Zonealarm Extreme Security - 3 PCS/1 Year Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've been using ZoneAlarm for years now, but each upgrade makes me more and more nervous as the company appears to be aiming at consumers with less and less technical knowledge. For years ZoneAlarm has been THE BEST firewall, but this type of "dumbing down" trend can only result in an inferior product for the long run. When your product starts using ridiculous packaging, with names like "Extreme Security", I just have to balk at this ridiculous marketing tactic. I expect this type of nonsense with firewalls from McAfee or Norton, but not ZoneAlarm! This will most likely be the last time I upgrade with ZoneAlarm, there are other equally great firewalls gaining popularity, but to be honest I'm still holding out simply because I'm used to this software, and I can be stubborn when it comes to migrating.
First, let's start off with...
The Bad---
My primary complaint is that ZoneAlarm removed the handy cache cleaner, (also known as the privacy feature). ZoneAlarm's makers, Check Point Software, claims it caused problems with the software, but I never had any issues with this feature, ZoneAlarm has always been a very stable program. It was a great feature one could use to quickly and easily remove cookies that don't typically get removed by other programs. ZoneAlarm's answer to this complaint is to use 3rd party software instead. Umm, hello? ZoneAlarm IS 3rd party software! Why would I, (or should I), install another program just for this one feature? This makes no sense on ZoneAlarm's part, and claiming it needed to be removed because of compatibility issues is really an insult to my, (and others), intelligence.
I don't see how a simple cache cleaner can cause problems, so maybe instead of removing features Check Point Software should instead remove the idiot coders that couldn't figure out how to keep such a simple and useful tool from interacting negatively with other parts of the software? If the cache cleaner really was causing problems, then logically another 3rd party software could also cause compatibility issues. This really is a lame and pathetic excuse from Check Point Software, and what is worse is that you don't realize the feature has been removed until AFTER you upgrade. The reality is this isn't an upgrade, it's a DOWNGRADE!
The real irritating issue with Check Point Software is that instead of actually having decent customer service people working on their forums for CUSTOMERS looking for help, (such as wtf happened to the privacy controls), they instead have your typical internet moderating douche bags running their forum. These IT rejects aren't the least bit helpful with getting basic questions answered, and will quickly close a topic if it's on an issue Check Point Software doesn't have a good time explaining, such as why they are removing features in so called "upgrades".
Obviously paying CUSTOMERS are annoyed by Check Point for removing this feature, but not letting us complain on their own forums just ads to the insult and disrespect they have for their paying customers. Clearly Check Point Software does not care what their most loyal customers want in their software, so this is why I will most likely not be returning the next time my subscription comes to an expiration. Why even have a web forum if you aren't going to listen to what people have to say about your product, or offer any realistic help when they need it? Check Point might as well save themselves some bandwidth and just remove the web forum completely and hire staffers from India. I might not be able to understand a thing their support says, but I'd probably still get better help than the artards moderating their web forum!Now With The Good---
So if I don't like this software, then why 2 stars and not 1? Well, for one, I'm hoping things change for the better. I'm giving them a chance to improve in future editions. Otherwise I probably should be giving them 1 star because the extra star is really just sheer optimism on my part. The other reason is that despite my complaints, this is still, in my opinion, the best software firewall on the market. I love the Identity protection, it's really nice to be able to block your e-mail from being spammed out when you don't want it! I also really like the amount of control ZoneAlarm allows for each program that can connect online. It's nice to know which programs are attempting to go online, especially when I'm not using them! And even though the packaging seems to be targeting a dumber and dumber audience with each new variation, the software has still stayed relatively the same powerful firewall that has made it such a great firewall for so many years.
What makes it so great is not just the amount of control ZoneAlarm gives you, but that it does it without being bloated like so many other Security software suites out there. The anti-virus does not slug your system down like so many other anti-virus programs do, but yet still provides adequate protection. Their anti-spam rarely catches anything, so I'm not sure how useful it is, and the same could probably be said for the anti-virus. Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware seem to be much better in the anti-spam department, but since it uses virtually no resources a little redundancy is never a bad thing, right? Then again, you are paying for this, whereas Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware are both free...but I digress...
Conclusion---
As I mentioned earlier, I can be a bit stubborn. I've been using ZoneAlarm for so many years that I'm really reluctant to change, but I'm afraid I'll have to. It's only a matter of time before ZoneAlarm becomes as bloated and useless as McAfee or Norton, and with other popular suites coming around I'm sure there will be something I can feel comfortable moving towards when this subscription comes to an end. I tried AVG, not bad, but I feel it could use some improvements before I make a commitment. The point I'd like to make is that there are other great firewall/security suites out on the market right now, and considering Check Point Software's lack of respect for their own customers wants and wishes, and the dumbing down trend they appear to be on, I'd recommend trying other firewalls/security suites first.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Zonealarm Extreme Security - 3 PCS/1 Year

