How to disable notifications like "Web Attack Prevention is disabled"?

BDUsr · 2022-09-03T01:36:49+00:00

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Hello,

I'm using BitDefender for the core feature - antivirus/antimalware. I'm an advanced user and I don't need the warnings about Web Attack Prevention, Online Threat Prevention, etc being disabled. I want them disabled. I'd like to be able to put the icon in my taskbar but if it's always showing an issue then it's useless.

I've searched and I can't find anything, so any tips would be helpful.

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Gjoksi

Hello.

As an option to fully disable the Bitdefender alerts and pop-ups, open your Bitdefender program, go to Utilities -> Profiles -> Settings and enable/activate "Work Profile" or "Game Profile".

When "Work Profile" or "Game Profile" is enabled/activated, all Bitdefender alerts and pop-ups are disabled.

Can't think of any other solution at the moment.

Regards.

BDUsr

Thanks, but that didn't fix what I'm talking about - I'll upload some screenshots showing what I mean.

The big warning in the main menu isn't such a big deal, but I'd like to be able to have the red 'problem detected' taskbar icon reserved for actual issues like malware detection.

Alexandru_BD

Hello @BDUsr,

The antivirus is designed to have all modules active for complete protection. If Online Threat Prevention is not active, it is considered vulnerable and will be displayed like this.

Regards

Jimmywick

Switch to the Protection tab (click on the shield icon). Next, click on the View Modules link. From the upper-right corner of the main window, click on the Settings icon. Now, switch to the Exclusions tab.

Regards,

Jimmy

NoDiskInDriveA

@Alexandru_BD I think your statement is invalidated by the existing switch to disable the module. It's not software design, it's opinion.

I am currently looking into switching to BitDefender, however I for one am not comfortable with a software scanning my web access and emails, so I disable such features. Bitdefender now hides all actual, relevant errors with this warning message, just because their opinion is this functionality is essential, which it is not. Frankly, this annoys the heck out of me.

As security experts, they should know this is a terrible practice, as users will get used to a warning message being there. Please let us suppress notifications about such non-essentials. I need an AV and an intelligent firewall. Nothing more. Now that Norton has been buying companies left right and centre the last few years, advanced users will look towards companies like BitDefender to fulfill their needs. Please don't treat everyone as children.

Alexandru_BD

Hello @NoDiskInDriveA and thank you for joining the conversation.

The antivirus provides the option to temporarily disable all modules in Bitdefender security solutions for Windows mostly for troubleshooting purposes. In the end, it is recommended to re-enable the security modules you have initially turned off, for complete protection.

In regards to scanning and antivirus functionality, when you use Bitdefender products it is possible to share with us some technical details, such as data for identifying the device (UUID), the infected URL you reported or IP addresses. If you use a Bitdefender product that integrates with your email server, some technical data of the infected files could be send to us, including data such as sender, recipient, subject or attachment. If you use one of our mobile Bitdefender Solution, we may collect installed application information whenever scans are performed, to check against the latest threat information available and warn you if alleged malicious apps are found. In most cases, all these technical data may not lead to your direct or indirect identification, but in some very specific cases, computer specialists might be able to identify a specific user. Therefore, we treat all such information as personal data and protect it as such.

This technical data is solely used for the purpose of information and network security by correct and efficient operation of the products and services, according to the technical specifications, and their improvement, including by analyzing the reported security issues. This includes delivering and customizing related services. In addition, we may use this information for statistical purposes and improving the quality of our products.

The product developers understand that users may have specific needs and that there are situations in which you are willing to expose yourself, either to get a better experience during the games or to run certain tests and some users simply choose not to have some of the defenses active. The fact that the security solution does not facilitate an option to completely disable all defenses at once, or all important security notifications, may pose an inconvenience.

However, the first and perhaps most important measure of protection is prevention. As a trusted service provider, we are responsible for the integrity of your systems and data, and any vulnerability can be exploited, which we want to avoid completely, as part of our promise to keep our users safe at all times.

As a security company, we are at the forefront of the evolution of threats and their manifestations, and the fight between us and the bad guys is happening behind the scenes, as transparent as possible for users. For this reason, our solutions include several layers (prevention, protection, remediation - to name a few) and complex technologies developed precisely to ensure that we can protect everything that is important to you.

