Bitdefender

Bitdefender

Type	Private
Industry	Computer software
Founded	2001
Founder	Florin Talpeș
Headquarters	Bucharest, Romania
Area served	Computer security
Key people	Florin Talpeş (CEO)
Products	Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2015, Bitdefender Internet Security 2015, Bitdefender Total Security 2015, Bitdefender Free Antivirus 2015
Services	Security
Subsidiaries	Germany, Spain, UK, US
Slogan	Awake
Website	www.bitdefender.com

Bitdefender is an antivirus software suite developed by Romania-based software company Softwin. It was launched in November 2001,^[1] and is in its 18th build version. The 2014 version was launched on June 26, 2013,^[2] and it includes several protection and performance enhancements such as Search Advisor, Performance Optimizer and many more features.

The Bitdefender products feature anti-virus and anti-spyware, improved Detection, personal firewall, vulnerability scanner, privacy control, user control, and backup for corporate and home users. PC Tuneup and Performance Optimizer are available in the Total Security Suite. In the 2014 version, it had a wallet option to save passwords, a lighter scan and computer performance.^[3]

History

Bitdefender replaced SOFTWIN's earlier AVX^[4] (AntiVirus eXpert) product range. Between 1996 and 2001 AVX became a product available worldwide that offered intelligent updating without user intervention and integrated an internal browser which scanned and monitored all downloaded files. AVX pioneered behavior-based application blocking technology and was also the first antivirus product to include personal firewall features. With the sixth generation of AVX, the product became the first antivirus package to include an application firewall as well as behavior-based blocking. The Bitdefender group spun off from SOFTWIN in 2007.

Bitdefender products

The Bitdefender range includes antivirus products for home users and businesses. Home editions support Microsoft Windows, Symbian OS, Windows Mobile, Mac OS X, Android and iOS ; business editions support Microsoft Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris and Mac OS X. The current version of the Home/Home Office security suite includes antivirus, anti-spyware, firewall, e-mail spam filtering, backup, tune-up and parental control components.^[5] A free basic online scan is offered via the Bitdefender website. The Free version however does require free registration and is valid for 1 year after registration. Bitdefender is designed to protect computers from viruses and spyware. Now they offer real-time protection.^[6] Bitdefender competes in the antivirus industry against Avira, BullGuard, F-Secure, FRISK, Kaspersky, McAfee, Panda Security, Sophos, Symantec and Trend Micro among others.

TrafficLight

TrafficLight is a browser add-on that features an advanced malware filter, phishing attacks prevention, tracker identifier, and a link scanner. It gives a signal before the link for the users to know if the page is clean, unscanned, or malicious. It is also bundled with Bitdefender Antivirus products.

Safego online

Safego is an application designed to protect online social community members from different types of e-threats and spam.^[7] The application was originally released on Facebook,^[8] and a Twitter version of Safego was then released (2011).^[9] After installation, BitDefender safego scans the content posted on the user's Facebook wall and news feed.^[10] Users are warned in case a message in their news feed, on their wall, or in their inbox contains links to malware, or is considered to be spam by the BitDefender scanning engines. Safego was closed on July 2013.

Safego includes a privacy protection feature which warns users in the event their public profile contains private data that can be accessed freely by persons who are not among their contacts.^[11] BitDefender safego uses the BitDefender anti-malware and anti-phishing engines to scan URLs in the cloud. This scanning process is based on a blacklist of untrusted web sites and on heuristic detection.

List of products

Home/Home Office[12]	Business Solutions[13]	Free Tools[14]
Bitdefender Total Security 2015	Business Solution Suites:	Bitdefender Online Scanner
Bitdefender Internet Security 2015	Bitdefender Small Office Security (Clients and File Servers)	Bitdefender QuickScan
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2015	Bitdefender Business Security (Clients, File and Mail Servers)	Bitdefender Free Edition
Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac	Bitdefender SBS Security (Clients and All Windows Servers)	Bitdefender safego (Beta)
Bitdefender Mobile Security	Bitdefender Corporate Security (Clients and All Servers)	Bitdefender 4blogs
Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac & PC	Endpoint Protection and Management:	Bitdefender Trafficlight (Beta)
Bitdefender Antivirus Scanner for Unices	Bitdefender Client Security	Saf.li powered by Bitdefender (defunct)
Bitdefender Windows 8 Security	Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac - Business Edition
	Bitdefender Antivirus Scanner for Unices
	Critical Server Protection:
	Bitdefender Security for File Servers
	Bitdefender Security for Samba
	Bitdefender Security for SharePoint
	Gateway Services Protection:
	Bitdefender Security for Exchange
	Bitdefender Security for Mail Servers
	Bitdefender Security for ISA Servers

Bitdefender technologies

Bitdefender Antispam NeuNet

Bitdefender Antispam NeuNet,^[15] short for Neural Network is an antispam filter pre-trained by the Bitdefender Antispam Lab on a series of spam messages, so that it learns to recognize new spam by perceiving its similarities with the messages it has already examined.

B-HAVE

In May 2006^[16] Bitdefender introduced a new technology, B-HAVE, to reduce dependency on virus signatures through proactive detection of unknown threats. This technology is based on behavioral analysis in a virtualized environment.

