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Bitdefender is likely one of the best-known and oldest names within the client cybersecurity area, and has been chosen on a number of events as our decide for the best antivirus software. The Romanian enterprise has been an enormous participant out there since its founding manner again in 2001 and now operates worldwide, with workplaces throughout the globe and a big-time sponsorship take care of the Ferrari F1 crew.
Beneath all of that, although, you’ll discover a hard-won status for efficient software program and a product that goes past pure antivirus by providing an enormous vary of security measures in a single device.
Despite the name, Bitdefender Total Security is definitely the agency’s entry-level all-in-one safety product now that the standalone Bitdefender Web Safety product has gone Finish-of-Life.
Whole Safety prices $59.99 for an annual one account, five-device licence, with that worth leaping to $79.99 if you would like 5 accounts and help for 25 gadgets. The previous package deal is right for smaller households and the latter is ample for even a big household, nevertheless it’s price noting that Whole Safety is a bit more costly than comparable merchandise like Norton 360 Deluxe or Sophos Home Premium.
Improve to Bitdefender Premium Safety and the one- and two-year packages value $79.99 and $99.99 and add revolutionary electronic mail safety, extra VPN means and AI-powered anti-scam options, and there are pricier variations of the product for Final prospects, small companies and creators.
Bitdefender Total Security: Interface
No matter which version you buy, you’ll get a slick bit of security software. Open up the Bitdefender Windows app and you’re greeted with a panel with recommendations for immediate actions and five large buttons that enable various quick scans and take you to the VPN and SafePay modules.
A sixth button can be customized with other features you use frequently, and a ribbon of buttons down the left-hand side of the app opens up the protection, privacy and utility menus with their deeper array of tools and settings. It’s all very well-organised.
If you want to use the password manager, parental controls and several other different options, although, you must use the Bitdefender Central net portal. That is simply as well-organised because the desktop app, nevertheless it’s a little bit irritating you can’t handle your complete Bitdefender providing from one location.
Bitdefender Total Security: Antivirus
Total Security features complete, real-time data protection that is designed to protect every device from existing and new threats – and it gets to work right away by offering to conduct a full system scan when you install the product.
The app’s front page gives you options for system, vulnerability and quick scans with one-click operation, and if you delve into the Antivirus settings you can create custom and scheduled scans, use a separate rescue environment and scan flash and network drives.
That’s a good slate of features, but AV-Comparatives’ April 2025 Performance Test noticed Bitdefender lag behind lots of its rivals. Its Influence Rating of 25.1 – one of many poorest recorded, with solely Whole Defence Important having extra of an influence on consumer methods.
Bitdefender had reasonable ranges of system influence when copying recordsdata and when launching functions – and had a extreme influence when archiving or unarchiving knowledge. If you would like a utility that may show you how to shortly transfer recordsdata round or work with knowledge, look elsewhere.
The state of affairs was higher after we thought of AV Test’s latest performance figures: Whole Safety was awarded a 6/6 efficiency rating. Its web site launching and app set up figures matched trade averages, and there was little system influence when downloading and copying.
Bitdefender Total Security: Protection
Bitdefender may not be the fastest app in certain situations, but there’s no denying its ability when it comes to protecting your technology.
In AV-Comparitives’ February-May 2025 Real World Protection Test, Bitdefender was the main performer with a 99.8% safety price – a stellar outcome that sees it outpace apps from Avast, Norton, Malwarebytes and different large safety names. It additionally did a superb job in anti-phishing exams.
It’s a close-run factor – Bitdefender was compromised as soon as whereas different apps like Norton 360 Deluxe had been compromised twice – nevertheless it does imply that Whole Safety is a top-quality choice.
Bitdefender’s efficiency was equally spectacular in AV Test’s June 2025 report. It scored a most 6/6 factors for defense, efficiency and usefulness.
It’s no shock that Bitdefender performs so nicely right here – its Superior Risk Defence system repeatedly screens apps and processes in your PC to detect threats, and it makes use of real-time behavioural evaluation to identify new dangers, too.
Bitdefender Total Security: Other features
Bitdefender Total Security has a reasonable array of features.
There’s a safe remote desktop called SafePay that gives you a secure environment to make payments and handle your online shopping – it even includes a virtual keyboard to avoid keyloggers.
Bitdefender Digital Identity Protection uses 24/7 monitoring to alert you if your data has been caught in a breach, and there’s a Ransomware Remediation feature blocks attacks and restores stolen or encrypted files without you having to face paying any money to hackers.
Elsewhere, there’s microphone and webcam protection, a Safe Files section that protects files and folders you don’t want altering during scans or other operations, and an Online Threat Prevention feature that monitors for new online threats and blocks them before they can ever reach your systems.
There’s a Rescue Environment module that is a very easy option for recovering your system and there’s a performance optimizer that does disk, registry and privacy cleanup, alerting you to large files and optimizing your boot processes. The firewall is great, too, robotically blocking incoming assaults with out fuss – it really works and also you received’t even realize it’s working.
The software program additionally features a helpful Anti-Theft module that features location monitoring, distant locking, wiping and alarming of gadgets, SIM card change alerts and even an choice to take a photograph if somebody enters your PIN or password incorrectly thrice – helpful for recognizing potential intruders.
In some areas, although, Bitdefender Whole Safety is missing. Whereas its Android app is nice, as an example, its iOS providing is poor – devoid of options when in comparison with different instruments. And, as with many different safety instruments, Apple customers don’t get scheduled scans, a firewall, file shredder or different instruments.
The VPN is proscribed, too: you possibly can solely use it to course of 200MB of information per machine per day until you pay further for one of many dearer Bitdefender product.
That’s a little bit of a theme with Bitdefender: if you would like parental controls, as an example, you’ll have to purchase the dearer household model of Whole Safety – and, even then, it’s a comparatively benign and underwhelming array of options. When you want parental controls however you’re pleased with solely 5 gadgets, you’re out of luck.
And if you would like extra in-depth darkish net monitoring you’ll must improve to one of many higher-end variations of the product, too.
Bitdefender Total Security: Final verdict
It’s no real surprise that Bitdefender Total Security doesn’t include every feature possible – this is technically now the entry-level product, and it’s unrealistic to expect that every feature is included, like a VPN with unlimited usage or in-depth dark web monitoring.
At its core, Bitdefender does an excellent job of protecting your devices – its security scores provide evidence of that. It’s a well-designed app that’s easy to use on both desktop and in the browser, it has smart functionality to support online shopping, preventing theft and protecting your identity, and it’s got an excellent Android app.
Norton is a bit cheaper, and you shouldn’t invest in Bitdefender if you want to protect a single device or any Apple kit. But if you want a capable product for protecting a house full of devices, then Bitdefender Total Security is worth the investment.
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