Antivirus Antispam software review

BitDefender Internet Security 2008

BitDefender was an excellent performer among security suites, but it’s best for experts who don’t need guidance regarding security extras and pop-up alerts and who don’t mind therough interface.

BitDefender Internet Security 2008 ($40 for one PC, $50 for three PCs) pairs shining success with disappointing failure. It outperformed every other suite in crucial malware detection tests, unmasked every rootkit sample.

But this stellar performance behind the scenes was seriously marred by an unpleasant user experience. From aggravations with the initial installation to difficulties with warning pop-ups, BitDefender Internet Security 2008flaws are hard to brush off.

BitDefender Internet Security 2008 did extremely well when subjected to AV-Test.org’s 674,589 inactive malware samples, detecting 98 percent of them. It also did the best job of detecting new, unknown malware in heuristics tests, with a 29 percent catch rate using one-month-old signatures. And it also tied for first with Kaspersky Internet Security 7.0 for the fastest response (0 to 2 hours) to malware outbreaks.

BitDefender Internet Security 2008 firewall successfully masked a protected PC against outside scans, but it displayed needless warnings when the Firefox Web browser tried to access the Internet. That program should be on any firewall’s list of known (and approved) applications.

The suite offers a good array of secondary features, including antiphishing, parental controls, antispam, and data privacy. But these extras need polish. The browser-based antiphishing tool didn’t block any sites until I enabled the feature’s heuristic detection, which is off by default. When I enabled parental control for other users, I wasn’t prompted to set a program password–but if you fail to do so and you set up your kids’ accounts with administrator rights, they’ll be able to turn off the parental controls.

BitDefender Internet Security 2008 warning pop-ups did a poor job of guiding us through the steps of removing a detected e-mail worm (Warezov). The pop-up alert had options for ignoring, quarantining, or deleting the file. But perhaps because ther malware was lurking inside a .zip file, the security suite’s default option was to ignore the infection. Choosing to quarantine the archive failed, but rather than alerting me to the failure. the program just popped up the same window without the quarantine option. Choosing delete finally worked.

If BitDefender Internet Security 2008 interface and warnings were anywhere near as good as its virus detection engine, the suite would be easy to recommend. But its confusing pop-ups, program bugs, and high false positive rate make it best suited to a user who has strong technical skills and can at times make the right security choices without guidance from the software.

Other BitDefender Products:

BitDefender Mobile Security v2 , BitDefender Total Security 2008 , BitDefender Internet Security 2008 , BitDefender Antivirus 2008 , BitDefender Mobile Security v2

bitdefender.blogspace.cc

bitdefender.ezblogworld.com

BitDefender Antivirus 2008

BitDefender Antivirus 2008 is perhaps the most improved of the antivirus applications we’ve seen so far this year.

Still, for the price, and for the excellent quality of its antivirus protection, BitDefender Antivirus 2008 ranks among our few top contenders for 2008.

BitDefender Antivirus 2008 costs $24.95 for a single license and $29.95 for a three-user license.

BitDefender Antivirus 2008 opts for a no-nonsense interface. Should there be any security issues, one of the large icons will display red. For remediation there’s a large Fix This button, or you can click the specific graphic to see what’s wrong.

BitDefender Antivirus 2008 covers a lot of ground, protecting your system from viruses, spyware, privacy breaches, phishing attacks, and rootkits. And BitDefender is the only antivirus product we’ve seen that advertises a Gamer mode, minimizing protection alerts and resources while you’re off playing games.

For instance, with antivirus scans, the default setting scans files during boot, recently accessed files, packed files (although not archived files), incoming and outgoing e-mails–so far so good. The only difference with the more aggressive setting available is the addition of scanning activity on port 80 and port 443. BitDefender’s HTTP scan blocks malicious ActiveX and JavaScript, and is part of the antivirus and antispyware protection. Do you need that? Again, there is not enough guidance within the program to help users make that decision; most browsers offer add-ons that will also screen for these scripts.

As for the default privacy protection, BitDefender will look for instances of private information leaving the computer and guard against spyware attempting to install on the machine. The more aggressive setting adds cookie control and script protection, which most browsers will also allow you to control. Do you need this protection if your browser already provides similar protection? Again, BitDefender doesn’t offer enough guidance within the program to help users make that decision. Most browsers offer free add-ons that will screen for these scripts as well.

BitDefender provides a fairly complete package of technical support for its antivirus product. Greatly improved from last year is the built-in help file, although it would be nice if it were also context sensitive so that when we have a question about the Identity Pirvacy feature, the help file opens on that section immediately. BitDefender also offers an online Getting Started document, but we found its intended audience to be the Internet security suite users, not those starting out with just the antivirus product. BitDefender also delivers an adequate online FAQ, and there are several active user forums.

Finally, you can e-mail or call a toll-free number, 888-868-1873, for live technical support.

Note: This product is part of the BitDfender Security 2008 series.

Other BitDefender Products:

BitDefender Mobile Security v2 , BitDefender Total Security 2008 , BitDefender Internet Security 2008 , BitDefender Antivirus 2008 , BitDefender Mobile Security v2

bitdefender-ip.blogspot.com

bitdefender.blogspace.cc

BitDefender Internet Security 2008

BitDefender was an excellent performer among security suites, but it’s best for experts who don’t need guidance regarding security extras and pop-up alerts and who don’t mind therough interface.

