They will have the same definitions, but the paid version possibly has better behavioural protection due to being updated more frequently. While it's not long since the free version was updated, I believe before the latest update it went for a few years without being updated, which is a long time for an antivirus to not receive product updates.
Bitdefender Free or Avast Free
- Thread starter SumTingWong
- Start date
- Mar 9, 2014
- 545
For Avast, you can also turn off notifications and turn on "do not disturb", and there should be no popups. The catch is that you have to look for a blue dot in the system tray icon to know if something was blocked, etc.
- Sep 2, 2021
- 2,312
Sorry, I forgot to reply....
I wouldn't choose based on protection or anything else, but mainly on what the publisher offers (firewall, user-friendliness, system slowdown etc).
Bitdefender is an antivirus I don't really like... it has often caused me problems (like blocking my VM to the Internet) and left my mother's PC infected with... QakBot! (QBot)
(She had received an e-mail from her ISP telling her that she was infected and connected to their servers).
Bitdefender had detected nothing... Kaspersky eliminated it when I installed it....
Bitdefender IS ? Bitdefender Free ?
- Jun 22, 2020
- 165
- Jan 27, 2012
- 339
Yes when you set it to hardened mode and install Simple Windows hardening, you are good to go
- Nov 9, 2022
- 284
Yes no issues, Avast protection wise is way way better than Bitdefender.
From my own tests, I don't agree with this statement.
- Jul 22, 2014
- 63
In my new gaming PC, Bitdefender blocked the internet conexion, that's why this year I stopped using it. I think the problem was something related to the firewall because I tried the free version and worked well (although the UI was a bit buggy).
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For free protection you can't get anything better than Avast Free or Microsoft Defender free. In default mode they do both good in tests, as well in professional lab tests and @Shadowra's tests.
When you increase the protection by adding Simple Windows Hardening to either of them and use their power features, no free AV offers more protection. To enable the cloud whitelist power feature you have to use Configure Defender for Microsoft Defender and choose MAX (imum) protection. For Avast free to enable the cloud whitelist feature, simply choose hardened mode. With those cloud whitelists and SWH blocking nasty scripts in user folders you have a safe and sound protection for free.
When you are on an all Microsoft setup (using Microsoft Office and Edge etc), Defender probably got an advantage over Avast Free (because of the Attack Surface reduction rules enabled in MAX mode). When you are on Windows 11 and have enabled SAC it has more benefit to use Avast Free (because then you use the cloud whitelist of SAC and the cloud whitelist of Avast, so double protected).
When you increase the protection by adding Simple Windows Hardening to either of them and use their power features, no free AV offers more protection. To enable the cloud whitelist power feature you have to use Configure Defender for Microsoft Defender and choose MAX (imum) protection. For Avast free to enable the cloud whitelist feature, simply choose hardened mode. With those cloud whitelists and SWH blocking nasty scripts in user folders you have a safe and sound protection for free.
When you are on an all Microsoft setup (using Microsoft Office and Edge etc), Defender probably got an advantage over Avast Free (because of the Attack Surface reduction rules enabled in MAX mode). When you are on Windows 11 and have enabled SAC it has more benefit to use Avast Free (because then you use the cloud whitelist of SAC and the cloud whitelist of Avast, so double protected).
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- Mar 16, 2019
- 3,637
Most of these are just cosmetic locks to make users feel that they are missing many key features. I'm not a fan of this since it gives users a wrong impression. For example BD Free definitely detects PUPs despite what this setting page says. Out of the ones I see in the screenshot, Scan scripts is the only one that is not available in Bitdefender Free. Here by Scan scripts, it means AMSI scanner. BD Free doesn't have AMSI integration. Other core features that I can think of that BD Free does not have (not present in this screenshot) are memory scanning and command-line scanner. So, its behavior blocking component is indeed a bit weaker than the paid versions but for most things it's enough. Bitdefender's BB aka ATC is very powerful. Product updates are the same for BD Free and BD paid. There is no difference there. Bitdefender Free is the same thing as BD paid with some features removed. BD's setting file is human readable. I read that and it can be easily seen that in the free versions some things are disabled. I even tried replacing BD Free setting file with BD paid one. Hehe..but it resets itself to the default BD Free setting file.
