Customer Ratings & Reviews

I have used BitDefender products since 2018 and Total Security has been a constant since. I have dabbled with other Anti-Virus/Malware products at times and keep coming back to Bitdefender. I mainly use the product on Windows PCs, so that will be my focus. I have used it on Android and iOS devices (the latter OS is pretty locked down by Apple, so Bitdefender and other AV solutions have limited value). Bitdefender has made some tweaks to their interface but largely has remained the same. The interface is much like others and you can access many of the functions from the main panel, with menu options along the left side of the application interface, this is refreshing as other Security products have adopted interfaces heavy in cartoonish interfaces complete with avatars. The real-time protection seems to perform well, with not much of a performance hit on PCs with decent resources, although I do think Norton is a bit more lightweight in this area. I currently have Bitdefender configured for the minimal amount of notification (for instance suspicious connections) and unlike other solutions it seems to pick up on expired domain certificates, which can often indicate compromised or less maintained sites. Overall, there is a plethora of capabilities and settings on the left side of the main interface panel, including a Dashboard, Protection, Privacy, Utilities, Notifications and Settings items. Too many to get into individually but you could spend a considerable amount of time exploring each. What you need is enabled by default so if you don’t want to explore the product more in depth you have a default configuration which suits most purposes. Many vendors don’t allow you to configure individual features and others overcomplicate it. Bitdefender is somewhere in the middle, which is a good place to be in this case. What I also like about Bitdefender Total Security is it will coexist with other PC Security products, like Windows Defender. As for the VPN service which has become a common place offering in Security suites, my experience was good, although you do have to go up to the Bitdefender Premium Security or greater suite to get unlimited VPN access, as Total Security only comes with 200MB daily, which is not useful as background processes in Windows and other applications can quickly consume that amount. So lets go over what has improved over time with the Bitdefender product: Ransomware protection, the Safe Banking tools (which open a secured browser which I do not use), Malware detection improvements (including AI and Machine Learning detection to improve against zero day threats), QUIC Protocol Support used by modern browsers (Chromium based browsers such as Chrome, Edge and Opera) and many cloud services including YouTube studio and Google Drive. Overall, this improves scanning of encrypted traffic, better compatibility with modern websites and fewer false blocks or slowdowns. This is meaningful for anyone using cloud apps or streaming services. >>> Pros >> Security suite provides a lot of capabilities >> improved AI/ML based tools and detections >> faster scanning >> product is not “chatty or nagging” in relation to upselling you upgrades. >> Will detect vulnerabilities in other products and update them if needed (including monthly Microsoft updates). >> Windows, Mac OS, Android, Apple iOS versions included in subscription >> Straddles the line well between cartoonish interfaces and those leaning towards technical ones >> Configurable for those that need specific settings. <<< Cons << for lower end devices or those with less resources it may not perform as well as other solutions << Total Security level only provides 200MB of VPN connected data per day, which is next to useless.

When choosing an antivirus for your devices, you need something that offers comprehensive coverage and is not too bulky or intrusive. Bitdefender seems to provide a stable and strong suite of software products focusing on security and privacy. The Total Security bundle offers, in addition to a strong antivirus, includes ad blocking and anti-tracking that works seamlessly in the background as an extension on your browser, to keep your browsing sessions private. The anti-track software identifies each of the trackers and cookies sites employ to spy on you, creating a digital fingerprint, then using and selling the data they collect. You also get ransomware, antispam, and crypto mining protection (if someone uses your computers processor to help them mine crypto without your knowledge) You get video and audio protection from hackers trying to record you. They also include Safepay, a secure webpage for online banking and other sensitive transactions. Some sites may not work (like this one) until you add it as a trusted site in the extension or temporarily turn off the tracker for the site. It feels good knowing you have a high level of protection for your devices and the ability to add up to 5 devices with this version. I think having the added benefit of VPN helps fool trackers, though it seems, the ad block and anti-track don't work when the VPN is enabled. And 200MB is a very small amount for browsing on VPN, I was done in 5 minutes and got kicked off. The limited VPN aside, this is as comprehensive as it gets for security software. Some might worry about using a company based in Romania to handle their security needs, but Bitdefender has been in this business for over 25 years, I think they know a thing or two.

