BitDefender Antivirus Review
The latest version of BitDefender Antivirus aims to both enhance the software’s demonstrated security capabilities while reducing demands on system resources. Overall, BitDefender Antivirus succeeds. Thanks to cutting-edge detection algorithms and multi-layered security measures, BitDefender is truly a comprehensive anti-malware software solution for the home or work PC.
As our TopTenREVIEWS Gold Award winner we are particularly impressed by BitDefender Antivirus’s faster on-demand scans, nearly flawless detection rates and hands-off operation. Compared to Malwarebytes’ Antivirus and Norton Anti-Virus, the anti-malware software catches nearly all threats, even those that haven’t been documented and catalogued. When you consider the utility’s straightforward UI that gives users a chance to customize their PC protection regardless of technical experience, it’s easy to see why BitDefender Antivirus is the preferred antivirus software for so many users.
Malware Protection: 
Given the manifold dangers lurking on the internet, good antivirus software is mandatory. BitDefender Antivirus provides comprehensive protection against viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, phishing attempts, crimeware and other malware. The overwhelming majority of malicious software and dangerous code will be intercepted and blocked upon detection. BitDefender actively analyzes all traffic to and from your computer for threats. This ensures that everyday browsing, file sharing and communication are danger free. While chat utilities are often overlooked as a point of entry for malicious software, some of the nastiest viruses spread on IM clients. BitDefender Antivirus monitors and encrypts IM traffic to prevent any third parties from gaining access to it without your knowledge. BitDefender has tailored its anti-phishing efforts to work hand-in-hand with your browser, so whether you use Mozilla or IE, you can surf without worrying about browser hijacking attempts.
BitDefender Antivirus provides more than adequate protection for typical internet-enable PCs and laptops. Users with extraordinarily sensitive data that desire more protection against cybercriminals will want to consider stepping up to BitDefender Total Security which includes a firewall and data wiping utility.
Malware Detection:
Malware authors are developing increasingly complex and nefarious methods for gaining access to your computer and sensitive data. Virtually no program can detect 100% of malicious software online. That being said, BitDefender Antivirus comes close. The software utilizes a combination of standard signature-based detection methods and heuristic scanning that analyzes codes for suspicious patterns to identify malware. This two-pronged approach to detecting threats identifies both documented and so-called “zero-hour” threats, that is, new malware that hasn’t yet been catalogued and flagged. And better yet, the software’s proactive approach to detecting suspicious code means that it will intercept any malware before it is actually written to your hard drive.
In terms of detecting and stopping script malware on websites, BitDefender beats out the competition. Deep scans with the program will reveal the overwhelming majority of viruses, worms, Trojans, keyloggers and rootkits that either made it past initial defenses or were on the hard drive before anti-malware software was installed. On-demand deep scans with BitDefender earned AV Comparative’s top score, detecting 97.5% of all malware included in testing. Like most security 
Malware Removal: 
When it comes to malware, prevention is always more effective than treatment. That being said, for removing established infections, BitDefender Antivirus performs well. Some malware embeds itself deeply enough into Windows registries that you may have to remove it in safe mode. With the majority of typical viruses, Trojans and malware however, we had no problems inoculating threats simply by clicking “quarantine” after a scan. Both after scans and inoculating files, BitDefender saves a log so you can see exactly which files were modified. In the event of a problem or conflict, you can revisit your saved logs for more information. After a scan, you have the ability to treat all detected threats as a batch, or decide what to do with them one by one. Given the fact that BitDefender nearly never falsely flags legitimate software as malware, you’ll be just fine selecting “quarantine” every time.
Ease of Use:
Generally speaking, antivirus software developers tend to overlook the end-user experience in favor of behind-the-scenes detection algorithms and advanced settings options. It’s very clear that BitDefender’s creators put a lot of effort into giving their customers an easy-to-use program. Right from installation, BitDefender wizards guide the process to best suit your needs as a user. Whether you prefer to go with default options, configure the software for a gaming machine or manually select settings right from the start, BitDefender asks for your preferences before anything is finalized.
BitDefender Antivirus installed in just under four minutes on our Windows 7 test machine. After a reboot the software prompted us to select one of three default interface settings: “Novice,” “Intermediate,” or “Expert.” Later on, you’re free to adjust the user profile to any other level. In addition to a gaming mode that aims to keep system resources freed up, BitDefender includes a battery-conscious mode for your laptop that will help you maximize your time away from plug outlets.
It’s difficult to overstate how thoughtful BitDefender’s profile configurations are. The “Novice” profile will be ideal for casual web surfers who just want protection for checking email and shopping online—it reduces user management to on-demand scanning, manually updating the software and addressing any pending issues, all the while, running scans and updates automatically in the background. Selecting the “Intermediate” profile gives you a healthy selection of settings options without inundating you. This option is ideal for rescheduling automatic scans, manually overseeing threat elimination and making sure your whole network is protected. The “Advanced” profile option gives you complete control over every element of protection and will please micromanagers as well as professionals that need to interact with their software directly.
Support and Documentation:
The wealth of tech support documents, FAQs and tutorials in the BitDefender knowledge base will answer the majority of technical support questions and help users optimize the performance of their anti-malware software. If exploring the knowledgebase proves unhelpful, there is the option to take advantage of a ticket-based customer assistance form online. Registering your software also gives you access to phone, email and chat support.
Summary:
We love the interface options and notice a reduction in the software’s memory footprint. BitDefender Antivirus will protect you from just about any infection and will clean up any malware that is on your machine. With proven protection measures, superior detection rates, virtually zero false positives and price point that can’t be beat, BitDefender Antivirus is the most effective anti-malware solution available.
