BitDefender introduces the 2010 version of its Internet Security product. How does the latest version compare and measure up to its predecessors and the competition?
Overview
I took a look at BitDefender Internet Security 2010 to see what their latest had to offer. BitDefender's biggest claim of improvement is for more speed. According to BitDefender, the product is 30% faster than the previous year. I did not have the means to test this claim. Improvements in the user interface as well as the anti-virus engine and intrusion detection (IDS) are also present. Parental control features round out the offering's latest incarnation.
Features
Rating 
Internet Security 2010 is Windows 7 ready. This latest version offers three different interfaces, Novice, Intermediate, and Expert to suit different calibers of PC users. There are also profiles available to suit types of users, whether parents or gamers. Parents will also enjoy that they can see what Internet sites children have visited, and that they can set time limits on Internet use. The featured Active Virus Control uses monitoring of certain activities and signs given scores based on those activities to identify virus-like behavior.
Install & Ease of Use
Rating 
Custom Install options included disabling DNS caching and sending virus reports. While I understood what these meant they might have been confusing options for a beginning user. Aside from that, the install was painless. I didn't find the interface to be as intuitive or straightforward as I would have liked, but the program is really aimed at less expert users. Also, I did notice a slowdown in performance that was significant.
Price
Rating
Internet Security 2010 is available as a 3 PC license for 1 year for $49.95. Considering the feature set this is quite a good price to set up the entire family with protection. If you're a parent with one or more children that will have their own computers and want access to the Internet, this may be a good deal for you.
Overall
Rating
BitDefender has a strong feature set in Internet Security 2010, and is aimed squarely at the parental market. I'm not convinced of their claims of low impact for the gamer's system, but your mileage may differ. I found sluggish performance compared with some of the other Internet security products I have tested. The price is excellent though, so for the bargain-conscious parent this might be the choice.