Antivirus Plus 2018 is now like a virus itself

I don't know what has happened in the last update or couple of updates, but Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2018 is now making my PC unusable. It's so intrusive and frustrating. I try to install some new software. Oh no, sorry, it's trying to access protected files so that's not allowed. The installation fails part way through. I tell it to make an exception and try the installation again. Same error message. Installation fails again. Now I have partially installed software that I need to remove, so I try running the uninstaller. Oh no, sorry, that's accessing protected files. The uninstaller fails. I tell it to make an exception and run it again. Nope, sorry, still not allowed.


I've been using Cryptainer software for years which creates a kind of virtual encrypted drive-within-a-drive. Now whenever I load it up, Bitdefender tells me it's 'detected a new device' and starts scanning it, so I have to wait while it completes as it somehow holds up the opening of the software. It does this EVERY TIME. The same thing happens when I try to shut Cryptainer down, so now I either have to switch my PC off at the mains or do a potentially risky forced unload of Cryptainer, because I can't shut the PC down while Cryptainer is open and I can't close Cryptainer normally because Bitdefender tries to scan it every time I do. I really don't know what to do here as both methods run the risk of data loss on the encrypted virtual drive.


Earlier I wanted to burn some photos to a CD-R so I put the blank CD-R into my drive as usual, only this time Bitdefender decides that it's a 'new device' and starts scanning it. This not only leads to yet more delay but also then the CD-R gets stuck in the drive as it refuses to eject whilst it's being scanned.


I've tried disabling whatever I can in Bitdefender yet it hasn't made any difference (plus what's the point in me paying for it if I have to disable it in order to use my PC?) so I'm now at the point where I'm considering uninstalling and trying to get a refund on the remaining 330ish days left. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can try to reclaim the ability to use my PC? This software really isn't fit for purpose as it stands at the minute.