BitDefender Internet Security 2010

At a Glance:  BitDefender Internet Security 2010 is a great product with a great user interface for novices and experts alike. It performs well but had a few too many false positives in some of the lab tests. That, however, can be remedied and I have not doubt that they will do so.

The Triple "E" Keys

The following table summarizes the effectiveness of BitDefender Internet Security 2010 based on certain tests by large independent testing labs. For more information on the scoring system, visit the Triple E Key Awards page.

Install/Remove:  BitDefender Internet Security 2010 took 11 minutes, 12 seconds to install and a restart was required. A typical wizard walks you through the process. There was one question about whether or not to disable DNS caching. I doubt most people would know whether to check this box or not even though hovering over it gave a description. If I were heading up the team over there, I'd either remove this or explain it better.

Then I ran the updater and that took just a couple of minutes. BitDefender installs an anti-phishing toolbar in your browser. I don't remember the wizard asking me if I wanted one. I don't care for that even though anti-phishing can be turned off in the settings dialog. And even if I turn it off, the toolbar remains. I don't like my browsers being messed with, even by the good guys with good intentions.

Removing the program was a snap, taking only 2 minutes 47 seconds. As is typical, you sent to a survey page hoping you'll tell why you removed it. Then, you must restart the system. No problems here.

Setup/Use:  Setup is simple with BitDefender. Even though it defaults to the Intermediate mode, you can switch to Novice mode if you want a super clean and easy-to-use interface. I was impressed by this feature. Once in Novice mode, you can literally click a button and fix all your woes (hopefully). There's not much else to using the program; it does everything else automatically. For the techies, there's an Expert mode that offers ample drooling opportunities.

Help:  From within the main screen there are links to a User's Guide and Knowledgebase. If you can't find your answer there, you'll be directed to the Contact Customer Care page where you can email support for help. You can also chat, phone or visit the forum but you'll need a "BitDefender Account" to do that.

Performance:  BitDefender Internet Security 2010 took 3 minutes, 17 seconds to scan my test folder--not bad. It also had no trouble blocking the download of a double-zipped virus test file. Some programs don't catch the double-zipped version.

BitDefender also has a profiles wizard that customizes itself based on the type of usage: Typical user, Gamer, Parent, and Custom User. This shows some real commitment to conserving power and minimizing the impact the program has on the system.

Value:  At $49.95 for a 3PC license, BitDefender Internet Security 2010 is a very good value in my book. Since this site focuses on making Internet security easier for the novice, I think that the very nice, configurable user interface adds real value too.

Bottom Line:  Although it didn't score at the top in the lab tests, I still like BitDefender Internet Security 2010. I know that the company is diligently working to improve their products and it's a favorite among users. The very simple Novice mode is a sweet feature in my humble opinion.