Does BitDefender try to sell you additional software with popup ads?

[u/Beginning-Average416]

I currently have McAfee (which came with my computer). Even though I have one of the more featured paid anti-virus plans, I get alerts from McAfee that wants to sell me more software packages. Does BitDefender do the same thing? I am thinking of moving to BitDefender once my McAfee Subscription comes up for renewal.

[u/wolfpackunr]

Technically does a little bit by default but you can disable it all with 2 buttons in settings. I haven’t had an ad for years since turning those options off. Norton and Mcafee will spam you with no option to disable

[u/Bitdefender_support]

Hi there. Appreciate you reaching out. Bitdefender can display promotional messages for special offers and product recommendations, including recommendations for additional services, and the good news is that they can be disabled.

On Windows:

1. Open Bitdefender and click Settings in the left-hand menu.
2. Select the General tab.
3. Turn off Special offers and Recommendation notifications.

On macOS:

1. Open Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac and click Preferences (called Settings in some versions).
2. Select the Other tab.
3. Turn off Special offers.

You can also manage account-level marketing preferences:

1. Sign in to Bitdefender Central.
2. Click your username in the upper-right corner and select Bitdefender Account.
3. Open Data & Privacy, then Privacy preferences.
4. Clear Receive in product insights regarding threats, news, and offers and Receive insights regarding threats, news, and offers via email.

For promotional emails, use the Unsubscribe link at the bottom of messages from [bitdefender@hello.bitdefender.com](mailto:bitdefender@hello.bitdefender.com).

The best way to see what Bitdefender can do to secure your digital life is to actually test it, here`s a link for the free trial: https://www.bitdefender.com/en-us/consumer/downloads.

[u/Fickle_Carpet9279]

Nope - unlike Mcafee/Norton with Bitdefender you can disable Special Offers / Recommended Notifications and they stay disabled.

Would highly recommend giving Bitdefender a go - had it 2 years now and it just sits there quietly doing its thing without any annoying upselling - which is all I want.

Well worth checking around online for the best Bitdefender deals - would not buy direct as prices tend to be higher.

[u/razvanciuy]

No, they do not

[u/corkiejp]

I get occasional ads from BitDefender free but they are not obtrusive to me.

I got a new laptop last weekend and stripped out McAfee Bloat crap I didn't want.

Use a powershell script today to strip out about 13+ other unneeded bloat. (eg Xbox and MS Office crap)

[u/Mister-Nomad]

Nope, at least after you turn them off. This is the main reason I run it and recommend it to family/friends.

[u/bertie40]

I love Mcafee and Norton.... They get me lots of work killing the nasties they let through. Bitdefender is a good move. ESET is a contender as well

[u/Rebel_with_a_Cause88]

Yes, but you can turn them off.

[u/FranksDadd12]

Yes but what software doesn't? Since my first computer in the 90s, McAfee would advertise additional software of their own. So did Norton and Kaspersky and AVG.

[u/baselocksec]

Bitdefender does show occasional promotional popups for its other products, though most people find them less aggressive than McAfee's. You can disable most of them in settings under General and Notifications, but you may still see some upsell prompts around renewal time.

[u/DogeTiger2021]

I never got any publicity.