2013 Internet Security Recommendation – Drumroll….

We have an updated review of Bitdefender which you can visit here. Below is our previous blog post.

Since our site launched in 2009 we have generally recommended the AVG Internet Security packages, but as 2013 creeps towards us, things are about to change.

June 2012 saw the launch of Bitdefender’s latest all-round security suite Bitdefender Total Security 2013. Bitdefender really launched itself as one of the top players in Internet Security last year with its 2012 range of products receiving some of the best reviews across the Internet, which is why we were certainly ready to give it a go when it was released to the public.

So a couple of months of pushing and prodding and testing the software, here’s our review of the product.

To start… the installation is as quick and pain free as you would generally expect from a home-user security package, only taking a handful of minutes. Once the installation is complete the software quickly checks for updates on the Internet and defaults to an “Autopilot” mode meaning after installation the security software is all ready to start protecting your computer with minimal fuss using its own recommended settings.

Installation is quick and painless. No stream of questions, just click and go.

The user interface is simple and intuitive, and users shouldn’t have too much trouble finding their way around if they choose to start tweaking their installation for optimal performance.

The dashboard is simple to understand and navigate, and shows all of your options

The antivirus component is understandably the most important aspect of any Internet security package since it is responsible for removing threats from a computer. Bitdefender has one of the best detection and removal rates and the 2013 edition does not disappoint detecting and removing all types of threats we put in its way. The usual options are available including a quick scan, full scan or custom.

Social networking protection is also a key component and one of the reasons why we recommended Bitdefender. Just like AVG, Bitdefender realise that more and more Internet users are online because of social networking and this means sites like Facebook and Twitter are the target for many online scams. Bitdefender Total Security 2013 automatically scans links sent to you from friends on social networking sites and tells you if they’re safe. This means users can click links on social networking sites safe in the knowledge that any scammy websites will simply be blocked.

Our Twitter feed, the green tick means Bitdefender has evaluated the link and deemed it safe. A cross means it is dangerous.

A particularly impressive feature for Bitdefender 2013 was its ability to block even the latest website scams that circulate, including malware sites and phishing attacks. The software successfully blocked all spam sites we’ve recently added to our archives including phishing sites, known retail scams and malware sites. This is particularly useful when it comes to spam email, which can often direct victims to these types of scams.

If Bitdefender spots a scam site, it will soon let you know and block access, keeping you safe.

Other features worth mentioning include gaming mode so online games don’t get interrupted with updates or scans, the parental control feature that allows sites be blocked or web access between certain hours, Bitdefender Safepay gives extra security when shopping online, Search Advisor scans search engine links to make sure they’re safe and File Shredder can permanently delete sensitive files from your computer so they cannot be pieced back together.

Overall, Bitdefender Total Security 2013 is certainly one of the most effective and easy to use security packages we have tested, and in our opinion and deservedly moves to our number 1 recommended spot. And as usual we practise what we preach, Bitdefender Total Security 2013 is currently running on all of our machines! In fact one of the most satisfying aspects to Bitdefender is the lack of messages and pop-ups – after installation the software just runs in the background and doesn’t bombard the user with pointless or irrelevant messages about what it’s doing or how it’s feeling!

Possibly the only downside to Bitdefender is that it is slightly more expensive than many other solutions out there (actually check out the offer below), but not by much (a few dollars, that’s all) and you will definitely be buying piece of mind. Like most security packages these days, Bitdefender can be downloaded and simply activated online, meaning you can have it within minutes!