For a VPN service to build a relationship with its users, it needs to offer complete privacy at fast speeds.

If you are a student, working professional or an artist, Bitdefender is suitable for you no matter what. The features are impressive, and the price model is also comfortable for everyone’s pockets. There you go, that was our review of Bitdefender antivirus software. Aug 31, 2019  The VirusTotal scan for the Mac app came clean as well: 3. Romanian Jurisdiction, No Data Retention Law. Bitdefender VPN is based in Romania (headquarted in Bucharest) which means it’s far from the reaches of the 14 eyes. The 14 eyes is a coalition of different countries that have the power to take data and information from those under them. Bitdefender is one of the oldest and most trusted Antivirus Software company with a number of different types of Antivirus products. Their newest edition brings protection against all the latest viruses and malware. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac has new updates that bring a set of advanced features to offer the best of protection to your Mac system.

This includes a secure network, fast server connection, and top-notch encryption. It needs to give you a reason why browsing the internet with privacy is worth your money.

Bitdefender VPN dresses like a service that can go head-to-head with big-name VPNs since it comes from a big player in the antivirus market.

However, it falls short on speed, customer support, and privacy policies.

In a nutshell, Bitdefender VPN offers a free version with the data capped at 200mb a day and strong tunneling protocols such as OpenVPN instead of PPTP.

The good stops there, however, Let’s start with the pros and then head over to the cons.

Bitdefender VPN Overview

Bitdefender VPN Pros

1. No IP Leaks Found

The biggest reason why you’re getting a VPN service is to browse the internet with privacy. Without that, what’s the use of paying for one in the first place right? Thankfully, Bitdefender VPN is quite secure.

I put the VPN provider through a number of tests by using its United States server:

• https://ipleak.net/ (none found)
• https://www.perfect-privacy.com/check-ip/ (none found)
• https://ipx.ac/run (none found)
• https://www.perfect-privacy.com/dns-leaktest/ (none found)
• http://dnsleak.com/ (none found)

It had Zero DNS leaks, which is good:

The VPN also did a good job hiding my IP address and geolocation:

So far, this product takes its private networks seriously for its users to take advantage of. A secure VPN network means that you can use a public wi-fi with an anonymous profile.

2. Almost Clean Installer Files

It would be a shame and quite ironic that the VPN app of an Antivirus company would come riddled with red flags. This is not the case, however, as the app does not contain a single virus for you to worry about.

I ran the Windows installer through VirusTotal Scan and here are the results:

Note that one scanner flagged the file red but don’t worry about this. Cases in which one scanner found a “suspicious” file while all the others did not is called a false-positive. It simply means that said scanner doesn’t know about the file and flags it as a virus.

The VirusTotal scan for the Mac app came clean as well:

3. Romanian Jurisdiction, No Data Retention Law

Bitdefender VPN is based in Romania (headquarted in Bucharest) which means it’s far from the reaches of the 14 eyes.

The 14 eyes is a coalition of different countries that have the power to take data and information from those under them.

As for Bitdefender VPN, the service is not obligated to hand over information of any kind. Their data protection method remains tightly secured.

Just remember that even Bitdefender VPN will give out specific data to cooperate with ongoing investigations and the like. This can happen to any VPN service regardless of location.

4. Unblocks Netflix

Netflix wants to entertain its users, but it doesn’t like those that use a proxy server or a VPN. Well, not for the case of Bitdefender VPN.

The front page of the product mentions that it “unlocks media all over the world” and it looks like Netflix is part of it.

I tested out six random servers and 3 out of 6 unblocked Netflix.

• Romania
• Indonesia
• Germany
• Hong Kong (blocked)
• United States (blocked)
• Australia (blocked)

3 servers blocked may sound worrying, but do remember that you have the option to change the server location.

This is great news for most users because they don’t have to compromise entertainment for their security needs.

5. Easy To Use App

Installing Bitdefender VPN is a pain in the neck especially if you’re not too tech-savvy.

However, once everything is up and running, the overall usability of the product is pretty simple.

