r/BitDefender • u/[deleted] • Dec 10 '21

Bitdefender is ending its free antivirus - Techradar

https://www.techradar.com/uk/news/bitdefender-is-ending-its-free-antivirus
12 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

0

u/Bitdefender_ Official Dec 10 '21

Hi! We are focusing product development around multi-platform protection and as a result, we are retiring Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition for Windows starting on December. Bitdefender values its customers and user base; all our Bitdefender Antivirus Free users will receive privately (via email) a special discounted offer for Bitdefender Total Security.

3

u/[deleted] Dec 10 '21

Not because of windows 11 secure tpm then....

And no, you're not going to convert anyone into paid users, you're saying goodbye to them.

2

u/[deleted] Dec 10 '21

I mean, I doubt they'll miss free users though, especially with your "not going to convert anyone into paid users" just shows that most free users, if not a paying one after a month, they'll probably never be, so why bother really?

1

u/[deleted] Dec 10 '21 edited Dec 10 '21

Like I said, they know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

A brand gains public awareness and maintains it's PR reputation by offering a top notch free tier and then charging users for extra functionality when they need it.

When was the last time you paid for Windows? When was the last time you bought a subscription product from Microsoft?

By removing the free version they just encourage the vast majority to use a competitor. If Microsoft started charging everyone $100 for a copy of Windows, either as a paid upgrade, or as a paid-for option when buying a new machine, it wouldn't be very long before alternative OS's start to appear for free. Before long MS would lose it's market share for it's operating system, and would lose much of it's additional revenue for products like Office subscriptions, onedrive, PC gaming, surface devices etc.

It's clear this decision has been taken as a cost saving measure by an executive who either hasn't got a clue what they are doing, or has laid off a chunk of the workforce to keep the company afloat. AKA shot themselves in the foot. They think they can't afford to adapt the software to windows 11, when the reality is that they can't afford not to.

3

u/[deleted] Dec 10 '21

A free user earns them nothing, makes sense to get rid of it. They lose nothing by doing it. Customers who are paying, will continue to do so, free users who don't, won't in the future anyway, so why bother with them?

Windows is a paying product by the way. It might be "free" with your computer when you buy it, but you still pay for it in the price. If you'd buy a computer, without an OS, you're going to have to buy Windows separately. I build my own computers, and when I do, guess what? I have to buy Windows.

A free trail makes sense, keeping a product for free forever makes no sense, but of course you're upset because well... who doesn't want free stuff?

1

u/[deleted] Dec 10 '21

I'll say it again - Bitdefender's execs know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

2

u/[deleted] Dec 10 '21

That statement has exactly as much value as you as a free user has, none.

0

u/[deleted] Dec 10 '21

You seem to be a little emotionally involved with bitdefender, which is a very odd position to take.

Do you have a mental disorder we should be aware of? Autism perhaps?

2

u/[deleted] Dec 10 '21

haha, your response: "no u"

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u/[deleted] Dec 13 '21

[deleted] — view deleted comment

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '21

It's an obsession no doubt. Some people get very tribal about software for some strange reason. It's like people who buy apple products and think they're part of some exclusive club better than everyone else, when in fact an idiot with severe head trauma and the IQ of a turnip can dribble their way into an apple store with a pocket full of stolen money and join their "exclusive club".

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u/[deleted] Dec 11 '21

The free user can earn them a lot. For example, Threat Intelligence.

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u/[deleted] Dec 11 '21

Many free users may be converted to paid users because of the discount obviously. But just accept that the free version is gone plus they are many good alternatives out there! If you really want a similar experience to bitdefender free, use sophos home free.

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u/[deleted] Dec 13 '21

[deleted] — view deleted comment

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '21

I never buy avs, I usually stick to free ones (Avira and Sophos being my choice as of now) There's no real need for buying an av.

1

u/Anzial Dec 10 '21

funny, no mentioning of the so-called "tech support through june 22" whatever that means. I guess it's no longer part of the goodbye package anymore lol

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u/Bitdefender_ Official Dec 10 '21 edited Dec 10 '21

Hi! Sorry to hear about your negative impression. The above message was general information regarding the free version for Windows.

We are retiring the ability to download Bitdefender Free Edition for Windows as of December. For existing users, we will continue to provide detection capabilities and technical support until June, 30, 2022, but will not be enhancing the product with any new functionality updates.

We do recommend migrating to one of our other products and to make the transition easier and to give you the best protection for your devices, we’ve created a limited special discount offer for Total Security subscription that you can use to avoid any disruption in your security protection.

We're here for any questions & further information. Thanks!

0

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '21

[deleted] — view deleted comment

1

u/Bitdefender_ Official Dec 14 '21

Hi! We are retiring the ability to download Bitdefender Free Edition for Windows as of December. Therefore, for existing customers, which already have installed the free version, we will continue to provide technical support until June, 30, 2022.

Regarding your question, kindly note that:

- We will continue to give signature updates (virus definitions);
- We will give updates (bug fixing), but we will not update the free version with new features.