It's so powerful, that even new Internet threats that get by other PC security are detected and blocked - BEFORE they can cause damage to your computer, photos, music, your bank accounts, tax returns and personal identity. Can be used on up to 3 PCs for 1 year.

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Bitdefender Antivirus 2010 -3 Pc/1 Yr Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I installed and tried Bit Defender on my laptop, which has previously used Kaspersky internet protection and McAfee.
The program installed easily on my computer, without incident. I found Bit Defender to have a decent-looking interface that is difficult to use. Under the guise of targeting their product to different levels of users (novice/intermediate/expert), they have supposedly made things less complicated, but what that really means is that, at the lower two levels, one is stuck with automated options that cannot be changed without switching to expert mode, and believe me, some of these things are quite irritating.
I found several things troubling about the protection aspect of this software: the first being that at various times, particularly after rebooting, Windows informed me that I had no virus software turned on. I had to manually request it to turn on. And at least two times, for no apparent reason, I received the alert that Bit Defender had turned itself off to perform an update, leaving my computer vulnerable for this period of time. It happened while I was writing this review, and managed to turn itself back on within a minute or so. There was no pop up about this, either: I just happened to be looking at the "dashboard" at that time. The first time this happened to me, I manually restarted the program. This is most unsatisfactory.
This is part of a troubling pattern where the program rarely alerts the user to what is going on. Everything is running in the background -- even many problems. The program just quietly notes them and keeps them to itself. One finds them only by going to the Bit Defender Dashboard to check.
The other option is somewhat incomprehensible pop-ups. I had a problem for several days where I continuously had a pop up that updates could not be performed because the system scan was running. I had no idea what it was talking about. Finally I went to Bit Defender, and it informed me that there was a critical problem that the program had not updated itself in 2 days. It seems that this program spends an inordinate amount of time, at least with the program defaults, conducting deep system scans, which slow down one's computer and render the program unable to update itself, unless you tweak this setting yourself in the expert control setting. These deep system scans take between 2 and 3 hours on my computer and are performed constantly. I honestly have no idea why it needs to perform so many system scans to make sure no virus has gotten through the cracks.
Also, all problems are of equal weight. Don't have the program turned on? Don't have the latest Firefox update? Don't have the latest change to the Windows User Pack? Haven't updated the virus definitions in 10 days? Your system password is not strong? These are all CRITICAL issues, according to Bit Defender, but in reality, I think it's misleading. I don't think the lack of "non-critical Microsoft updates" (which included a picture and video file sharing program) should count as a critical issue affecting the status of an antivirus program.
And how does one know there is an security problem? The program does not go out of its way to alert you. There are no pop ups. There are no alerts. Nothing flashes. Nothing beeps. Instead, one has to go into the program to check on things. I have been unsettled at how many times I have been informed that, for example, no updates have been performed for 5 days -- simply because all updates are canceled if the window for the system scan is open (which is not visible on the taskbar, but only in the small icons in the lower right portion of the screen). Remember, the urgent alerts include both obsolete virus definitions AND not having downloaded some optional multimedia sharing program. Basically, the user assumes all is working well, but it's not; only by seeking out information does one happen to realize the computer may be vulnerable. This is a giant flaw, and it occurs when the program is off and when the system is out of date. This is so whether one is an expert user or a novice.
I did not like that it installed an Anti-Phishing toolbar on IE without consulting me. No toolbar was installed on Firefox.
And an oddity -- after registration, I realized (although I never specified my country of residence), the company had assigned me the country of Senegal. Reading others' reviews it seems that this is common.
So, although this program works for 3 PCs, I am honestly not sure I will install it on any other computers. I have found it to not affect system performance in some aspects -- my computer starts up quickly and doesn't freeze during updates as it occasionally did when using McAfee -- but virtually continuous system scanning and a program that does not really communicate its status in keeping my computer protected from viruses, shows a troubling deficiency in its most important feature.
UPDATE after 2 weeks of using it: It turned automatic updates off, and my computer is not able to obtain any virus definition updates (the updates screen is grayed out and says updates are not available). While awaiting a response from Bit Defender's tech support, I discovered that (judging from their user forum) that this is a very common problem. Tech support advised me to uninstall and then reinstall the product. I decided to uninstall it only.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Bitdefender Antivirus 2010 -3 Pc/1 Yr

