Coming soon, a new Bitdefender "unified" app

[Jonny Quest]

@Pat MacKnife I did receive confirmation that the free version will be included in the new Bitdefender, it's just not set in stone as far as a date of when it will happen.

edit:sp

 

[Divine_Barakah]

Or just use Symantec Endpoint Protection; it’s free and performed really well in recent tests. It blocks almost every phishing email I throw at it, so I’d consider checking it out if you haven’t already.

I believe we all should accept the fact that it is time to ditch 3rd party antiviruses and stick to MD. Personally I no longer experiment with 3rd party security products nor waste my money on them. I know it is sad, but we all should accept it.

 

[nickstar1]

I believe we all should accept the fact that it is time to ditch 3rd party antiviruses and stick to MD. Personally I no longer experiment with 3rd party security products nor waste my money on them. I know it is sad, but we all should accept it.

Microsoft Defender is a great option for MalwareTips users because many of us know how to pair it with other security tools and use utilities like Microsoft Defender Configure or other hardening tools to maximize its effectiveness. However, 99.9% of the general population doesn't know these tools exist or how to properly configure Defender. While Microsoft Defender offers very good malware protection for consumers, its phishing detection has historically been an area where it can fall short compared to some competitors. Since phishing attacks delivered through email are among the most common threats that everyday users face, I wouldn't recommend relying on Microsoft Defender alone for someone who simply installs it and forgets about it. Personally, Microsoft Defender isn't my first choice for several reasons, but I respect that others may feel differently. We can simply agree to disagree.

No regular consumer who isn’t tech-savvy about the cyber threat landscape is going to think, “Oh, I need to pair Windows Defender with an extension that blocks phishing,” especially when about 99% of them don’t even know what it is. For some reason, Microsoft Defender no longer scans files on access, which used to block downloads before the user could execute them. It seems they’ve changed this, and I’m not a fan of the new approach. Now i have to run the file to get a detection.

 

[TairikuOkami]

I bet, that more categories are coming? Good luck finding your password inside a rabbit hole.
Bitwarden categorized me so much, that by time I found my password, I forgot, why I wanted to login.

 

[Jonny Quest]

And what I'm concerned with is the staged roll out, means the first group(s) will be the beta testers. When the old Bitdefender Password Manager and the Parental controls were upgraded, the users were the beta tester as well. The forum was peppered with angry and confused users with complaints of "what happened to, why can't I, why isn't it....?" etc. questions. It was mentioned a handful of times in posts that BD was making users the beta testers.

Thank goodness for those AV companies who still do pre public release beta testing, especially with the likes of Kaspersky and F-Secure.

 

[RansomwareRemediation]

I believe we all should accept the fact that it is time to ditch 3rd party antiviruses and stick to MD. Personally I no longer experiment with 3rd party security products nor waste my money on them. I know it is sad, but we all should accept it.

As long as other AVs exist, Microsoft Defender will continue to be garbage, and you know it.

 

[Pat MacKnife]

MD is way offtopic here, because its about a new version of Bitdefender.

 

[Keyang556]

I use MD, BD Firefox extension for phishing protection.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

Microsoft Defender is a great option for MalwareTips users because many of us know how to pair it with other security tools and use utilities like Microsoft Defender Configure or other hardening tools to maximize its effectiveness. However, 99.9% of the general population doesn't know these tools exist or how to properly configure Defender. While Microsoft Defender offers very good malware protection for consumers, its phishing detection has historically been an area where it can fall short compared to some competitors. Since phishing attacks delivered through email are among the most common threats that everyday users face, I wouldn't recommend relying on Microsoft Defender alone for someone who simply installs it and forgets about it. Personally, Microsoft Defender isn't my first choice for several reasons, but I respect that others may feel differently. We can simply agree to disagree.

No regular consumer who isn’t tech-savvy about the cyber threat landscape is going to think, “Oh, I need to pair Windows Defender with an extension that blocks phishing,” especially when about 99% of them don’t even know what it is. For some reason, Microsoft Defender no longer scans files on access, which used to block downloads before the user could execute them. It seems they’ve changed this, and I’m not a fan of the new approach. Now i have to run the file to get a detection.

Most of my relatives are literally ignorant when it comes to using their devices. They're all running MD on default settings and every time I run second-opinion scanners, the result is almost always a clean system. I also believe that lab test also test MD on default settings and it always scores pretty high.

In my experience using an effective adblocker with secure DNS is far more important nowadays. Moreover safe habits are needed especially not to fall victim for phishing. Dashlane is now using AI enhanced protection against phishing.


So an adblocker, secure DNS, a password manager and up-to-date system are all what we need nowadays.

