There are two sides to any software application - the program itself and the support that you get from the vendor when you run into troubles.  Over the past few months I've been actively recommending BitDefender products based on the software applications we'd tried - well, I now have to withdraw my recommendations based on our experiences with the BitDefender tech support.

If you want the background to this story then I suggest that you read what Kathie has written about it (here, here and here) - the short version of the story is that we installed BitDefender Internet Security 10 on two separate PCs and had similar problems with both (problems which went away upon uninstalling BitDefender Internet Security 10), we contacted tech support and received little feedback (a few requests for more info, requests to tweak settings, that kinda thing) but then the support dried up and emails weren't being replied to.  Out last official communication with BitDefender was to ask for a refund.  That was weeks ago.  No reply.  No refund.  No resolution.  Nothing.

However, while tech support has gone quiet, Kathie's had a number of comments left on her blog by Florin Stiuca of BitDefender.  The comments make is sound like BitDefender is eager to help, but I'd prefer the standard tech support route that everyone else has access to, not preferential treatment just because the post ranks highly in the search engines when it comes to BitDefender problems.

So, that's it.  BitDefender off the PC Doctor recommend list.  Not because we had problems with the product, but because the support sucked.  I want to make it clear, I'm not saying don't buy BitDefender products (you can do what you want with your money!), I just want to make it clear that we had problems, and the same could happen to you.

This entry was posted on Monday, December 18th, 2006 at 20:54 and is filed under Random Stuff ..., Stay Secure. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.