I am very impressed with the Bitdefender- Total Security Individual 5 device software for Windows, Apple iOS, Mac OS, Android and Linux. I have used most of the top choices for security software at one time or another and I actually believe that this BitDefender is the best one I have used to date. While it does have a lot of the same features as other big name choices it also has extra features compared to the ones I have used in the past.For instance while VPN seems to be a standard feature now just like web protection. Bitdefender goes a step further to include features like call blocking and chat protection. Additionally, Bitdefender has some impressive advanced features like App anomaly detection that instantly detects malicious app behavior. The scans are done automatically in the background and if something is detected you will be notified. Additionally Bitdefender is very thorough in everything it does including looking for all of the types of modern scams and software hackers are using currently. They also do a very good job of giving you detailed information about each type of threat which is greatly appreciated and something I have not seen before. Their app and Windows software is very easy to use and laid out in a simple manner with good descriptions in every category. There is even an app lock. It has been doing a good job on my phone without any noticeable increase in battery drain. My battery life actually seems better than it was before but that could be from a recent system update. I feel like this is a good package for most people to cover all of their devices in their family at a reasonable cost. It is nice knowing I am being protected from all of the latest threats and I feel like the software is easy enough to use for even non tech savvy people.

Bitdefender is a suite of safety tools to lock down your computer and provides complete confidence that you are safe from outside threats. As an IT professional, I understand the treats that lurk from simple actions like opening an email or even just clicking on what you think is a safe link on a webpage. This is complete care for your computer, phone, and tablet. I am currently running it on my iPhone, iPad Mini, and personal laptop. The interface is quite different for each device, but it is simple to install and setup for all of them. The most impressive offering is for my Windows' Laptop. There is a dashboard that allows for easy access to all of the tools offered. Protection offerings include Antivirus, Cryptomining Protection, Advanced Threat Defense, Online Threat Prevention, Vulnerability, Firewall, Ransomware Remediation, and Antispam for email. The mobile / tablet version offers device scans and private browsing using a VPN. The scans vary from a quick scan to a thorough scan. There is also a password vault option for the mobile version. Finally, the PC version provides an optimization utility which will clear out unnecessary files from your device. In addition to file cleaning, it also clears the tracking cookies and other spyware from the system. This is a complete protection package with a very user-friendly interface.

This was delivered to me by email, and started out with some errors loading. After a few tries, it finally downloaded and installed. After that, set up was without any issues. I have the 5 device edition, and set up on 2 other devices was without issues. I haven't had any reason to 'need' protection so far, but will say that the software did not have any apparent negative issues with regards the operation of my computer. I've used other security software that significantly slows down the computer, or drastically restricts even legit websites. That can be very annoying and really defeats the whole purpose. This Bitdefender, did not have any of those issues. The included VPN was not as great and I did not want to upgrade. I ended up disabling the VPN but wasn't sure how that would affect my protection. So far so food, and only time will really tell. Again, I do like the minimal impact on my laptop despite the VPN being turned off. I guess I would have liked more system information readily available to let me know what to expect.

Overall I think Bitdefender Total Security does a good job protecting you without overwhelming your pc’s resources and it doesn’t nag you with continuous upgrade and renewal notices that other software providers do. On the downside the VPN limits are so low that the VPN protection is fairly meaningless and the Parental Controls aren’t the most intuitive or responsive. Bottom line is if you don’t need VPN access or already have a VPN provider and you don’t need Parental Controls then this is the security software to get. If you require a VPN then I suggest you look at other Bitdefender packages that include unlimited VPN access. Installing Bitdefender is quite easy, you create an account and download the software. It is automated enough where even non-technical people should be able to install the software without issue. Once the software is installed you can go to the Bitdefender dashboard to verify that you are protected and configure the software to your specific needs. You can also run virus scans and vulnerability scans manually when/if ever needed. On the Protection tab in the dashboard you can see what protection is turned on and what additional protection is available to you. This software offers you a complete suite of protective services and it’s easy to turn on/off whatever you need. There is also a Privacy Tab on the dashboard that allows you to customize your privacy settings by controlling cameras and microphones as well as setting up Anti-tracker capabilities. The Parental Control was not the easiest to configure nor was I impressed with the results. I was able to get it to limit device access to specific sites however I could not get it to limit the time on line. The Utility tab offers additional tools like an optimizer and file shredder. I have found the file shredder to be quite useful to permanently delete financial files. On the Notification tab you can see all the Critical, Warning and Information notifications that have occurred. While this information is interesting to a technical person most people will find this information misleading or possibly confusing. For example I have several Critical notifications for Suspicious Connections blocked when I was web browsing on a legit business website that I trust. Rather than concern myself with these types of notifications I trust Bitdefender to do its job protecting me.

