DETAILS
• Manufacturer: Bitdefender
• Website: goo.gl/qMglXf
• Required spec: Windows XP or later, 800MHz CPU, 1GB RAM. 1.8GB HDD space
The current trend in antivirus and anti-malware appears to be a preference for smaller, free programs instead of more complex and comprehensive suites. While there’s nothing wrong with the free clients, such as Microsoft Security Essentials, they do tend to lack many of the more impressive features that a full, paid-for security suite has to offer. The question then, of course, is which full security suite do you go for?
Bitdefender has a long history of producing high-quality security suites and Total Security 2014 is its newest addition to the fold. Since this is a security suite, the standard job of protecting your PC from viruses is just one of many features that it’s capable of. A comprehensive built-in firewall takes over from the Microsoft effort, while Safebox, a Bitdefender service, allows you to back up your important data to secure online servers. Privacy control settings offer anti-phishing capabilities, as well as chat encryption, data protection, file encryption and a file shredder. There’s also an anti-spam function, tune-up options and process monitoring, and Safego protects you while on Facebook. The Wallet protects your online credentials and manages passwords for you, and the Parental Control function enables you to control access to the internet and to specific applications on your child’s PC, as well as allowing you to find out what pages they’ve been visiting. Clearly there’s a lot going on here, and after only a short time of using TS2014, you’ll soon begin to appreciate just how inadequate your previous solution was.
On top of all this, the Safepay feature adds an increased layer of online transaction protection through a customised and protected browser. This creates a sealed environment where your online banking and shopping can be conducted in absolute privacy between you and the e-bank or shop. The Wallet feature is integrated into Safepay, as are the firewall and encryption routines, so the entire suite is used to great effect in keeping you safe and secure.
TS2014 comes with a number of modes available, each of which has a different effect on the system, without compromising the overall security. The Autopilot mode, which is the default setting for the suite and its applications, simply monitors your system and activity, using a sectioned circular gadget in the lower- right corner of your desktop, which will alert you with traffic-light-like conditions if something is amiss. In user mode, you have more control over what can be displayed and what alerts you receive.
For example, in gaming mode the alerts won’t interrupt you, laptop mode will minimise the impact on power consumption while you’re running from the battery and rescue mode will disinfect your entire system.
All tasks can be accomplished through the control centre, which is easy to understand and which brings together the combined features of the suite. Within it you’ll find useful reports based on the monitoring of your system, including from the parental settings. Help and support is accessible through the control centre, as are the many settings that can be applied throughout the suite.
Bitdefender Total Security 2014 simply does everything you could ever wish for and more. The level of security and peace of mind it offers is staggering, and thanks to some clever development work from
Bitdefender, there’s no negative impact on the system resources or overall speed. Windows updates, Bitdefender updates and even individual application updates are all handled within the secure confines of Total Security 2014. To conclude, if you want one of the best all-round security products available, then Bitdefender Total Security 2014 should be on your list.