Among the items featured in Bitdefender’s 2020 product lineup, Bitdefender Internet Security 2020 is what impressed us the most. Bitdefender Internet Security 2020 has three very important things customers look for in a security software – Protection, Performance, and Privacy. Protection through its multi-layered protection feature which keeps devices safe from all new and existing threats, Performance – Bitdefender reacts instantly to outside threats without hindering your system’s performance, and Privacy – Bitdefender safeguards all your personal information by providing safe online banking, webcam protection, etc.
Aside from what we just mentioned, Bitdefender Internet Security 2020 gives users unlimited use of its spam filtering feature, parental control, firewall feature, and other bonus features rarely found in a security software of this price range and calibre. But let’s get back to that later.
In this article review, we will be seeing and observing Bitdefender Internet Security 2020 from all angles. All of its features will be discussed, and all its pros and cons weighed. We’re also listing compatibility requirements that you need to check before buying any product. If this is a product you are considering, but still wanted to check if it’s the right option, then you are in the right place.
To save you time in exploring this review, the Bitdefender Internet Security 2020 is made only for the Windows user. If you are looking for a security suite for a different operating system, Bitdefender offers Total Security 2020, which is just as good (even better) as this product. That aside, let’s dive into the in-depth analysis of Bitdefender Internet Security.
Why Choose Bitdefender Internet Security?
Bitdefender Internet Security 2020 contains multi-layered security features that keep your device safe from new and existing computer threats. As a high-tiered internet security suite, it guards your device against viruses, malware, zero-day exploits, and rootkits all in real-time. It uses cyber threat intelligence technology to detect such exploits, and blocks sophisticated threats. In order to do this, the software taps into its behavioral detection capabilities, and utilizes them as an advanced threat defense in monitoring installed apps.
A long list of features power Bitdefender Internet Security 2020. Among the most common are parental control, a two-way firewall, file shredder, password manager, etc. There are bonus features worth noting, including the Autopilot, Bitdefender Photon, and Safepay developed by Bitdefender itself to deliver the utmost security to its users.
The user interface is quite feasible. Using the software is as straightforward as it can get. It even has quick action buttons so you can go directly to the settings you needed. You just need to have an account first, which you create in the Bitdefender Central, letting you manage subscriptions and devices in a single account. Aside from this manageable subscription, you also get 24/7 security updates and direct access to the support team in case you encounter a problem with the software. After each scan, you get detailed lab scores.
Quite arguably, while the software is performing a malware infection scan, you will notice a high CPU usage. While for some users, a high CPU usage from the software is an absolute red flag, considering that it is depending on a maximum performance to check for infections tells quite a lot about how thorough the process is. For a digital-savvy user, this is acceptable as long as it’s getting the job done.
With Complete Real-Time Data Protection, Network Threat Prevention, and Advanced Threat Defense, coupled with a Multi-layer Ransomware Protection, availing this internet security suite at such an affordable price point is not something to miss. Even bigger competitors like Kaspersky, Symantec, and McAfee, don’t compare with the best protection this Bitdefender product provides. This is according to the AV test conducted from January 2011 to February 2020. Bitdefender also ranks first against the same competitors on the best performance.
Bitdefender offers a 30 day trial period so you can test these features without spending any dime. Once you decide that this software suits your needs, you can choose to protect up to 10 devices with Bitdefender Internet Security 2020. Subscription plans are available from 1 up to 3 years.
Pros
24/7 Security updates
Manageable subscriptions
Direct access to support team
Detailed lab scores
Robust firewall protection
Bonus features rarely found in other internet security
Affordable price point
Quick action buttons
Cons
Only available for Windows
Possible useless features for the non-tech user
High CPU usage while scanning for malware
Key Features
Here is a list of features included in the suite.
Autopilot
Bitdefender offers several features that focus on performance. This starts by giving you the best action to fight against a threat, tweaking the system performance when necessary, and using other resources when doing scans, etc. The first of these features is autopilot, which mainly acts as the security advisor. Autopilot is in charge of giving its users a recommended security action, ideally the best course of action to take when it comes to dealing with e-threats.
Bitdefender Photon
Bitdefender contains technology that configures the software of the device it is in to perform at its best, matching the computing resources where it is installed. This means that the software solution is unique to each device. Automatically, this means that the speed and performance of your computer are at its maximum.
Global Protective Network
While most heavy scanning occurs in systems, the Global Protective Network makes it possible to do scanning in the cloud. This means there will be no CPU usage required and the performance remains unaffected.
Game, Movie, Work Modes
Whether you are watching a movie, logging work hours, or playing a video game, the Bitdefender Internet Security has its triggers to detect this, and temporarily halts any unnecessary notifications and requests. Aside from notifications, the display settings and other background activities are reduced to lower performance to let you maximize the use of your device.
Bitdefender VPN
Privacy on the web should be of utmost importance. It masks your identity to hackers, and makes you appear anonymous. Bitdefender doesn’t forget this and even developed its VPN. A total of 200 MB encrypted traffic is included in the suite.
Anti-tracker
The anti-tracker is a fairly new feature in the Bitdefender suite. What it does is it blocks trackers such as cookies that collect data. As you browse websites, Bitdefender keeps your data private.
