Best Prices Today: Total Security

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

It’s an odd ploy, provided that rival companies supply full, unrestricted VPN entry, and generally a password supervisor subscription, too. But Bitdefender’s ace within the gap is its stellar safety, together with its easy-to-understand, but nonetheless customizable interface. If you possibly can forgive Total Security its occasional half-baked components, it supplies among the many finest protection towards malware and on-line threats.

Further studying: See our roundup of the best antivirus software for Windows PCs to find out about competing merchandise.

What does Bitdefender Total Security embody?

Bitdefender Total Security gives broad safety towards on-line threats, beginning with antivirus, firewall, and ransomware. It additionally safeguards towards community, net, and e-mail points like brute drive assaults, malicious hyperlinks, and harmful attachments, in addition to screens your native inbox for spam when you use Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird. It controls entry to your webcam and microphone to forestall distant spying, too.

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For extra safety and privateness, Total Security 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 recuperate, lock down, or wipe an related machine. Rounding out the suite are set of utilities: a system optimizer, file shredder for safe deletion, and utilization profiles.

You can set up Bitdefender on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS units, although not all options are supported on all platforms.

How a lot does Bitdefender Total Security price?

The value of Bitdefender Total Security varies relying on the variety of units coated — although not by a lot. You can select between a five-device plan and 10-device plan, which all allow you to set up the software program on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS units.

5-device plan

• $70 for the primary 12 months
• $100 per 12 months thereafter

10-device plan

• $73 for the primary 12 months
• $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 firm additionally gives refunds inside 30 days of the preliminary buy of a subscription.

To save extra money on Bitdefender, you should buy a license by way of retailers like Newegg, B&H, and Amazon, typically 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 Total Security

Installation and person interface

Getting began with Bitdefender Total Security is easy and simple — the set up window even reveals brief explanations of various options as you wait. However, watch out when establishing your Bitdefender account, as you’re solely requested to sort in your password as soon as. If 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 crimson when one thing requires consideration. Along the left aspect of the window is entry to the dashboard, options sorted by class (Protection, Privacy, and Utilities), notifications, and settings. The app works along side the Bitdefender Central web site portal, the place you’ll deal with machine administration (which incorporates distant instructions you possibly can ship to related units, like malware scans) and parental controls.

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In the dashboard, you’ll discover six customizable shortcuts to completely different options, together with steered motion gadgets on the high. The defaults are Quick Scan, System Scan, Vulnerability Scan, VPN, and Safepay, together with a clean tile.

Under Protection, 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 Privacy, you can begin up the Safepay digital atmosphere or VPN, soar into parental controls (that are dealt with by way of the Bitdefender Central web site), set up the anti-tracker extension for supported browsers, and handle your webcam and microphone safety settings. You can even entry Bitdefender’s password supervisor, but it surely’s a separate paid service and never included with the Total Security suite.

Within Utilities, you’ll discover a hyperlink to Bitdefender’s anti-theft instruments (managed by way of 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 conduct 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).

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Notifications present a operating log of Bitdefender’s findings because it screens your system, organized by urgency degree. These differ from the pop-up notifications Bitdefender reveals inside Windows, which seem on the backside proper of your display screen and sometimes promote different Bitdefender companies. One such alert even went so far as to warn me a few LinkedIn information leak from two years in the past, in an effort to recommend signing up for Bitdefender’s Digital Identity Protection service. Fortunately, you possibly can flip off “special offers” within the app settings.)

Overall, Bitdefender errs on the aspect of ease-of-use, giving customers a reasonable 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

Real-time safety

Bitdefender stays on fixed alert for potential threats to your PC. On the pc itself, it scans opened or added recordsdata, screens apps for suspicious exercise, and screens downloaded e-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 conduct is probably going ransomware making an attempt to carry your information hostage.

Meanwhile, everytime you’re searching on-line, Bitdefender screens for malicious downloads, phishing and fraud makes an attempt, encrypted web sites with invalid or bogus certificates, and dangerous search outcomes. It additionally blocks unauthorized incoming entry to your PC, unauthorized use of your webcam and microphone, and on-line net trackers (while you set up the corporate’s anti-tracking browser extension). You can 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 Quick Scan and/or System Scan at a scheduled time, you will need to edit these default scans — or as a substitute create a customized scan. The course of isn’t intuitive, both. You should open the edit display screen and click on the Next button earlier than the choice to Choose when to schedule this activity seems. 

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You can then select between 4 intervals — day by day, weekly, month-to-month, or at system startup. Daily allows you to set a time; Monthly allows you to set which day of the month and a time; and Weekly allows you to select a day of the week and a time.

