New Update Bitdefender Free Antivirus is back

[lokamoka820]

In BitDefender free version why does it takes more than couple of minutes to do an update. Other AV do this in less than 10-20 seconds.

BitDefender has a bigger signature compared to others.

 

[Nunzio_77]

The Free version also has all these features active as in the paid versions, only that in the free version they are not customizable. So I would say that it is an excellent free protection:

 

[Jonny Quest]

The Free version also has all these features active as in the paid versions, only that in the free version they are not customizable. So I would say that it is an excellent free protection:

View attachment 287876View attachment 287875

Hey, I recognize the left (or bottom image on a phone) image...LOL

 

[pxxb1]

The Free version also has all these features active as in the paid versions, only that in the free version they are not customizable. So I would say that it is an excellent free protection:

View attachment 287876View attachment 287875

In the free version the features are locked, you have to upgrade to unlock them. Just as it says when you hover the lock icon.

 

[annaegorov]

Now if only BDF or BDP didn't slow my PC and my web surfing.

 

[Jonny Quest]

In the free version the features are locked, you have to upgrade to unlock them. Just as it says when you hover the lock icon.

It's maybe not so much the features/process being locked, just not the ability to enable/disable those options, as according to Alexandru on the BD Forum, that protection, those options are still running in the background in the free version. So with the paid version, you could enable/disable an option as desired.

To clarify here, the advanced options under the Shield are locked in the free version and this means they cannot be customized, however, they are actually up and running.

It's like what you would find in a game where you need to unlock the next levels to play on the full map.

 

[Andrew999]

It's maybe not so much the features/process being locked, just not the ability to enable/disable those options, as according to Alexandru on the BD Forum, that protection, those options are still running in the background in the free version. So with the paid version, you could enable/disable an option as desired.

I personally thought they were locked and not enabled, but if they are enabled that is really awesome.

 

[pxxb1]

It's maybe not so much the features/process being locked, just not the ability to enable/disable those options, as according to Alexandru on the BD Forum, that protection, those options are still running in the background in the free version. So with the paid version, you could enable/disable an option as desired.

Thanks for making that clear.

 

[Nunzio_77]

I personally thought they were locked and not enabled, but if they are enabled that is really awesome.

They are enabled, as confirmed in the Bitdefender community.

 

[IceMan7]

The Free version also has all these features active as in the paid versions, only that in the free version they are not customizable. So I would say that it is an excellent free protection:

Cool. Just add AV to this

1. Browser plugin

Bitdefender TrafficLight - Free Add-on for Browser Protection

Bitdefender TrafficLight is a free add-on that provides a strong and non-intrusive layer of security to your web browsing experience.

www.bitdefender.com

2. If there is no ransomware protection, then. If BD doesn't have a conflict with it, of course

CheckMAL - Protect your PC with 100% Signatureless Anti-Ransomware AppCheck

Protect your PC with 100% Signatureless Anti-Ransomware AppCheck

www.checkmal.com

And the package is ready.

So what's the point of choosing a paid version? Probably only to have a firewall, banking protection and parental control. Because other gadgets are as necessary as a pig's saddle. System optimizer or password manager - other dedicated software are better than this.
BD is shooting himself in the foot with free BD

 

[Marko :)]

Is Bitdefender account still necessary to use this product?

 

[pxxb1]

Is Bitdefender account still necessary to use this product?

Yes.

 

[razorfancy]

Do you still need to install Bitdefender Traffic Light if you are using Bitdefender Free Antivirus?

 

[pxxb1]

Do you still need to install Bitdefender Traffic Light if you are using Bitdefender Free Antivirus?

No. You can use whatever as URL protection.

 

[razorfancy]

No. You can use whatever as URL protection.

Ok thx, I checked on the Bitdefender forum and saw a comment done by a mod there and he said Traffic Light isnt needed if you are already using the built-in web protection of other Bitdefender products:
"There is no need for the Traffic Light extension when using the built-in web protection feature of Bitdefender products, as they serve the same purpose."

Traffic Light and Web Protection

Is it okay to use the Traffic Light extension and Web Protection simultaneously? Do they crash?

community.bitdefender.com

 

[pxxb1]

Ok thx, I checked on the Bitdefender forum and saw a comment done by a mod there and he said Traffic Light isnt needed if you are already using the built-in web protection of other Bitdefender products:
"There is no need for the Traffic Light extension when using the built-in web protection feature of Bitdefender products, as they serve the same purpose."

