Bitdefender Total Security review

While you pay for software program, the very last thing you need are limits. And but, Bitdefender Whole Safety imposes a moderately stunning one on customers: VPN use, generally part of mid-range antivirus suites, is restricted to a 200MB per-day restrict per system.

It’s an odd ploy, provided that rival providers supply full, unrestricted VPN entry, and typically a password supervisor subscription, too. However Bitdefender’s ace within the gap is its stellar safety, together with its easy-to-understand, but nonetheless customizable interface. Should you can forgive Whole Safety its occasional half-baked elements, it supplies among the many greatest protection in opposition to malware and on-line threats.

Additional studying: See our roundup of the greatest antivirus software program for Home windows PCs to study competing merchandise.

What does Bitdefender Whole Safety embrace?

Bitdefender Whole Safety provides broad safety in opposition to on-line threats, beginning with antivirus, firewall, and ransomware. It additionally safeguards in opposition to community, internet, and electronic mail points like brute drive assaults, malicious hyperlinks, and harmful attachments, in addition to screens your native inbox for spam in the event you use Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird. It controls entry to your webcam and microphone to forestall distant spying, too.

For extra safety and privateness, Whole Safety features a safe browser, entry to its VPN service (albeit restricted), tracker blocking, parental controls, and a scanner that checks for system vulnerabilities. It additionally has anti-theft software program instruments to get better, lock down, or wipe an related system. Rounding out the suite are set of utilities: a system optimizer, file shredder for safe deletion, and utilization profiles.

You’ll be able to set up Bitdefender on Home windows, macOS, Android, and iOS gadgets, although not all options are supported on all platforms.

How a lot does Bitdefender Whole Safety value?

The worth of Bitdefender Whole Safety varies relying on the variety of gadgets coated — although not by a lot. You’ll be able to select between a five-device plan and 10-device plan, which all allow you to set up the software program on Home windows, macOS, Android, and iOS gadgets.

5-device plan

• £49.99/$70 for the primary 12 months
• £74.99/$100 per 12 months thereafter

10-device plan

• £52.99/$73 for the primary 12 months
• £84.99/$110 per 12 months thereafter

Bitdefender enrolls customers into auto-renewal by default, although refunds are allowed as much as 30 days after the automated renewal date. The corporate additionally provides refunds inside 30 days of the preliminary buy of a subscription.

To save lots of extra money on Bitdefender, you should purchase a license via retailers like Newegg, B&H, and Amazon, usually at a large low cost. For instance, a 10-device, one-year plan was simply $50 on Newegg on the time of this text’s publishing.

Key options of Bitdefender Whole Safety

Set up and person interface

Getting began with Bitdefender Whole Safety is easy and easy — the set up window even exhibits quick explanations of various options as you wait. Nevertheless, watch out when organising your Bitdefender account, as you’re solely requested to sort in your password as soon as. Should you don’t use a password supervisor, that leaves you open to misremembering (or mistyping) it.

The Bitdefender app has a clear, easy interface, with huge tiles for every characteristic. A defend icon within the upper-left nook serves as a standing indicator; it’ll flip purple when one thing requires consideration. Alongside the left aspect of the window is entry to the dashboard, options sorted by class (Safety, Privateness, and Utilities), notifications, and settings. The app works along with the Bitdefender Central web site portal, the place you’ll deal with system administration (which incorporates distant instructions you’ll be able to ship to related gadgets, like malware scans) and parental controls.

PCWorld

Within the dashboard, you’ll discover six customizable shortcuts to completely different options, together with urged motion objects on the prime. The defaults are Fast Scan, System Scan, Vulnerability Scan, VPN, and Safepay, together with a clean tile.

Underneath Safety, you get entry to the antivirus scanner, vulnerability scanner (which checks for weaknesses in your apps and community), and settings for on-line and superior risk protections, firewall, spam screening, and ransomware safeguards.

From Privateness, you can begin up the Safepay digital atmosphere or VPN, bounce into parental controls (that are dealt with via the Bitdefender Central web site), set up the anti-tracker extension for supported browsers, and handle your webcam and microphone safety settings. You too can entry Bitdefender’s password supervisor, nevertheless it’s a separate paid service and never included with the Whole Safety suite.

