Bitdefender Total Security vs Malwarebytes Premium Security Comparison

• Individual for 1 year: $109.99 billed yearly at renewal
• Individual, first year: $59.99 for the first year (intro)
• Family for 1 year: $139.99 billed yearly at renewal
• Family, first year: $79.99 for the first year (intro)

• Standard for 3 devices, 1 year: $59.99 a year; the store cart lists the same amount for the next billing
• Standard for 1 device, 1 year: $44.99 a year
• Plus for 3 devices, 1 year: $79.98 a year
• Total for 1 adult and 3 devices, first year: Intro: $89.99 for the first year, a 50% discount
• Total for 1 adult and 3 devices, renewal: $179.99 a year after the first year; the page says the discount is first year only

The privacy policy says the products send technical data such as IP and MAC addresses and pseudonymized identifiers of devices, files, folders, apps and URLs; with email protection, header data such as sender, recipient and subject. The Windows guide says Quick Scan uses in-the-cloud scanning. Neither says whether whole files are uploaded for analysis.

The privacy policy lists, among the data its software collects, 'artifacts detected as malware, PUPs, or suspicious files' and, for blocked exploits, the exploit payload files and possibly a copy of the exploit executable. It says the content analysis of files, photos and messages runs on the device and the company does not receive the content, 'unless we describe otherwise for a specific feature'; one such feature is text message protection on mobile, which sends the sender and the body of texts from senders not in your contacts and keeps the malicious ones for analysis. It does not say whether the upload of detected files can be switched off separately; the opt-out covers 'threat statistics', which include detection samples.

Technical data is used for security and, in the policy's words, 'for statistical purposes and improving the quality of our solutions'. The account email can be used for Bitdefender's own marketing unless you opt out. The policy says 'We do not sell your data.' Technical data may be kept for up to 10 years.

The privacy policy says Malwarebytes does not sell personal data for money, but that it may share limited information with advertising partners such as Meta to measure ads: a hashed email address, online identifiers, ad click identifiers and IP address. Meta and Malwarebytes are joint controllers for data sent through Meta's business tools. The policy offers an opt-out through 'Your Privacy Choices' on the website or Global Privacy Control. It also says the product collects usage and threat statistics, a machine identifier created at install, and IP-based location, but that it does not store the IP address of client requests.

Bitdefender S.R.L. is registered in Bucharest, Romania, and processes personal data under the EU GDPR. The privacy policy names hosting, support, e-commerce and marketing processors in the EU and the USA.

Malwarebytes is based in Santa Clara, California, and its privacy policy gives that address and says Malwarebytes Inc. takes part in the EU–US, UK and Swiss data privacy frameworks. The policy says the company may disclose personal data to government agencies in response to lawful requests, including subpoenas and warrants.

A privately held company led by co-founder and CEO Florin Talpeș. In December 2017 the investment firm Vitruvian Partners bought about 30% from another shareholder, becoming the second-largest shareholder after co-founders Florin and Mariuca Talpeș; a group of private investors holds a minority stake. The most recent ownership details found date from 2017.

Founded in 2008; co-founder Marcin Kleczynski is still chief executive. In December 2022 the private equity firm Vector Capital closed a $100 million minority investment and two of its managing directors joined the board.