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Bitdefender

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Bitdefender
Company typePrivate
IndustryComputer software
Founded2001
FounderFlorin Talpeș
HeadquartersBucharest, Romania
Area served
Computer security
Key people
Florin Talpeş (CEO)
ProductsBitdefender Antivirus Plus 2015, Bitdefender Internet Security 2015, Bitdefender Total Security 2015, Bitdefender Free Antivirus 2014
ServicesSecurity
SubsidiariesGermany, Spain, UK, US
WebsiteBitdefender.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

File:BitDefender logo.svg
Bitdefender logo used until 2011.

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.

File:Bitdefender TrafficLight Logo.png
TrafficLight Logo

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

File:BitDefender safego.png
Safego logo

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.

File:Bitdefender 2014.png
Bitdefender Total Security 2014 Interface
File:Bitdefender 2012 Advanced view.png
Bitdefender Total Security 2012 -Advanced view

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 claim that the incompatibility is due to "NDIS ASUS driver (WinpkFilter LightWeight Filter), which prevents the installation of some Bitdefender files" [35]

See also

References

  1. ^ "BitDefender Product History".
  2. ^ "''BitDefender Total Security 2011''". Softpedia.com. 2010-08-15. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  3. ^ "''Product Comparison Chart''". Bitdefender.com. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  4. ^ Softwin SRL, avx@softwin.ro. "Antivirus eXpert". Securityfocus.com. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  5. ^ "PC Advisor Review - BitDefender Internet Security 10.0".
  6. ^ "BitDefender Free Version". BitDefender. Retrieved 2007-11-24.
  7. ^ bitdefender.com/safego;
  8. ^ "BitDefender's New Facebook App Warns Against Security and Privacy Threats".
  9. ^ "Bitdefender Launches Anti-Malware Protection For Twitter". TechCrunch. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  10. ^ "BitDefender Safego Keeps a Security-Minded Eye on Your Facebook Account".
  11. ^ Rubenking, Neil J. (26 October 2010). "BitDefender Launches Beta of Facebook Privacy App". PC Magazine.
  12. ^ "''BitDefender Products for Home Users''". BitDefender. Retrieved 2011-05-11.
  13. ^ "''BitDefender Business Solutions''". BitDefender. Retrieved 2011-05-11.
  14. ^ "''Free Tools''". BitDefender. Retrieved 2011-05-11.
  15. ^ Bitdefender Antispam NeuNet
  16. ^ "Product History". Bitdefender.com. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  17. ^ "''B-HAVE – The Road To Success''". Security-int.com. 2010-04-27. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  18. ^ "''BitDefender 2010 for Windows 7''". News.softpedia.com. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  19. ^ "''Security for Everyone - Reviewing BitDefender Internet Security 2010''". 7tutorials.com. 2009-10-07. Retrieved 2012-10-27.
  20. ^ "Group Test: AV Software" (PDF). PC Answers magazine. Future Publishing. May 2007. pp. 118–125.[dead link]
  21. ^ "Virus Bulletin: VB100 Results - Bitdefender (SOFTWIN)".[dead link]
  22. ^ "Anti-Virus Comparative February 2007".Template:Bitdefender test
  23. ^ "BitDefender Antivirus 10 review". PC World. 2007-04-23. Retrieved 2012-10-27.
  24. ^ "''Key results from the proactive antivirus protection test''". Bitdefendercoupon.us. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  25. ^ "Anti-Virus Comparative August 2009" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  26. ^ Rubenking, Neil J. (2009-08-17). "''PCMag BitDefender Total Security 2010''". Pcmag.com. Retrieved 2012-10-27.
  27. ^ "Chart of top antivirus performers". PC World. 23 April 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-24.[dead link]
  28. ^ "Best Antivirus Software Review 2014". Retrieved 2014-04-24.
  29. ^ "''BitDefender support issues''". Pcworld.com. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  30. ^ "Support Center". Bitdefender.com. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  31. ^ "Bad BitDefender Update Clobbers Windows PCs".
  32. ^ "Trojan.FakeAlert.5 Update issue".
  33. ^ Peter Bright. "BitDefender update breaks 64-bit Windows PCs".
  34. ^ "2012 Not Compatible With Comodo Firewall - Bitdefender Forum". Forum.bitdefender.com. Retrieved 2013-07-11.
  35. ^ "Bitdefender installation fails due to ASUS AI Suite software - Bitdefender Support Centre". bitdefender.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-06-04.
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