BitDefender Antivirus 2010 provides 3 PCs with one year of protection against viruses, spyware, and identity theft without slowing them down. It features: IM Encryption, for confidential chatting; Gamer Mode, for secure gaming at top speed; Laptop Mode, for prolonged battery life; automatic hourly updates; home network management; and more.


Maximum Security, Maximum Speed
Securely download music, movies, and files from the Web, friends, and family.
Scans and removes viruses and spyware
New--Advanced protection that continually monitors your system to catch threats that lay dormant, before they attack
Scans all Web, e-mail and instant messaging traffic in real-time
Proactively protects against new virus outbreaks using advanced heuristics

Protect your identity: shop, bank, listen, and watch, privately and securely.
Stops attempted identity theft (phishing)
Prevents personal information from leaking via e-mail, Web or Instant Messaging
Blocks concealed programs that track your online activities

Security that won't slow down your PC.
New--Scans 60% faster than even last year's lightning-fast edition.
Uses minimal system resources
Laptop Mode prolongs battery life

Guard your conversations with top-of-the-line encryption.
Instant Messaging Encryption (Yahoo! and MSN Messenger)

Gamer Mode.
Reduces the system load and postpones scans/updates, allowing for secure gaming at top speed

Be in control, stay in control.
Manages the security of your entire home network from one PC
Use the dashboard to fix security issues with just one click
Automatically decides best security actions to take

Designed for ease of use.
New--User Profiles (Standard, Parent, Gamer, Custom)--set up your security to best match your computing activities
New--See only what you need! Select from Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced views


New and Improved in BitDefender 2010
More Protection Many of today's stealth viruses are designed to avoid antivirus detection by initially laying dormant only to attack your PC when it is most vulnerable. BitDefender 2010 features a cutting-edge security system, Active Virus Control, which constantly monitors all of the processes on your PC, 24/7, blocking any malicious behavior before it can cause any damage.
More Speed The abundance of new viruses calls for faster ways to detect them. BitDefender's Optimized Scanning avoids the scanning of files that are known to be safe. The result? BitDefender 2010 scans your PC in half the time needed by previous versions, while using less resources.
Easier to Use Whether you're a security expert or a novice, with the new BitDefenderUser Profiles you can easily manage your PC's security. The product interface adapts to the chosen profile and provides quick access to the main security functionalities you are most likely to need (Parental Controls for parents, or Gamer Mode for gamers). BitDefender 2010 also features three dashboard views--Novice, Intermediate, and Expert--to better accommodate users with different levels of PC knowledge.
Improved Intrusion Detection BitDefender detects and blocks attempts to change critical system files or registry entries on your PC and warns you about attacks performed by code injection (DLL injection).
Improved In-Product Technical Support You can get answers to the most common product-related questions or contact technical support directly from the product using its easy-to-use self-service module.