Bitdefender Total Security is a solid software suite in the ever-growing need for security software if your PC or smart phone and devices are connected to the internet. This package includes 5 devices for 1 year, so you won't be able to protect everything, but you will want to install it on the devices that have the most exposure to the internet, like your main PC, your smartphone, your laptop and maybe those of your family members too. The software is overall very easy to use and you can manage your account and devices centrally via the web. Total Security also includes a Password Manager, SecurePass, and also a very limited VPN (up to 200MB/mo) which is not that great and I don't use it because of that. However, if you are traveling abroad or on unsecured WiFi, you may consider using it in public. While the price is reasonable for a yearly subscription, especially on sale like it is now around the holidays, I personally use a combination of free and paid subscriptions that tend to do better in some areas, like personal VPN and Password Manager. I also don't love the idea of installing a separate AV since Windows comes with one, but Bitdefender is generally better although it can also use more resources. I've used Bitdefender for a few weeks now and no issues on both my laptop and iPhone, but if I renew the subscription I will likely step up the package to Bitdefender Premium Security which comes with Premium VPN (unlimited) and Ad Blocker for just a bit more per year.

When I received the offer for this Bitdefender Total Security Individual 5 Devices/1-Year, I was quick to grab it. I have had experience with a few other Bitdefender products over the years, and I have never been disappointed. This product continues that longstanding experience. One of the things I appreciate most about Bitdefender's products, is how "lite" they are. What I mean by that, is so many other products in this genre are not only resource hogs, but also "pop-up" hogs, (McAfee/Norton, anyone?),and "bloat-ware hogs". It gets so frustrating with other suites who constantly want to implant extentins, change your browsing tools, un-necessarily re-direct you, and constantly pop-up with warnings and completely useless redirections that only server to force you deeper into their ecosystem. With Bitdefender, this does not happen. Bitdefender runs quietly in the background has almost zero impact on system drain, and never interjects with bloat-ware or useless po-ups. Awesome. Another great thing about Bitdefender, is that they do not require a credit card for first year. Most every product in the genre requires you to supply your credit card information before you can set it up. Bitdefender (rightfully so), has so much confidence in their product thast they let you learn tio trust it before taking your "future ransom payment". Well done. In all, this an excellent choice that has all the offerings.

So I just downloaded and installed Bitdefender Total Security suite onto my laptop and have been putting it through its paces over the last couple of weeks. When it comes to keeping my devices in top notch condition and bug free, I want to use a brand that I have come to love and trust. Over the years, I've tested a number of antivirus/total security programs and they always seem to let me down. Some find issues that the software is unable to eradicate and secure my device and some are just too darn expensive in relation to the services they claim to provide. And that's where Bitdefender steps in. So after downloading and installing the Bitdefender Total Security software, it walks you through their quick and easy setup process which took me all of about 5 minutes. After installation, it prompted me to run my vulnerability risk test (and thank God it found no issues on both laptops). I can install this software on up to 5 of my devices including my mobile device. Bitdefender is compatible with Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. After the initial scan, it takes you to your dashboard, from which you can see all of the included features in the tabs on the left: Dashboard: Quick Scan, System Scan, Vulnerability Scan, VPN, Add a Quick Action: (Quick Scan, System Scan, Open VPN, Vulnerability Scan, Open SafePay, File Shredder, and OneClick Optimizer. Protection Tab: Antivirus, Cryptomining Protection, Advanced Threat Defense, Online Threat Prevention, Vulnerability, Firewall, Ransomware Remediation, and Antispam. Privacy Tab: SafePay, VPN, Video & Audio Protection, and Anti-Tracker. Utilities Tab: Anti-Theft, OneClick Optimizer, Profiles, and Data Protection. Notifications Tab: Basic notifications of what's happening within the program. Settings Tab: General Settings (including Dark Mode). In addition to the above features, you can install SecurePass from the Bitdefender Central website online. Though Bitdefender has a ton of features right at your fingertips, it doesn't seem convoluted, but very user friendly and easy to use. And it doesn't install a ton of bloatware programs that you don't need that not only makes your device more unstable in my opinion but makes your device run slower. Bitdefender feels light and gets the job done.