Microphone Monitor
If you have heard about malware or possible new Internet threats that can record audio while you are using your devices, you must have been anxious about this new kind of invasion of privacy. Bitdefender introduces another new feature that guards against advanced malware and other Internet intruders that record your actual conversation. Bitdefender makes this possible by encrypting not just your website activity, but all kinds of traffic.
Webcam Protection
A feature made to guard you against peeping Toms of the internet, the webcam protection prevents webcam leaks. It also notifies you if any website is trying to access your camera.
Bitdefender Safepay
When you bank and shop online, you have a dedicated browser where you can enter your personal details to avoid any sort of transaction fraud. Safepay is specifically designed for these transactions which require you to enter sensitive data. An auto-fill feature is also integrated into Safepay so you don’t have to type in your details each and every time.
Wi-Fi Security Advisor
As we tend to look for free or public Wi-Fi networks and connect anywhere, online criminals find this as a great opportunity to invade our privacy when we connect to their hotspots. The Wi-Fi Security Advisor comes in handy during these situations. When you connect to a public Wi-Fi, it automatically opens the Safepay Browser, which works like a regular browser but lets you browse the internet while encrypting your data and traffic.
Password Manager
The password manager keeps your password, banking information, and other sensitive data in a safe cyber-vault that only you can access.
Social Network Protection
Even social media sites have now become another entry for privacy invasion. Malicious links and infected files get passed on via social media friends who may have been a victim of threats without their knowledge.
Vulnerability Assessment
In just a matter of a click, you can perform scans and let the system check for vulnerabilities. It even checks if you have the updated software or infected drive, and suggests the best fix.
Rescue Mode
There will be instances when a sophisticated malware or virus successfully infects your device, bypassing your security features. Bitdefender has an immediate plan when it detects the threat, it reboots your computer to restore, then cleans your device up.
Bitdefender Safe Files
Lastly, Bitdefender Safe Files protects your files from any unauthorized changes. With Safe Files, you can keep sensitive files protected from ransomware attacks. A pop-up will appear each time an application opens a protected file. While this is enabled by default, you can change the settings through the software by going to the Protection panel, going to Safe Files, and clicking on or off.
Other Features
Battery Mode
Parental Control
File Encryption
File Shredder
Password Manager
Web Security
Anti-Phishing
Anti-Fraud
Anti-Spam
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
| Operating System: | Windows 7 with Service Pack 1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 | ||
| CPU: | Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz) or equivalent processor | ||
| RAM: | 2 GB | ||
| Disk Space: | 2.5 GB of free space |
How To Use
Think Bitdefender Internet Security 2020 will be a good fit for your home or business?
Learn more about its features and current price here.
How to activate Bitdefender Internet Security 2020
- If you are a new user of any of the Bitdefender products, the first step is to create an account in Bitdefender Central. If you haven’t, then you only need to sign in and proceed with the next steps.
- On the left side of the Bitdefender window, go to the My Subscriptions panel.
- Click on the Activation Code button.
- Type the code on the field, then click Activate.
- Once you signed up and activated the code, click on PROTECT YOUR FIRST DEVICE to prompt an installation.
How to Download Bitdefender Internet Security / How to Install Bitdefender Internet Security
- Sign in to your account on the Bitdefender Central,
- Go to the My Devices panel on the left side of the window, then click INSTALL PROTECTION. This will install the software on your current PC. If you want to install protection on another device, you can either copy to clipboard or send the download link.
- Wait until the installation finishes, then run the installer.
- The setup wizard will pop which will prompt you to select the Language.
- Click Install.
- Click START USING BITDEFENDER, and proceed with the installation until it finishes.
About Bitdefender
Bitdefender, a Romanian cybersecurity global leader, offers a variety of security options from antivirus software, endpoint security, Internet security, and total protection. Its line of products gets positive reviews from almost 500 million users worldwide–a whopping 38 percent of security solution users in 150 countries. Bitdefender pioneered in 2001, and has since then been consistently delivering quality and award-winning security products for different devices both for home and business needs.
Along with mentioned products, it also both introduced and followed cutting-edge technology from its own Antispam NeuNet which employs a new way of identifying spam messages, B-HAVE which developed a proactive detection of unknown threats, as well as Photon Technology which enhances computer performance and speed by adapting to the PC it is installed.
Final Thoughts
Quite impressively, when it comes to features, the Bitdefender Internet Security doesn’t fall short. It gives you several options for any security needs, keeping in mind existing and newer threat technology on the way. Its layer of protection is back-to- back. It even has a backup plan when a sophisticated threat bypasses its protective features.
In terms of price, Bitdefender Internet Security’s price point is fair compared to its competitors. While compared a lot with Bitdefender’s flagship product, Bitdefender Total Security, the comparison is futile as the two have different compatibility requirements. All in all, system compatibility out of the way, this is an excellent choice for an internet security suite.
Here at firewallguide.com, we are open to all comments and suggestions from our readers. If you’ve already tried Bitdefender Internet Security 2020, or if you have anything to say about our review, feel free to share your thoughts with us through our Contact Us page.
If you’d still like to learn more about other brands, and other types of antivirus protectection, everyone here at firewallguide.com is here to help you make the right choice. Feel free to compare our other internet security software product reviews located in other sections of our website.