The product developers and security researchers always take into account all possible vulnerabilities and scenarios of usage. Having an option to completely disable the antivirus protection or its security notifications that communicate to the user what is happening on the device can pose certain risks for less tech savvy users.

If the user dismisses or does not see such a notification and overlooks to enable full protection, his devices will be at risk and we will not be able to protect him at the desired security standards, until all defenses are reactivated. But this is just an example. There are other risky scenarios that may happen.

So, although other security solutions may provide options to silent security notifications or the antivirus altogether, I invite you to think about the real importance of this trade-off, taking into consideration all scenarios of usage.

Keep in mind that you are as strong as the weakest service you are using.

Regards.

PubR

FWIW, I'm just giving Bitdefender a try, and I found this thread looking for a solution to the exactly same problem as the original poster described. Such software behaviour is a dealbreaker for me, so I'm afraid BD won't stay on my machine much longer if there's no indication it's going to be fixed.

BDUsr

https://community.bitdefender.com/en/discussion/comment/323540#Comment_323540

No fix ever mentioned or noted. They apparently don't care for power users. Which is interesting given all the free advertisement they must get from AV-Test and AV-Comparitives.

PubR

https://community.bitdefender.com/en/discussion/comment/323541#Comment_323541

Yep, shame.

Since it's been a good couple of months since the discussion, out of curiosity: have you learned to live with this "feature" or have you moved on to other software?

BDUsr

https://community.bitdefender.com/en/discussion/comment/323542#Comment_323542

I just keep the tray icon hidden and turned off notifications. I'll be going with defender for my next build or reinstall.

nasom54492

I have the same problem, that message in the dashboard and especially the tray icon are very annoying. I just made this account to comment on the situation and say that the reasons behind this behavior are just plain retarded.

Have a nice day.

ElScorcho

I'm in the same camp as most of the users in this thread. Simply because Bitdefender is not protecting my web usage does not mean I'm unsafe or that I do not have another solution in place that I trust in place of Bitdefenter, like a Sonicwall, pfSense, Pihole, Windows Defender etc. You know, a multi-layered approach without putting all my eggs in one basket. Also, if I choose to discontinue use of Bitdefenter or pfSense etc., I don't have to replace every layer of protection. If laywers can craft ToS and EULAS that allow for abominable corporate behavior and shirk massive loads of responsibility, then why not allow me to tell the Bitdefender application I have other solutions in place and to stop telling me and my FAMILY our systems are insecure or vulnerable? Put the responsibility on me.

Alexandru_BD

Hi @ElScorcho and thank you for joining us.

One cannot simply put the responsibility on users and call themselves cybersecurity providers at the same time. It doesn't work that way. The security related notifications are there for good reason and this is what an antivirus does, it keeps the user aware of what is happening on their devices while protecting them at the same time.

The Bitdefender solutions already include a multi-layered security approach (prevention, protection, remediation - to name a few) and complex technologies developed precisely to ensure that we can protect everything that is important to you. The security modules are designed in a specific way, so that IF a defense fails, another one takes its place.

For example, the firewall prevents the infection from entering the PC from the network. If the firewall fails, Advanced Threat Defense takes over and blocks dubious processes. If this module misses something, then the Antivirus will find any modification of files during scanning.

Installing more security solutions is one of the worst things you can do to your PC. Users may be tempted to use what some view as “dual protection”, but the reality is that this will cause difficulties. Having multiple antivirus programs running at the same time will not make your computer more secure. It may degrade performance and even prevent proper malware detection. In order to ensure effective functioning, it is necessary for the antivirus software to be granted permission to access a suitable level within the computer. This involves the software delving into the core of the system.

By doing so, the antivirus product can intercept system events that occur deep within the computer. The intercepted data is then forwarded to the antivirus engine for analysis. Consequently, the antivirus scanner is able to scan intercepted files, network packets, and other crucial data.

If two antivirus programs are simultaneously running on a single computer, both will attempt to install interceptors in the same section of the system. This is likely to lead to conflicts between the antivirus monitors. If you are interested, you can read more below:

https://www.av-comparatives.org/why-you-should-never-have-multiple-antivirus-programs-on-your-computer/

So, suppressing security notification defies the purpose of awareness and protection. We need to keep in mind that not all users are tech savvy and experienced with malware and other threats, so the security solution needs to satisfy both categories of users out there. While the antivirus is standalone most of the time, it may require user intervention at some point in its activity, so the user should be aware of what's going on.

Regards