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Bitdefender Internet Security 2010 - 1-PC/1-Year Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this software to replace kaspersky just after getting a windows 7 laptop. At the time kaspersky was not windows 7 ready and Bitdefender was. All lab reports on Bitdefenders were good and it seemed to have a very good feature set. AV lab tests also showed that it was in the top 5 results at the time.
I wish I would have gone another route.
This was a 'license' for 3 PCs. As such I installed it on 2 windows 7 laptops and a Windows XP Media Center 2005 desktop.
It does seem to have a good feature set but it is not reliable. The software when it's working seems good but it keeps shutting down or crashing. The icon in the notification tray will turn grey at random, will give an error that it is not responding forcing the PC to need to be rebooted in order to get it back up and running. This happens constantly on one of my windows 7 laptops and on the xp machine. Also getting this error constantly "vsserv.exe has caused an error and needs to shut down".
I have opened over 5 tickets with Bitdefender support which has been way below standard. The first ticket was closed by them after providing a solution of "run the update"? I was not impressed as another ticket I opened was that the AV definition files would not update. The update would fail to contact the server and the PC would have to be rebooted to make a connection, despite my having a working high speed connection. It would usually be days after before I would notice that it hadn't updated. So for several days my PC would be running out of date Anti Virus definitions.
This added with the constant crashes left my computer vulnerable. If the AV isn't running, or it isn't up to date, how can you trust that your PC is secure?
This was happening on all 3 machines. I'm assuming that there is another piece of software on these machines that may be in conflict with Bitdefender. Unknown at this point as their tech support was unable to resolve. Complete uninstall and reinstall of Bitdefender did not resolve the issue. Unsure if the install bits I have are corrupt or not. The install provided by Bitdefender was over an internet connection. They did not provide me with a hard copy (DVD) of the install bits and the downloaded version of the new install file from Bitdefender had the same result.
Working with their support was a lost cause and after a few months of this nonsense I asked them for a refund.
Their response was "NO". Even though you don't purchase software you license it (2 yr license in my case). Their reply was that after 30 days of purchase no refunds. So I'm paying for a 2 year license I'm not able to use.
After several emails to their customer service in regards to the issue. Advising I know longer trusted this application to protect my pc they still refused to give a refund. I received (2) phone calls from their tech support wanting to troubleshoot further. Was bad enough that it had been months into this at this point, and the software wasn't working, but the tech support who was calling had English so bad I had difficulty understanding them.
Their final solution given was to have me format my (3) three computers so as to get their software to work. This was not an option.
I have been working in IT for several years and hold over 15 industry certifications in the field. In all my experience in dealing with buggy software this has to be the absolute worse in terms of dealing with the software and its customer service.
I would not recommend this software to anyone. Not just because of my technical issue but because of how their customer service and tech support were unwilling to refund my money when they failed to resolve the issue. Reformatting one of the PCs may have been a viable troubleshooting step to try and narrow down what was causing the issue, but a customer should be able to say no at this point if they choose to and get a refund. There has to be a deciding line as to when enough is enough, and how much one should have to work to get something to function as it should. Their are certain expectations every customer has when they make a purchase from a software vendor. Not only to the quality the software, but the support expected from its vendor as well.
If there was a minus star I would have given one. Seems to be a good program when it's running but its not reliable. Tech support and customer service way below standard.
I've since installed another AV/Firewall solution and low and behold. It does not crash. Go figure.
I've still received no refund or further correspondences from BitDefender


Click Here to see more reviews about: Bitdefender Internet Security 2010 - 1-PC/1-Year

Internet Security 2010 Standard Edition 1 PC/ 1 Year includes Antivirus, Antispyware, Antiphising, Antispam, Firewall, Laptop Mode, Parental Control, Hourly Updates, IM Encryption, Network Management, Windows 7.0 compatible

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Bitdefender Internet Security 2009 2Yr/3Pc Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Years ago, Bitdefender was a good product, a very streamlined product that utilized a small amount of your system resources. Now it's just a memory hogging piece of bloatware. As some others have stated, several files need to be downloaded during installation, with little indication of its progress in terms of completion. If you need assistance, you can forget about tech support. If you call, and are fortunate to speak with someone, they are unable to assist you. If you e-mail, you're lucky if you get a response. Unless you enjoy headaches and a slow computer, this product is best avoided.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Bitdefender Internet Security 2009 2Yr/3Pc

The Industry?s Best Value! BitDefender Internet Security 2009 provides 3 PCs 2 full years of protection against viruses hackers spam and identity theft? without slowing them down! Features include: Firewall; IM Encryption to keep communications private; File Vault to ensure your files remain safe; Gamer Mode and more!Small Box

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Webroot Internet Security Essentials Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have gradually migrated all my PCs to Webroots Internet Security Essentials after much frustration with Norton (have used Norton since 1982)and McAfee and MS Defender. I liked that Webroot found spyware in my archived hard drive files that other programs had scanned and missed. And Webroot pipes up when it blocks something, which others may block without letting you know and then you have a non-responding program with no obvious cause. You do have to install it right for it to work without too many problems however. I also agree Webroot support hasnt been very responsive when I had problems I had to noodle out myself. As for the reviews posted; you can check the tick box so it logs into the backup accont automatically, and you can configure the priority Webroot has over CPU time. The default is "high" and you can set it down. I also have scheduled cleanups, sweeps and backups in the middle of the night so there is no competition. You must use the training feature and then review what programs it has added to the allowed list. I found that Webroot will not peacefully coexist with other spyware as they keep wrestling for control of programs so choose one or the other. And whent that happens you may loose internet access or email suddenly. So use it wisely or your guard dog will bite you as well as intruders. I also found its cheaper to buy new 3 user packs each year than pay the subscription renewal.