Inside Utilities, you’ll discover a hyperlink to Bitdefender’s anti-theft instruments (managed via the Bitdefender Central web site), the optimizer scanner that hunts for momentary and different disposable recordsdata, exercise profiles (which allow you to simply change Bitdefender’s habits to align with the way you’re utilizing the pc — e.g., gaming vs. work), and a file shredder for securely deleting recordsdata from hard-disk drives (HDD).

PCWorld

Notifications present a operating log of Bitdefender’s findings because it displays your system, organized by urgency degree. These differ from the pop-up notifications Bitdefender exhibits inside Home windows, which seem on the backside proper of your display screen and usually promote different Bitdefender providers. One such alert even went so far as to warn me a few LinkedIn information leak from two years in the past, to be able to recommend signing up for Bitdefender’s Digital Identification Safety service. Fortuitously, you’ll be able to flip off “particular provides” within the app settings.)

General, Bitdefender errs on the aspect of ease-of-use, giving customers a average variety of settings for the app and per characteristic. The descriptions of options are additionally generalized and never very technical.

Virus, malware, and risk safety

Actual-time safety

Bitdefender stays on fixed alert for potential threats to your PC. On the pc itself, it scans opened or added recordsdata, displays apps for suspicious exercise, and screens downloaded electronic mail for spam, sketchy hyperlinks, and harmful attachments. It particularly seems to be out for apps that attempt to encrypt your recordsdata, too — when not initiated by you, such habits is probably going ransomware attempting to carry your information hostage.

In the meantime, everytime you’re looking on-line, Bitdefender screens for malicious downloads, phishing and fraud makes an attempt, encrypted web sites with invalid or bogus certificates, and unhealthy search outcomes. It additionally blocks unauthorized incoming entry to your PC, unauthorized use of your webcam and microphone, and on-line internet trackers (whenever you set up the corporate’s anti-tracking browser extension). You’ll be able to moreover pair this system with the corporate’s free TrafficLight browser extension, which provides icons to go looking outcomes marking them secure or dangerous.

Scheduled and handbook scans

In an uncommon transfer, Bitdefender doesn’t mechanically carry out common scans. To run a Fast Scan and/or System Scan at a scheduled time, it’s essential to edit these default scans — or as a substitute create a customized scan. The method is just not intuitive, both. You will need to open the edit display screen and click on the Subsequent button earlier than the choice to Select when to schedule this job seems. 

PCWorld

You’ll be able to then select between 4 intervals — every day, weekly, month-to-month, or at system startup. Day by day permits you to set a time; Month-to-month permits you to set which day of the month and a time; and Weekly permits you to select a day of the week and a time.

For handbook scans, you’ll be able to run Fast Scan, which focuses on crucial recordsdata and processes; System Scan, which combs via your total system; or a customized scan you’ve created. Fast Scan and System Scan will also be initiated via the Bitdefender Central web site — although you received’t see indicators of exercise on the system. Because of this, I most well-liked beginning my scans instantly on the PC I used to be utilizing.

Operating System Scan will be sluggish throughout its first run, as Bitdefender takes inventory of every thing in your PC, nevertheless it quickens afterward. (By default, the app scans solely new and adjusted recordsdata.) You too can right-click on particular person folders and recordsdata, after which select Bitdefender > Scan with Bitdefender to examine them out.

PCWorld

Bitdefender lets you regulate settings for scans — for instance, you’ll be able to select to have the software program at all times display screen all recordsdata, even when they haven’t been modified since your final scan. You don’t get a ton of tweaks, nevertheless it’s greater than rivals like McAfee and Norton (which go for an ultra-simplified vibe) supply.

