Windows 10 and Bitdefender 2016 issue

TragicMonkey

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TragicMonkey
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I can't believe I'm the only person this has happened to, but the support people at Bitdefender are acting like this is unique and only I have ever encountered it.

I have a brand new computer. I know, because I put it together. It got a brand new install of its first and only o/s, Windows 10 Professional. I know because I did it. Naturally, the first thing I did on connecting it to the internet was buy and download antivirus software.

Bitdefender 2016 was highly rated in everything I'd read before, so I went with them. Got it downloaded, it installed itself, it ran and said everything was clean and virus-free....

...then it switched itself partially off. The little taskbar icon turned gray, and it periodically (constantly) pops up a window demanding I "sign in to activate". When I do so it recognizes my account info...but brings me to a screen that says "Server Unavailable".

Nothing I do can get past this. I've researched extensively online, and everyone says that sometimes Windows 10's built-in antivirus "Windows Defender" causes issues with other antivirus and needs to be turned off....but it IS off. It's very off. It's so off that I cannot turn it back on even if I want to. Windows thinks Bitdefender is up and active, so it disabled it's own Defender and won't let it be activated unless Bitdefender is completely uninstalled. But Bitdefender, despite being present and asserting it's correctly installed, won't let me "sign in" and won't actually do anything.

I'm stuck with antivirus software that's Schroedinger's catting me, being both on and off simulataneously. Windows is firmly convinced Bitdefender's up and running so it won't help and I can't change any settings in Windows. (Turning the separate Windows Firewall off does nothing either).

So, anybody encounter this and know the solution? I have a fancy new computer that I can't do squat with because I daren't put it online without something protecting it.
 
The free anti-virus software that Microsoft includes is all I, my friends and family and my employer use.

So I'd recommend you get a refund and just use what is now called Windows Defender (formally was Security Essentials).

A nice plus to me is that because it's from Microsoft it is extremely unlikely to have Windows incompatibility problems after OS updates like I've had with every other brand in the past.
 
Did a quick search and found a site that had already answered your question. The quote below is the short answer. For the long answer see the link.


http://www.howtogeek.com/225385/wha...r-windows-10-is-windows-defender-good-enough/
In short: Windows Defender isn’t bad, per se, it just isn’t as good as your other options. However, it’s by far the least intrusive, considering most other antivirus programs come bundled with crapware, install problematic browser extensions, and contain occasional popup ads.

If you’re following common sense and other good security practices, Windows Defender may be fine, depending on your risk tolerance. However, if you’re regularly downloading pirated applications or engaging in other high-risk behaviors, you may want to skip Windows Defender and get something that does better against the collection of obscure malware samples used to test antivirus software.
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rjh01 said:
Did a quick search and found a site that had already answered your question. The quote below is the short answer. For the long answer see the link.


http://www.howtogeek.com/225385/wha...r-windows-10-is-windows-defender-good-enough/
Click to expand...

My question wasn't 'is Windows Defender any good', it's 'does anyone know of a fix to Bitdefender's installation issue I'm having'. I'm not pirating things or being bad, I just don't like the mediocre ratings Defender receives from multiple reviews I've read.
 
I'd recommend getting a refund from Bitdefender and getting something that actually works with Windows 10. It's Bitdefender's responsibility to make sure their product works with any OS they say they're compatible with. If they can't even manage that, then I wouldn't trust them to protect a computer from malware.

I'm using the free version of Avast and find it works just fine on my new Windows 10 laptop. With that, having Flash on ask to activate on both Firefox and Chrome, and not having Java on my machine (haven't missed it yet), I feel perfectly secure.
 
CelticRose said:
I'd recommend getting a refund from Bitdefender and getting something that actually works with Windows 10. It's Bitdefender's responsibility to make sure their product works with any OS they say they're compatible with. If they can't even manage that, then I wouldn't trust them to protect a computer from malware.

