What is Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac?

Installing Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac

Using Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac

What is Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac?

Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is malware-protection software that is available for use on College-owned and personally-owned Apple computers of faculty, staff and students running Mac OS X version 10.10 or later (Yosemite, El Capitan, Sierra, High Sierra, and Mojave). Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is standard software on every public and office Mac at Saint Mary's College. If Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is not already on your Mac running Mac OS X version 10.9.5 or later, you can install the software using the instructions below.

Even if you have Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac installed on your computer, the Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac definition files must still be updated regularly to keep your malware protection software up-to-date. The instructions for installing Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac will include information on how Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac will automatically download and install the latest definitions available for your computer.

Saint Mary's College was previously using McAfee's malware-protection software on College-owned and personally-owned computers. Beginning in May 2017, we have adopted Bitdefender as our new malware-protection software provider.

Installing Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac

This software is only for installation personally-owned computers. Please do not use these instructions to install Bitdefender on College-owned (office or cluster/classroom) computers.

To install Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac on your computer, you must have Mac OS X version 10.9.5 or later installed on your computer. (This includes Mavericks, Yosemite, El Capitan, and Sierra.)

To make sure that your computer is running Mac OS X version 10.9.5 or later, go to the Apple Menu in the upper left corner of your computer and select "About this Mac." Under or next to the words "Mac OS X" or "macOS" it will list the version number. If you are running a version of Mac OS X that is earlier than version 10.9.5, you cannot install Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac.

This install will take approximately 5-20 minutes, depending on the speed of the computer and your network connection.

• Before you install Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac, make sure your operating system is up-to-date.
• If you currently have a version of McAfee malware protection software previously provided by Saint Mary's College (including VirusScan for Mac, McAfee Endpoint Protection for Mac, or McAfee Security), instructions for removing that software are available here. Once you remove the McAfee software, restart your computer before proceeding with the installation of Bitdefender.

• If you have a previous version of Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac installed on your computer, the new Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac installer should automatically overwrite it.
• If you currently have virus protection software other than the Saint Mary's College-provided McAfee or Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac, please refer to the documentation that came with that software to uninstall it. Having multiple copies of security (antivirus, antimalware) software installed on a computer can cause severe performance problems. If you do not have the original software manuals for your existing security software, you may want to refer to the software manufacturer's web site for instructions. Once you remove your existing virus protection software, restart your computer before proceeding with the installation of Bitdefender.
• You must have administrative privileges on your computer to install this software.

• As with any software install, please make sure that you have your personal data backed up before you begin the installation process.

Obtain Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac

1. To obtain the Bitdefender software, visit https://central.bitdefender.com. (Clicking on the link will automatically open the page in a new window or tab).
2. Click the Sign In button.
3. Sign in to the Bitdefender site with your Saint Mary's G Suite for Education account.
1. Click the button to sign in with Google (G+).


2. Enter your Saint Mary's e-mail address when prompted and click Next.


3. Enter your Saint Mary's e-mail password when prompted and click Next.


4. If it asks, you want to access Bitdefender with your saintmarys.edu account (select your saintmarys.edu account from the list).


5. If it asks, it should be allowed to view your e-mail account and basic profile. Any other options can be deselected if you wish. Click Allow.


6. If you are taken back to the Bitdefender sign-in page, click the button to sign in with Google one more time. It should take you directly to Bitdefender Central without needing to sign in a second time.
4. If you encounter problems signing into the Bitdefender site with your Saint Mary's G Suite for Education account, please clear your web browser's cache and cookies. Instructions are available here.
5. Add a device that you wish to install Bitdefender on.
• In Bitdefender Central, if a Protect your devices window appears, click on Protect this device.


• If the Protect your devices window does not automatically appear:


1. In Bitdefender Central, click on My Devices in the left column.


2. Click the Install Protection button.


3. Click on Protect this device.


4. Close the Download & Install window when prompted.


5. You do not need to activate parental control or set a child profile. If you see this prompt, click Not now.


6. If your web browser (Apple Safari, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox) warns that the file you downloaded could harm your computer, indicate that you wish to proceed and keep the file.