Avast Free is more complete with all features. For Bitdefender there's also the thing of it writing about 400-800 MB data on disk on every signature update. Avast is much better at this with its brilliant streaming update mechanism.
In terms of overall protection, I think Bitdefender is a bit ahead of Avast but nothing significant to lose anyone's mind over it.
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- Mar 10, 2023
- 144
Kaspersky free of course.
However, avast and Bitdefender are both great. I really like Bitdefender attack chain diagram when detecting a threat, but the lack of pure anti-ransomware module in the free version is way too much nowadays. Maybe if combined with AppCheck it would be a good combo.
Otherwise, WD + DefenderUI/Configure_Defender and Windows/Malwarebytes Firewall Control and AppCheck would be a great combo as well.
I personally use Comodo Firewall and Kaspersky Free with my own settings (whitelisting each other, turning off unnecessary modules) for over a decade, and it feels great (despite Kaspersky found it as incompatible app). Comodo himself is not needing support anyway, but I like Kaspersky KSN (over Comodo Cloud), Kaspersky System Watcher (rollback) and definitions, so that's why I'm preferring this over CIS. But to each their own, I guess.
- Nov 9, 2022
- 284
From my tests 100% true, Avast is more accurate ;-)
Kaspersky free although a great AV is still a blacklist solution with probably the best behavioral blocker out of all free AV's. But blacklist always is weaker than whitelist. When you are using SAC with Avast free you have two whitelists only allowing known good.Kaspersky free of course.
Although Comodo sandboxing of non-whitelisted is great, blocking in stead of sandboxing is in theory stronger. Also SWH blocking scripts in userland is in theory better than the very good command script and filter of Comodo.
For average user the cloud whitelist is simpler
But your setup with KAV free and Comodo is rock solid as well.Can't imagine any non-targeted malware will be able to pass this combo (toptier blacklist, best behavioral blocker, best sandbox, top tier script and command filter, for free)
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- Oct 16, 2022
- 110
If I am not mistaken, BD free does have a ransomware module in the sense that it can protect in real-time with its signatures and behavioral modules but lacks the feature to contain selected files and folders from getting encrypted in case there's a missKaspersky free of course.
However, avast and Bitdefender are both great. I really like Bitdefender attack chain diagram when detecting a threat, but the lack of pure anti-ransomware module in the free version is way too much nowadays. Maybe if combined with AppCheck it would be a good combo.
But that said, I'd prefer Avast Free between the two; their hardened mode works incredibly well. AVG in my view performs even better though overall
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- Mar 10, 2023
- 144
It is possible. I didn't use it for a while now. But does it have rollback ability in the free or in the pro versions? If not, then I guess one can add AppCheck Free/Pro or Kaspersky Anti-Ransomware for Home to fill that gap. Too bad that WiseVector StopX is no longer an option.
- Oct 16, 2022
- 110
Oh yes! WiseVector's cease of operations was quite a surprise; I was even told by their support that they had plans to release a paid version. Nonetheless, I am not sure about the rollback ability in BD Free but you can go with KART; it works really well
- Mar 2, 2023
- 794
Nope, no rollback feature in any of the home editions of BD.
Nunzio_77
Level 1
- Dec 3, 2023
- 11
Infine Avast Free ha aggiunto la "notifica limitata" nelle impostazioni di notifica che mostra avvisi quando viene rilevato un attacco dannoso, ma blocca eventuali offerte pop-up. :Approvo
Quindi, infine, i pop-up commerciali con le offerte non dovrebbero apparire per chi non vuole visualizzarli.
Sto utilizzando la versione 23.12.6094 (build 23.12.8700.813) e l'interfaccia utente (1.0.793)
Quindi, infine, i pop-up commerciali con le offerte non dovrebbero apparire per chi non vuole visualizzarli.
Sto utilizzando la versione 23.12.6094 (build 23.12.8700.813) e l'interfaccia utente (1.0.793)
- Sep 2, 2021
- 2,312
English please
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