Bitdefender Antivirus Free - English GUI

That is an interest concept. So if one day a "mistake" happens, and some "Joes" out there have their Windows killed, i guess BitDefender can come out and instead of "sorry", will say "That's what you get for being cheap, now suck it up!". Or maybe they won't...

Is perfectly fine, until "it's the users fault", i suppose.

P.S.: Since when free products are not to be criticized? Maybe someone should update Wilders' rules into "Don't ask, don't comment on free products. They 're free, take it or leave it".

 

Not everyone wants to waste money on security products given that we shouldn't have to deal with security issues in the first place.
If people don't use a free AV because it sucks, it's only the maker's loss.

 

ok, I see both of your points and I have to agree that even a free product should allow you some levity to choose what to do with a detection. So there, even I can eat shoe every now and then.

 

Let's not be so drastic. Even Microsoft was decent enough to bring those options back to the user in MSE 4. (The test versions had them removed.)

This is not about a product with all the bells and whistles. It's about a product that won't automatically delete everything it detects as being malicious. Something quite basic, I'd say.

Otherwise, if free is the keyword here, then BitDefender could just suggest to all their user base wannabes MSE as a free option (it allows them to set it to prompt for actions to take), and then if they want better (more bells and whistles), then pay for BitDefender. lol

 

I've just realized that I've omitted important info for you guys: since that incident, there are protections in the anti-malware engines that prevent action like delete/quar on any important system file

So, like I said in another forum, 99% of the problem is solved..
To be 100% safe, we'll made all the necessary modifications - already discussed earlier in this thread

Stay tuned

 

System file yes, but what about a deleted No-CD patch that you couldn't find for ages? Or maybe a keygen for a program which maker went bust and discontinued it completelly? It's not a system file but AV's tend to be very trigger happy on such stuff even if it's not malware. I use them often for older games so i don't have to insert CD's. Or maybe some parent who wants to install keylogger on their kids computer. BD considers legit keyloggers as PUP and just deletes them straight away. Would you be happy with such behavior? I know i wouldn't be...

 

I'm already fell down on the floor, if you like that still hit me, there's no problem

 

We all get carried away every now and then, it's part of being enthusiastic about a product. Simply, after trying for years all kind of software, often with bugs, disastrous results, etc, i have grown older and more tired and i value "safety" more. I don't care if it's freeware or payware, i believe all software should follow the (Hippocratic) principle of "Primum non nocere" (First of all, do not harm), even more so those who are there supposedly to safeguard the "health" of the OS in general (antiviruses,firewalls, cleaners, imaging programs, etc). Because if you can't rely on them, then on who can you rely? And because i don't find it funny anymore to re-install Windows, like i did up to a few years ago.

I am glad to hear that. Just to be clear, I have nothing against BitDefender, i am actually glad when products that once were considered as underdogs have evolved to the point of surpassing the usual vendors that once upon a time were monopolizing the store shelves and i am even more glad to see yet another freeware that could really be "set and forget". I have some relatives that could use it (besides myself). I just don't want it to also be "install and pray".

Agreed. That's why i keep all installation files/no cd patches in DVD backups too. So that paranoid antiviruses, can eventually wipe out what's on the disk, but not what i have in backup. If you have the backup outside the PC, as long as you know that the AV "ate it", you can restore. The problem will be more acute, in cases of computer-illiterare relatives or friends, that won't be even aware that the AV "ate it" and will start phoning "listen, program XY and game Z don't work anymore, what do i do? i swear i didn't do anything, i was using yesterday, i shut the computer and today it doesn't work". And you must read the crystal ball to imagine that the overambitious AV took them out for a walk to the harbour, with cement shoes.

 

Problem is, Bitdefender's pay-for products don't care about deleting false positives either. Maybe if I could decide, I'd use it. On their support forums they said something like don't download keygens/cracks. Ridiculous.

