,

Michael Avidar | Client Services
SecureTeam

SecureTeam is committed to developing practices and products that help protect the environment

---

Sent: Friday, December 13, 2024 5:08 PM
To: SecureTeam Client Services <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Agile.NET - Code Protection for NT - Order 942235127: Payment Update 2nd Notice

I have my account set to not auto renew so do I still need to do this payment update? And what do you mean you won't provide support if I don't setup this new payment account?

Why wont have you have access to peoples records... you should have list of all your customers for support.

Is the product going to stop working if I don't do this?

[defa0009]

We have also received this email.

Get this -they want us pay nearly $1000 again (i.e. paying twice for the same subscription) and then they will guide us through the process of getting a refund for our first payment. Gee, thanks. What a tempting offer.

I'm struggling to think of any legitimate reason why this would be necessary.

And what's this about not having access to customer records after the changeover? They know who their customers are. And if they don't they can download it from Digital River before they end of their relationship.

And what's with the sudden urgency? They must have known they were switching systems a long time ago.

Nothing about this adds up.

Then you have to have faith they give you a refund! And if you don't do it you won't get the crucial update. Really bad tactic they are using to get their customers to do this update.

[defa0009]

Got another email with a bit more details...

---

From: SecureTeam Client Services <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, December 13, 2024 10:39 AM
Subject: RE: Agile.NET - Code Protection for NT - Order 942235127: Payment Update 2nd Notice

Thank you for reaching out and sharing your concerns. We’d like to address them directly and provide clarity on the situation.

1. Update Release: The update is still in development and not yet ready for distribution. It is not being withheld as a tactic to force the transition. Our goal is to ensure you continue to receive updates and support without disruption.
2. Payment Transition: Since our agreement with Digital River is ending, any payments made to them moving forward will not be recognized on our end. Even if you’ve disabled auto-renewal, Digital River may still process payments, and we will no longer have access to their system to verify or honor those payments.
3. Impact on Your Subscription: If you do not complete the transition to Stripe, your service will remain active until the end of your current subscription period. However, when that period ends, we will not be able to renew or provide updates, as we will have no access to your subscription records with Digital River.

We understand that this process may feel inconvenient, and we appreciate your patience. Our goal is to protect your access and avoid


Regards,

Michael Avidar | Client Services
SecureTeam

[Sparkyboy]

I have a suggestion for Secure Team.

Instead of asking customers to pay twice and promising to refund them their first payment, why don't you refund customers first and then ask them to re-subscribe? No? Don't fancy that?

Then don't ask customers to bear the risk that you're not willing to bear.

[defa0009]

Exactly... and their product is tied to your MAC address and that info sits in a database somewhere so they already have a list of their customers that are not tied to the payment system. So them sayng they won't have your records if you don't do the update is a total lie. And they can simply send out a payment reminder (with this new payment information) a couple weeks before your subscription ends like everyone else does. I still have 9 months left on my subscription. No way am I paying twice!

[Sparkyboy]

This is, without doubt, the most outrageous, tone-deaf way of treating customers that I've ever come across.

Does Secure Team really think we're going just hand over another $1000 and hope we can get the first lot back, just to make it easier for them?

Imagine buying an iphone and being told by Apple you've got to go back to the store to pay another $1000 because they're changing billing systems. But don't worry, we'll work with you and our first billing company to try and get your first payment back.

Unbelievable.

[Sparkyboy]

Question for NinjaTrader

You partner with Secure Team. I find it difficult to imagine that such behaviour would be tolerated from an Ecosystem Vendor to their customers.

Perhaps you could reach out to Secure Team and get to the bottom of this. We are being told to pay twice or else. In our case we have been told to send them another $990.

It really is outrageous and I would encourage NinjaTrader to re-examine their relationship with this company.

[defa0009]

Question for NinjaTrader

I find it difficult to imagine that such behaviour would be tolerated from an Ecosystem Vendor to their customers.

From what I understand they are the only ones that provide the ability to secure NinjaScript code. If NT can find another alternative I would definitely make the switch but for now this SecureTeam is our only option. Better yet NT should white label or make their own code obfuscator and sell the service themselves. Otherwise things like this happen and it can hurt NT's rep.

[Sparkyboy]

From what I understand they are the only ones that provide the ability to secure NinjaScript code. If NT can find another alternative I would definitely make the switch but for now this SecureTeam is our only option. Better yet NT should make their own code obfuscator and sell the service themselves. Otherwise things like this happen and it can hurt NT's rep.

Agreed. Things like this can potentially reflect very poorly on NinjaTrader.

Incidentally, I notice on the new billing portal link they sent (the one where I'm supposed to send them another $990) there's no mention of Secure Team. It lists "Eran Dror" as the recipient. No explanation. Who is that? Is that another company? An individual? No explanation.

[marcus2300]

Answer that I received:



We will see... but my intuition tells me that I lost the last payment to Digital River.

[marcus2300]

According to River Digital you should cancel your contract with this form:

[sidlercom80]

I have always been of the opinion that SecureTeam is a bad company and gave my review on Trustpilot a long time ago. There was no response from SecureTeam, which tells me that they don't care and they know that we are dependent on them because there is no alternative for NT unfortunately. The fact that NT even works with such a company does not speak for NT.

https://ch.trustpilot.com/review/www.secureteam.net

[defa0009]

If NT has no other alternative than to recommend SecureTeam then NT should make a deal with SecureTeam so that we go through NT instead of having to deal with SecureTeam. I'm sure NT could strike a deal with SecureTeam for a certain price on a single license and NT can then in turn add whatever margin they want on top. Then SecureTeam will be more compliant to NT's requests so as not to lose a big client.