App Review Bitdefender Total Security 2026

[franz]

Yep

Thank you very much for the test. I have a small request, since several of us here received a free AVG ULTIMATE program from our generous friend, nickstar1here, could you test this program please?

 

[stonjean633]

Thank you @Shadowra for the test. Bitdefender ( BugDefender ) is always problematic. Performance, and now detection also.

Performance,detection,problems,bugs....seems BD is being pulled down the rankings by their own "Gravity" Zone. Hehe

 

[anirbandutta01]

BD is being pulled down the rankings by their own "Gravity" Zone. Hehe

Right

 

[lokamoka820]

Great video @Shadowra Do you know if Microsoft Defender can detect GDI malware or not?

 

[Captain Awesome]

I believe you are in India, if so do you have any intel on when a new K7 version will be out? It's been stuck with v16/17 for a while now.

+ 1 for a K7 Ultimate Test by Shadowra

K7 team push many small patches very frequently . But not sure when they release Ver.18.
For me its ok to release micro patches to make K7 more stable and effective than a big new edition with full of bugs.

 

[annaegorov]

If they could just go from that 428cu, to possible a 327 or 350... BD is so heavy

 

[annaegorov]

Bitdefender is a well-known antivirus software from Romania.
The software is often highlighted and ranks among the leaders such as Kaspersky and others.
In this version, Bitdefender focuses more on AI Machine Learning to detect unknown threats.
Let's take a look...



Interface :

The Bitdefender interface has remained unchanged for several years, except that it has been refreshed since the 2025 version.
Everything is very straightforward, and AutoPilot provides advice on choices to be made (activating ransomware remediation, blocking cryptojacking, etc.).
The software is lightweight but becomes resource-intensive when in use.

Web protection: 7/7
All links are blocked.
3 link dead

Fake crack : 1/1
Blocked

Malware Pack : Remaining 19 threats out of 71
Initially, Bitdefender worked correctly and blocked the threats and traps I sent it.
Its responses were very fast and effective, and above all, it blocked malicious connections.
However, it let through a GDI malware that started displaying graphic effects (I didn't include everything because it hurts my eyes) and restarted the machine after 5 to 10 minutes.
The machine ended up blocked without the MBR: the malware corrupted it without any reaction from Bitdefender.
Too bad.

Final scan : PC destroyed


Final opinion:

Despite this misstep, which cost the virtual machine its life, Bitdefender remains a very good antivirus software.
However, I would have preferred it to add protection against MBR modifications, as the GDI malware was able to carry out its actions without any problems.

Test is another vote for McAfee TP

 

[Shadowra]

Great video @Shadowra Do you know if Microsoft Defender can detect GDI malware or not?

Detected by engine

 

[piquiteco]

@Shadowra Thank you for testing Bitdefender Total Security 2026. Your videos are very good, as always, objective and to the point. It was frustrating to see that BD did not prevent the malware from modifying the MBR. I hope the BD team learns a lesson from this type of malware that alters the MBR and implements a feature in their product to protect against MBR modification by malicious applications.

 

[Parkinsond]

One more remarkable false positive by B.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

These generickd signatures are letting BD down. Look at its competitors, ESET and Kaspersky using modified signatures which have earlier been created to detect such diskwriting behavior. Avast hits bingo with mbr signatures. I have never seen Avast and Kaspersky fail against mbr overriding malware.

Personally I prefer "proper" names to detection, but it does not offer any benefit to normal users.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

Even K7 is improving its script detections.Also detected it.View attachment 292235

Well we cannot say K7 improved their script detection as I can see this is a signature-based detection.

 

[franz]

I have to say that I have thrown out Bitdefender and am switching to another program.
They have terrible support. Safepay is a big problem for many and Bitdefender cannot fix this.
They ask me to do the most idiotic things to fix the problem. Of course this does not work, and when I install on a clean and new Windows, they claim that I have to uninstall and reinstall, completely stupid.
This is all they do, and I told them that now they are out of my computer.There are other programs with solid banking protection.

 

[Jonny Quest]

I have to say that I have thrown out Bitdefender and am switching to another program.
They have terrible support. Safepay is a big problem for many and Bitdefender cannot fix this.
They ask me to do the most idiotic things to fix the problem. Of course this does not work, and when I install on a clean and new Windows, they claim that I have to uninstall and reinstall, completely stupid.
This is all they do, and I told them that now they are out of my computer.There are other programs with solid banking protection.

But, but, didn't you follow all the steps from this post? Sarcasm intended. That is one of the reasons why I won't use it, no matter how good their BB may be, other AV's are just as good without some of the glitches of BD. I've never had to go to that extreme in getting a AV to install (reinstall) and run properly.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

But, but, didn't you follow all the steps from this post? Sarcasm intended. That is one of the reasons why I won't use it, no matter how good their BB may be, other AV's are just as good without some of the glitches of BD. I've never had to go to that extreme in getting a AV to install (reinstall) and run properly.

I agree. It either works or does not work. Don't force it. That's the case with BD. It runs amazing on some system and on others it causes all sorts of problem.

But a golden rule is install it on a newly installed Windows and keep the system running for as many hours. DO NOT force any updates on the first day and let BD handle it.

Also DO NOT run the full system scan on the first day. And do not forget to restart the system.

I know this should not be how it works, but this is BD.

 

[Jonny Quest]

I agree. It either works or does not work. Don't force it. That's the case with BD. It runs amazing on some system and on others it causes all sorts of problem.

But a golden rule is install it on a newly installed Windows and keep the system running for as many hours. DO NOT force any updates on the first day and let BD handle it.

Also DO NOT run the full system scan on the first day. And do not forget to restart the system.

I know this should not be how it works, but this is BD.

Then, that should be posted on the forum, right, as a Sticky note/Pinned topic?
That's to much "caution" taken to install an AV, which tells me just how finicky it can be.
As far as the machine learning, that can take 3-5 days, I get that
I agree with this part:

I know this should not be how it works...

 

[Parkinsond]

As far as the machine learning, that can take 3-5 days, I get that

On my PC, it never learn, not even after 30 days, not 3.

 

[Jonny Quest]

On my PC, it never learn, not even after 30 days, not 3.

LOL..."your mileage may vary". Denny Crane.

 

[Parkinsond]

LOL..."your mileage may vary". Denny Crane.

I have no luck at all with B; I give up

 

[Antimalware18]

Crippling OS is a mortal sin. But it happens from time to time.

Those are results of poor QA. Every signature release/updates goes thru them. It happened to Crowdstrike, McAfee and the rest.
Even happened to us at Trend Micro(pattern 594)

OT: anyone remember the debacle WindowsXP SP3 was? i had to rush around and troubleshoot 8 different pc's