Once opened directly or through the main Bitdefender Dashboard, you’ll notice that the app window is small and the interface takes on a minimalist look. You can click on the “Connect” button and that’s it.

The premium version offers you a number of server locations to choose from. The locations are named by country and not by the city. There is a total of 27 server locations.

The app also offers access to its settings but the functions present are quite bare with options to disable launch on startup and securing your wifi if you’re in public. The “Support” tab will send you directly to the customer support page on their website.

The free version of the VPN will not allow you to pick your location.

6. Allows Torrenting

Bitdefender VPN doesn’t really say much about the important features that a VPN should offer. Instead, it uses terms like “access media” which is a very broad and vague statement. I had to go through their customer support to confirm whether or not they do allow you to torrent and if it limits P2P access.

Their customer support states that:

“It should not block torrenting.”

This is generally good news for most because torrenting plays a big part in a lot of users; the premium version’s unlimited bandwidth also helps reinforce this feature.

Bitdefender VPN Cons

1. Very Slow Speed Performance

A number of VPNs that come from Antivirus companies always fall on their connection speed. Bitdefender VPN shares the same fate. I tested their connection speed on six random servers and all were well below 70%. That’s not very good.

This is my base internet speed without the VPN:

• Ping: 10ms
• Download: 50.51 Mbps
• Upload: 48.79 Mbps

These are the six servers I tested it on:

• United States
• Canada
• Hong Kong
• Japan
• Netherlands
• UK

The fastest that the VPN got to was on its United States server which also happened to be the most optimized:

• Ping: 178ms
• Download: 10.11 Mbps (80% slower)
• Upload: 45.42 Mbps (7% slower)

Japan had the best results in their Asian server, but was still pretty bad:

• Ping: 264ms
• Download: 4.68 Mbps (90.7% slower)
• Upload: 19.82 Mbps (59.4% slower)

The Netherlands server came out on top on their EU servers but it’s nothing to brag about:

• Ping: 476ms
• Download: 3.81 Mbps (92.5% slower)
• Upload: 1.68 Mbps (97% slower)

Overall, Bitdefender VPN failed to even break a connection speed that’s near 50% of my base speed. I tested out a few more random server locations and they couldn’t even beat the ones listed above.

2. Lack of Information

I mentioned at the beginning of the review that Bitdefender uses broad words in describing the features that it has. They don’t exactly go into detail on what the product offers.

Here is the list of information not present on the Bitdefender VPN website and their FAQ page:

• The server count and country coverage.
• If the product allows Torrenting.
• If it unblocks Netflix.
• The tunneling protocols that it uses and whether or not you can change them.
• Its logging policy.
• The refund policy (found in the main Bitdefender website)

Most of the information that’s missing is quite important, leaving them blank leaves more questions than answers.

I was forced to ask their customer support for the info listed above. Speaking of their customer support.

3. Disappointing Customer Support

Bitdefender VPN’s customer isn’t entirely bad, it’s just underwhelming and really disappointing. A weak customer support department just further degrades the overall quality of an already bad VPN service.

Let’s start with their Chat Support, which is probably what most users would go straight for.

Slow and Ill-Informed Chat Support

To get to customer chat support, you can access it at the footer of their website.

Click “Support” and you’ll be taken to a separate page that groups home support and businesses support users. Click on the group that you belong to; most of the time it’s as a home support user. Once there, you’ll have access to their chat support.

The first thing you’ll notice is the big “Ask Luna” that pops up when you choose the aforementioned option. Luna is a virtual assistant that can answer basic questions regarding the product e.g. How do you install the VPN, Upgrading your subscription, etc. You can get a live agent if you want to by asking Luna.

Unlike Luna, however, their live agents may take a very long time to get through. It may take a few minutes or nearly an hour before a live rep is finally available.

I asked about their protocols first and the support rep present wasn’t able to answer it. Instead, I was told that my question would be forwarded to their “colleague from the second level of support”. My question would be answered via email a day and a half later:

The same goes for most of the questions I asked about their product.