Traffic Light and Web Protection

Is it okay to use the Traffic Light extension and Web Protection simultaneously? Do they crash?

community.bitdefender.com

Interesting since i had a conversation with BD about that some time ago. This is what an enginer said:


To clarify, Search Advisor and TrafficLight serve complementary yet distinct roles:

• Search Advisormonitors search results from major engines like Google, Bing, Baidu, and Yahoo. When you perform a search, you’ll see a small symbol next to each result that indicates its safety:
  • A check mark (√) means the site is considered safe.
  • An exclamation mark (!) signals that the site may contain dangerous content, so caution is advised.
  • A cross (⊗) warns you not to visit the site at all.
• TrafficLight, on the other hand, offers broader real-time protection. It’s a free, cross-browser add-on that actively intercepts and filters all web traffic, blocking malicious websites, phishing attempts, and other online threats regardless of where the link originates. In short, while Search Advisor helps guide you toward safe search results, TrafficLight provides a more comprehensive security layer while you browse.

I hope this helps clarify the differences. If you need further assistance setting up either tool or have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for choosing Bitdefender, and have a great day!

Best regards,
Elias
Technical Support Engineer
bitdefender.com/trusted


The above info is more or less the contrary. I trust an enginer more then a no name support person of their community.
I use both plus Cloudflare malware DNS - 1.1.1.2

 

[razorfancy]

Interesting since i had a conversation with BD about that some time ago. This is what an enginer said:


To clarify, Search Advisor and TrafficLight serve complementary yet distinct roles:

• Search Advisormonitors search results from major engines like Google, Bing, Baidu, and Yahoo. When you perform a search, you’ll see a small symbol next to each result that indicates its safety:
  • A check mark (√) means the site is considered safe.
  • An exclamation mark (!) signals that the site may contain dangerous content, so caution is advised.
  • A cross (⊗) warns you not to visit the site at all.
• TrafficLight, on the other hand, offers broader real-time protection. It’s a free, cross-browser add-on that actively intercepts and filters all web traffic, blocking malicious websites, phishing attempts, and other online threats regardless of where the link originates. In short, while Search Advisor helps guide you toward safe search results, TrafficLight provides a more comprehensive security layer while you browse.

I hope this helps clarify the differences. If you need further assistance setting up either tool or have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for choosing Bitdefender, and have a great day!

Best regards,
Elias
Technical Support Engineer
bitdefender.com/trusted


The above info is more or less the contrary. I trust an enginer more then a no name support person of their community.
I use both plus Cloudflare malware DNS - 1.1.1.2

What you are comparing there is just the Search Advisor option vs Traffic Light but Bitdefender Antivirus Free has multiple Online Threat Prevention options:
Web Attack Prevention
Search Advisor
Encrypted web scan
Fraud protection
Phishing protection

I personally always disable Search Advisor because this option never was relevant to me with any AV + using the Search Advisor option usually slowdowns my internet speed.

 

[pxxb1]

What you are comparing there is just the Search Advisor option vs Traffic Light but Bitdefender Antivirus Free has multiple Online Threat Prevention options:
Web Attack Prevention
Search Advisor
Encrypted web scan
Fraud protection
Phishing protection

I personally always disable Search Advisor because this option never was relevant to me with any AV + using the Search Advisor option usually slowdowns my internet speed.

I see now what you actually meant, and that was another story. Slows down speed huh, that i must try.

 

[razorfancy]

I see now what you actually meant, and that was another story. Slows down speed huh, that i must try.

I am the one that dont see why you decide to compare only the Search Advisor feature vs Traffict Light when my question was if you needed to still use Traffict Light when you are already using Bitdefender Free Antivirus. For what I saw from the Bitdefender forum mod comments Traffict Light is not needed when you are using Bitdefender Free Antivirus.

 

[pxxb1]

I am the one that dont see why you decide to compare only the Search Advisor feature vs Traffict Light when my question was if you needed to still use Traffict Light when you are already using Bitdefender Free Antivirus. For what I saw from the Bitdefender forum mod comments Traffict Light is not needed when you are using Bitdefender Free Antivirus.

Oops.
Anyway, you do not NEED to use TL, but you can. As per an enginer at BD these 2 tools, the inbuilt and the add-on do different things, so there is meaning with using both. This is what i wanted to make clearer. What you actually do use as URL protection, is up to you.