Bitdefender Total Security offers great antivirus security and cyber protection. Although I am using it for Windows, it can also be used for MAC, IOS, and Android. This particular edition covers up to 5 devices for one year and offers automatic updates so you're always up to date in digital security. Although the download should have been easy, for some reason mine took over 30 minutes, stopping every 2-3% (total of 38 times). Maybe it's my laptop but the 827mb file, even with a 600mb internet service, made the process painful. Fortunately, patience won out and after the install, everything went smoothly. When combined with the phone app, you are able to run scans remotely and lock/locate items in case of loss or theft. It also allows you to stop the service on one device and add to another if necessary. It offers parental control to help keep the kiddos safe while online and with the password manager, I don't have to try to remember my passwords, or where I wrote them down! Bitdefender offers a VPN and while I've never used one, this one is limited to 200mb which might not be sufficient for my laptop/desktop and VOIP/Webex phone. And although I'm not involved in crypto mining, it's good to know that Bitdefender helps prevent my PC from becoming a victim to unauthorized mining. The onscreen dashboard provides a quick view of the status of your system. I particularly liked the one-click optimizer located under the utilities menu. One click and unnecessary files were identified and removed! An although I hope it never happens, there's also a ransomware remediation option under the protection tab that appears to reverse damage done by ransomware by restoring encrypted files. There's even a section titled vulnerability which determines where there might be issues and puts all of those downloads in one place. I've only had Bitdefender for a couple weeks and am still finding additional benefits to the product! It certainly seems to be a great value for a product that does a thorough job of monitoring my computer, security, and more!