On the bright side, the questions they failed to answer didn’t require me to ask it again via email. All I had to do was wait.

Average Email Support

Their email support did a lot better than I expected.

Questions usually take a day to be answered. However, I did start to notice that their first reply will always be a link that leads to their FAQ page.

You can reply to the email to get a better and more direct answer to your problem or question.

4. Powered by Hotspot Shield

The first time I opened the VPN app, I noticed that it was powered by Hotspot Shield.

What does this mean exactly? Well, this could mean that the VPN itself uses a lot of the features of Hotspot Shield or it could simply be a reskin of the said VPN.

Why is this bad? It’s bad because Hotspot Shield VPN has a suspicious logging policy and it’s had its fair share of controversy in the past years.

The biggest one being the allegations that Hotspot Shield is abusing user data by redirecting traffic from their free service. In layman’s terms, it’s not following its own logging policy.

Speaking of their logging policy.

Suspicious Logging Policy

CSIRO has conducted a study revealing Hotspot Shield to collect and sell their users’ information to advertisers. The service is free which means it’s already partnered with third-party advertising companies that allow it to remain free.

5. Allows TOR but has Limited Tunneling Protocols and Limited Kill Switch Feature

A lot of VPN providers today use different tunneling protocols. Each protocol is a lot better at doing one thing over another; some favor speed over security and vice versa.

Allowing their users to switch between different protocols provides flexibility that caters to different types of usage. The same cannot be said for this VPN.

The VPN provider only uses two protocols. This information comes straight from their “second level of customer support”:

• OpenVPN for Windows and Android.
• HydraVPN for iOs and macOS.

That’s it. They only have two protocols for encryption available. Granted, OpenVPN is very secure unlike other protocols such as PPTP but having only OpenVPN limits your flexibility.

There is no option to change or switch protocols. You are simply left to rely on their encryption. In the event that it fails, you have no other choice but to be vulnerable.

Limited Kill Switch

There is a kill switch feature in the VPN but it’s quite limited to a few of its devices. A kill switch is essential if you’re trying to protect your privacy, it basically cancels your internet connection if the VPN cuts out thus protecting you from exposing your public IP address.

I asked customer support and all they had to say was “you can always connect and disconnect from the VPN.”

I dug around and found that there is a kill switch in their Windows and Mac versions.

The lack of a kill switch for ALL of its devices is only made worse because they only have two protocols that are not interchangeable.

6. It’s Not A Standalone App

I commended Bitdefender VPN for its overall easy usability. However, getting to that can prove to be a bit difficult because the VPN is not a standalone application. In order for you to install it, Bitdefender Total Security must be installed first.

If you’re installing it on your desktop computer or laptop, you are required to uninstall your current antivirus software. Depending on what it is, you might have to do a few digging on how to properly uninstall it in the first place.

After it’s set up, you’ll have to activate your Bitdefender VPN subscription separately.

Having to install another app is quite cumbersome to people who just want to use the service immediately after purchasing it.

Pricing, Payment Plans, Payment Methods

Bitdefender Premium VPN offers two types of payment plans:

• Monthly: $6.99
• Yearly: $39.99

If you want to buy but you’re unsure, there is a free version of the VPN. It has a data cap of 200mb a day and it doesn’t allow you to pick a server location.

The VPN is available for the following devices:

• Windows
• Mac
• iOS
• Android

Take note that you will see the option to buy the product on the front page of the website. However, this option covers the purchase of Bitdefender Total Security as well, the number of devices you want it to be available in, and the type of subscription. You can go up to 10 simultaneous connections.

There is a detailed comparison of each payment plan below it.

Bitdefender Premium VPN offers different payment methods:

• Credit Card
• PayPal
• Wire Transfer

As for their refund policy, the product has a 30-day money back guarantee. You can get the refund through their customer support.

Do I Recommend Bitdefender VPN?

No, I do not.

