Received a new Bitdefender offer via email, it's the cheapest price ever (90% discount). Usual sale price nowadays is around $25-30.
Can confirm it stacks with an existing subscription, you will get an email with activation code. Copy and paste it into your existing Bitdefender subscription in Central and it will extend your subscription by 12 months. You can buy multiple times as well, just make sure that you still get the $14.99 price (try incognito).
agree. we got hacked and scammed straight away instead
No need to give you viruses. All our info out there already, thanks Optus, Medibank, etc etc
Thanks to our gov
Internet Security =/= Antivirus
If only!
It’s crypto miners!
Malware crypto miners getting installed via all sorts of hacks.
if 5 years for 1 device, i may get it just for fun and feeling safer
I'd love to know if anyone actually ever paid $150 for this to be "90% off".
Met someone last week that had just auto-renewed their Trend antivirus for $169…for 12 MONTHS!
Anyway I unsubscribed her and explained how their business model works. :)
A lot of people have no idea they are overpaying for AV and Harvey Norman are the worst when it comes to upselling/charging clueless punters when they buy a laptop etc.
Good on you!!!
I got the 6 months for free deal via German VPN. I switched from Norton. I love it. It's light weight on my phone. No annoying notifications - only the important stuff. It's always on in the background and doesn't disappear. I'll definitely be extending it once my trial finishes
Agreed, been with BitDefender for 14 years now. No issues, highly recommend.
Same here. I cant count the years, but i switched from McAfee ages ago.
Hopefully they do another promotion for another 6 months. Free it's always better. $15 for a year it's still good though.
6 month free trial still works, confirmed today after testing with Windscribe VPN (must use Frankfurt Castle server)
Scrooge McDeal's https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/776473 is reactivated now
What programs do you absolutely need though? I find these kind of apps just slow down your computer. I'm only running Windows defender. But i'd like to know what other apps, especially free ones that would help secure my pc without my computer slowing down
I am happy with the free solutions I am running: Windows Defender installed on windows and macs at home, plus an adguard home providing DNS filter to all devices, including IoT, also on my ASUS router there is some free protection included, I don't need parental control or anything like that, but this can be easily implemented on those two latest mentioned products as well, it depends on your paranoia level, there is also a Free Home Use Sophos Firewall, like the adguard home it runs on a dedicated device but it needs two network interfaces and a little bit more of network knowledge.
Also, widows 11 has heaps of options for security improvement, you just need to find the balance between usability and security.
Hi. Firstly love your Quake symbol, easily the most hours I've spent on any game ever. My question are what is DNS filter? And is it worth upgrading to Windows 11, or will it slow down my computer? I have AMD Ryzen 5 3500U with Radeon Vega Mobile Gfx 2.10 GHz. 8.00 GB (5.88 GB usable)
A DNS filter will prevent adware, bloatware, malware etc to connect to known network destinations redirecting them to 0.0.0.0, same as a Pi Hole, it's likely to speed up your internet access by dropping unnecessary traffic.
My Adguard home shows that more than 8% of my network traffic is junk, it's not a malware or antivirus protection in this sense but it gives you more control and visibility over your network traffic and let you apply the filters you want, do you know what is going on your network at home is a good point to start?
Even if you don't want to upgrade to Windows 11, Windows 10 has heaps of security options via registry changes for example which do not require you to install anything extra, and actually it's more about the user than the OS itself, for example, do you login as an admin or as a regular user and elevate when necessary? which level of tracking protection you use on your browser?
Your laptop is likely to perform the same with win 10 and 11 as long as it supports TPM 2.0, but I recommend you to check what people says in forums running the same specs as your.
Whichever way you decide to go, you may want to try one change at time so if something goes wrong you know what to undo, best of luck.
Av comparatives most recent performance test shows Windows Defender causing a significant impact on system performance.
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/performance-test-april…
Not really, the contrived test there shows a particular setup and they even have a disclaimer that genersl usage may show different redults. Defender for being non intrusive with minimal impact is one of the better products.
Subjectively I don't believe you'll notice the impact with defender. I have Windows defender for my parents set up, works fine. However Bitdefender has less false positives and a better threat engine.
@R3XNebular: false positives again are another furphy. The average person will never see them, someone installing huge amounts of software, especially from torrent sites etc or using game cracks etc it may become an issue.
You don’t need anything other than defender and a brain.
Not sure why you were downvoted. I feel the same way, and am only here to see if anyone has a good reason for paying for this.
There isn’t one. If top tier privacy and security are a genuine concern for anyone here, they wouldn’t be on windows. It’s trivial for malware to bypass all these AV’s which are effectively just bloat. At least Defender is baked into a layer deeper in the OS and is light.
I wouldn’t use this software even if it was free. What’s even more scary is people in this thread talking about how they’re routing all their dns traffic through third party scrapers, and activating AV tools at router level, sending all their traffic offshore to be mined etc lmao.