Vulnerability scanner

Along with scanning for viruses, malware, ransomware, and on-line threats, Bitdefender can examine your PC’s app, system recordsdata, and community settings for exploitable weaknesses. (Attackers use these openings to compromise your system and/or information.) Discovered beneath Safety > Vulnerability, the instrument hunts for weak Home windows person passwords, crucial Home windows updates not but put in, adjustments to Home windows and community settings that would let malicious habits slip previous, outdated apps, Wi-Fi community and router settings that might be strengthened, and extra.

Just like the antivirus scans, you’ll be able to remotely provoke a vulnerability scan via the Bitdefender Central web site.

PCWorld

Firewall

Bitdefender takes over firewall duties fully for Home windows — and although most individuals are greatest off leaving it alone with default settings, you’ll be able to customise how stringent the foundations are and whether or not these guidelines change based mostly on the kind of connection you’re on. Bitdefender sends customers a notification each time a probably malicious app tries to entry the web. I didn’t discover any overzealousness on Bitdefender’s half whereas utilizing my take a look at PC, and the settings are properly streamlined with out being too simplified.

Rip-off safety

Bitdefender not too long ago launched a free service known as Scamio, an AI-driven chatbot designed to assist confirm the legitimacy of electronic mail, textual content messages, on the spot messages, hyperlinks, and QR codes. To get began, it’s essential to head to scamio.bitdefender.com (login required) or Meta’s Messenger app. Then you definately’ll add a screenshot, copy/paste into the chat, or just describe the state of affairs to the bot.

As a really fundamental second opinion, Scamio isn’t unhealthy, although its evaluation can take longer than anticipated. I preferred that it could possibly simply extract hyperlinks from screenshot — a a lot safer methodology, since attempting to repeat/paste can result in an unintended click on. It additionally appears to err on the aspect of warning, dismissing my try at candy nothings as a possible rip-off.

PCWorld

See also  Shark Detect Pro review

That stated, if you need hands-off assist for textual content messages, you also needs to set up Bitdefender in your cell phone. As long as you’re comfy with the permissions it requests (which go fairly deep), it’ll mechanically display screen your chat messages and notifications for potential scams.

VPN

Bitdefender Whole Safety contains entry to its VPN for a number of gadgets, however there’s one enormous catch — each bit of drugs is allotted a paltry 200MB of bandwidth per day. (You’ll be able to burn via that by looking only a few web sites.) You’re solely allowed to connect with the closest server, too.

PCWorld

In Bitdefender’s favor is a smooth, simply navigated interface — I notably like how necessary data and stats are laid out clearly. However with free, respected VPN providers providing rather more bandwidth and letting you select a location when connecting, paying for Bitdefender Premium VPN to get limitless bandwidth and entry to servers in all 55 supported international locations simply doesn’t really feel value it. Not when the fee is $40 for the primary 12 months and $70 per 12 months thereafter.

Parental controls 

Bitdefender Whole Safety contains parental controls, that are managed via the Bitdefender Central web site. On PC, you’ll be able to restrict display screen time, apps used, and web sites visited. Android and iOS gadgets additionally enable guardians to see location and telephone contacts.

To start on a PC, you’ll first set up Bitdefender on it. For cell gadgets, you’ll want to put in the devoted Bitdefender Parental Management app. Then on Bitdefender Central, you’ll create a profile in your baby and assign the pc, telephone, or pill to the profile.

PCWorld

From there, you’ll be able to add deadlines and create schedules for blocked use, in addition to handle which purposes and web sites will be accessed. For apps, you’ll be able to solely restrict apps your baby has already used. Nevertheless, for web sites, you’ll be able to block or enable by classes, that are predetermined by Bitdefender. By default, youngsters can go to websites inside simply 13 of the 43 presets, reminiscent of “search engines like google and yahoo,” “webmail,” “computer systems and software program,” and “journey.” Information is forbidden, which put PCWorld.com on the ban record. (Guess we’re not sufficient about computer systems and software program.)

As your child spends time on their system, you’ll see their utilization statistics seem within the dashboard’s charts. The dashboard additionally exhibits location monitoring, which works fairly properly — the telephone used for testing appeared with shut accuracy to the bodily location. (The urged addresses weren’t right, nonetheless.) Telephone contacts show right here as properly, and mechanically replace each time a brand new contact is added.