There are just too many drawbacks from using the product. It’s quite clear that its ties to Bitdefender Total Security make it more of a supplemental service. If you’re looking for the right VPN, then this ain’t it, sadly.

Yes, it’s cheap, secure, and even easy to use, but it’s also slow, lacks a lot of essential features, and it’s powered by a different VPN that has a shady history. Furthermore, it’s not a standalone app, you’re buying something else alongside it.

My advice? Save up for a more high-quality VPN service like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, or Private Internet Access. If you can’t afford those, then know that there are a lot more VPN providers that are better than Bitdefender VPN in almost every way.

P.S. I’m always interested in hearing your own opinions on the product. If you are or have used AVG Secure VPN, then leave a review! Let us know how your experienced differed.

Add your own review:

Byron 10/10

VPN

I've been using Bitdefender forever and it's simply the best. The above article by Rob Mardisalu was very very good, except for the customer support segment on BD. I've had a few occasions over many years to speak with BD support and 95% of the time, I spoke to a live customer support agent within 5 minutes, no shit. I have never tried the online support, but I agree that the email support sucks. But why email when you can speak live in 5 minutes? That's why I prefer speaking with BD on the phone. Even if it's just to ask a question, like the other day, to ask about the new 2020 version of BD. I was speaking to an agent within 3 minutes.

When their VPN came out, I looked into it but, again, in contrast to Rob Mardisalu, I found IP leaks for the duration of their free trial. I told them and they told me that they would correct it. I never checked back and they never emailed back to tell me what they did, but the original price of $50.00 ish was too much. Way too much compared to PIA & NORD. I sort of disagree with Rob Mardisalu on PIA for a VPN. It was my first step into VPN's and it was really really good until I knew more about VPN's. My reason for switching to NORD was twofold. PIA stopped their live chat support, and that's just HUGE when you need an answer at 3:00 a.m. and PIA dropped their 24/7 chat support. I don't know what PIA does for chat. To me, customer support is priority 1. If PIA had 24/7/365 chat support as NORD does, I would probably still be with PIA. I'd rather pay a couple of bucks more for customer support. It's that important to me. The 2nd issued is that PIA's 'kill switch' was not to my liking, if I remember. I think that PIA's kill switch had something to do with rearranging settings in my Windows settings. That turned me off. The reason I chose NORD was everything that they offer is better than any other VPN. It's probably the cheapest, like I renewed for 3 yrs, at less than $2.50 per. PIA was also good in pricing, but the other big VPN's are out of this world in price, in the $10-12/month range. That's a killer for 36 months. Some of the other biggies have privacy issues, like logging. The other important aspect of NORD is their 'kill switch'. I just go into settings and instruct NORD on what program to use for my 'kill switch'. I have the options of anything on my computer. I believe that, at the time, PIA was just 'kill' or not. No options as to programs, like P2P. I have my 'kill switch' set for Qbittorrent and it's perfect. Zero worries. Sorry for getting carried away, but I thought that I would share some information that I hope somebody finds useful.

Bill 5/10

Multiple issues

So far it's been fairly useless as a VPN since it always fails to connect when using a public hotspot. It works at home on my secure network and fails pretty well everywhere else.

Another problem, iCloud SMTP servers don't like it and shut down my outgoing email for hours until iCloud's lockout drops.

Advertiser Disclosure

BitDefender is, easily, the best antivirus of the year. It has perfect protection and performance scores, and offers a free VPN. It’s a winner.

Refund Policy: 30 days
Customer Support: 24/7 Free
Protected Devices: 1 – 5
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS and Smart Home

The Good

• The best protection from malware: BitDefender has perfect scores in the protection tests by the independent test labs.
• BitDefender does not slow down your devices: BitDefender is the only antivirus with perfect performance scores in all tests.
• Very complete features: Including a free VPN, anti-ransomware, password manager, parental controls, webcam protection, and more.
• Excellent user reviews: Users rate BitDefender as one of the best and most user-friendly antivirus available.
• Excellent price and deep discount: BitDefender temporarily features a deep discount, making it one of the best deals online.