I'm using the free version of Avast and find it works just fine on my new Windows 10 laptop. With that, having Flash on ask to activate on both Firefox and Chrome, and not having Java on my machine (haven't missed it yet), I feel perfectly secure.
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Bitdefender is considered one of the top AV software for home use and 2016 is supposed to work with Win 10 so most likely there's something else in play than a simple incompatibility. There might be, however, some issue deeper in the system that's killing Bitdefender from running properly that short of reinstalling Windows may not be solvable.

I'd be curious if any other third party AV software behaves similarly. Maybe try uninstalling Bitdefender and seeing if the trial version of Kaspersky (or another full featured AV) works?
 
elbe said:
...

I'd be curious if any other third party AV software behaves similarly. Maybe try uninstalling Bitdefender and seeing if the trial version of Kaspersky (or another full featured AV) works?
Click to expand...


After many years I gave up using third party AVs in about 2013. Windows Defender is way better than it used to be and actually works very well.

I tried Avast! and AVG on a couple of Win10 machines but they didn't seem to be as reliable as once they were. Avast seemed to slow things down a fair bit.

I used to swear by Kaspersky but as Windows Defender is now so much more reliable and less resource intensive i see no reason to change that.

If the problem is this "unable to contact server" thing then either their server is being a numpty or the Win10 machine is firewall blocking it.
Windows Firewall or the new AVs firewall. Alternatively it could be, as mentioned, that BD isn't as W10 as it claims to be.

Either way, I'd uninstall the new AV. Reboot. Switch off Windows Defender and Firewall. Reinstall new AV. (Maybe create a new account at Bitdefender first)

All of this assumes the BD is a legit registration.


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Oh, yes, Microsoft makes pretty good home level AV (I've heard mixed opinions on their endpoint security software) but they are usually pretty barebones and sometimes people want more control over their security than the minimum the Microsoft ones offer. I liked, for example, the option to specifically scan any new device attached to my computer and to specify how large of archive files to scan inside of (I generally chose no limit while many AV limit it to a couple megs).
 
ComfySlippers said:
After many years I gave up using third party AVs in about 2013. Windows Defender is way better than it used to be and actually works very well.

I tried Avast! and AVG on a couple of Win10 machines but they didn't seem to be as reliable as once they were. Avast seemed to slow things down a fair bit.
Click to expand...

Not to side track the OP but, do you think Windows Defender is better than AVG (free)?

I have AVG on three machines (2-PCs and a laptop) and have had no issues (all have win 10). Just curious.
 
AVG is supposed to be a pretty decent free option, but I don't think it generally tracks against some of the big name paid ones.
Windows Defender has some nice benefits but it isn't the best available.

If you're curious there are some organizations that have run comparison tests: av-test.org or av-comparatives.org. In general, though, you look for one that meets your feature needs and budgetary constraints. If you're a casual user Microsoft will probably work great for you, if you do more IT work you'll probably need something better like Bitdefender (usually gets great results but has been known to be buggy, see above) or Kaspersky.
 
DGM said:
Not to side track the OP but, do you think Windows Defender is better than AVG (free)?



I have AVG on three machines (2-PCs and a laptop) and have had no issues (all have win 10). Just curious.
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Personally I see no need to buy AV software anymore. Windows Defender is, imho, now up to the job.
Some of the more expensive versions of the paid-for stuff simply add unnecessary feely-good options.

AVG, Kaspersky, Avast were all decent in both their free and paid-for versions. Stick with your AVG if it's not causing you problems.




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ComfySlippers said:
Personally I see no need to buy AV software anymore. Windows Defender is, imho, now up to the job.
Some of the more expensive versions of the paid-for stuff simply add unnecessary feely-good options.

AVG, Kaspersky, Avast were all decent in both their free and paid-for versions. Stick with your AVG if it's not causing you problems.




Sent from my iNsomniPad using Tapatalk
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I agree with this, and I will also add that some of the paid options will not update themselves if you don't keep paying them subscription fees.
 
I've seen two common paid option 1) subscription, you pay $30-$50 every year otherwise no more definition updates, or 2) single payment major version, you pay $30-$50 for this years version, it will continue to work and get definition updates next year but you can't upgrade to the next major version without paying more.

