2022 MacBook M2 + BitDefender not detecting hijackers - why?

Watchman077

I have a 2022 MacBook M2 running on Sonoma 14.6.

I have had Bitdefender Central & VPN installed for over six months.

1.Trovi

Some weeks ago, after regularly being stopped from browsing by ‘Trovi’ when using Chrome,  I deleted the browsing history, removed Chrome & re-installed it. Trovi is no longer stopping me browsing but I found there was still malware of a different variety (see2 & 3 below). 

At no time did Bit Defender detect Trovi despite me running full scans several times a day after each update.

2.BitDefender

Immediately after an update from BitDefender I usually run a full system scan that always gives a ‘no threats’ result.

I recently ran a free scan by Combo Cleaner that notified me of two hijackers on Chrome.

Type: Spam Ads.          Name: fastsolve.captha.com

Type: Extension           Name: MyShopSearch {VER.1]

I then selected BitDefender Adware Removal Tool (B in tool bar between XLS and C) and 

‘Search for Adware’.

It tells me that Genieo is present. I used the tool to remove Genieo, removal was confirmed but soon after it reappeared. 

The twice daily BitDefender scan I do has never detected any of the threats noted above.

The BitDefender VPN does not connect automatically and if I try and do it manually I get: -

3. Avast Security

I ran a free scan with Avast Security that gave a ‘no malware found result’ but a notification of ‘advanced issues’

Alexandru_BD

Hello @Watchman077,

I think this requires a more in-depth investigation and product logs coming from your MacBook that would reveal what's going on exactly. I would recommend contacting the Support teams for assistance in this case.

When you contact Bitdefender support claiming suspicious malware-like behavior, a representative may ask you to provide detailed information such as:

• a full description of the symptoms that make you suspect your Mac is infected
• a screenshot of the malware signs you see on the screen – How to take a screenshot on Mac
• a BDsys log

Here's how you can use the BDsysLog scan utility on your Mac:

https://www.bitdefender.com/consumer/support/answer/11198/

Then simply go to the link link below to get in touch with the Bitdefender engineers and provide them with the required information for troublehshooting:

https://www.bitdefender.com/consumer/support/help/

State your contact reason / choose request category, then choose from the available contact channels, chat, phone and email/ticket. Chat would be the fastest way to reach them.

Let us know how it goes.

Regards,

Alex