The Bad

• Limited free VPN: The free VPN has a 200mb daily limit. This is enough to shop and bank securely, but not to stream movies.

Have you seen the latest discounts at BitDefender?

BitDefender Total Security 2020: Full Review

Below you can find our test methods, full review, and data sources

BitDefender Total Security 2020

BitDefender is one of the most popular names in the world of online and malware protection. It’s been around since the early 2000s and had around 500 million active users around the world in 2018.

The company’s most popular product is the complete protection suite – BitDefender Total Security – which encompasses both online and offline protection. At the moment of this writing, the 2019 edition is still active, though the company has already rolled out the 2020 version.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the BitDefender Total Security 2020 suite. We’ll check out the new stuff, as well as the standard features that have been ported over from the earlier versions.

BitDefender 2019

The 2019 version of BitDefender Total Security can be installed on all major operating systems, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. You can also install it on desktops and laptops running popular Linux distributions, such as Ubuntu.

The Windows version, for example, offers a wide range of tools and features. Some of the most prominent include antivirus, online banking protection, password management system, various optimization tools, powerful firewall, and many others. The list also includes blocking of malicious and risky websites, spam filtering, and parental control tools. On top of all that, BitDefender Total Security 2019 also offers a basic VPN service.

Despite being slightly less powerful, versions made for other platforms still offer an enviable level of all-round protection. Let’s take the Android version as an example. It features malicious website filtering, a tool for locking various apps installed on the device, and an anti-theft system, to name a few. What’s more, you can monitor your BitDefender-protected Android smartphone or tablet form another device via built-in parental controls.

BitDefender 2020: What’s New in the 2020 Version?

Let’s take a closer look at what the 2020 version brings to the table. One of the biggest novelties is the upgraded VPN service that’s now powered by Hotspot Shield. The free version of the app is included in the bundle and, though strong and fast, it’s very limited in terms of bandwidth.

The basic free package comes with a daily limit set at 200MB. This means that your monthly data cap is around 6GB. While it might be enough for some light browsing and checking email, serious streaming is firmly out of the question.

You can also opt to upgrade to Premium VPN. This will cost you $39.99 a year, which is around $3 a month. There is no data cap and you can install it on five devices of your choice. If you opt to purchase the Premium license from Hotspot Shield, it will cost you $71.88 a year, which comes down to $5.99 a month.

Bitdefender For Mac Review 2019

The new 2020 suite is also packed with an anti-tracker tool. However, this neat feature is only available in macOS and Windows versions, while iOS and Android users will have to wait for future versions. The anti-tracker extension prevents websites from following you around the web and helps you keep as much privacy as possible.

On top of that, it might even improve your browser’s average page loading times. What’s really cool about it is that it’s completely transparent. The extension shows every tracker it has blocked, as well as its type and loading time.

Windows users will also get the Microphone Monitor tool with the 2020 edition of BitDefender Total Security suite. As its name might suggest, Microphone Monitor can alert you whenever an app tries to access and use your laptop’s microphone, but it can’t block the said apps. Though strictly a monitor tool, it is a nice addition to the already impressive roster of tools, extensions, and features.

The iOS version is upgraded with the Web Shield tool. This mighty tool can protect you when surfing the web and prevent you from accessing potentially dangerous sites. This includes sites known for malware, as well as phishing.

Not just browsing, the new Web Shield will provide protection across all of your network activities. For example, it if you mistakenly tap on a suspicious link in a document on your iPhone, BitDefender Total Security 2020 will protect you. The same goes for situations where an app installed on your device tries to open a fishy URL in your browser.

Pricing

BitDefender Total Security 2020 can be downloaded for free and comes with a generous 30-day free trial. However, to access the free trial, you’ll have to register a free account at BitDefender’s site. The only piece of information the site asks you to provide for the free account is the email address.

At the end of the trial period, you’ll have a choice between six billing plans. You can purchase a one-year, two-year, or a three-year license, depending on your security needs. You can also choose between a five-device and a ten-device license.

