I am unable to use the HSBC banking app due to Bitdefender. How do I exclude this app from Bitdefender? The particular issue is that I do not use the Google play store, and the HSBC app does not like Bitdefender because of this.
Hello,
By this you mean that the HSBC app wasn’t installed through the Google Play Store? Because in this case, it's highly possible that Mobile Security is treating it as an untrusted app and interfering with its use.. so it could be the other way around, actually. Unfortunately, Bitdefender doesn’t allow you to exclude apps from the App Anomaly Detection feature and its security settings if they are sideloaded (not from Play Store). Most likely, that’s why you’re running into trouble.
Also, HSBC may require the Play Store version for compatibility. If you have a device that doesn’t use Google Play, I think HSBC themselves usually recommend alternate installation methods, like their official APK? I must say that Android is not really my specialty since I'm an iPhone user and haven't touched an Android device in years, but these are just my two cents..
Also, try to turn off App Anomaly Detection while using the app, and see if that helps. It may be a long shot, but it's worth a try.
Regards
Both are via Aurora store, which is Playstore. But the error is with HSBC and its their app complaining of Bitdefenders explictly. I have confirmed this as a recent change with HSBC.
What about if you disable Web Protection when using the HSBC app? Does that work?
No difference.
What about if you uninstall Mobile Security from your phone completely?
Hello @Neverland 👋,
I can imagine how frustrating that must be — especially when it’s your banking app that’s being picky.
As @Alexandru _BD pointed out, the root of the problem is often how certain banking apps treat security layers when they detect that the app wasn’t installed from the official Play Store.
Some banks enforce very strict integrity checks, which sometimes flag security tools like Bitdefender, even when they’re actually helping to protect the device.
A couple of suggestions you can try:
•If possible, use the official Play Store version of the HSBC app — many users have found that this avoids the conflict entirely.
•If that’s not an option, temporarily disabling Web Protection when using the HSBC app (as Alex suggested) might allow it to work without completely turning off Bitdefender’s overall protection.
It’s often less about Bitdefender blocking the app, and more about the app itself not liking the security checks when sideloaded via stores like Aurora.
Hopefully this workaround will help until either HSBC or Bitdefender adjust compatibility.
Kudos to @Alexandru _BD for jumping in with practical advice so quickly 👍.
– AlFifi_Defender 🛡️