To determine whether a program is malicious or not, this technology makes use of a virtual PC in which files are executed and analyzed. The virtual PC includes a set of virtual hardware devices, mimicking the configuration of a typical PC. B-HAVE checks for characteristics known to be associated with malware. A program may be deemed to be malicious if it attempts to modify certain files, read from or write to a sensitive area of the memory or create a file that is a product of a known virus. When attempting to use a non-trusted program, B-HAVE delays the launching until the program’s behavior and characteristics are analyzed and catalogued in the virtual environment. If no malicious actions are detected, B-HAVE starts the program normally; if a suspect conduct is present, B-HAVE automatically quarantines or deletes the application.^[17]

Active Virus Control

Incorporated in the 2010 product suites, Bitdefender introduced another technology, 'Active Virus Control,' in August 2009.^[18]

It continuously monitors each program^[19] (specific processes) running on the PC, as it executes, and it notes any malware-like actions. Each of these actions is scored and when a given threshold is reached, the process is reported as harmful. Unlike heuristic technologies that check executable files when they are accessed or first started, Active Virus Control monitors everything applications do as long as they are active. Because of this approach, Active Virus Control is a third layer of defense.

PHOTON Technology

In its 2014 version, Bitdefender now features the "PHOTON Technology" which makes it possible for Bitdefender to visibly improve computer speed and performance by gradually adapting to each PC.

Independent tests

In reviews for Bitdefender, the home version of the suite was given the PC Answers editor's choice award in a comparative review in May 2007.^[20] As of June 2007, Bitdefender had passed Virus Bulletin's VB100 independent tests 14 times out of 18 since first tested in 2002.^[21] It also achieved an advanced certification from AV Comparatives for on-demand scanning,^[22] and standard level certification for catching unknown viruses, though it was criticised for its slower scanning speed and higher instances of false positives.^[23] The performance of Bitdefender's heuristic antivirus technology was measured using the detection rate of new and unknown viruses in a test conducted by Anti Malware Test.^[24]

In another test conducted by AV Comparatives in August 2009^[25] to determine the antivirus software with high detection rates and the lowest false positives rating, Bitdefender received an Advanced+ Certification. In a test conducted by PCMag, BitDefender 2010, "detected 97 percent of all the threats and completely blocked installation for most of them".^[26] It is also the least expensive of the top three antivirus solutions, as ranked by PC World.^[27] TopTenREVIEWS gave Bitdefender Antivirus Plus a 9.8 rating out of 10, and said "Bitdefender combines superb protection, ample features, and comprehensive support at a price that’s lower than other high-ranked programs."^[28]

Criticism

Support

After being criticized in May 2009^[29] as being unresponsive, support was available 24/7 on telephone, e-mail, Livechat and a knowledge base.^[30] As of July 2013 the help URL redirects to the BitDefender Support Page, which includes knowledge base articles and also email, telephone, or LiveChat.

Trojan.FakeAlert.5

On March 20, 2010, computers running Bitdefender under 64-bit versions of Windows were affected by a malfunctioning update which classified every executable program as well as dll files as infected. These files were all marked as 'Trojan.FakeAlert.5' and were moved into quarantine. This action led to software and systems malfunctions that affected users around the world.^[31] Bitdefender representatives announced the removal of the faulty update and a workaround for the users affected,^[32] except for those using the 2008 version.^[33]

Comodo firewall incompatibility

As of version 2012 of Bitdefender, both programs cannot co-exist. There is however, a workaround which can be found elsewhere on the internet and at the Bitdefender forum:^[34]

ASUS AiSuite incompatibility

Bitdefender is incompatibile with ASUS AiSuite2 and ASUS AiSuite3, a motherboard optimization suite of software bundled with ASUS motherboards which enables automatic overclocking, power tuning and fan control. Bitdefender claims that the incompatibility is due to "NDIS ASUS driver (WinpkFilter LightWeight Filter), which prevents the installation of some Bitdefender files" ^[35]

See also

• Internet Security
• Comparison of antivirus software
• Comparison of firewalls
• Comparison of computer viruses
• Multiscanning

References

External links

• Official website
• Official website (Romanian)
• List of global sites

Antivirus software Companies Major avast! AVG Avira Bitdefender Comodo ESET F-Secure FRISK Kaspersky Microsoft Panda Qihoo Sophos Symantec Trend Micro Minor Agnitum AhnLab BullGuard Cisco Check Point ClamWin CYSEC Dr. Web Fortinet G Data GFI iolo Intego K7 Kingsoft Lavasoft Malwarebytes McAfee PSafe Quick Heal TG Soft TrustPort VirusBlokAda Webroot Zemana Products Desktop, server AhnLab V3 Internet Security Avast! AVG Avira Internet Security Bitdefender BullGuard ClamWin Clam AntiVirus Comodo Antivirus Comodo Internet Security CYSEC Antivirus Dr. Web ESET NOD32 F-Secure F-PROT Fortinet G Data VIPRE Advanced SystemCare iolo System Shield STOPzilla Antimalware K7 Total Security Kaspersky Anti-Virus Kaspersky Internet Security KingSoft Mac Internet Security Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware McAfee VirusScan Windows Defender NANO Antivirus Panda PSafe TOTAL 360 Total Security Outpost Security Suite Sophos Symantec Endpoint Protection Immunet Element Anti-Virus Norton AntiVirus Norton Internet Security Spyware Doctor VirIT eXplorer VirusBarrier Trend Micro Internet Security TrustPort Vba32 AntiVirus Mobile, tablet AhnLab Mobile Security AVG AntiVirus Avira Free Android Security BullGuard Mobile Security Comodo Mobile Security Dr. Web Mobile Security Suite ESET Mobile Security F-Secure Mobile Security G Data MobileSecurity STOPzilla Mobile Security Lookout Mobile Security McAfee Mobile Security PSafe TOTAL Android Bitdefender Mobile Security FireAMP Mobile Trend Micro Mobile Security TrustPort Mobile Security VirusBarrier Related Comparison of antivirus software