The most basic option – a one-year license for five devices – will cost you $49.99 during the first year. If you opt for a 10-device license, you’ll be charged an additional $5, bringing the total bill to $54.99. According to the BitDefender’s official site, the discount is 44% and 45% respectively.

A two-year license for five devices will set you back $104.99. The same license for five additional devices will cost you $14 more. Two-year licenses come with a uniform 30% discount.

Finally, a three-year license for five devices costs $139.99 while its 10-device counterpart will set you back $160.99. The discount is 30% in both cases.

It should be noted that the prices stated above were taken from the official BitDefender site at the moment of this article was originally written. They might change over time, so be sure to check before deciding to purchase.

Optionally, you can choose to skip the free trial and purchase BitDefender with a big discount using the links on this site.

How to Set Up BitDefender 2020

When you create your free account on the site and download the free trial version, you will be able to monitor your device’s status through the site’s web console. This is the biggest of several perks of the free account.

Have in mind that when you launch the installation file for BitDefender Total Security 2020, the installation wizard will scan your device for the presence of other antivirus suites. If it finds any, you will be prompted to remove the old suite before proceeding with the installation of BitDefender. The BitDefender suite is not compatible with those by other manufacturers.

When the installation ends, BitDefender Total Security 2020 will boot up. The first thing you will see is the suite’s Dashboard. It is elegant and well-designed. The window is divided into two sections – the main area that takes up the center and right portions and the main menu that’s positioned along the left edge.

For those new to antivirus suites, there is a short and informative tour. Tooltips that pop up whenever you hover over an option or a tab are also a nice touch. That being said, experienced users, especially those that have used previous versions of BitDefender, won’t have a problem navigating the suite.

At the top of the Dashboard section, there are tips and recommendations from BitDefender on how you can improve your security and use the suite’s tools and features to the maximum. You might also get recommendations to install additional bits of software.

The Quick Scan and System Scan buttons occupy the center of the window. The two are pretty self-explanatory, providing a quick and thorough scan of your device, respectively. These two are the most commonly used features, hence their position at the center of the dashboard.

The Total Security counter, Safe Files, and Web Protection buttons complete the Dashboard, occupying the bottom third. Total Security shows how many days you have until the license expires, the Safe Files section protects your important files, and you can use the Web Protection section to install browser extensions.

The menu on the left is topped with the safety status shield. If it’s green and has a checkmark over it, your device is safe and every major aspect is working well. Below it are the main sections of the menu. Apart from the mentioned Dashboard, these include Protection, Privacy, and Notifications. At the bottom of the menu section, you will find the My Account, Preferences, and Help sections.

It is good to mention that each user can customize the look of BitDefender Total Security Dashboard. If there are features you’re not interested in, let’s say VPN, you can remove it and place another tool or feature in its place.

Features: Antivirus

Bitdefender For Mac Reviews

The main component of the BitDefender Total Security 2020 suite is, of course, the antivirus. It is the most advanced antivirus featured in a BitDefender suite up to date and it offers several types of virus scanning. It also offers various other options that can help you eliminate threats on the go.

First, there’s the Quick Scan option which can perform a quick checkup of your system at any given moment. Though not as thorough or time consuming as System Scan, it can pretty much weed out all common and lighter threats to your system. If your hard drive or mobile storage isn’t stuffed with data, the scan might even take less than a minute to complete.

The System Scan option will scan your entire system in-depth. It takes some time to perform the first scan, but the more often you use it, the faster it will become. Depending on the size of your storage and the amount of data on it, the scan will take longer or shorter.

BitDefender also integrates with the file explorer on your desktop or laptop computer. This means that you can run impromptu scans of files and folders from the file explorer’s context menu without firing up the entire suite.

Similar to many other top-grade security suites, BitDefender Total Security 2020 allows its users to schedule scans. You can schedule them as often as you deem fit and you can choose between various scan types. Additionally, you can create your custom scan types if need be. You can access this function through the Manage Scans feature.

