Computers can’t sneeze like humans pounding their keyboards mercilessly. But like humans, they can pick up viruses and infections that tear at their insides, potentially wreaking havoc. But while we may feel a little bad for a few days, a computer infected with a virus can lead to the theft of personal information and the extraction of sensitive data from hard drives. These digital infections can be devastating. Us fleshbags can do a variety of things to protect themselves from the flu, colds, and nasty viruses. We can keep ourselves fit and healthy, eat well, and computers can benefit from regular scans and stay away from tricky places. Perhaps the most important thing a person can do is get a flu shot to give them an extra shield. Computers can also do this using security software, such as free antivirus programs, and that’s where BitDefender comes to the rescue.
This is a sponsor I can really get behind because I’ve been using Bitdefender for about 3 years now, trusting it with all kinds of tools and features to protect my clumsy ass. So let’s dive into what this amazing cyber security company has to offer and how it can help keep you and your computer safe as you venture through the many back alleys, dirty dungeons, and dirty streets of the Internet.
The Bitdefender security suite has several different subscription levels, so depending on what you need, there should be a level for you.
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus | Bitdefender Internet Security | Bitdefender Total Security | |
Operating system | windows | windows | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
Maximum number of devices | 3 | 3 | 5 |
Initial cost | $24.99 | $34.99 USD | $39.99 USD |
VPN | X | X | X |
Safe banking | X | X | X |
Protection of social networks | X | X | X |
File shredder | X | X | X |
Game mode | X | X | X |
Vulnerability scanner | X | X | X |
Firewall | X | X | |
Web camera protection | X | X | |
Microphone monitor | X | X | |
Parental control | X | X | |
System optimizer | X |
As you can see from the diagram, Bitdefender is not only designed for Windows. You can run it on your phone and it’s the best Mac antivirus you can buy. You can also get a 30-day trial without having to enter payment information or anything like that. Just sign up and give it a try.
The software is easy to use and all the basic features you need to keep your computer safe are included by default. Sometimes running a security suite in the background can tax your computer’s resources, potentially slowing it down, but Bitdefender has no problem with that. Last year, testing site AV-Comparatives tested 64 antivirus programs, and Bitdefender excelled across the board.
As soon as you run the software for the first time, it starts a full system scan. It might take about an hour to dig through everything, but that doesn’t stop you from doing anything else, so you can always fire up the PC game. After that, a quick scan is scheduled for each day, which checks all the most frequently damaged areas and checks if anything shady has appeared.
You should also run a vulnerability scan, which checks for any privacy issues, settings, and even critical software updates that need to be performed to fix potential flaws.
Of course, all of this means nothing if the software doesn’t actually stop viruses. AV-Tests recently put 16 different security suites to the test, and out of a maximum score of 18, Bitdefender scored 17.5, earning the website’s “Best Product” rating. AV-Comparatives also ran tests that showed Bitdefender stopped 99.84% of all abandoned viruses.
That’s not all, because the security package is also great at blocking suspicious sites. I think we all know how easy it is to stumble upon a dodgy website designed to steal your information, so Bitdefender provides an impressive extra layer of protection. It can detect a malicious site within milliseconds and terminate the connection, telling you that the site you are about to visit may be unsafe.
The package also comes with a whole bunch of useful extras, including a built-in VPN for safer browsing (and streaming shows only available in other countries) and a password tool that can track all your passwords and create new ones.
So don’t let your computer run unprotected on the Internet. Just like a human, your computer won’t show symptoms of a virus or infection until it’s too late, so you need to make sure it’s up and running and protected from the harmful parts of the internet.