@evasive: Fascinated about your source for malware finding it trivial to bypass AV, or is that anecdotal? Also, your statement about Defender being baked into a layer deeper in the OS, love the source for that, and also the relevance… you think even if it was that makes it more secure?
@Fybre: The source is I have created and tested malware against every AV and defence you could imagine. It’s not difficult, sure AV/Defender will keep out common offenders but anyone resourceful won’t have an issue.
Defender is tightly integrated to the windows environment, runs at kernel and pre-boot. Paying for an AV software does not provide any tangible extra protection over defender, unless you count DNS filters, VPN, or intrusive browser extension link scanners as protection
The only real purpose of stand-alone AV these days is to idiot-proof a computer, block bad links, provide an easy backup solution, password manager etc. basically for those who don’t know what they’re doing - which, to be fair, is most of the people commenting here judging by some of the “security features” they boast about having turned on.
@evasive: Most of the av products run at kernel level and load a driver at boot time, however I'm intrigued that you say Defender runs pre-boot, that's quite an impressive feat, unless they are using a boot disk for the cloud version. It's disingenuous to say Defender has better protection because it "comes from MS", if anything the paid a/v products have extra incentive to make their products better so consumers will pay for it.
As for the actual efficacy of one product over the other, I have no idea, and defender may be as good at the core functions as other products, but these paid products add additional features than Defender, which may be justifiable to those that buy them.
@Fybre: Yes I’m sure they can probably all run pre boot if you are using external media. To do scans before OS is involved.
I’m just saying paying for this software gives a proficient user no benefit. Great for grandparents though. ;)
I have a 10 devices subscription. I wonder if this deal will add 6 months.
It won't, It'll come up as another sub under your account.
I did contact support though and they were nice enough to stack my remaining months for 5 devices to my newly 10 device sub.
Not sure if they do this normally though.
Thanks, will extend my subscription from my newegg one.
How does it compare to kaspersky cloud?
Gets similar scores but without the Russian.
Perfect, my subscription now ends in 2027. Bitdefender is consitently ranked highest amongst AV-TEST and AV-COMPARATIVES
any further coupon code available?
Nice! Mine was about to expire.
I was gifted a 3-year free subscription for being a loyal customer for over 10 years- I have until 2025 :)
You can buy multiple times as well, just make sure that you still get the $14.99 price (try incognito).
Does this allow stacking renewals?
Or is it just for adding more devices
Stacking, just did it twice…
Using different emails?
Same email, just kept ordering and it provides you an activation code. When you input the code it asks if you want to extend or have a new seperate subscription
Great to hear that, but surprised, the Terms of Use have the subscriptions beginning on purchase date
Your subscription automatically begins at the purchase date;
Thanks OP, bought one year. Think I paid $30 back in April but oh well. I like the product.
They activate AUTORENEW!
Here are the instructions to deactivate it again.
Use method 1.
https://www.bitdefender.com/consumer/support/answer/29081/
Total BS. There is no auto renew when you purchase a code from 3rd party.
This deal is direct from Bitdefender, and the terms (at the bottom of the page) explicitly say that the subscription will be renewed automatically.
Thanks, was able to cancel autorenew using method 1.
Be careful, I bought 2 subscriptions from this deal back to back and you need to cancel each autorenew SEPARATELY (so 2 times in the account portal in my case), or you will be charged $149 the next year. I cancelled one auto-renew setting thinking I was ok, but then noticed another one further down, cheeky
Since OP mentioned this is stackable with existing subscription, can I say purchase 2 subscriptions from this deal, active the 1st one and then say a week or month later activate the 2nd one on my 1st subscription, and so effectively get ~24 months?
Just activate both straight away, it'll ask you to extend when you input the second code.
Someone actually said below that it’s not stackable: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/13960245/redir
I had the newegg 2 years from Feb (5 devices, 2 years). Purchased 2 x seperate transactions for this deal. Both times I was given the opportunity in Bitdefender Central (on the website not via the app) to extend. 2027 is my new end date.
@R3XNebular: Ok thanks. Could also see someone else below could stack 3 yrs: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/13960305/redir
If it was 5 year 1 device then definitely bought it .. !
I just purchased it. All went well,have had bitdefender for years totally think it’s worth it. However went to purchase it a a second time so to double up. However the second time only lets me start a new 5 year subscription, not stack. Tried private mode then another iPad but brought up the same non stacking option after logging into central. So just be aware may not stack/ or I’m doing something wrong. The option ( box) to extend was not there where it was on my first purchase. So I suppose a warning and/ or any ideas to stack?
Are you doing it through the program or online? I did everything online and it worked. If not just get in contact with their support. I see no reason for them to extend your subscription.
Online via iPad into bitdefender central, web not app, worked fine for the first purchase, purchased again at discount, however before there were 2 boxes, one for a new subscription, the other to extend. This second time no box to extend.
Yea very odd, I had two boxes for both. Definitely get on their support to extend.
