Clarification on Bitdefender's Policies Regarding Pirated Software Detection and Reporting

Dear Bitdefender Support Team,

I hope this message finds you well.

I have a question regarding Bitdefender’s policies on detecting and
reporting for exmaple "pirated software" and "pirated games".

If Bitdefender detects such
software on my system, will it report this to any authorities or third
parties? Or do third parties need to file a report on the user first?

I have read the privacy policy, but I am not entirely sure I understand
it. Additionally, is Bitdefender anonymizing the data collected on PCs,
or is everything documented and identifiable?

I am particularly interested in understanding if Bitdefender reports
anything or collect on a PC that might be pirated or illegal to third parties like
the police, government, or other entities.

Thank you for your assistance. I look forward to your response.

Best regards, Jeffrey

Best Answers

  • Flexx
    Flexx mod
    Answer ✓

    As far as I know from being in touch with malware researchers about this issue, Bitdefender does not report pirated software to the original developers. Bitdefender only detects cracks or keygens used to activate legitimate software, and only when those cracks or keygens contain malicious activities. Otherwise, Bitdefender takes no action.

    The internet is filled with pirated software, and even software developers are aware of this. When contacted personally, some developers have admitted through their support channels that they are aware of the issue, but if they try to block one source, another will simply appear. Therefore, there is little that can be done about pirated copies.

    Regards

    Life happens, Coffee helps!

    Show your Attitude, when you reach that Altitude!

    Bitdefender Ultimate Security Plus (user)

  • jeffrey1988
    Answer ✓

    Hi @Flexx

    I wanted to provide some context to my previous inquiry about Bitdefender's policies regarding pirated software detection and reporting. I am not attempting to download any illegal software that I do not own.

    The reason for my question is that I own a physical copy of one of my favorite old-school games, which unfortunately is no longer available for purchase, either digitally or physically. My physical copy is not compatible with my current Windows version, so I looked for a legitimate way to play the game on my PC. I found a version of the game on a site that works perfectly on my PC.

    My intention was to understand Bitdefender's stance on such situations where users might seek functional versions of software they already own, especially when compatibility issues arise. I want to ensure that I am compliant with both legal and software policies.

    Also i got a message from Bitdefender support on email with confirmation.

    I appreciate the responses from the community and the clarification from Bitdefender's support team.

    Thank you for your understanding.

    Best regards,
    Jeffrey

Answers

  • For example, suppose you still want to use pirated software (which is not recommended) because you cannot find the original software due to it being very old or outdated. It is always recommended to use reputable antimalware software like Bitdefender to detect any malicious content in the software. If Bitdefender does not detect anything, you should go to the website VirusTotal.com and upload the file there to see if any reputable antimalware vendors detect it as malicious.

    Regards

    Life happens, Coffee helps!

    Show your Attitude, when you reach that Altitude!

    Bitdefender Ultimate Security Plus (user)



  • I wanted to provide some context to my previous inquiry about Bitdefender's policies regarding pirated software detection and reporting. I am not attempting to download any illegal software that I do not own.

    The reason for my question is that I own a physical copy of one of my favorite old-school games, which unfortunately is no longer available for purchase, either digitally or physically. My physical copy is not compatible with my current Windows version, so I looked for a legitimate way to play the game on my PC. I found a version of the game on a site that works perfectly on my PC.

    My intention was to understand Bitdefender's stance on such situations where users might seek functional versions of software they already own, especially when compatibility issues arise. I want to ensure that I am compliant with both legal and software policies.

    Also i have got a email from a Customer Care Representative Support with this message

    I appreciate the responses from the community and the clarification from Bitdefender's support team.

    Thank you for your understanding.

    Best regards,
    Jeffrey ❤️