Further options

Anti-Theft

Bitdefender Whole Safety’s anti-theft instruments are incredible in principle, letting you remotely find, lock, or wipe your system. For a smartphone, you may as well remotely set off an alarm and/or ship a push notification with a message to whomever has it.

However in follow, I discovered this characteristic to fall flat. For instance, my take a look at laptop computer’s location wasn’t exactly correct — not stunning, because it was based mostly off of the IP handle. In the meantime, my smartphone’s whereabouts by no means confirmed up. Locking the gadgets additionally didn’t work notably properly, both. If the individual holding your telephone is aware of your PIN, you’re out of luck. The PIN you set by way of Bitdefender Central doesn’t override that.

PCWorld

The one half that labored as marketed was the distant alert sound, together with the push notification. That solely helps with smartphones, although, and also you’ll should belief that you may annoy somebody into doing the proper factor.

Browser extensions

Bitdefender has two browser extensions value calling out, although neither are locked to the Whole Safety suite. The Anti-Tracker extension is mechanically put in together with the Bitdefender app, the place you may as well handle its set up in the event you set up one other browser in your PC afterward. (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Web Explorer are supported — although in the event you’re on an working system that may nonetheless run Web Explorer, it’s time to improve). It retains trackers from accumulating information on you, and allows you to handle such a data for web sites you go to.

Bitdefender TrafficLight checks web sites for phishing makes an attempt and malware, blocks probably harmful components on web sites, and provides visible cues to go looking outcomes labeling them as secure or dangerous. Out there as a Chrome and Firefox extension, this add-on isn’t obligatory, however its search-result visible warnings will be useful.

File Shredder

Bitdefender’s safe delete characteristic permits you to completely take away recordsdata out of your PC — offered they’re saved on a hard-disk drive (HDD). Whole Safety’s File Shredder characteristic makes use of the Division of Protection 5520.22-M three-pass methodology to “shred” your information, which works on HDDs however isn’t as effective on solid-state drives (SSDs). In truth, this manner of deleting information can shorten the lifetime of an SSD.

With most laptops now utilizing SSDs, this characteristic will solely be helpful when you’ve got an exterior HDD you retailer delicate paperwork on. However Bitdefender is the same as rival antivirus software program on this regard.

OneClick Optimizer

This utility hunts for Home windows recordsdata, registry objects, and web recordsdata it could possibly nuke — all within the identify of tuning up your PC. However whereas OneClick Optimizer can rapidly wipe away seemingly pointless information, it shares little element about what will get tossed. That’s a giant downside for something associated to your registry — a spot the place even seasoned PC customers tread cautiously. (And on the whole, you must at all times know what you’re deleting.)

If OneClick Optimizer listed what it eliminates, maybe I’d have ended up much less cautious of it. Nevertheless it solely names three classes (Software program Places, Shared DLLs, and Assist recordsdata) and what number of “points” present in every.

PCWorld

Given how imprecise the instrument is general, I nonetheless suggest Home windows’ built-in Disk Cleanup app and purging looking information within the app itself. This methodology leaves the registry alone and allows you to have rather more management, whereas solely being barely extra cumbersome.

Safepay

Safepay is a sandboxed browser — that’s, a safe atmosphere for accessing delicate web sites, stored separate from every thing else operating in Home windows. Bitdefender promotes this characteristic as meant for financial institution web sites, and in the event you navigate to a identified banking web site, you’ll see a pop-up asking if you wish to load it in Safepay.

Inside this remoted desktop is a browser with the same really feel as Chrome, however much more bare-bones. You get no extensions and few settings. Nevertheless, it provides a digital keyboard, which is a bit cumbersome however helpful for these involved about keyloggers.

You need to use Safepay with most web sites, although movies don’t play. Additionally, Bitdefender doesn’t react to all frequent monetary or delicate web sites — for instance, I didn’t see the pop up for irs.gov nor much less frequent banks within the U.S. You’ll should open Safepay and navigate there your self.