For handbook scans, you possibly can run Quick Scan, which focuses on vital recordsdata and processes; System Scan, which combs by way of your whole system; or a customized scan you’ve created. Quick Scan and System Scan can be initiated by way of the Bitdefender Central web site — although you received’t see indicators of exercise on the machine. For this motive, I most popular beginning my scans instantly on the PC I used to be utilizing.

Running System Scan may be gradual throughout its first run, as Bitdefender takes inventory of every little thing in your PC, but it surely hurries up afterward. (By default, the app scans solely new and adjusted recordsdata.) You can even right-click on particular person folders and recordsdata, after which select Bitdefender > Scan with Bitdefender to examine them out.

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Bitdefender lets you modify settings for scans — for instance, you possibly can 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, but it surely’s greater than opponents like McAfee and Norton (which go for an ultra-simplified vibe) supply.

Vulnerability scanner

In addition to 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 machine and/or information.) Found below Protection > Vulnerability, the software hunts for weak Windows person passwords, vital Windows updates not but put in, adjustments to Windows and community settings that would let malicious conduct slip previous, outdated apps, Wi-Fi community and router settings that might be strengthened, and extra.

Like the antivirus scans, you possibly can remotely provoke a vulnerability scan by way of the Bitdefender Central web site.

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Firewall

Bitdefender takes over firewall duties utterly for Windows — and although most individuals are finest off leaving it alone with default settings, you possibly can 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 check PC, and the settings are properly streamlined with out being too simplified.

Scam safety

Bitdefender not too long ago launched a free service referred to as Scamio, an AI-driven chatbot designed to assist confirm the legitimacy of e-mail, textual content messages, immediate messages, hyperlinks, and QR codes. To get began, you will need to head to scamio.bitdefender.com (login required) or Meta’s Messenger app. Then you’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 dangerous, although its evaluation can take longer than anticipated. I preferred that it will possibly simply extract hyperlinks from screenshot — a a lot safer methodology, since making an attempt 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.

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

VPN

Bitdefender Total Security consists of entry to its VPN for a number of units, however there’s one big catch — each bit of drugs is allotted a paltry 200MB of bandwidth per day. (You can burn by way of that by searching only a few web sites.) You’re solely allowed to hook up with the closest server, too.

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In Bitdefender’s favor is a glossy, simply navigated interface — I significantly like how essential data and stats are laid out clearly. But with free, reputable VPN services 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 price it. Not when the price is $40 for the primary 12 months and $70 per 12 months thereafter.

Parental controls 

Bitdefender Total Security consists of parental controls, that are managed by way of the Bitdefender Central web site. On PC, you possibly can restrict display screen time, apps used, and web sites visited. Android and iOS units additionally enable guardians to see location and telephone contacts.

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

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From there, you possibly can add deadlines and create schedules for blocked use, in addition to handle which functions and web sites may be accessed. For apps, you possibly can solely restrict apps your youngster has already used. However, for web sites, you possibly can block or enable by classes, that are predetermined by Bitdefender. By default, youngsters can go to websites inside simply 13 of the 43 presets, akin to “search engines,” “webmail,” “computers and software,” and “travel.” News is forbidden, which put PCWorld.com on the ban checklist. (Guess we’re not sufficient about computer systems and software program.)

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

Additional options

Anti-Theft

Bitdefender Total Security’s anti-theft instruments are unbelievable in principle, letting you remotely find, lock, or wipe your machine. For a smartphone, you can even remotely set off an alarm and/or ship a push notification with a message to whomever has it.

But in follow, I discovered this characteristic to fall flat. For instance, my check laptop computer’s location wasn’t exactly correct — not stunning, because it was based mostly off of the IP deal with. Meanwhile, my smartphone’s whereabouts by no means confirmed up. Locking the units additionally didn’t work significantly 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.

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The solely 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 must belief which you could annoy somebody into doing the appropriate factor.

Browser extensions

Bitdefender has two browser extensions price calling out, although neither are locked to the Total Security suite. The Anti-Tracker extension is mechanically put in together with the Bitdefender app, the place you can even handle its set up when you set up one other browser in your PC in a while. (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Internet Explorer are supported — although when you’re on an working system that may nonetheless run Internet Explorer, it’s time to improve). It retains trackers from gathering information on you, and allows you to handle this kind of 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. Available as a Chrome and Firefox extension, this add-on isn’t crucial, however its search-result visible warnings may be useful.

File Shredder

Bitdefender’s safe delete characteristic allows you to completely take away recordsdata out of your PC — offered they’re saved on a hard-disk drive (HDD). Total Security’s File Shredder characteristic makes use of the Department of Defense 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 fashion of deleting information can shorten the lifetime of an SSD.

