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

It’s an odd ploy, provided that rival providers supply full, unrestricted VPN entry, and generally 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. In the event you can forgive Whole Safety its occasional half-baked components, it offers 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 gives broad safety in opposition to on-line threats, beginning with antivirus, firewall, and ransomware. It additionally safeguards in opposition to community, internet, and e-mail points like brute pressure assaults, malicious hyperlinks, and harmful attachments, in addition to screens your native inbox for spam if you happen to use Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird. It controls entry to your webcam and microphone to stop distant spying, too.

PCWorld / Bitdefender

PCWorld / Bitdefender

PCWorld / Bitdefender

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 recuperate, lock down, or wipe an related gadget. Rounding out the suite are set of utilities: a system optimizer, file shredder for safe deletion, and utilization profiles.

You may 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 price?

The worth of Bitdefender Whole Safety varies relying on the variety of gadgets coated — although not by a lot. You may 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

• $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 corporate additionally gives refunds inside 30 days of the preliminary buy of a subscription.

To save lots of more cash on Bitdefender, you should purchase by means of our personal PCWorld software program retailer, which at the moment gives 5-device, one-year licenses for simply $29.99. Retailers like Newegg, B&H, and Amazon supply sizable reductions as nicely. 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 consumer 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 establishing your Bitdefender account, as you’re solely requested to sort in your password as soon as. In the event 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 massive tiles for every function. A protect icon within the upper-left nook serves as a standing indicator; it’ll flip crimson 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 gadget administration (which incorporates distant instructions you possibly can ship to related gadgets, like malware scans) and parental controls.

PCWorld

PCWorld

PCWorld

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

Below 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 menace protections, firewall, spam screening, and ransomware safeguards.

From Privateness, you can begin up the Safepay digital surroundings or VPN, soar into parental controls (that are dealt with by means of 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 by means of the Bitdefender Central web site), the optimizer scanner that hunts for non permanent and different disposable information, 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 information from hard-disk drives (HDD).

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PCWorld

PCWorld

Notifications present a working log of Bitdefender’s findings because it screens 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 sometimes promote different Bitdefender providers. One such alert even went so far as to warn me a few LinkedIn knowledge leak from two years in the past, as a way to recommend signing up for Bitdefender’s Digital Identification Safety service. Luckily, you possibly can flip off “particular gives” within the app settings.)

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

Virus, malware, and menace safety

Actual-time safety

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

In the meantime, 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 unhealthy search outcomes. It additionally blocks unauthorized incoming entry to your PC, unauthorized use of your webcam and microphone, and on-line internet trackers (while you set up the corporate’s anti-tracking browser extension). You may moreover pair this system with the corporate’s free TrafficLight browser extension, which provides icons to look outcomes marking them secure or dangerous.

Scheduled and guide scans

In an uncommon transfer, Bitdefender doesn’t routinely 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 just isn’t intuitive, both. You need to open the edit display screen and click on the Subsequent button earlier than the choice to Select when to schedule this activity seems. 

PCWorld

PCWorld

PCWorld

You may then select between 4 intervals — each day, weekly, month-to-month, or at system startup. Day by day helps you to set a time; Month-to-month helps you to set which day of the month and a time; and Weekly helps you to select a day of the week and a time.

For guide scans, you possibly can run Fast Scan, which focuses on vital information and processes; System Scan, which combs by means of your complete system; or a customized scan you’ve created. Fast Scan and System Scan may also be initiated by means of the Bitdefender Central web site — although you gained’t see indicators of exercise on the gadget. For that reason, I most well-liked beginning my scans instantly on the PC I used to be utilizing.

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

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PCWorld

PCWorld

Bitdefender means that you can alter settings for scans — for instance, you possibly can select to have the software program at all times display screen all information, 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 test your PC’s app, system information, and community settings for exploitable weaknesses. (Attackers use these openings to compromise your gadget and/or knowledge.) Discovered beneath Safety > Vulnerability, the device hunts for weak Home windows consumer passwords, vital Home windows updates not but put in, modifications 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 possibly can remotely provoke a vulnerability scan by means of the Bitdefender Central web site.

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PCWorld

PCWorld

Firewall

Bitdefender takes over firewall duties utterly for Home windows — and although most individuals are greatest off leaving it alone with default settings, you possibly can customise how stringent the principles are and whether or not these guidelines change based mostly on the kind of connection you’re on. Bitdefender sends customers a notification every 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 just lately 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, it’s essential to head to scamio.bitdefender.com (login required) or Meta’s Messenger app. You then’ll add a screenshot, copy/paste into the chat, or just describe the scenario to the bot.

As a really fundamental second opinion, Scamio isn’t unhealthy, although its evaluation can take longer than anticipated. I favored that it could actually simply extract hyperlinks from screenshot — a a lot safer technique, 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.

PCWorld

PCWorld

PCWorld

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

VPN

Bitdefender Whole Safety consists of entry to its VPN for a number of gadgets, however there’s one large catch — each bit of drugs is allotted a paltry 200MB of bandwidth per day. (You may burn by means of that by searching just some web sites.) You’re solely allowed to connect with the closest server, too.

PCWorld

PCWorld

PCWorld

In Bitdefender’s favor is a glossy, simply navigated interface — I significantly like how vital 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 nations simply doesn’t really feel value it. Not when the associated fee is $40 for the primary 12 months and $70 per 12 months thereafter.

Parental controls 

Bitdefender Whole Safety consists of parental controls, that are managed by means of the Bitdefender Central web site. On PC, you possibly can restrict display screen time, apps used, and web sites visited. Android and iOS gadgets additionally permit guardians to see location and telephone contacts.

