PROTECTION
This Bitdefender security suite can protect you and your PC from all angles. Some security software is diligent at keeping your front door locked (the most common way for malware to enter) but leave the back door wide open. Bitdefender Total Security ensures all possible entry points are blocked. It can protect you from malware attempting to access your PC via email, web links, USB drives, social media sites, chat conversations, your network, Trojans and more. It includes specific apps for scanning links your friends post on Facebook and Twitter and will prevent you from sharing bad links.
Without proof, marketing claims are nothing more than an exercise in creative writing. Bitdefender has the numbers to back up their marketing efforts. They consistently test well and are reported as one of the best security suites by numerous reviewers and testing labs. In the most recent AV-Test scores for September/October 2011 Bitdefender scored higher overall than all competitors. They earned an elusive 6 of 6 in protection in the July/August 2011 AV-Test. In the July 2011 AV-Comparatives "Whole Product Real-World Dynamic Test," they awarded Bitdefender their highest certification of Advanced+ and gave them a protection rate of 99.1%. In the past two years, they have passed nine of ten VB100 tests as well.
Though this security company has not been around since the '80s, like some of their competitors, they have still proved to be quite innovative, especially in terms of combating unknown or zero-day threats. They were one of the first to implement technology that analyzed the behavior of applications to determine if they were potential threats regardless of whether the threat was previously identified or not. They introduced behavioral applications blocking in 1999. This reduced the dependency on virus signatures alone to combat malware. They initiated hourly software updates in 2005 and in 2009 began to deploy a technology called Active Virus Control that watches applications as they execute and the entire time they run to monitor suspicious behavior. These technologies combined with a continually updated virus database make Bitdefender one of the most effective and dynamic security solutions available.
PREMIUM FEATURES
This security suite provides valuable premium features, including credit monitoring and automatic online backup. Credit monitoring is provided free for the first year to U.S. residents. Should your identity be compromised and someone attempts to acquire a credit card or other line of credit using your information, you will be notified right away so you can handle the problem immediately. Some services charge as much as $20 per month for this service. They also provide a tool called Safebox which can securely store your selected files online. Though it only comes with 2GB of free storage, you can upgrade the amount for a fee. You can configure your PC to automatically sync with the Safebox so your stored data is always the most current version.
Through your My Bitdefender online account you can view your product information, access services, contact customer care and edit account information. Through this online service, you can also edit parental controls, view credit report alerts, access items in your Safebox and implement social media protection. The Twitter and Facebook protection tool called Safego does require installation, but it will scan links to ensure they are safe and monitor your privacy. You can even post updates through it.
Other premium features Bitdefender includes with this suite are file shredding, system tools, Android security and identity protection. The file shredder will completely obliterate all traces of deleted files. The system tools bypass the need to use Windows to perform routine tasks to keep your PC running optimally. The Android security is free and can scan your apps and contacts for threats, provide locations should you lose your device and remotely wipe the memory should it be stolen. The identity protection tools can block information such as credit card numbers, passwords, SSNs and bank account numbers from being shared without your permission.
STANDARD FEATURES
Bitdefender has all the standard features an internet security suite should include, such as customized scanning, parental controls, a search advisor and laptop settings. To be able to provide full scans without interruption it has a feature called the Scan Dispatcher. This will watch your system and only run full scans when your computer resources are in low use or idle. The parental control tools can create unique profiles that filter which websites your kids can visit and how long they can be online. These tools can be remotely managed so you can edit your kids' profiles while you are away, such as adding more computer time for your teen while you are at work. For safe surfing, Bitdefender has a search advisor that works with Google and Bing. The advisor will warn you if a website is suspicious and provide webpage reports.
HELP & SUPPORT
Bitdefender's customer and technical support is readily accessible. You can contact them 24/7 by telephone, email or instant chat. Unassisted support includes educational videos, articles, support documentation, data sheets and a user forum. Routine tasks such as checking your licenses or subscription status and upgrading software can easily be accomplished through your My Bitdefender online account. You can also follow Bitdefender on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.
SUMMARY
We continue to be impressed with Bitdefender. We recommend it to our readers because we are confident that it is more capable of detecting and removing malware than any other security product, which is a bold statement. However, they continually prove to us through our experiences and independent test labs that they aim to be the world leader in internet security. Viorel Canja, head of Bitdefender labs, put forth this clear assertion: "We are confident that we have the best products in the world." We have no reason to doubt him.Bitdefender Total Security includes market-leading antivirus technology incorporated into a practical, proficient suite. With this software constantly on guard, you really can set it, forget it and confidently travel the world wide web worry-free.
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