Business Profile

Computer Software Developers

RealDefense LLC

Complaints

This profile includes complaints for RealDefense LLC's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see

Customer Complaints Summary

150 total complaints in the last 3 years.
49 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

If you've experienced an issue

Submit a Complaint

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

Initial Complaint
Date:05/03/2026
Type:Service or Repair Issues
Status:
AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
On 27 March 2026, RealDefense LLC/IOLO charged my REMOVEDaccount $84.95 for what they called "early renewal" of a one-year subscription for System Mechanic software. I had purchased a one-year subscription in May 2025. I did NOT realize my account was set to auto-renew, but worse than that, RealDefense automatically enrolls the purchaser/user also in their REMOVEDfor an extra $20/monthly. I didn't find out about these charges until I checked my REMOVEDbalance and found $20 to "IOLO" for every month following May 2025, $84.95 in March 2026, and $29.95 on 01 May 2026. So my original $55 software purchase had now cost me an extra $240 over the past 12 months for a service I never used and didn't even know I had!! When I called them I told them I never asked for Tech Support and wasn't even aware I had it. I told them to cancel auto-renewal, cancel my subscription, and I asked for reimbursement of the May 01 Tech Support charge AND the renewal fee of $84.95, as I was cancelling my account, hadn't used the service I didn't know I had, and would not be using it going forward. They did cancel my account/subscription and said they would refund REMOVEDfee of $29.95 for May 2026, which hasn't happened yet. But they REFUSED to refund the Subscription Renewal, because they said more than 30 days had passed since it was processed and that was their policy. I asked how they can charge me early for service I'm not using: before my active subscription ran out, they are charging me for one that hasn't started so I'm paying them twice for the same services, and they just said that was their policy and I should read the fine print more carefully. Beware doing business with RealDefense or puchasing any IOLO-related product: this company has very deceptive and misleading practices that will extract a lot of money from you for things you never asked for, never wanted, and were not clearly informed you would be charged for.
Business Response
Date: 05/04/2026
Hi REMOVED, thank you for leaving a review. I'm sorry to hear your billing experience was less than satisfactory.

I would like to make things right. I've shared your case with the support office and instructed them to work on your requested resolution.

Please reach out to me directly at REMOVED.

Best,
REMOVED.
Reputation Manager
Initial Complaint
Date:04/25/2026
Type:Service or Repair Issues
Status:
ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
I have been using Iolo's System Mechanic for more than a Decade now and I have reported this issue to their Tech Support on multiple occasions. A couple of times a tech support person has even taken control of my PC and (supposedly) made changes to my settings to correct the problem, but it still keeps happening. The problem is I go into the program's settings and TURN OFF: Show Tips, Closing Notifications Tip, Display info Desktop Messages, and Smart IA, as well as have my Power Options set to System Mechanic Ultimate Performance. All is well for about six weeks or so, then WITHOUT warning all my settings are RESET to ON! Since there is no warning, suddenly my PC starts acting strange and doing things that I do NOT want it to do. I think maybe I have gotten a virus or something, then a couple of days later when I access System Mechanic I discover all my settings have been reset WITHOUT MY PERMISSION!!!! This also happens when I Update the software, which is totally unacceptable, as it creates a lot of unnecessary work for me to go in and change all the settings back to the way I want them to be.
Business Response
Date: 05/07/2026
Hello REMOVED,

Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback. I'm sorry to hear about the frustrations with the in-app settings resetting when the software updates.

Your comments and expectations are valid and have been noted. The issue you've experience is being actively being reviewed and will be changed with newer versions to better align with customer customizations. Please allow us some time to develop and update these changes into the software, but rest assured we've taken your concerns seriously.

If you have further questions or would like to share more details about your experience, please contact me at REMOVED.

Best,
REMOVED.
RealDefense Reputation Manager
Customer Answer
Date: 05/08/2026

Better Business Bureau:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID REMOVED, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. However, the software settings seem to randomly change even when there is no software update given enough time. Hopefully this will be fixed also when the update bug is addressed.

Sincerely,

REMOVED
Initial Complaint
Date:04/18/2026
Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
Status:
AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
wow you are make brother email to me over 139 this company RealDefense LLC. make REMOVEDto me for money ( reduced security coverage) i not play with you make bother me
Business Response
Date: 05/01/2026
Hello Afredo,
Thank you for taking the time share your experience. I apologize for any confusion or frustration regarding our products, services and billing.

I've let the support office know to work toward a resolution for you. Please allow us some time to process everything, but you should expect to see a refund for any purchases.

If you have any questions, please contact me at REMOVED.

