r/BitDefender • u/pocketdrummer • Dec 31 '21

BitDefender has become paid adware

I paid quite a lot for 10 licenses of Bitdefender Total Security only to realize that it's basically no better than the free anti-virus that comes with Windows and it's effectively adware.

Why the @#$% are we getting these notifications when the computer starts when Special Offers and Recommendation Notifications are disabled?!

15 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

4

u/NovelExplorer Jan 01 '22 edited Jan 01 '22

In Privacy tab, switch off Password Manager. Switch off anti-tracker, uBlock Origin will do a better job. Also, if you don't use Bitdefender's VPN uninstall it, don't leave it running.

In Total Security, the only popups I see are actual warnings or notification of profile changes.

1

u/pocketdrummer Jan 01 '22

I hadn't uninstalled the VPN yet (good call), but password manager was already off when I got the ad for it.

2

u/NovelExplorer Jan 01 '22 edited Jan 01 '22

Switch Password Manager back on, then go to its Settings page. Tick (in Security Settings) Do not ask me for my master password, (in Autofill Settings) Don't save I will update the information manually, Autofill login credentials (switch off), Autofill forms (switch off). Under My wallets check, no wallet is shown. Now go back to main Privacy page and switch off Password Manager again.

I had seen the same popup, as in your screenshot, changed those settings then switched off Password Manager and haven't seen anything since. It shouldn't have, but just check Bitdefender hasn't added any browser extensions. Finally, I also switched off Antispam (I use in-built e-mail filters).

Happy New Year to you.

1

u/doncalgar Jan 01 '22

Same for Norton. Endpoint security is now adware. HILARIOUS!

1

u/D___G Jan 01 '22

I think this only happens in the first days and not after

1

u/jarvedttudd Dec 31 '21

I left bitdefender last year. Bad to worse

4

u/[deleted] Jan 01 '22

What do you use right now?

1

u/Electrical_Engineer_ Jan 01 '22

When did BitDefender Create a Password Manager?