Happened to me too, I think it only allows max 5 years subscription. No issues, just keep the code to apply later, they never expire.
Maybe.After I applied the first one I am covered until July 2027. So my second one would extend it until 2028. Could be as you said to far in advance. Hopefully the code doesn’t expire. Unsure to keep the code and apply next year or call them.
They never expire in my experience, I used to keep their codes for years before I could stack them in Central.
could i by 2 subs and use them when my other one runs out?
Thanks OP!
Purchased 3 times, same browser, no issues purchasing (all at discounted price).
3rd code took 25~ minutes to come through (first 2 were instant), but all good now and covered for the next 3 years.
I managed to purchase for the second time at the discount price however when I went to centrat to apply it , the box to extend my current subscription was not there ( it was when I did it the first time) just apply a new subscription. Tried different browser, vpn , diffent device,still no little box to extend. So it extended the first time but no option after I purchased the second. Unsure why others seem ok. Code came through fine both times, just no options to insert (extend)for the second purchase code.
This just seems to send me back to this thread.
Lol didn't realise you were the same person - I replied that one on my phone :D
I purchased an hour ago and still have not received email containing activation code…only the paypal confirmation. Am following instructions at https://www.bitdefender.com/consumer/support/answer/2356/ with no luck so far - not received emails from 2checkout.
Same thing happened to me, I contacted chat to sort it out.
Yeah, thanks, got it sorted eventually using chat as well.
Thanks, got it.
Thanks Op. I just purchased it three times, no vpn, same browser and received all three codes instantly. Was able to extend my subscription for three years.
Kaspersky vs Bitdefender ?
I can see password manager not inc with bit.
This or McCafe
Thanks, 4 years, good til June 2027. Cheers
I've been using Kaspersky for years, before that I was a loyal Bitdefender fan. Made the switch after suffering a strange bug (which was common back then, lots of posts on their support forum but they had NFI), my firewall was reporting unknown bandwidth usage. I can't recall whether it was from the Bitdefender .exe or something else but it would stop when I'd disable/uninstall Bitdefender. This was back in ADSL days so I obviously couldn't keep using it. Kaspersky has been great - I don't even notice it's running unless it's blocked something.
Paid for a second code, they took my money but didn't get the code.
Had to contact chat to email me it.
The only virus experience I had was win98 right before XP was released when I was a little kid not even know what virus or the internet was.
Practising cybersecurity awareness and understanding some basic security control of personal devices could be far beneficial to this software.
Like basic not clicking links from doggy emails or not sharing confidential information via any calls.
But but… The doggos! 🐶
Got one too, thanks mate
Can you stack these? i.e. purchase 3 to cover 5 devices for 3 years?
Can confirm it stacks easily. 1st code - create new subscription, 2nd code - extend existing subscription.
Bitdefender has worked fine for me for a number of years and this is a great deal. Confirmed it works and mine was extended by another year to 2025 :-)
Here is a better offer.
Dont buy and save $14.99
Your windows security is good enough.
This ALSO works on your mobile! Which needs to be protected as well.
Apps runs inside it's own sandbox in iOS and Android. Even your AV will run side its own sandbox.
Regardless if you think it gives you a peace of mind, you should go ahead and buy it. No judgements here.
It’s good, but not good enough.
I’ve experienced multiple PCs recently that have had issues with Malware and Crypto Miners.
Windows Defender didn’t catch any of them.
FYI - grabbed the 6 month free trial per other post and tried to stack with $14.99 for 12 months and when applying code it overwrites the free trial.
Spoke to chat support: "when you use an activation code on a trial version, that trial version will end and the paid subscription will begin. So the two will not add to each other. the validity of the (new) subscription starts from the moment you buy it, not from when you activate it."
You can actually start activating the paid licence at the end of your trial period.
I'm looking at changing my AV program McAfee this year when it expires in December (As renewal is very expensive). Does anyone know if I purchase this now, can I then use it it December and still get my 12 month subs?
Thanks to the OP for the post btw, always nice to see bargains on AV programs :-)
Based off the previous comments that would work perfectly fine (people have talked about keeping them for years)
I emailed them and got the following response.
"In regards to your request, the validity countdown for subscriptions acquired via our online store www.bitdefender.com will start right after the purchase is finalized, regardless of the Central activation timestamp – except for Bitdefender BOX and products that are purchased from our Trusted Partners."
I'll have to see what coupons are available when I need to replace McAfee in Dec.
Yes it should be fine, just make sure you don't activate it now. Although it seems like they're trying to make this harder recently. If anything just contact chat support, they're very helpful.
This did not stack for me.
Luckily I only had 60 days remaining on my current subscription so the $14.99 license will cover 10 months.
By the way, activation happens immediately upon payment.
It should stack if you're activating the same product as your current subscription - it must be Total Security, for exactly 5 users.
Activation starts when you activate it in Central.
Wizard on 29/06/2023 - 15:42 Comment score below threshold.