What’s really great about BitDefender’s antivirus is that it can run several scans in parallel. For example, if you’re in the middle of a system scan and you want to check up on the latest files you downloaded, you can initiate a quick scan of the file or the folder from the context menu. When the second scan finishes, you will get a summary for it while the system scan is still active in the background.

If you have password-protected files on your system, BitDefender will prompt you for each every time it runs into them during a scan. You’ll have to click the Skip button for every file every time. However, BitDefender does allow you to exempt some files from being scanned.

Other Features

BitDefender Total Security 2020 is a full-fledged security suite, and it’s bundled with a bunch of other useful features and tools. In the following paragraphs, we’ll examine some of the most prominent additional features.

Anti-Tracker

The Anti-Tracker built into the 2020 version of the BitDefender Total Security is one of the suite’s highlights. With it, you can get detailed reports on what trackers were blocked and on which site. You’ll know the exact number of social media, site analytics, advertising, and all other trackers blocked.

To enable Anti-Tracker, you’ll need to install the browser extension. You can do so from the suite’s main menu. You can also program the extension to allow some type of trackers or even allow all types from certain websites. However, most users opt to leave the extension fully on.

Spam Filter

The 2020 edition is also armed with a simple, yet effective spam filter. On Windows, this filter is automatically added to Outlook in the form of a new tab. If the automatic addition fails and Outlook crashes as a result, you can always enable the filter manually.

In terms of features, the filter offers little more than the Outlook’s default anti-spam features. Of course, you’ll be able to blacklist and whitelist emails from certain senders. The “Not Spam” and “Is Spam” tags for emails are also there, as is the option to block all emails containing letters in non-Latin scripts – Cyrillic and Asian, for example.

Safepay

Safepay is one of the highlights of this high-performance suite, as well. It is a separate browser, isolated from your standard one that enables you to perform online transaction without the fear that your credit card info and other sensitive data might get stolen. It can also protect your data and transactions from any piece of malware that may have found its way into your system.

Safepay successfully deals with all kinds of keyloggers and screengrabber apps, as well. Finally, when the transaction is done and you close Safepay, there are no traces left behind.

Parental Controls

BitDefender Total Security 2020 offers a robust Parental Control tool. It is powerful, effective, and gives a bit more than what’s usually considered a capable Parental Control app.

However, to unlock all of its features and potential, you have the option to switch to Parental Control Premium. With the Premium version, you’ll get comprehensive cyber-bullying protection. It can also detect grooming and aggressiveness. Finally, the Premium version is able to recognize when someone’s asking your kid for their phone number and address.

Wallet

Wallet is the place where BitDefender Total Security 2020 stores your sensitive data. Along with the usual suspects – login details from various websites and social platforms – you will also find your credit card info, Wi-Fi network password, app login details, and your personal info inside the Wallet.

What’s great about it is that BitDefender can create multiple instances of the Wallet feature and sync them on all devices covered by your license. Most commonly, BitDefender will install the Wallet feature on the platform’s default browser – Safari on macOS and IE on Windows. You might also opt to install on a selection of other supported browsers.

Firewall

BitDefender has brought their Firewall feature to perfection in previous editions and the version included in the 2020 edition of the Total Security suite is no different. It works seamlessly in the background and is very good at deciding which programs and apps can go online and which can’t.

The vast majority of BitDefender Total Safety users can just leave it on with the default settings. Of course, you can tweak them, like pretty much all settings within the suite to suit your preferences and needs.

Utilities

Similar to many other antivirus and anti-malware suites, BitDefender Total Security also offers a set of utility tools and features. These can help you cut down on the startup time of your computer and clean out junk files.

These tools can also help you with the general maintenance of your device, optimizing its performance and battery use (if it’s a laptop or mobile device). The Utilities section, though not as comprehensive as in some other suites, is very good at keeping your device(s) in good shape.

Webcam Protection

When it comes to webcam security and access, laptops and mobile devices are particularly vulnerable. That’s where BitDefender’s Webcam Protection feature comes in. This neat tool allows users to manually allow and deny individual apps installed on their system access to the camera.