 

I've uninstalled both BD and Privatefirewall, one or both is causing my computer

to freeze up sometimes. I'm back with avast!, tired of messing with them.

 

Just add a damn notification that says a file has been deleted and a link to go to the quarantine, from which you can restore and exclude it. Is that really so hard to do?

 

this.

 

They already done that with the paid products.

 

Good, then they should go ahead and do the same with the free version.
It wouldn't confuse the average user any more than the web protection message, and not including such a basic function just because the product is free seems rather childish.

 

Totally agree.Congratulations BitDefender team for this product and remember...doesn't matter how many users want you to add new features to your free product,there will always be a fair amount of other uses who doesn't agree or they want another features.So leave the product as it is,and all the unhappy users can pay for the real deal if they don't like it.

Why,because you say so?5 words for you:take it or leave it.

 

Not wanting to have files magically deleted from the computer,potentially crippling legitimate applications is a "feature"? What's next? "If you don't want BSODs buy the paid version, cause having BSOD-free app is a feature?". It's supposed to be an anti-VIRUS, not an anti-application in general.

Oh well...

 

The developer already said that he will bring it to the team and they will look at changing it in future releases, so driving it into the ground is pointless. If you don't like it, don't use it and move on to another thread......jeez

 

Yes, fortunately the dev doesn't come here for a$$ licking, but to improve the product hearing to feedback.

 

Because they're going to lose many users if they don't. It's a lose-lose situation for both us and BitDefender. They might not make money directly from the free AV, but they do get statistical information, not to mention who knows how many new malware variants.

 

I really don't understand that. Why wouldn't they want to make as many users as possible happy with the free solution they're providing? It doesn't matter if one million people like it the way it is now, due to some geek user saying it's OK, because when it deletes one their daily apps due to a false positive, and happens to be an important application, then for sure they will be pissed off and switch to another free solution that allows them to make a decision.

Now, if BitDefender is not really interested in making the users of the this free version so happy with it to the the point of buying a paid product with all the bells and whistles... well.. what can I say.... it ends up being their loss.

 

That will not happen

 

Any info on when the new version with exclusions will be released?

 

Hard to tell, the entire team (almost) being in vacation
With all the small design/coding/q&a/update/new kits, hope in the second half of January..

 

I love Bitdefender but it never have done justice to my PC. Still I am tempted to try this product..!!

 

Don't look at it in a restricted way.

To quote Bill Gates:

"Although about 3 million computers get sold every year in China, people don't pay for the software. Someday they will, though," Gates told an audience at the University of Washington. "And as long as they're going to steal it, we want them to steal ours. They'll get sort of addicted, and then we'll somehow figure out how to collect sometime in the next decade."


To paraphrase him: "As long as they 're going to use free antivirus, we want them to use ours."

Bill Gates was getting what many don't. Some people aren't willing to pay. Either because they can't afford it or because they could, but they have higher priority things that get their money. In young ages it's also part of lack of maturity. But people grow up or something changes and make more money and then they CAN spend them on your product. Also, every happy free customer, isn't just a potential buyer himself in the future, but also a free pubblicity that may lead someone who wants to buy, to follow his advice instead of just going into a shop and ask a clerk whether to get the "yellow" or the "green" box.

Also, someone who is using your product free for personal use, then he may buy your Pro version for his business.

You spread your product and build up your name and reputation. Then, even if a fraction of that free userbase, decides to buy, it's gain, as long as the income surpasses the cost of bandwidth (because development costs are the same either for 100 or for 100000 users). The wider the userbase, the higher the chances that this gain will be worth it. At that point, you can cut the free version and play only on your reputation (like some known boxed AVs do for years) or find another way to profit a bit from it (ex. bundle toolbar,browser or banner). It's what Avast, AVG and Avira did, didn't they...

I am sure BitDefender didn't decide to make a free version in order to gain nothing and they probably have a better marketing plan ready behind that.