PCWorld

Buyer assist

Do you have to ever want help with Bitdefender, the app comprises a assist web page, which you’ll entry by clicking the life-preserver icon within the higher top-right of the window. It provides direct hyperlinks to Bitdefender’s assist web site (which incorporates video tutorials), group boards, and even a full person information. You too can contact the corporate by electronic mail, chat, or telephone.

Updates and upkeep 

You’ll be able to change replace frequency on the whole app settings.

By default, updates run mechanically within the background as soon as per hour. You’ll be able to stretch this frequency to as soon as each 24 hours (with changes out there in hourly increments). If for some cause you’re on a restricted web join, you’ll be able to flip off automated updates, however your PC might be higher protected in the event you go away it on.

Bitdefender additionally lets you run updates within the foreground, so that you just see once they occur. Nevertheless, it doesn’t let customers carry out handbook checks for updates.

Efficiency

Bitdefender takes prime marks in impartial exams carried out by safety analysis institutes. In AV-Check’s safety exams for September and October 2023 (essentially the most present as of this text’s publishing), Bitdefender caught 100% of the zero-day assault and malware threats.

In the meantime in AV-Comparatives’ real-world safety take a look at for July via October 2023, Bitdefender detected 99.6 % of the 512 take a look at instances, with three false positives. (A false constructive is when the antivirus software program blocks a reliable obtain or web site.) 

PCWorld

Equally, Bitdefender ranked properly in AV-Comparatives’ September 2023 malware safety take a look at. Of the 16 antivirus packages examined, Bitdefender scored a 98.2 % on-line detection fee, 99.98 % on-line safety fee, and 98.2 offline detection fee, with 4 false positives. Even whenever you don’t have an lively web connection, you’re well-protected. Solely two different antivirus packages had equally excessive marks throughout the board.

In AV-Comparatives’ November 2023 Superior Menace Safety Check, Bitdefender detected 14 of the 15 threats, placing it within the lead forward of the six different corporations that participated within the analysis. This take a look at checks to see how properly an antivirus suite handles extra refined, focused threats like malicious scripts and fileless assaults.

PCWorld

When idle within the background, Bitdefender typically has a light-weight influence on system efficiency. Its impact was minimal when our take a look at laptop computer encoded a big video right into a smaller 1080p30 file (our Handbrake benchmark), and through PCMark 10’s simulation of video conferencing, internet looking, and modifying in open-source picture and doc packages. Nevertheless, Bitdefender’s influence crept up when doc modifying in Microsoft Workplace apps like Phrase, Excel, and PowerPoint, with UL Procyon take a look at scores falling by about 9.5 %.

When operating a heavy scan, Bitdefender can notably have an effect on efficiency on mid-range and price range PCs — even when set to “low” influence in its settings. Blasting a steady full scan whereas operating every benchmark dropped PCMark 10 scores by nearly 20 % and UL Procyon outcomes by a large 35 %. Handbrake encodes have been much less affected, with a ten % enhance in time wanted.

Nevertheless, whereas these efficiency decreases sound scary, they’re a mirrored image of the toughest pressure in your PC. I compelled Bitdefender to scan the recordsdata as in the event that they’d by no means been checked earlier than, to be able to see how exhausting it could hit our take a look at laptop computer. However by default, the app solely scans new and adjusted recordsdata (as frequent amongst antivirus software program today), which reduces the trouble wanted to examine over your PC. For many individuals, your expertise possible might be nearer to the idle efficiency (as outlined above), until you usually work with giant batches of recent or altered recordsdata.

Do you have to purchase Bitdefender Whole Safety?

Bitdefender Whole Safety provides top-notch safety in an easy-to-use app. Its primary weaknesses are the restrictions of a few options, like VPN entry and Anti-Theft instruments, and the questionable usefulness of its OneClick Optimizer utility.

However regardless that rivals like Norton give extra bang for the buck, this antivirus software program delivers on what issues most, which is holding your PC (and different gadgets) secure. Simply don’t pay for the 5-device license when you will get the 10-device one for just a few {dollars} extra.

This evaluation initially appeared on PCWorld.