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

PCWorld

PCWorld

PCWorld

From there, you possibly can add cut-off dates and create schedules for blocked use, in addition to handle which purposes and web sites will be accessed. For apps, you possibly can solely restrict apps your little one has already used. Nevertheless, for web sites, you possibly can block or permit by classes, that are predetermined by Bitdefender. By default, youngsters can go to websites inside simply 13 of the 43 presets, similar to “engines like google,” “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 gadget, you’ll see their utilization statistics seem within the dashboard’s charts. The dashboard additionally exhibits location monitoring, which works fairly nicely — the telephone used for testing appeared with shut accuracy to the bodily location. (The steered addresses weren’t right, nonetheless.) Cellphone contacts show right here as nicely, and routinely replace every time a brand new contact is added.

Further options

Anti-Theft

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

However in observe, I discovered this function 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 significantly nicely, both. If the particular person holding your telephone is aware of your PIN, you’re out of luck. The PIN you set through Bitdefender Central doesn’t override that.

PCWorld

PCWorld

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 must belief that you may annoy somebody into doing the best 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 routinely put in together with the Bitdefender app, the place it’s also possible to handle its set up if you happen to set up one other browser in your PC afterward. (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Web Explorer are supported — although if you happen to’re on an working system that may nonetheless run Web Explorer, it’s time to improve). It retains trackers from gathering knowledge 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 look outcomes labeling them as secure or dangerous. Obtainable as a Chrome and Firefox extension, this add-on isn’t vital, however its search-result visible warnings will be useful.

File Shredder

Bitdefender’s safe delete function helps you to completely take away information out of your PC — supplied they’re saved on a hard-disk drive (HDD). Whole Safety’s File Shredder function makes use of the Division of Protection 5520.22-M three-pass technique to “shred” your knowledge, which works on HDDs however isn’t as efficient on solid-state drives (SSDs). In actual fact, this fashion of deleting knowledge can shorten the lifetime of an SSD.

With most laptops now utilizing SSDs, this function 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 information, registry gadgets, and web information it could actually nuke — all within the identify of tuning up your PC. However whereas OneClick Optimizer can rapidly wipe away seemingly pointless knowledge, 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 typically, 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. But it surely solely names three classes (Software program Areas, Shared DLLs, and Assist information) and what number of “points” present in every.

PCWorld

PCWorld

PCWorld

Given how imprecise the device is general, I nonetheless advocate Home windows’ built-in Disk Cleanup app and purging searching knowledge within the app itself. This technique 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 surroundings for accessing delicate web sites, saved separate from every part else working in Home windows. Bitdefender promotes this function as meant for financial institution web sites, and if you happen to 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 an analogous really feel as Chrome, however way more bare-bones. You get no extensions and few settings. Nevertheless, it gives 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 widespread monetary or delicate web sites — for instance, I didn’t see the pop up for irs.gov nor much less widespread banks within the U.S. You’ll must open Safepay and navigate there your self.

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PCWorld

PCWorld

Buyer assist

Must you 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 gives direct hyperlinks to Bitdefender’s assist web site (which incorporates video tutorials), neighborhood boards, and even a full consumer information. You too can contact the corporate by e-mail, chat, or telephone.

Updates and upkeep 

You may change replace frequency typically app settings.

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

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

Efficiency

Bitdefender takes prime marks in impartial exams carried out by safety analysis institutes. In AV-Check’s zero-day assault and malware exams for March and April 2024 (probably the most present outcomes launched by the group), Bitdefender caught one hundred pc of the 316 zero-day assault samples and 19,228 widespread and prevalent malware samples.

In the meantime in AV-Comparatives’ real-world safety take a look at for February by means of Might 2024, Bitdefender detected 99.6 % of the 489 take a look at instances, with two false positives. (A false constructive is when the antivirus software program blocks a professional obtain or web site.) The samples have been a mix of drive-by downloads, malicious internet addresses, and URLs linking on to malware.

PCWorld

PCWorld

PCWorld

Equally, Bitdefender ranked excessive in AV-Comparatives’ March 2024 malware safety take a look at. Of the 16 antivirus packages examined, Bitdefender scored a 96.1 % on-line detection fee, 99.92 % on-line safety fee, and 96.1 offline detection fee, with 4 false positives. Even while 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 firms that participated within the analysis. This take a look at checks to see how nicely an antivirus suite handles extra refined, focused threats like malicious scripts and fileless assaults.

PCWorld

PCWorld

PCWorld

When idle within the background, Bitdefender usually has a light-weight affect 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 searching, and modifying in open-source picture and doc packages. Nevertheless, Bitdefender’s affect 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 working a heavy scan, Bitdefender can notably have an effect on efficiency on mid-range and funds PCs — even when set to “low” affect in its settings. Blasting a steady full scan whereas working every benchmark dropped PCMark 10 scores by virtually 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 information as in the event that they’d by no means been checked earlier than, as a way to see how exhausting it will hit our take a look at laptop computer. However by default, the app solely scans new and adjusted information (as widespread amongst antivirus software program as of late), which reduces the trouble wanted to test over your PC. For many individuals, your expertise probably will likely be nearer to the idle efficiency (as outlined above), except you typically work with giant batches of recent or altered information.

Is Bitdefender Whole Safety value it?

Bitdefender Whole Safety gives 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 despite the fact that rivals like Norton give extra bang for the buck, this antivirus software program delivers on what issues most, which is preserving 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.