Install Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac

Please complete these instructions using the computer you want the Bitdefender software to be installed on.

As a reminder, any previously installed virus or malware protection software should be removed from your computer and your computer should be restarted before proceeding.

1. Locate the downloaded Bitdefender software on your computer.
• The file name of the installer will start with bitdefender and will likely end in .pkg.


• The installer may be saved to your computer's Desktop, to your Downloads folder, or other location you may have specified.


• You may be able to find the installer by seeing it listed in your web browser's download history.
2. Double-click on the Bitdefender software installer package.
3. The installer will launch, and you will be to that the package will run a program to determine if the software can be installed. Click Continue.

4. In the Welcome to the Bitdefender Installer window, click Continue.
5. Read the Software License Agreement and click Continue.
6. Click Agree.
7. Click Install. (You should keep the default option of your Macintosh HD - the hard drive with your operating system and applications - for the install location.)
8. Type in the administrator username and password for your computer when prompted. Click Install Software.
9. The software will install.
10. The installer window should soon indicate that the installation was successful.
11. A second (smaller) window will appear indicating that it is installing Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac. Please be patient as this process completes.
12. A new (larger) window will appear welcoming you to Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac. Ignore this new window for the next few steps.
13. When the second (smaller) window for the installation closes automatically, click Close on the Install Bitdefender window. (It may be behind the Welcome to Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac window.)
14. You may be asked if you want to move the Bitdefender installer to the trash. Click Move to Trash.
15. In the Welcome to Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac window, click Get Started.
16. Please note that the Bitdefender for Mac software may initially appear to be a trial license. The software will automatically switch to a campus-wide annual license within 24 hours of being installed on your computer.

Customizing Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac

1. If it asks, you want Bitdefender to protect your Time Machine backups. This will prevent the loss of your personal data if a computer you connect your external hard drive to is affected by a ransomware-type infection. Type in the administrator username and password for your computer when prompted. Click OK. Click Close.

• If it does not automatically ask, you can set this by going to the Antivirus for Mac menu and selecting Preferences.... Click on the Protection icon and then check the box next to Time Machine Protection.

2. If it is not already active, you want Bitdefender to provide Web Protection. This will protect your computer as you access websites from your computer. Click "Fix Now."

3. Click Get Extension for the web browser(s) you use most to install the TrafficLight extension.

1. In the Bitdefender TrafficLight window, click on the Free Download for TrafficLight.
2. Install the extension for your web browser as prompted.
3. In Google Chrome, click the Add to Chrome button and click Add extension.
4. In Apple Safari, click the Install Now link.
5. In Mozilla Firefox, click the Add to Firefox button, click Install, and click Restart Now. (This will restart Firefox, not your computer.)

4. Click Close to close the Bitdefender TrafficLight window.

5. Congratulations! You finished the Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac installation.

Using Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac

1. Scan your computer now that you have the latest malware protection.

• You can initiate a scan on your Mac at any time by opening Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac (located in your Applications folder). Choose the type of scan that meets your current needs:

  • Quick Scan - Scans your documents, Downloads, Applications, and other locations where malware frequently resides. This is a good place to start if your computer is exhibiting suspicious behavior.
  • System Scan - Scans all of your files and directories. If a Quick Scan finds something suspicious, a full scan should be run next. If you know your computer could be infected with something (you accidentally opened a file or visited a website that was fraudulent), run a System Scan.
  • Custom Scan - Scans a particular file or folder, helpful for when you're sharing documents and you want to take extra precautions.

2. To check when Bitdefender last updated its virus definitions on your computer, go to the Antivirus for Mac menu and select Preferences.... Click History. By default, Bitdefender will automatically check for virus signature updates automatically and download any updates that are more recent than the ones you already have.
3. To check the version of Bitdefender on your computer, go to the Antivirus for Mac menu and select About Antivirus for Mac. The version will be listed in the window.
4. To quit the Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac application, go to the Antivirus for Mac menu and select Quit Antivirus for Mac. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac will still be active on your computer, protecting it from threats, but the application that you interact with will not be running.