Best,
REMOVED.
Reputation Manager
Initial Complaint
Date:04/10/2026
Type:Product Issues
Status:
ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
We have been receiving telemarketing texts for the past week, even though we are on the federal do not call list, and have never asked for any information from this or any other company. When the link in the texts is clicked, it goes to REMOVEDwebsite.This is in direct violation of the Federal TCPA. I attempted to resolve the matter with the company via phonecall and email, but only received a generic response that had nothing to do with the actual issue. As stated in my email, I need to speak to the company's ATTORNEY or LEGAL REPRESENTATION regarding a resolution to this matter. If that does not occur, I will be seeking significant legal action against Realdefense.
Business Response
Date: 04/17/2026
Hello REMOVED,

Thank you very much for bringing this matter to our attention. We truly appreciate you taking the time to reach us.

We would like to assure you that RealDefense does not use text messaging as part of its marketing practices. While we do work with affiliates who promote our products, they are strictly prohibited from using text messaging as part of their marketing efforts. Any communication of this nature would be considered a violation of our advertising terms and conditions, and we take these matters seriously.

If you have not already, we kindly ask if you could provide the REMOVEDof the website or page the message is directing you to. Unfortunately, the originating phone number alone is not sufficient for us to trace the source of the activity.

We sincerely appreciate your assistance and cooperation, and we look forward to your response so we can address this appropriately.

Best,
REMOVED.
RealDefense Reputation Manager
Customer Answer
Date: 04/17/2026

Complaint: 24736719

I am rejecting this response because: We received an email saying the same thing as this response to our BBB complaint. When we emailed back the requested information, along with a screenshot with the REMOVEDthe company blocked our email address. That makes it QUITE clear that the company IS responsible for these text messages, and we fully intend on holding them accountable. As stated in our complaint, we will need to speak to the company's ATTORNEY to resolve this matter. If requested, we can provide a screenshot of the text message and URL to the BBB.

Sincerely,

REMOVED
Business Response
Date: 05/04/2026
Hello REMOVED,

Thank you for your follow up response. I have forwarded your request to our internal teams for review.

Please feel free to reach out to me directly at REMOVEDfor more information.

Best,
Customer Answer
Date: 05/04/2026

Better Business Bureau:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID REMOVED, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. I will reach out to the provided email. Hopefully, a resolution can be found, but if not, we will forward the matter to an attorney, and will no longer be interested in resolving it outside of litigation.

Sincerely,

REMOVED
Initial Complaint
Date:03/28/2026
Type:Billing Issues
Status:
AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
REMOVEDhas been fraudulently charging my bank account for a service I did not request. I paid $15 and some change for System Mechanic and they've been charging me $20.55 for live technical support. I never received an email about any recurring billing or pending withdrawals. I stumbled across the fact that they were scamming me because the charge popped up when I was checking my account balance. When I call, the representative said the company upgraded their system and that to get into my account I had to create a new account. Which I did and that's when I discovered they've been charging me $20.55 for live technical service. I was outraged and told the agent they were thieves. He proceeded to tell me he doesn't accept that kind of language and flat out told him, "I don't accept being charged fraudulently, and if I could press charges for an arrest- the police would be enroute!" I called my bank and filed a dispute. Regardless of the outcome anyone doing business with this company should beware of their fraudulent tactics. They were able to charge my card because of a recently purchase. They retained and applied my card to my account, without my permission.
Business Response
Date: 04/06/2026
Hello REMOVED,

Thank you for leaving a review. I'm sorry to hear your billing experience was less than satisfactory. Please know that your concerns have been noted and will be taken seriously.

Your feedback regarding the charges to your account is important and will be shared with the appropriate team for improvements.

If you would like to share more about your experience or would like me to assist with a better resolution, please reach out to me directly at REMOVED.

Best,
REMOVED.
RealDefense Reputation Manager
Initial Complaint
Date:03/27/2026
Type:Billing Issues
Status:
AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
At around 2:20am on March 27th, I received a charge from Iolo for a subscription that I had been led to believe was cancelled on March 8th, 2025. After reaching out and getting help with stopping that pending payment, I had called around 11:00am on March 27th to close my account completely due to my payment information still being on the account. Two different agents said there was no way to close the account and/or remove my card information. Instead, I was told they were going to zero out the card so nothing was linked to my bank. During these calls, I had locked my card just in case and after I was told that my card was removed from their system, I logged into my account with them to confirm and not only saw that my card was still there, but they were still trying to charge me for something that I received confirmation was already cancelled earlier that morning. I find it hard to believe that a company has a policy that prevents them from not only removing a payment method, but deleting an account that a customer is requesting to delete. And still trying to charge for something that a customer no longer has and has confirmation that it was cancelled.
Business Response
Date: 04/06/2026
Hello REMOVED,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. I sincerely apologize for the frustration and concern this situation has caused. What you have described does not reflect the standard of service we expect to provide, and I understand how troubling it is to have ongoing billing concerns after being told the matter was resolved.

