Bitdefender facts for kids
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Bitdefender Headquarters in Bucharest, Romania
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| Private | |
| Industry | Computer software |
| Founded | November 6, 2001 |
| Founder | Florin Talpeș |
| Headquarters | Bucharest, Romania and San Antonio, Texas |
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Area served
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Worldwide |
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Key people
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Florin Talpeș (CEO) |
| Products | Cybersecurity software |
| Services | Computer security |
| Revenue | €296 million (2022) |
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Number of employees
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1,800+ (2025) |
Bitdefender is a company that creates special computer programs to keep your devices safe. It's like a shield for your computer, phone, and tablet! The company has main offices in Bucharest, Romania, and San Antonio, Texas in the United States.
Bitdefender also has offices in many other places around the world. These include countries in Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and Asia.
A person named Florin Talpeș started Bitdefender in 2001. He is still the main leader of the company today. Bitdefender makes many different kinds of security products. These include programs that stop viruses, protect your online identity, and keep your private information safe.
Bitdefender's products are sold in over 150 countries. A lot of their business comes from the United States. By 2025, more than 1,800 people worked for Bitdefender worldwide.
Contents
How Bitdefender Started
Bitdefender's software first came from another company called SOFTWIN. SOFTWIN began in 1990 in Romania. The security software was first called AVX (Antivirus Expert) from 1996.
In 2001, the AVX software was renamed Bitdefender. Bitdefender then became its own separate company in 2007.
From 2004 to 2015, Bitdefender grew a lot. They opened new offices in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark, and the Middle East.
In 2017, Bitdefender bought a French company they used to work with. A British investment group also bought a part of Bitdefender.
Bitdefender continued to grow in 2018. They opened a new office in Australia. They also bought a company called RedSocks, which helps find bad things happening on computer networks.
In 2019, Bitdefender opened a special Security Operations Center in San Antonio, Texas. This center helps watch for and stop online threats. It uses information from Bitdefender's threat systems to find dangers early.
Bitdefender started working with the Scuderia Ferrari racing team in 2022. This partnership grew in 2023. Bitdefender now helps protect Ferrari's computer systems from online attacks.
In August 2023, Bitdefender bought a company called Horangi Cyber Security, which is based in Singapore. In April 2024, Bitdefender started a new part of their company called Bitdefender Voyager Ventures. This group invests in new companies that are working on cybersecurity and AI.
In February 2025, Bitdefender bought a part of another company called Bitshield. This part of Bitshield used to sell Bitdefender products in Malaysia and Brunei.
Helping Fight Cybercrime
Since 2016, Bitdefender has worked with Europol's European Cybercrime Centre (EC3). They help with investigations into online crimes. In 2016, Bitdefender joined the "No More Ransom" project. This project gives free tools to people whose computers have been locked by ransomware. Ransomware is a type of bad software that demands money to unlock your files. Bitdefender's tools help people get their files back without paying.
For example, in 2018, they released a free tool for people affected by the GandCrab ransomware.
In 2016, Bitdefender also helped the FBI and other police groups. This help led to the shutdown of two big illegal online markets in 2017.
Bitdefender joined the Cybersecurity Tech Accord in 2018. In 2019, they helped Europol shut down more illegal online markets.
Bitdefender's research in 2020 helped the FBI stop a large network of infected computers in November 2023. In September 2023, Bitdefender helped Finnish police shut down another illegal online marketplace.
In May 2024, Bitdefender was a partner in Europol's "Operation Endgame." This was a very large operation against harmful computer programs called bots. It led to the shutdown of over 100 computer servers and four arrests around the world.
In October 2024, Bitdefender researchers gave information to Finnish customs. This helped them shut down another illegal online marketplace.
What Bitdefender Offers
Bitdefender's first product was called Antivirus Expert. In 2001, it was renamed Bitdefender.
Since 2011, Bitdefender has made many products for both regular people and large businesses. In 2021, they launched a special platform called XDR. This platform helps find and stop advanced online attacks.
Most of Bitdefender's products for home users are managed through an online place called Bitdefender Central. Businesses use a platform called GravityZone to manage their security. In 2025, GravityZone added a new feature called PHASR. This helps make security settings unique for each user.
Today, Bitdefender offers many services. These include protection against viruses and other bad software. They also offer tools for managing passwords, protecting your identity, and VPN services. VPNs help keep your online activity private.
Bitdefender has different plans, like Bitdefender Ultimate Security. They also have special plans for small businesses and people who create online content. These products work on Windows, Mac OS, iOS, and Android devices.
In May 2024, Bitdefender and NinjaOne announced they would work together. They plan to combine their security software into one product. Bitdefender also works with the San Antonio Spurs basketball team to help with their cybersecurity.
The company also gives out free tools to help people whose computers are affected by ransomware. This includes a tool for the ShrinkLocker ransomware in 2024.
Bitdefender has a special research group called Bitdefender Labs. They study cybersecurity and also ask IT experts for their opinions to understand the industry better.
Artificial Intelligence at Bitdefender
In December 2023, Bitdefender launched Scamio. This is a free tool that uses AI to help you spot online scams. It was added to WhatsApp in April 2024 and to Discord in October 2024.
In October 2024, the company announced a new platform called Scam Copilot. This platform brings together all of Bitdefender's AI tools for finding and stopping scams.
Awards Bitdefender Has Won
Bitdefender has won many awards for its security products. Here are some of them:
- 2023 - AV-TEST Top Product, Best Protection, Best Android Protection, and Best MacOS Security.
- 2023 - AV-Comparatives Outstanding Security Award.
- 2024 - AV Comparatives Top Product Award.
- 2024, 2025 - Named one of PCMag's Best Tech Brands. Four of their products, including Bitdefender Ultimate Security, also kept their "Editor’s Choice" status in 2024.
See also
In Spanish: BitDefender para niños
- Comparison of antivirus software
- Comparison of computer viruses
- Multiscanning