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With Webroot Internet Security Essentials, you can keep your PC protected without sacrificing speed. It loads and protects faster, requires less disk space, and doesn't create confusion with an overload of unnecessary features. An easy, intuitive dashboard lets you monitor your security and take the appropriate action to stay protected.


Essential Protection and Better Performance
Webroot Internet Security Essentials offers high performance protection for your PCs and personal files. Its extensive, industry-leading capabilities make it the ultimate value in online security and include:

Award-winning antispyware, antivirus and firewall technologies--including the same antispyware protection found in Webroot Spy Sweeper.
Automatic online and local backup to ensure your valuable electronic files--including photos, documents and more--are safe from loss or theft.
System cleanup capabilities to protect your privacy and improve PC performance.
Streamlined design and an easy-to-use interface result in better performance, faster operation and effortless protection.
Free customer service and free software/security updates for 1 year.


10 reasons to choose Webroot Internet Security Essentials
1. Triple protection with antispyware, antivirus and firewall security Powered by top-rated antispyware and antivirus technologies, Webroot Internet Security Essentials delivers complete and proactive protection against threats like spyware, viruses, adware, Trojans, keyloggers, worms and rootkits. Smart two-way firewall minimizes false alerts, stands guard against unwelcome intrusions and makes your PC invisible to hackers.
2. More than 50 awards for superior security against online threats Webroot Spy Sweeper, the antispyware technology behind Webroot Internet Security Essentials, has won dozens of awards for security excellence from publications such as PC Magazine, Top Ten Reviews, PC World, PC Pro, PC Advisor, Top Choice Reviews, Bright Hub and more. And its antivirus technology has received 44 Virus Bulletin (VB100) certifications, placing it at the top of the industry.
3. Online and local backup keeps your valuable files safe Webroot Internet Security Essentials makes it simple to schedule regular online backups of your valuable electronic files--including up to 2 GB of photos, documents and more--and to back up less critical files locally. Because backups are automatic, you won't have to lift a finger to keep your important data protected from loss or theft.
4. Disk cleanup for enhanced privacy and PC performance Normal online activity leaves behind large volumes of unnecessary files that can slow your PC and compromise your privacy. Webroot Internet Security Essentials removes these traces of Internet and program activity and cleans your hard drive for faster PC performance and an added level of privacy.
5. Uses fewer system resources for faster computing Webroot Internet Security Essentials ensures you stay fully protected without sacrificing PC speed or performance. That's because it loads and protects faster, requires less disk space and doesn't overload you with unnecessary or superfluous features. Its Gamer Mode also lets you play games or watch movies without interruption.
6. 24/7 security with Smart Shields, automatic updates and "zero-hour" protection Powerful Smart Shields provide 360 degrees of protection to block, detect and remove threats, and automatic, frequent threat updates ensure you are protected against all known threats. Webroot Internet Security Essentials goes one step beyond with "zero-hour" protection, which identifies and blocks new or unknown threats for which the general public has had zero time to protect itself.
7. Access or share important files with remote file access If you're on the road or forgot a file, you can access your files that have been backed up online via any Web-connected computer. Or, if you would like to share photos, videos or documents with friends, the online backup system allows you to email them a download link so they can view the files you designate while keeping all other files private.
8. Easy-to-use, intuitive interface makes staying protected simple All the technologies included in Webroot Internet Security Essentials are streamlined into one easy-to-navigate interface so you can quickly set preferences and schedule automated scans. It installs quickly and, once up-and-running, operates in the background so you can stay protected and continue computing without interruption.
9. Safer communications with email and instant messaging (IM) monitoring Electronic communications are often a conduit through which malware can infect a PC. Webroot AntiVirus with Spy Sweeper puts an end to such security breaches by monitoring your inbound and outbound emails and IM messages to ensure they have not been "hijacked" by hackers and that any attachments are free of hidden viruses or spyware.
10. Free customer support and software updates for 1 year If you have questions, you can call or email a local customer support team for answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week ... at no additional cost. And all software and threat definition updates are free for one year after purchase.