Your feedback regarding the cancellation process, the difficulty removing your payment information, and the continued charge attempts has been shared with the appropriate team and will be taken seriously as we work to address these issues. Most importantly, I will ensure that your billing information is removed as requested.
If you have any questions, please contact me at REMOVED.

Best,
REMOVED.
RealDefense Reputation Manager
Initial Complaint
Date:03/27/2026
Type:Product Issues
Status:
AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
I am filing a complaint regarding a subscription renewal charge from iolo Technologies.I originally purchased their service on 03/20/2025 for $29.95. On 02/09/2026, I was charged $49.95 for a renewal that I did not knowingly authorize.Upon noticing the charge, I canceled the subscription the same day and have not used the renewed service. I immediately requested a refund, which was denied.I attempted to resolve this directly by contacting both support and compliance. I received one response that did not address my refund request and instead referred me back to my bank, even though my bank had already denied my dispute. I followed up to clarify my request for a one-time courtesy refund and received no further REMOVEDconcern is that the renewal and price increase were not clearly disclosed, and refusing a refund despite same-day cancellation and non-use is unreasonable.I am requesting a full refund of $49.95 as a fair resolution.
Business Response
Date: 04/06/2026
Hi REMOVED,

Thank you for reaching out and for taking the time to document your experience in detail. I sincerely apologize for the frustration this situation has caused, particularly given that you canceled the same day and have not used the renewed service.

Your concerns regarding the renewal charge, the lack of clear disclosure, and the handling of your refund request have been noted and will be shared with the appropriate team for review. Further, I will ensure that your refund is processed as requested.

Please contact me at Reputation@RealDefense so we can coordinate further. Thank you.

Best,
REMOVED.
RealDefense Reputation Manager
Customer Answer
Date: 04/07/2026

Complaint: 24688236
Thank you for the businesss response.
I appreciate their willingness to process a refund. However, I have not yet received confirmation that the refund has been completed or posted to my account.
I will consider this matter resolved once the refund has been fully processed.
Please keep this case open until that occurs.
Thank you.

Sincerely,

REMOVED
Business Response
Date: 04/21/2026
Hi REMOVED,

I apologize for the confusion and delay with your refund.

I will attempt to contact you for next steps, but please reach out to me at: REMOVED

and I will assist you directly.

Best,
Customer Answer
Date: 04/22/2026

Complaint: 24688236
Thank you for your response.
I have also replied directly by email and am willing to cooperate to resolve this matter promptly.
At this time, I am awaiting confirmation that the promised refund has been fully processed. For clarity and documentation purposes, please provide any status updates and final confirmation through the BBB messaging system as well.
Once the refund has been completed and confirmed, I will gladly update my complaint status.
Thank you.

Sincerely,

REMOVED
Business Response
Date: 05/04/2026
Hi REMOVED,

Thank you for your continued patience. I am actively working with our support and billing teams to address the delays in issuing your refund.

I will attempt to contact you again with more information about the next steps, but please contact me at REMOVED.

Best,
REMOVED.
Reputation Manager
Customer Answer
Date: 05/05/2026

Complaint: 24688236

Thank you for the response, but I am not satisfied at this time.
This message is nearly identical to the previous response I received and does not provide any concrete update or resolution. I already contacted the email address provided REMOVEDon 04/21/2026 and have not received any reply.
At this point, I am requesting a clear and specific update on the status of my refund, including:
Confirmation that the refund has been processed, or
A definite date by which the refund will be issued
Continued delays without communication or resolution are not acceptable. If this matter is not resolved promptly, I am prepared to pursue further action.
I am simply requesting the refund that has already been acknowledged.
Thank you,
REMOVED
Business Response
Date: 05/12/2026
Hi REMOVED,

I'm responding here to confirm that your refund is being processed. I will reach out to you directly with more information.

Thank you for your patience and I apologize for the long wait time.