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

OneClick on Optimizer

This utility hunts for Windows recordsdata, registry gadgets, and web recordsdata it will possibly nuke — all within the identify of tuning up your PC. But whereas OneClick on Optimizer can shortly wipe away seemingly pointless information, it shares little element about what will get tossed. That’s an enormous drawback for something associated to your registry — a spot the place even seasoned PC customers tread cautiously. (And basically, you need to at all times know what you’re deleting.)

If OneClick on Optimizer listed what it eliminates, maybe I’d have ended up much less cautious of it. But it solely names three classes (Software Locations, Shared DLLs, and Help recordsdata) and what number of “issues” present in every.

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Given how obscure the software is total, I nonetheless advocate Windows’ built-in Disk Cleanup app and purging searching 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, saved separate from every little thing else operating in Windows. Bitdefender promotes this characteristic as meant for financial institution web sites, and when you navigate to a recognized banking website, you’ll see a pop-up asking if you wish to load it in Safepay.

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

You can use Safepay with most web sites, although movies don’t play. Also, 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 must open Safepay and navigate there your self.

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Customer help

Should you ever want help with Bitdefender, the app comprises a assist web page, which you’ll be able to entry by clicking the life-preserver icon within the higher top-right of the window. It gives direct hyperlinks to Bitdefender’s support website (which incorporates video tutorials), community forums, and even a full user guide. You can even contact the corporate by e-mail, chat, or telephone.

Updates and upkeep 

You can change replace frequency basically app settings.

By default, updates run mechanically within the background as soon as per hour. You can stretch this frequency to as soon as each 24 hours (with changes obtainable in hourly increments). If for some motive you’re on a restricted web join, you possibly can flip off automated updates, however your PC will likely be higher protected when you depart it on.

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

Performance

Bitdefender takes high marks in impartial exams carried out by safety analysis institutes. In AV-Test’s safety exams for September and October 2023 (probably the most present as of this text’s publishing), Bitdefender caught one hundred pc of the zero-day assault and malware threats.

Meanwhile in AV-Comparatives’ real-world safety check for July through October 2023, Bitdefender detected 99.6 % of the 512 check instances, with three false positives. (A false constructive is when the antivirus software program blocks a legit obtain or web site.) 

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Similarly, Bitdefender ranked properly in AV-Comparatives’ September 2023 malware protection test. Of the 16 antivirus applications examined, Bitdefender scored a 98.2 % on-line detection charge, 99.98 % on-line safety charge, and 98.2 offline detection charge, with 4 false positives. Even while you don’t have an energetic web connection, you’re well-protected. Only two different antivirus applications had equally excessive marks throughout the board.

In AV-Comparatives’ November 2023 Advanced Threat Protection Test, Bitdefender detected 14 of the 15 threats, placing it within the lead forward of the six different corporations that participated within the analysis. This check checks to see how properly an antivirus suite handles extra subtle, focused threats like malicious scripts and fileless assaults.

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When idle within the background, Bitdefender typically has a lightweight influence on system efficiency. Its impact was minimal when our check laptop computer encoded a big video right into a smaller 1080p30 file (our Handbrake benchmark), and through PCMark 10’s simulation of video conferencing, net searching, and enhancing in open-source picture and doc applications. However, Bitdefender’s influence crept up when doc enhancing in Microsoft Office apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, with UL Procyon check 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 virtually 20 % and UL Procyon outcomes by a large 35 %. Handbrake encodes had been much less affected, with a ten % improve in time wanted.

However, whereas these efficiency decreases sound scary, they’re a mirrored image of the toughest pressure in your PC. I pressured Bitdefender to scan the recordsdata as in the event that they’d by no means been checked earlier than, in an effort to see how arduous it could hit our check laptop computer. But by default, the app solely scans new and adjusted recordsdata (as frequent amongst antivirus software program nowadays), which reduces the hassle wanted to examine over your PC. For many individuals, your expertise seemingly will likely be nearer to the idle efficiency (as outlined above), except you typically work with giant batches of contemporary or altered recordsdata.

Is Bitdefender Total Security price it?

Bitdefender Total Security gives top-notch safety in an easy-to-use app. Its primary weaknesses are the constraints of a few options, like VPN entry and Anti-Theft instruments, and the questionable usefulness of its OneClick on Optimizer utility. But although rivals like Norton give extra bang for the buck, this antivirus software program delivers on what issues most, which is retaining your PC (and different units) secure. Just don’t pay for the 5-device license when you may get the 10-device one for only some {dollars} extra.