BitDefender Internet Security 2008 ($40 for one PC, $50 for three PCs) pairs shining success with disappointing failure. It outperformed every other suite in crucial malware detection tests, unmasked every rootkit sample.

But this stellar performance behind the scenes was seriously marred by an unpleasant user experience. From aggravations with the initial installation to difficulties with warning pop-ups, BitDefender Internet Security 2008flaws are hard to brush off.

BitDefender Internet Security 2008 did extremely well when subjected to AV-Test.org’s 674,589 inactive malware samples, detecting 98 percent of them. It also did the best job of detecting new, unknown malware in heuristics tests, with a 29 percent catch rate using one-month-old signatures. And it also tied for first with Kaspersky Internet Security 7.0 for the fastest response (0 to 2 hours) to malware outbreaks.

BitDefender Internet Security 2008 firewall successfully masked a protected PC against outside scans, but it displayed needless warnings when the Firefox Web browser tried to access the Internet. That program should be on any firewall’s list of known (and approved) applications.

The suite offers a good array of secondary features, including antiphishing, parental controls, antispam, and data privacy. But these extras need polish. The browser-based antiphishing tool didn’t block any sites until I enabled the feature’s heuristic detection, which is off by default. When I enabled parental control for other users, I wasn’t prompted to set a program password–but if you fail to do so and you set up your kids’ accounts with administrator rights, they’ll be able to turn off the parental controls.

BitDefender Internet Security 2008 warning pop-ups did a poor job of guiding us through the steps of removing a detected e-mail worm (Warezov). The pop-up alert had options for ignoring, quarantining, or deleting the file. But perhaps because ther malware was lurking inside a .zip file, the security suite’s default option was to ignore the infection. Choosing to quarantine the archive failed, but rather than alerting me to the failure. the program just popped up the same window without the quarantine option. Choosing delete finally worked.

If BitDefender Internet Security 2008 interface and warnings were anywhere near as good as its virus detection engine, the suite would be easy to recommend. But its confusing pop-ups, program bugs, and high false positive rate make it best suited to a user who has strong technical skills and can at times make the right security choices without guidance from the software.

Other BitDefender Products:

BitDefender Mobile Security v2 , BitDefender Total Security 2008 , BitDefender Internet Security 2008 , BitDefender Antivirus 2008 , BitDefender Mobile Security v2

bitdefender.blogspace.cc

bitdefender.ezblogworld.com

BitDefender Antivirus 2008

BitDefender Antivirus 2008 is perhaps the most improved of the antivirus applications we’ve seen so far this year.

Still, for the price, and for the excellent quality of its antivirus protection, BitDefender Antivirus 2008 ranks among our few top contenders for 2008.

BitDefender Antivirus 2008 costs $24.95 for a single license and $29.95 for a three-user license.

BitDefender Antivirus 2008 opts for a no-nonsense interface. Should there be any security issues, one of the large icons will display red. For remediation there’s a large Fix This button, or you can click the specific graphic to see what’s wrong.

BitDefender Antivirus 2008 covers a lot of ground, protecting your system from viruses, spyware, privacy breaches, phishing attacks, and rootkits. And BitDefender is the only antivirus product we’ve seen that advertises a Gamer mode, minimizing protection alerts and resources while you’re off playing games.

For instance, with antivirus scans, the default setting scans files during boot, recently accessed files, packed files (although not archived files), incoming and outgoing e-mails–so far so good. The only difference with the more aggressive setting available is the addition of scanning activity on port 80 and port 443. BitDefender’s HTTP scan blocks malicious ActiveX and JavaScript, and is part of the antivirus and antispyware protection. Do you need that? Again, there is not enough guidance within the program to help users make that decision; most browsers offer add-ons that will also screen for these scripts.

As for the default privacy protection, BitDefender will look for instances of private information leaving the computer and guard against spyware attempting to install on the machine. The more aggressive setting adds cookie control and script protection, which most browsers will also allow you to control. Do you need this protection if your browser already provides similar protection? Again, BitDefender doesn’t offer enough guidance within the program to help users make that decision. Most browsers offer free add-ons that will screen for these scripts as well.

BitDefender provides a fairly complete package of technical support for its antivirus product. Greatly improved from last year is the built-in help file, although it would be nice if it were also context sensitive so that when we have a question about the Identity Pirvacy feature, the help file opens on that section immediately. BitDefender also offers an online Getting Started document, but we found its intended audience to be the Internet security suite users, not those starting out with just the antivirus product. BitDefender also delivers an adequate online FAQ, and there are several active user forums.

Finally, you can e-mail or call a toll-free number, 888-868-1873, for live technical support.

Note: This product is part of the BitDfender Security 2008 series.

Other BitDefender Products:

BitDefender Mobile Security v2 , BitDefender Total Security 2008 , BitDefender Internet Security 2008 , BitDefender Antivirus 2008 , BitDefender Mobile Security v2

bitdefender-ip.blogspot.com

bitdefender.blogspace.cc