The list of options is unusually long, allowing you to block all apps from accessing the cam, installed browsers, or even a set of applications. Whenever a blocked application tries to connect to the device’s camera, BitDefender Total Security 2020 will notify you.

Cleanup

You also get a basic set of cleanup options and tools with BitDefender Total Security 2020. CCleaner is the official name of the cleanup tool and it allows you to choose which apps can load on system startup, which are delayed, and which are disabled.

Additionally, CCleaner has excellent options for controlling scheduled tasks, services, and other processes on your system.

Vulnerability Scan

Vulnerability scan is there to check your network for weaknesses and deficiencies. You can run it on-demand or schedule it, similar to other scan types. This scan will check your home Wi-Fi network and its password. If it’s weak, the scanner will suggest you to change it.

There is also a Wi-Fi Security Advisor tool that can teach the uninitiated on the intricacies of Wi-Fi networks, passwords, encryption types, and other related topics. It can also scan all existing Wi-Fi connections in your home and tell you whether they’re safe or not.

Final Words

BitDefender Total Safety 2020 is a behemoth of a security suite and offers a huge range of useful features. These range from the top-notch antivirus to various online and offline safety tools. Other than that, Total Safety 2020 can help you optimize your computer’s performance, manage sensitive data, and keep your home network safe.

Tibor Moes

Bitdefender Free Download

Technology Analyst

Tech enthusiast and founder of SoftwareLab. He has degrees in Engineering and Business, and has been active in the analysis of software, electronics and digital services since 2013.

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Data Sources

Below you can find all the sources we have used in our analysis

Best Antivirus For Mac Os X

AV-Test:

https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/july-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/may-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/march-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/january-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/november-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/september-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/july-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/may-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/march-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/january-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/november-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/september-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/july-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/may-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/march-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/january-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-macos/macos-mojave/june-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-macos/macos-high-sierra/december-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-macos/macos-high-sierra/june-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-macos/macos-sierra/december-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-macos/macos-sierra/june-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/august-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/june-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/april-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/february-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/december-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/october-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/june-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/april-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/december-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/october-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/june-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/april-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-macos/macos-mojave/june-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-macos/macos-high-sierra/december-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-macos/macos-high-sierra/june-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-macos/macos-sierra/december-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/june-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/april-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/february-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/december-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/october-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/august-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/june-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/april-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/february-2018/

AV-Comparatives:

https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/mobile-security-review-2019/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/mobile-security-review-2018/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/mobile-security-review-2017/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/mac-security-test-review-2019/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/mac-security-test-review-2018/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/mac-security-test-review-2017/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/performance-test-april-2019/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/performance-test-october-2018/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/performance-test-april-2018/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/performance-test-october-2017/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/real-world-protection-test-february-may-2019/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/real-world-protection-test-july-november-2018/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/real-world-protection-test-october-2018-factsheet/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/real-world-protection-test-february-june-2018/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/real-world-protection-test-july-november-2017/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/malware-protection-test-march-2019/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/malware-protection-test-september-2018/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/malware-protection-test-march-2018/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/malware-protection-test-september-2017/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/business-security-test-2019-march-june/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/business-security-test-march-april-2019-factsheet/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/business-security-test-2018-august-november/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/business-security-test-2018-march-june/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/malware-removal-test-2018/

TrustPilot:

https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.bitdefender.com
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.bitdefender.de
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/bitdefenderofficial.com
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.norton.com
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/dk.norton.com
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.mcafee.com
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/pandasecurity.com/france
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/pandasecurity.com/germany
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/pandasecurity.com/netherlands
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.pandasecurity.com
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/pandasecurity.com/spain
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.bullguard.com

Google Play:

Bitdefender Total Security 2018 For Mac Review

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitdefender.security
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.symantec.mobilesecurity
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wsandroid.suite
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.avast.android.mobilesecurity
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pandasecurity.pandaav
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bullguard.mobile.mobilesecurity

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