 

[Jonny Quest]

Wonderful, you both have spoken your minds Now, let's keep this about the product and topic of this thread, so members and guests don't have to scroll through a page or a page and a half to get back to the updates or thoughts regarding what's coming down the pike from BD

 

[Jonny Quest]

Just a follow-up, not to much going on with this or being said, almost like it's being dialed back a bit. There is probably more that needs to be worked out on the user side, other than testing within Bitdefender labs? Gemini's thought on this, when I asked it if there were any news across the WWW regarding users being updated to the new Bitdefender App:

• Why the Secrecy? Because this isn't just a skin; it's a complete re-architecting of how the local client interacts with the cloud backend. Merging multi-device monitoring, local antivirus settings, and account management into a single unified dashboard means the code is radically different. A bug here could break things globally, which is why they are treating it with absolute caution.

You haven't missed a hidden wave of updates; the gate is still firmly closed for the vast majority of the public.

 

[Jonny Quest]

The first post that I'm aware of regarding someone whose Mac version of Bitdefender updated to the new Bitdefender App. So, it has started, really slowly.

edit: and it sounds like we will no longer be able to uninstall the VPN separately, for those of us who don't use it. So those process(s) may continually be running in the background?

A reply to a post from the above link:

Yes, you are right, sorry about that. On both Windows and macOS the services (antivirus, VPN) can no longer be uninstalled separately, as they are bundled in the unified Bitdefender Hub by design, so everything is in one place now.

 

[Sorrento]

Most of my relatives are literally ignorant when it comes to using their devices. They're all running MD on default settings and every time I run second-opinion scanners, the result is almost always a clean system. I also believe that lab test also test MD on default settings and it always scores pretty high.

In my experience using an effective adblocker with secure DNS is far more important nowadays. Moreover safe habits are needed especially not to fall victim for phishing. Dashlane is now using AI enhanced protection against phishing.


So an adblocker, secure DNS, a password manager and up-to-date system are all what we need nowadays.

I LOVE running a third party AV it makes me deliriously happy & joyful, I can't give it up, my life would be a hollow shell & empty without it, I really don't get why I keep being told to run defender / Linux lest I should die straight away! - I Do Not Want To... Repeat: 'I Do Not Want To' - I will continue spending the GNP of a small country on my K sub (£10 UK Pounds) - Please do not worry about me I'm happy as I am

 

[Antimalware18]

whats the use of a new interface for the free version besides ease on the developers? Free gets what the AV and the VPN? That whole interface for only 2 tabs useful and the rest of its just AD's like it is now? (not complaining, i dont find their ad's too over the top considering the majority are in interface) I prefered the first UI they had for BD free because it was so simple for a simple app.

 

[Jonny Quest]

whats the use of a new interface for the free version besides ease on the developers? Free gets what the AV and the VPN? That whole interface for only 2 tabs useful and the rest of its just AD's like it is now? (not complaining, i dont find their ad's too over the top considering the majority are in interface) I prefered the first UI they had for BD free because it was so simple for a simple app.

I'm not sure, we'll have to wait and see what shows up on our, the free version users end

I think it's also the help keep people linked into the Bitdefender eco system, as far as the VPN (not being able to uninstall it i.e. out of sight, out of mind) and maybe the PM module/card will show up in the free version UI? For the Total users, it may be more helpful for those who are account Admins over other family and friends installs and maintaining those easier from within the app?

Again, it's all so new, so we'll have to wait to see if it's embraced, or if it causes some to switch to a different AV. Change can be hard and annoying, at first.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

I'm not sure, we'll have to wait and see what shows up on our, the free version users end

I think it's also the help keep people linked into the Bitdefender eco system, as far as the VPN (not being able to uninstall it i.e. out of sight, out of mind) and maybe the PM module/card will show up in the free version UI? For the Total users, it may be more helpful for those who are account Admins over other family and friends installs and maintaining those easier from within the app?

Again, it's all so new, so we'll have to wait to see if it's embraced, or if it causes some to switch to a different AV. Change can be hard and annoying, at first.

Regarding VPN in my experience, it gets reinstalled with BD updates. I am talking about IS version as I have not used the Free version

 

[Jonny Quest]

Regarding VPN in my experience, it gets reinstalled with BD updates. I am talking about IS version as I have not used the Free version

Thanks, I've heard that as well, but it sounds like with the new Bitdefender App, it won't matter, it's going to stay installed with either the trail version, or the Premium version if it was upgraded to? And since BD IS has been discontinued (for new purchase) will no longer play a part in all this?

 

[Zartarra]

Thanks, I've heard that as well, but it sounds like with the new Bitdefender App, it won't matter, it's going to stay installed with either the trail version, or the Premium version if it was upgraded to? And since BD IS has been discontinued (for new purchase) will no longer play a part in all this?

Too bad you cannot uninstall the VPN anymore. For me VPN software is a form of bloat. Sadly to see. Also the Scam Protection Pro is only available with Bitdefender Premium Security suite.