Usually you'll get more security options for paid versions, such as this comparison chart for AVG, but in the end you really just need to weigh your needs.
 
paulhutch said:
The free anti-virus software that Microsoft includes is all I, my friends and family and my employer use.

So I'd recommend you get a refund and just use what is now called Windows Defender (formally was Security Essentials).

A nice plus to me is that because it's from Microsoft it is extremely unlikely to have Windows incompatibility problems after OS updates like I've had with every other brand in the past.
Click to expand...

In the past, on other versions, sure. But it has slipped.

AV-test.org also tested the Microsoft System Center solution built into the 64-bit business versions of Windows 10. Here, the answer is more clear-cut: choose a third-party solution. Only Cylance’s Protect and Seqrite’s Endpoint Security finished below Microsoft in the 11-vendor shootout, although only Seqrite arguably underperformed System Center in terms of overall protection. BitDefender Endpoint Security was virtually perfect, catching 100 percent of all malware and only falsely detecting legitimate software on one occasion.

Microsoft’s Windows Defender isn’t great. In terms of protection, you can argue that it’s not even that good. Still, at least as far as its overall standing is concerned, it’s improving. We’d still recommend that you install a third-party antimalware solution. But, as they say, a rising tide lifts all boats. As Microsoft improves Windows Defender, so must the third-party antivirus software keep pace—or risk falling by the wayside.
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Tsukasa Buddha said:
In the past, on other versions, sure. But it has slipped.
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Personally, I have never had a virus attack (that I'm aware of). I use safe practice on web sites and never click on links in emails I'm not familiar with.
I use Yahoo email and I'm happy with their spam filter.

I think the amount of AV you need is linked to the amount of risk you bring on yourself. Think before you click and read the pages that come before the software down-load you just agreed to.

Am I wrong in saying most virus infections are self inflicted? Hell, who would target me specifically.
 
Similarly, I was initially having some serious trouble with shutdown and reboot errors with Windows 10 and Kaspersky on my homemade computer. In the end I gave up and switched to WebRoot.
 
I have never had a virus or other malware and I've been using PCs since before IBM made one. I only started running real-time anti-virus software when the free version of Security Essentials came out for XP. Everything I tried prior to that would bog down CAD or other high end software I need to use so I'd always turn off the real time stuff. In addition to not opening potentially dangerous attachments I have been using NoScript in Firefox since about 2005 and that has undoubtedly saved me more than once at dodgy web sites.

For everyone but me at work we used to play the game of always buying 50 user corporate licenses for whichever anti-virus was rated best in independent tests. The IT guy would still end up spending far too much time fixing problems caused by the anti-virus real-time scanning and still also having infections to remove. But we changed to Security Essentials once everyone was moved to Win7 a couple years back. I asked him today how it was going and he said still no compatibility issues and far fewer infections than in the past (almost certainly due to UAC).

With my family & friends that I'm IT for I used to have to remove 2 to 3 infections per year regardless of which AV software they used. Since they've all been moved to Vista or higher with UAC (about 2.5 years now) I have not had to fix anybodies PC.

Of course YMMV.
 
DGM said:
Not to side track the OP but, do you think Windows Defender is better than AVG (free)?



I have AVG on three machines (2-PCs and a laptop) and have had no issues (all have win 10). Just curious.
Click to expand...


Update:
I was bored so decided to check out AVG Free again.
It seems OK and has a couple of extra features of use to me.
As with most AVs anything above and beyond the real-time scanning can be done manually but it has a nice colour so I'll see how it goes for a few days ;)
The paid-for versions provide nothing other than feely-goods.

ETA: although the full scan missed it I managed to get AVG to recognise a minor naughty that I knew was present but that Windows Defender had ignored.


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AVG Free plus Malware-Bytes Anti Malware seem to be behaving pretty decently.

As this thread is about BitDefender and win10, and because I'm bored again, Ill install that and have a looksie.
 
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