Product Reviews
PC Live--4 Stars--5/22/2009 The program will do a lot more than simply block dodgy websites and thwart hackers. It can regularly clean the computer of all the temporary files, cookies and browser histories that can bring it grinding to a halt.
PC Pro--2/13/2009 A solid, usable package with online backup to boot. The interface is clean and sensibly laid-out....
Personal Computer World--2/26/2009 An impressive bit of security software and its backup, clean-up and potential for customization make it a strong product. It's also fast and unobtrusive, with little effect on the computer's performance.
PCMag.com--10/23/2008 Excellent malware cleanup. Powerful multilayered malware blocking. Includes 2GB of online backup, with remote restore and file sharing. Cleans up browsing and system usage traces.
WebUser.com--12/18/2008 This security suite contains the same anti-spyware engine as Spy Sweeper, Webroot's best-known software. It also scans for adware, viruses, keyloggers, rootkits, Trojans and other types of malware. Full, quick and custom scans of the PC can be performed and you can right-click a file or folder to check it.

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Bitdefender Internet Security 2010 - 3 Pc/2 Yr Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I looked forward to trying Bitdefender Internet Security 2010 as it was a product that seemed to have a number of decent features. But let's get right to the point: there are better products on the market today worth considering. And with such products as the latest AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition, to name one, it's hard to recommend this one from Bitdefender, unless you're new to computing and just want an easy-to-install product.
I initially installed this product on two computers, an HP Presario notebook running Windows Vista, and on a Sony VAIO running Windows XP Professional. Both computers had all available software updates and Service Packs installed. There were no problems with the installation on either computer other than a number of mildly annoying little pop-ups and reboots, but if you've installed security and anti-virus applications before, then you are probably familiar with this happening.
Getting down to details...
Installation: For the most part, and other than the above noted minor annoyances, the setting up process was smooth, as should be expected with a contemporary package of this type.
Ease of Use: Bitdefender Internet Security 2010 was as good as any of the other "major" anti-virus and security packages on the market today. If you've been looking for an alternative to some of the other security products, then this operates as well as and in some cases even better than some of the higher prices packages.
Functionality/Protection: As one who has dealt with computer security and Internet protection for a number of years, this was the area that mean the most. In each case, the product handled any of the older viruses and isolated Trojan horses that I keep on CD for such testing. Also visited a number of older and newer familiar malware sites, and this Bitdefender application blocked each one.
Conclusion: Bitdefender offers a decent package for those who are looking for a reasonable computer security application at a fair price. The interface is good, as is the overall product, but there may be better choices worthy of consideration, such as the latest AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition (noted above), or Vipre AntiVirus + AntiSpyware, which which this reviewer found to be a superior product overall, and one that I reviewed here some months ago.
In any case, Bitdefender Internet Security 2010 is a reasonably good product and deserves a 4-star rating form this reviewer, but it's just not a stellar product. It would pay to look at all of the recent security offerings, both free and paid for before you make your final choice.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Bitdefender Internet Security 2010 - 3 Pc/2 Yr

The Industry's Best Value! BitDefender Internet Security 2010 provides 3 PCs 2 full years of protection against viruses, hackers, spam, and identity theft, without slowing them down. Includes: Firewall, Parental Control, Instant Messaging Encryption, File Vault (encrypts sensitive files), Laptop Mode (prolongs battery life), Gamer Mode, hourly updates and more.


Maximum Security, Maximum Speed
Securely download music, movies, and files from the Web, friends, and family.
Scans and removes viruses and spyware
New--Advanced protection that continually monitors your system to catch threats that lay dormant, before they attack
Scans all Web, e-mail and instant messaging traffic in real-time
Proactively protects against new virus outbreaks using advanced heuristics

Protect your identity: shop, bank, listen, and watch, privately and securely.
Stops attempted identity theft (phishing)
Prevents personal information from leaking via e-mail, Web or Instant Messaging
File Vault encrypts and stores personal information or sensitive files
Blocks concealed programs that track your online activities

Security that won't slow down your PC.
New--Scans 60% faster than even last year's lightning-fast edition!
Uses minimal system resources
Laptop Mode prolongs battery life

Guard your conversations with top-of-the-line encryption.
Instant Messaging Encryption (Yahoo! and MSN Messenger)

Connect securely to any network at home, in the office, or on the road.
Automatically modifies firewall protection settings to suit location
Wi-Fi monitor helps prevent unauthorized access to your Wi-Fi network

Parental Control.
Blocks access to inappropriate websites and e-mail
Schedules and limits kids' access to Internet and to applications, such as games

Gamer Mode.
Reduces the system load and postpones scans/updates, allowing for secure gaming at top speed

