Bitdefender Antivirus Plus Reviews

Besides the basic features included in its free version, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus provides multilayered ransomware protection, online banking defense, a VPN, and much more. This antivirus also comes with an improved interface that can be customized, able to contain a great amount of information that is structured very well. The antivirus can be modified by personal preferences, too, allowing for elements like a proxy server or the frequency of updates to be controlled.

Just like its free version, emails can be scanned with alerts popping up if there are any potential threats. Among the numerous features that Antivirus Plus is endowed with, but particularly interesting is how it’ll keep your operating system up-to-date with all the necessary security patches you need. There is a vulnerability scan function that is automated and runs in the background, able to announce whenever there are any missing patches. This function will also let you know if there are any weak passwords and if you are connected to an unsecure Wi-Fi network, giving you the option to connect via its in-built VPN.

It is necessary to give out your email address when using Bitdefender, though this does come with certain advantages, particularly thanks to the ability to view the security status of your device through the Bitdefender web console. The installation process is smooth and rapid, performing an initial very quick scan of your PC and setting up browser extensions. A wide range of scanning options are presented in the “Protection” section to allow you to perform a quick scan or a device scan. Here it’s also possible to manage them manually by adjusting the time frame that you wish for them to take place and the specific areas of your system that you want to be targeted.

There is also the option of choosing between a quick scan and a full system one. The speed of the scan performed on our PCs was one of the fastest we have seen, requiring minimal interaction even though it did place rather heavy load on our systems while it was taking place.

Bitdefender Plus is designed in such a way that it provides automatic updates as part of the subscription, ensuring the newest functionalities are always ready to use, even in the middle of your subscription period. Just like the Free Edition, this antivirus utilizes a technology called behavioral detection, which attentively verifies active apps so that if it detects anything abnormal, it is able to take immediate action to avoid infection.

The antivirus only supports the Windows operating systems, so even if you decide to subscribe for several devices you’re still restricted to exclusively using the suite on Windows. If you do need a multiplatform security solution, then the Bitdefender Total Security upgrade available at $44.99 for a one-year subscription is the choice to go for, which can be utilized from five different devices across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android platforms.

This upgrade also brings with it a host of extras, ranging from webcam defense and firewall functionality to parental control, password-protected file encryption, and even anti-theft protection. There’s also the “OneClick Optimizer” that improves the speed and performance of whichever devices it is used on.

The inclusion of a VPN is probably Bitdefender Plus’s most standout extra. Even though the software suite provides multiple layers of web, network and antivirus protection, your information in transit might still be at risk. This is where this feature comes in, securing your data due to the encryption made possible with VPN technology, ensuring there is absolutely no way that anyone can have access to the network traffic of your PC. This feature is an updated version of the AnchorFree Hotspot Shield Elite VPN service, which properly secures the data despite going through the servers of a third-party company. Not even AnchorFree can study your online traffic since all it receives is an identifier from Bitdefender.

With Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, the VPN includes 200MB of data per day for each system. The premium upgrade of this antivirus, however, unlocks access to all the available VPN servers without any traffic restrictions.

Also, this antivirus automatically starts its Safepay feature when it detects access to any shopping, banking, or related website and creates a safe connection, which is especially important these days when the security of your financial data is a stringent concern. At this point it is possible instruct the software to always utilize this feature for this particular website or to never use it. This works within the special Safepay browser, a protected web browsing environment that enacts various restrictions to block any kind of unwanted snooping, including added helpful extras like a virtual keyboard to stop keylogging, storage of payment details, and even the option to install and use Flash.

The lowest price for Bitdefender Antivirus Plus antivirus is $19.99 per year, which can be used for one device. This means you’ll pay only $1.66 per month for a fantastic product. If you’ll need the suite on multiple PCs, then the cost increases to $34.99 per year for up to three devices, $69.99 yearly for up to five devices, and $79.99 per year for up to ten.

However, if you want to have protection for other types of devices, specifically macOS, iOS or Android, then Bitdefender offers the Total Security upgrade, which costs $44.99 per yearand can be utilized on up to five devices. The company has a 30-day money-back policy while the products can be tested 30 days for free.

Payment methods include credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover, as well as PayPal and bank or wire transfers. For only one device, the one-year subscription of only $19.99 is fair value, but if you’ll need it for multiple devices, then the three-year subscription for $149.99 reduces the cost to an equivalent of only $4.16 each month, which is very cost effective.

The initial approach to support from Bitdefender is through its contact page on the website, where both home and business users can find assistance through an FAQ section, popular how-to videos, as well as direct assistance through telephone, live chat, or forum. The website itself is quite self-explanatory and easy to navigate, with a customer relations service that is available 24/7 via live chat.

For the latest news on the company and its products, there are its Twitter and Facebook channels where support is also available. The staff members that we interacted with via live chat and Facebook were attentive, courteous, and quick to answer during business hours, although the answers we received differed from the ones we got through live chat to those gained through Facebook. Also, we were a bit surprised to find that the employee we dealt with was not aware of the $19.99 offer for the one year, one device subscription that Bitdefender Antivirus Plus details on its website.

The software is installed at a high speed and requires minimal interaction, though it is worth mentioning that there is noticeable slowdown while the scan process was under way and it does require an email address to test it. Despite these minor hiccups, the fact that this stuffed package comes at an extremely reasonable price and the customer service is incredibly quick and courteous only adds to the reasons to consider Bitdefender Plus.