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Pros

• BitDefender Internet Security has a simple and easy to configure interface

• It encrypts all your Instant Messaging conversations for added security

• It features a two-way firewall which adjusts its settings to give you the best protection whether you are at home, at work, or on the road

Cons

• The Search Advisor feature isn’t as strong as some of the competition

BitDefender is a rock-solid security program providing protection from viruses, worms, Trojans, adware, keyloggers and many other threats and a lot of attention has gone into developing the 2012 version. Its default version can match any internet security program in the industry at a very competitive price.

It has a new set of tools that are designed for effective detection of viruses. Alongside these are the traditional BitDefender tools which work together to shield your PC as you surf the internet and access programs.

If you run a wireless network, you can be sure of regular protection with BitDefender. It secures your PC from hackers and unauthorized access to your network in real-time.

Antispyware Capabilities

Spyware is now the biggest threat to PC users. There are many security programs that promise to deliver protection from all spyware threats, but fail to deliver when new threats attack. BitDefender’s antispyware feature will protect your personal information from all forms of spyware. It stops all unauthorized attempts to change your PCs files and registry keys. We tested it with some new threats and we were surprised at the effective detection and quarantine speeds.

It has an effective protection system for your Instant Messaging conversations. It encrypts your exchanges and reduces and eliminates annoying and dangerous spam. It also has an anti-phishing feature which ensures you don’t lose your personal information like passwords and credit card details to scammers.

Antivirus Protection

An effective antivirus tool is the most important feature of an internet security suite. BitDefender has received many awards and certifications and millions of antivirus reviews show it to be one of the best around. Some of these awards are from third party testers like ICSA and Virus Bulletin 100 showing it has one of the highest virus detection rates in the industry.

One of its compelling features is the ability to scan all incoming and outgoing emails, instant messages and web traffic. Many security suites don’t bother scanner outgoing messages, leading to high virus spreading rates. BitDefender will scan this traffic in real-time and make sure threats don’t get the opportunity to infect your computer or others.

Firewall Security

BitDefender Internet Security has a 2-way firewall which protects you at home, office or on the road. You won’t need to worry about illegal access to your PC as its versatile firewall will automatically adjust its settings to suit your location. It has an integrated Wi-Fi monitor which protects you from attempts to access your wireless network. An unprotected wireless network can lead to theft of personal details and open your PC to viruses and Trojans.

If you are into gaming, a firewall is essential to protect your PC. It’s common for gamers to disable their firewalls to be able to access and run computer games. But this is dangerous and not recommended as it can leave you open to harm. BitDefender has a gamer mode which stops any interference while you’re in full screen mode for videos or presentations.

Ease of use

Installing BitDefender is simple and straightforward. The wizard will walk you through the process and will last for a few minutes. When the software is fully installed, you can then run a full system scan to check for any threats and secure your PC. If any threats reside in your PC before installation, BitDefender sends you a warning message and removes them with the initial scan.

At times the deep scans can compromise system resources and cause PC slowdown, however, you can run quick scans that eliminate the need to scan files that are known to be safe.

When BitDefender is up and running it requires little manual intervention. It works in the background protecting your PC silently, allowing you to get on with using the net and other programs. If any threats are detected, it notifies you with a bright red exclamation point.

Support

In our opinion, BitDefender’s support features are rarely needed because of its superb protection abilities. However, if the need should arise to contact support, there are many options available to you. These include free 24/7 phone, email and chat support with a specialist. They’ll take you through step-by-step instructions to fix any problems. And you’ll find this only takes a few minutes to complete.

In conclusion

We recommend BitDefender Internet Security 2012 because it’s a powerful and streamlined product. You won’t find many programs that provide this level of protection in this industry. We are impressed by its ability to constantly improve its features and understand PC protection from the user’s viewpoint.