Bitdefender - Total Security Individual 5 device 1 year 
Bitdefender throws in everything but the kitchen sink in this umbrella security tool. I’m still debating if that is good or bad. We begin with Bitdefender Antivirus. The product offers a first time quick scan followed by real-time scans of files added to the device. The app offers a standard array of exclusion filters should you need them to exclude files or directories from being scanned. From the main Antivirus interface Bitdefender also includes menus to add new devices, enable Safe Files, a feature designed to protect individual files or folders for unauthorized changes. Finally the interface includes the ability to install the Web Protection feature; a browser plugin for Safari, Chrome, or Edge designed to be able to intercept threats coming from web browsers before the files arrive on the computer. When it comes to Anti-Virus, proactive is better than reactive so it’s nice to not need to worry about setting up scheduled scans. Bitdefender VPN is another app that is automatically deployed as part of suite. By default the app will launch automatically upon device boot, but it will not automatically connect to a VPN unless an additional toggle switch is activated from the settings menu. This is a decision I suspect based on the product only including 200MB of daily traffic unless an additional subscription is purchased to unlock unlimited traffic thus the end user must make a conscious decision to enable the VPN or risk very quickly running out of data. I enabled the VPN manually for about four minutes and did nothing more than open Safari and browse to foxnews.com and 7MB of my daily limit was gone. It’s frustrating to have such a small data cap for a VPN and I found myself mostly just ignoring that the app was installed on a variety of devices. In another instance I was able to pick a different country and VPN into to validate an online post suggesting that buying flights is cheaper when done from another country. I’m sad to confirm that this is actually true. Both the Antivirus app interface and the VPN interface offer one click paid upgrades to sign up for that arrive in the form of security recommendations. “Everyone has personal data online … get a complete view of your personal data available online” reads one of the four I was greeted with, and a one click link offers me an additional subscription service. Some of the more mundane notices encourage me to turn on features within the tool for things I don’t even have configured. For example on a macOS device where Apple TimeMachine is disabled, Bitdefender recommends enabling the Time Machine backup protection feature. Shouldn’t it be smart enough to to know I don’t use Time Machine? I think it should be. But it’s not. The good news here is that at least the recommendations can be removed by selecting “Not Now” though from the wording I suspect that means I’ll see them at some point in the future. I hate this approach to software sales and think it needs to be removed from the tools. After the Antivirus and VPN products are deployed, Bitdefender Central is the administrative website used to get an overview of your deployed products. It’s also another interface where Bitdefender advertises more pay-to-use features like Digital Identity Protection and Digital Identity Theft Protection (not the same thing). Within the Bitdefender Central admin console for macOS there are rudimentary controls for kicking off Malware Scans on the devices. For macOS that’s all you can do remotely. For Windows OS the admin console allows additional features like remotely locating, locking and wiping your windows computer, triggering vulnerability scans as well as running device optimization features. Selecting the option triggers the remote device to perform the action after a few minutes. With the exception of threats that are blocked, there’s very little data being sent back to the administrative console about the devices beyond device name and the Bitdefender product installed. I found myself only logging into the console when I wanted to add a new device. Another “new” feature available from the admin console is named SecurePass which is an online password manager. Personally I don’t trust any cloud vendor to store and sync my passwords so I will continue to ignore the this product exists. 
 Overall I haven’t noticed a dip in machine performance, and I practice safe web browsing so I haven’t found much in the way of threats blocked, but I think the real test will be when I install one of the licenses on my 78 year old mom’s computer. She tends to click everything before reading any of it and we all know how that goes so I hope to get more use out of this suite of tools from her computer than the rest of mine. In the meanwhile I feel a little bit more secure having the tools available in the background looking out for my digital security.

If you have young kids or elderly parents or relatives, you really should always pay for proper antivirus and security software. It's just prudent. Bitdefender's Total Security sits in the world of antivirus and broader security and optimization software. The big plus is you can use it on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS so this 5 license version should (at least) keep your parents covered (their PC and phones). Setup is easy, you create a Bitdefender account and you can redeem your registration key online. Things I like about Bitdefender, it's easy to setup and the default settings cover the usual suspects (viruses, malware, ransomware, webcam locking). The 'total security' part which includes a vulnerability scan, privacy, VPN, etc. is OK but not great. Which is worth me talking about to help others make an informed decision. Vulnerability Scan is supposed to detect other applications that need to be updated. On my Windows 11 PC reported zero, but Firefox was out of date as were a few other apps. I could give Bitdefender a pass, but really it should have spotted Firefox. Instead it was giving me prompts that an "Operating System Change" was detected, but that what a regular Windows Update. Hmmm. Also included is Bitdefender VPN, but it's limited to 200Mb (yes 200Mb!) per day. This might be OK if you only occasionally need it on your phone need it but it's very limited and Bitdefender does prompt you to turn it on automatically on your PC - so you would burn through 200Mb quickly especially once you start watching YouTube or Netflix. You can upgrade to unlimited for an extra fee but I do wish they just bundled unlimited or gave you the flat 6Gb a month and let you as a user balance it out over a month. What's good. The registry clean up and file clean up tools are fast and great. Bitdefender is not heavy on resources and loads and scans fast. There's a secure browser called "Safepay" which if you're helping family members, you can tell them to only shop online using Safepay - which is nice, given the recent reports of malware browser extensions. You can also monitor all of the Bitdefender settings remotely via your phone - great for keeping an eye on your parents! I'm giving Bitdefender a 3/5 not because it's bad. There's a lot to like. But the fact it wasn't spotting Firefox was out of date (and missed some other apps) makes me think twice. Plus I do wish the VPN was more generous and they just made it a monthly cap rather than daily. I'm hoping Bitdefender can fix these two things in a future update. But for keeping your parents safe, Bitdefender is good.