Be in control, stay in control.
Manages the security of your entire home network from one PC
Use the dashboard to fix security issues with just one click
Automatically decides best security actions to take

Designed for ease of use.
New--User Profiles (Standard, Parent, Gamer, Custom)--set up your security to best match your computing activities
New--See only what you need! Select from Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced views


New and Improved in BitDefender 2010
More Protection Many of today's stealth viruses are designed to avoid antivirus detection by initially laying dormant only to attack your PC when it is most vulnerable. BitDefender 2010 features a cutting-edge security system, Active Virus Control, which constantly monitors all of the processes on your PC, 24/7, blocking any malicious behavior before it can cause any damage.
More Speed The abundance of new viruses calls for faster ways to detect them. BitDefender's Optimized Scanning avoids the scanning of files that are known to be safe. The result? BitDefender 2010 scans your PC in half the time needed by previous versions, while using less resources.
Easier to Use Whether you're a security expert or a novice, with the new BitDefenderUser Profiles you can easily manage your PC's security. The product interface adapts to the chosen profile and provides quick access to the main security functionalities you are most likely to need (Parental Controls for parents, or Gamer Mode for gamers). BitDefender 2010 also features three dashboard views--Novice, Intermediate, and Expert--to better accommodate users with different levels of PC knowledge.
Improved Parental Control The Parental Control module features a newly added reporting system allowing parents to view what websites their children visit. Moreover, parents can set specific time intervals in which their children are allowed to access the Internet or use certain applications.
Improved Intrusion Detection BitDefender detects and blocks attempts to change critical system files or registry entries on your PC and warns you about attacks performed by code injection (DLL injection).
Improved In-Product Technical Support You can get answers to the most common product-related questions or contact technical support directly from the product using its easy-to-use self-service module.

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Bitdefender Total Security 2010 - 3Pc/2Yr Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have been using Bit Defender Total Security 2009 for the past year and it has served me well, so I was very eager to try the 2010 edition when it became available. Overall I am happy with the new version and can recommend it but there are some surprises that merit mention.
First, the installation was not smooth. Rather than uninstall the old version I simply popped in the CD and let it go. Bit Defender recognized that the old version was present and uninstalled it before proceeding with the new install, which would have been nice had it been successful. After it installed itself my system did not work quite right, though basic protection was there. I did a complete uninstall, wiped directories and even did a defrag (one application complained of no disk space, though I had 50GB free) and installed fresh. This time, Bit Defender identified 5 applications that it did not like and wanted to uninstall, yet it would not list which applications and telling it to uninstall them did nothing. From this point, installation was actually smooth and uneventful.
Once installation was finished, everything was clean and ready to go. The first noticeable change is the boot time at initialization. Bit Defender 2010 is definitely faster to load than the 2009 edition and as a result the system comes up to a ready state faster.
A lot of changes have been made to the user interface, making the dashboard look much more up to date and organized. I run the dashboard in expert mode, which gives access to everything that can be set, and my overall impression is that, while most settings remain and are available as they were, more thought went into the interface to make it more intuitive. Though predominantly cosmetic, the updated interface is welcome.
I threw some tests at the firewall and was unable to get it to fail. It leaves no ports open, and it does not allow two-way traffic without checking or at least notifying the user. The operation of the firewall has not changed - it is solid.
One feature of the firewall I have grown to really appreciate is the activity monitor and process list. I like being able to look at the network traffic and see what processes are "calling home", eating up bandwidth (though the firewall notifies the user when initially allowing access to an application). It does not allow you to directly terminate a connection, but it at least shows what is happening so that you can take some action if necessary.
The initial scan done by the antivirus took a couple of hours and it scanned over 600,000 files. Overall this is not the fastest antivirus I have ever used but it is not the slowest either. In testing it seems to do an acceptable job. With the 2009 edition I got an occasional false positive, but so far I have not seen any with this new version.
There is one setting that caused me some grief and required some research to identify and correct. By default, Privacy Control is turned on, and for most that may be fine. In my case it interferes with my connectivity for some reason, breaking my connection to my POP3 server. After turning this off, my connectivity was fine. I am not sure why this is so, but it was frustrating until I figured it out.
Parental controls seem to work better now, though I think they are perhaps a little too aggressive (better that than being too permissive). When I turned them on for my account, it identified me as a teenager and blocked me from news sites. I switched my profile to adult and it corrected the issue. It seems a bit odd that news sites would be blocked for anyone, but it demonstrated that parental controls work. There is also a new option for specifying time frames in which applications can be run, which is a nice-to-have feature when there are kids in the house.
The Total Security edition includes a few extras not found in the other editions that may or may not be of use. The tune-up section of the interface provides an easy-to-find connection to some of the system tools like the defragger and a file shredder. Also provided is an online backup feature that offers 2GB of free storage (2GB is not a lot of space but it is sufficient for documents and most data files).
Bit Defender Total Security is a nice package and has been my solution of choice for the past year. The 2010 edition offers some improvements over the 2009 edition that make it even better. There are some rough spots in it that should be taken into account when installing and using, but there is nothing that cannot either be worked around or turned off. My experience with Bit Defender has been a good one and I can in good conscience recommend their security suites.