Best,
REMOVED.
RealDefense Reputation Manager
Initial Complaint
Date:02/25/2026
Type:Service or Repair Issues
Status:
AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
Charged my card for renewal after cancelling account. I used their software for 10 months. Software functioned as expected, I have no issues with that. But from the beginning their business practices are scammy. They charged my card for monthly support, which I did not request. Apparently I was suposed to cancel, but I did not know this and it wasn't explicitly detailed anywhere when I bought the software. BUT, the big problem was with 70 days left on my license, they renewed without notice to me! I called and they said. "Oh our software renews your license automatically so you dont have to remember to renew." I cancelled my account. I called my bank and the charges were declined and reversed. One week later, IOLO charged my account again. Called and was told the person I spoke with a week earlier was new and did not process my cancellation properly. Called my bank again. Do I expect them to try to charge my account again next week? Yes, I do. Save yourself a lot of aggravation. Dont buy anything from IOLO.
Business Response
Date: 03/04/2026
Hi REMOVED,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. I'm sorry to hear your experience with our billing and cancellation process was less than satisfactory. Please know that your concerns have been noted and will be taken seriously.
Your feedback regarding the renewal and cancellation process is important and will be shared with the appropriate team for improvements.
If you would like to share more about your experience or seek assistance, please contact our support office or feel free to reach out to me directly at REMOVED.
Best,
REMOVED.
Reputation Manager
Initial Complaint
Date:02/10/2026
Type:Product Issues
Status:
AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
Date of Transaction: REMOVEDyears ago...Amount of money paid: $20...What the business committed to provide to you: Lifetime subscription of SuperAntiSpyware...Nature of dispute: See explanation below...Whether the business has tried to resolve the problem: See explanation below...Advertising: When I originally downloaded the program, I received a notification about the lifetime subscription.
Business Response
Date: 02/17/2026
Hello REMOVED,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. I sincerely apologize for any confusion regarding your lifetime subscription to SUPERAntiSpyware, and I understand how frustrating that situation can be. I want to assure you that Im here to help get this resolved for you.
Please contact me directly at REMOVEDso I can personally coordinate the next steps for activation and ensure everything is handled properly.
Best,
Initial Complaint
Date:02/09/2026
Type:Order Issues
Status:
ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
I had renewed my subscription for Iolo System Mechanic on 12/04/2023. They had added somewhere to the yearly renewal a monthly charge of $19.95 for REMOVEDThe cost of an annual yearly software subscription was $49.95. I never would have consented to a monthly $19.95 REMOVEDfee for a $49.95 yearly subscribed software app. This is an underhanded and deceiving business practice. This went on without my consent for 3 consecutive yearly auto-renewal phases (2024, REMOVED). I never saw a statement from this company for any yearly renewal charges. My wife informed me of this issue, as this is on a CC that I don't have access to the statement, only my wife does. I am asking for a refund for ALL the $19.95 REMOVEDcharge instances (36), since 12/24/2023. This company should be ashamed of itself and forced out of business in the REMOVED.
Business Response
Date: 02/10/2026
Hello REMOVED,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. I understand how frustrating unexpected billing can be. Concerns like yours help identify where expectations werent met and have contributed to improvements being made.
I want to make sure your requested refund is properly addressed. I will be reviewing your case internally to determine available options, and I appreciate your patience while I work on your behalf to advocate for a resolution.
If you have any questions or would like to speak to me directly, please email REMOVEDThank you.
Best,
REMOVED.
Reputation Manager
Customer Answer
Date: 02/17/2026

Complaint: 24502660

I am rejecting this response because:
I have not heard anything from this company in regard to any type of resolution in 7 days, since filing the complaint.

Sincerely,

REMOVED
Business Response
Date: 02/24/2026
Hello REMOVED,

I appreciate your patience while I work on processing your refund. I will continue coordinating with you directly via email until there is a resolution.

Thank you for your understanding.

Best,
REMOVED.
Reputation Manager
Customer Answer
Date: 03/04/2026

Complaint: 24502660

I am rejecting this response because: It has been almost 2 weeks since this company has stated that they are working on a resolution. I had to reach out to them on 3/3/26, to facilitate a response. I was assured that a resolution is forthcoming on 3/6/2026. I surely hope that this happens, but I'm not very confident because of the length of time involved and the fact that I had to initiate contact with them.

Sincerely,

REMOVED
Business Response
Date: 03/06/2026
Hello REMOVED,

Thank you for your patience while I worked to process your refund request. I fully recognize how frustrating these situations are, and I apologize for the inconvenience it's caused.

I am pleased to report that your refund amount of $718.20 has been approved. An electronic refund for the amount of $59.85 was successfully processed earlier this week. Per our discussion, the remaining $658.35 will be issued via check to the address you provided.
Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions or concerns.

Best,
REMOVED.
RealDefense Reputation Manager
Customer Answer
Date: 04/24/2026

Better Business Bureau:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID REMOVED, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Sincerely,

REMOVED

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RealDefense LLC is BBB Accredited.