How to grant access to protected folders on macOS

With the launch of macOS 10.14 Mojave, Apple has implemented a series of changes that also affected the way Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac functions. If you have macOS Mojave or later you will have to manually allow Bitdefender to scan all locations on your device, in order to be fully protected.

Upon installing Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac on your devices, you will see a recommendation to enable Bitdefender to scan all locations. Bitdefender needs Full disk access in order to scan the following: Mail, Messages, Safari, Home, Time Machine.

To do this, follow the steps detailed below.

1. Open the main Bitdefender window and click on the quick action button in the recommendation in which you’re asked to grant Bitdefender access to all location on your device.

2. A new window with instructions will appear. Open System Preferences, select Security & Privacy, go to Privacy tab and select Full Disk Access entry (you can also do this by clicking the System Preferences link displayed at the first step in the window).

NOTE: After opening System Preferences, a new window will appear on the screen, informing you that Antivirus for Mac wants access to control System Preferences. Click on OK.

3. To be able to make changes, click the lock icon in the lower-left corner and type an administrator Username and Password.

NOTE: The Username and Password typed here have to belong to an administrator account. If the account on which you are currently logged does not have administrator privileges, fill the boxes with the Username and Password belonging to an administrator.

4. Go back to the window containing the instructions and click the link «here» displayed inside it at step 3. After that, the window below should appear on the screen.

5. Drag & drop the file named Antivirus for Mac from the Finder window to the Full Disk Access window. Press Quit Now when prompted.

6. Finally, Bitdefender will mark the recommendation as solved. The requested permission is now granted.