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The Industry's Best Value! Provides 3 PCs 2 full years of protection against viruses, spyware, hackers, and other e-threats, without slowing them down. Includes: online backup; firewall; IM Encryption; File Vault (encrypts sensitive documents); File Shredder (eliminates all traces of deleted files); Parental Control; system maintenance tools; and more.


BitDefender Total Security 2010 Features
Securely download music, movies, and files from the Web, friends, and family.
Scans and removes viruses and spyware
New--Advanced protection that continually monitors your system to catch threats that lay dormant, before they attack
Scans all Web, e-mail and instant messaging traffic in real-time
Proactively protects against new virus outbreaks using advanced heuristics

Protect your identity: shop, bank, listen, and watch, privately and securely.
Blocks attempted identity theft (phishing)
Prevents personal information from leaking via e-mail, Web or Instant Messaging
File Vault encrypts and stores personal information or sensitive files
File Shredder permanently erases all traces of deleted sensitive files

Maximum security that doesn't sacrifice performance.
New--Scans 30% faster than even last year's lightning-fast edition!
Uses minimal system resources
Laptop Mode prolongs battery life
Removes unnecessary duplicates of files and registry entries

Automatic Online Backup! (2GB)
Backs up your important files to a secure website
Safeguards against data loss in the event of hardware failure or PC theft
Allows you to share your online files with family and friends

Guard your conversations with top-of-the-line encryption.
Instant Messaging Encryption (Yahoo! and MSN Messenger)

Connect securely to any network at home, in the office, or on the road.
Automatically modifies firewall protection settings to suit location
Wi-Fi monitor helps prevent unauthorized access to your Wi-Fi network

Parental Control
Blocks access to inappropriate websites and e-mail
Schedules and limits kids' access to Internet and to applications, such as games

Gamer Mode
Reduces the system load and postpones scans/updates, allowing for secure gaming at top speed

Be in control, stay in control.
Manages the security of your entire home network from one PC
Use the dashboard to fix security issues with just one click
Automatically decides best security actions to take

Designed for ease of use.
New--User Profiles (Typical, Parent, Gamer, Custom)--set up your security to best match your computing activities
New--See only what you need! Select from Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced views


New and Improved in BitDefender 2010
More Protection Many of today's stealth viruses are designed to avoid antivirus detection by initially laying dormant only to attack your PC when it is most vulnerable. BitDefender 2010 features a cutting-edge security system, Active Virus Control, which constantly monitors all of the processes on your PC, 24/7, blocking any malicious behavior before it can cause any damage.
More Speed The abundance of new viruses calls for faster ways to detect them. BitDefender's Optimized Scanning avoids the scanning of files that are known to be safe. The result? BitDefender 2010 scans your PC in half the time needed by previous versions, while using less resources.
Easier to Use Whether you're a security expert or a novice, with the new BitDefenderUser Profiles you can easily manage your PC's security. The product interface adapts to the chosen profile and provides quick access to the main security functionalities you are most likely to need (Parental Controls for parents, or Gamer Mode for gamers). BitDefender 2010 also features three dashboard views--Novice, Intermediate, and Expert--to better accommodate users with different levels of PC knowledge.
Improved Parental Control The Parental Control module features a newly added reporting system allowing parents to view what websites their children visit. Moreover, parents can set specific time intervals in which their children are allowed to access the Internet or use certain applications.
Improved Intrusion Detection BitDefender detects and blocks attempts to change critical system files or registry entries on your PC and warns you about attacks performed by code injection (DLL injection).
Improved In-Product Technical Support You can get answers to the most common product-related questions or contact technical support directly from the product using its easy-to-use self-service module.

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