BitDefender Internet Security 2009 Review: Security Suite by Multi-Awarded Security Company

BitDefender is offering home and business security products that has been certified and awarded by several reviewers and antivirus testing labs. On this review, we will discuss one of their security solution: BitDefender Internet Security 2009 that includes anti-malware, intrusion protection, parental control and many more.

32 or 64 bit Windows XP with SP2 or better, Windows Vista with or without SP1, Windows Home Server. 800 MHz or better processor, 300 MB of hard drive space, 1 GB of RAM for Vista, 512 MB of RAM for Home server, and 256 MB is usable on XP, but 512 is recommended.

XP was used to run this review.

• Multi awarded company: Awards
• Family network protection
• 24/7 Support via chat, phone, or email
• Updated hourly
• Anti-virus
• Anti-spam
• Parental control
• Privacy control
• Vulnerability detection
• Messenger encryption
• Gaming mode
• Anti-phishing
• Check for vulnerabilities, missing windows updates, alert if windows update isn't enabled, and check password strength.

The downloaded file from BitDefender is very small: It's a web installer. The set-up file that this downloads when run is 70.6 Mbytes. After the usual operations, a restart is required. Following that, a dialogue appears where you can set the type of network you are on: Private/home or public.

After registration wizard runs, you get to the configuration wizard proper. You can skip it, but will be reminded later. This is done in steps and comprises the following:

• Choose basic or advanced settings - Advanced will give you more control over the applications settings, but requires more experience. You can switch the views at any time should you need to. Advanced also activates a desktop graph display to keep an eye on the applications progress.
• If you have a network setup at home, and BitDefender products feature on the connected machines, this step gives you the option to manage the BitDefender products on the other systems. This allows one machine to be the security Administrator for the whole network.
• Identity protection dialogue - It's like a safe. You can enter password and such things as credit card numbers. All contents of the safe are encrypted.
• Parental control - It acts on a per user basis. So each user needs a windows account.
• Detected threats can be sent to the vendor for analysis, as well as the option to send reports of what could be suspicious system behaviour.
• The program offers scheduled daily scans, and run an initial scan selection.
• Finally, update the application and its files, then run a background scan if you selected that option in the previous step.

Everything is easy to find from the main window by simply clicking one of the large tabs.

Basic settings will give you most day to day stuff, but you also get the advanced mode which goes into great detail that carries things like game list, that holds all the games you use that the suite shouldn't bug you about. This also turns on the activity graph, so you can see what's being done on both a file level, as well as the network. It could give you a clue about activity you might suspect is abnormal. Most welcome to the advanced user.

Startup speed is not a problem, scan speed is top notch

The suite costs $49.95. Very well priced and when you realise what it is you're getting, it's fantastic!

Coming from a second to none name in protection, Bitdefender Internet Security 2009 is light on resources, yet protects all you could need.Give it a whirl!

Be sure to check out our reviews of other leading security solutions including Comodo Internet Security, Norton Internet Security, Kaspersky Internet Security, ESET Smart Security, McAfee Total Protection, Blink Professional and ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite.