Bitdefender Virus Scanner for Mac — Excellent Cloud-Based Malware Scanning (But Not Much Else) 2022

Bitdefender is my top choice for antiviruses in 2022. Bitdefender provides the security protections that you need, is simple to use on all operating systems, and is much cheaper than other brands.

Bitdefender delivered perfect results against all malware types. Bitdefender’s cloud-based virus engine did not slow down my computer even though I ran extensive system scans. Bitdefender is one of the best web protections. It finds more fake and risky sites than any other anti-phishing protections like those in Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Edge, Edge, Edge, Edge, Edge, Edge, Edge, Edge, Edge, Edge, Edge, Edge, Edge, Edge, or Edge.

Bitdefender offers web protections as well as high-end malware protections. Bitdefender offers more security options than any other company. All its extras work as promised. They are very easy to locate and use. Bitdefender boasts:

• Advanced ransomware security.
• System optimization.
• Secure web browser for safe online payments.
• Password manger.
• A virtual private network is
• Parental control.
• microphone protection and webcam.
• Anti-theft protection Windows/Android.

Bitdefender offers many amazing features. The system optimization tools were a great help to me and greatly improved my computer’s performance. Bitdefender VPN is fast and reliable. Parental controls can be very flexible and include geofencing and location tracking. Bitdefender’s Anti-Theft Protection works with Windows Devices. McAfee and Avira are competitors that only offer protection on mobile devices.

Bitdefender’s password manager can prove frustrating for some users. It is capable of creating passwords that are secure and it can also autofill and save logins. However, it does not have key features such as two-factor authentication or password security auditing. The iOS mobile app offers limited protection. It cannot monitor for email breaches or provide a VPN. Bitdefender’s VPN has a 200MB data allowance per day. This is not enough data for web browsing. Bitdefender’s Premium Security Plan includes unlimited data. You can also purchase it as an add-on.

Bitdefender’s unlimited VPN plan, while the most expensive, still provides great value. Bitdefender is still considerably cheaper than other brands that offer fewer features.

Bitdefender is the best internet security program. It has great malware protection, great features, and is affordable. All Bitdefender packages come with a 30-day risk-free refund guarantee.

Bitdefender Full Review

Bitdefender provides internet security at an affordable price.

Bitdefender’s cloud-based scanner uses machine learning and signature-based scanning to detect 100% of malware.

Bitdefender provides web protections with exceptional quality, fast VPN and a comprehensive system tune-up. Bitdefender offers parental controls that are among the most effective on the market as well as additional protections.

Bitdefender offers several plans. Antivirus Plus protects one Windows computer. Internet Security protects up to three Windows computers. Total Security, which can protect up to five Windows, Mac and Android devices, is an affordable option. Premium Security is the best option for those who want to have unlimited Bitdefender VPN.

Bitdefender plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee

Bitdefender Security Features

Scan for Virus/Vulnerability

Bitdefender’s antivirus scanner can be both light and comprehensive. Bitdefender’s antivirus scanner is both lightweight and thorough. It uses a large malware database and machine learning to detect emerging malware.

Bitdefender offers four types of scans

• Quick scan. Quick scan to detect viruses in temporary files or files within the core.
• System scan. System scan.
• Custom Scan. Scanning any area on the system that may be vulnerable.
• Vulnerability scan. Examining privacy issues in software settings and critical software upgrades.

Bitdefender’s virus scanner was tested by hiding over 1,000 malware samples in my virtual Windows computer. These malware samples included trojans, viruses, and other malicious software. Trojans, spyware, rootkits. ransomware. cryptojackers. Keyloggers. After my system had been infected, I ran a scan of the system.

Bitdefender performed a complete system scan in less than an hour, which is comparable to top-ranked scans like Norton or Avira that take around 45 minutes.

Bitdefender has no adverse effect on system performance as other products. Throughout the scanning process, I didn’t notice any slowdowns. Premium competitors such as TotalAV can slow down your system if you scan it fully.

Users of Bitdefender can schedule scans. You can choose from a variety of scheduling options, including daily, weekly and monthly. Bitdefender is the only way to schedule custom scans. TotalAV, BullGuard and Avira all offer one-click scan scheduling.

Bitdefender is a highly-rated malware scanner. It quickly detects all malware and does so efficiently. Bitdefender is an excellent choice for those looking for a powerful and lightweight antivirus scanner.

Real-Time Protection

Bitdefender Shield provides real-time protection. Each file and email attachment is scanned as soon as they are accessed. The default Bitdefender Shield scans include the following.

• Software that could be unwanted. Software that is hidden in other programs (mostly bundled as freeware).
• Network sharing. Remote networks may have problems that cannot be accessed from your device.
• Sectors for Boot. Issues. Modifications to the boot sequence
• Files that are not modified. Any threats that may be hiding in files that were modified or added to.
• Keyloggers. Keyloggers are malware that records keystrokes.

Bitdefender Shield offers default protections that are sufficient for most users. Advanced users can adjust real-time settings, add scripts, archives and other applications. Advanced users have the ability to exclude any of these options.

I downloaded approximately 100 infected.exe,.txt and.rar (compressed). files. To test my Android device, I used network-based attacks.

Bitdefender Shield stopped all malicious files being downloaded from my computer before they could be downloaded. It grayed out the “Save File” button and refused to allow me to start any.

Overall, I am impressed with Bitdefender’s real time protection. Similar real-time malware detection rates are offered by other companies. Bitdefender has the best real-time scanner customizations.

Anti-Phishing/Web Security

Bitdefender’s antiphishing protection compares any website with a regularly updated database that contains millions of dangerous, blacklisted sites. Bitdefender blocks access to websites if Bitdefender detects a match.

I tested Bitdefender’s Antiphishing Protection with a variety of phishing websites. Bitdefender blocked all of them. Firefox, Panda and Kaspersky, as well as other anti-phishing software, failed to detect as many suspicious websites.

Bitdefender has a simple notification screen. This screen allows you to see which websites Bitdefender has blocked as well as what they are blocking. Bitdefender can also add false positives to its exception list permanently. It is easy to whitelist dangerous sites with just one click. Norton antivirus requires that you go through complex settings and protocols. Whitelisting sites must be legal and free from malware.

Bitdefender’s Web Protection blocks you from accessing a website containing downloadable malware. Bitdefender scans encrypted websites and checks search results.

Bitdefender is the best anti-phishing protection available. Bitdefender lets you whitelist websites and adjust your web security settings.

System Optimization

Bitdefender’s OneClick Optimizer scans your device to remove all unnecessary files – this includes

• Temporary Files for the system
• Windows junk files.
• Recycle bin files
• Broken registry items
• Browser history.

The scan was performed without background programs and took less than 2 minutes.

Bitdefender emptied 1.3GB from my computer. This is really amazing.

Bitdefender’s Tuneup Tool has some frustrating limitations

Bitdefender suggested that, before you click “Optimize”, you review all issues it flagged. Bitdefender wouldn’t let me see the details. It suggested that I review the issues it flagged before clicking “Optimize”. This was frustrating because I wanted to see the exact location of the file and not just what I was deleting.

Bitdefeder’s system optimization tool could have more features. TotalAV’s system optimization features a startup manager, an app uninstaller, and duplicate file finder.

Bitdefender’s optimization was simple and made my computer more responsive. It’s very user-friendly, however, and does a great job.

Secure Web Browser (SafePay).

Bitdefender’s secure browser, SecurePay by Bitdefender is a great way to prevent your personal data being stolen while you are making online transactions.

These are the main benefits of SafePay

• Blocks hackers from remotely accessing your computer.
• Blocks others from taking screen shots.
• Bitdefender’s Password Manager protects your passwords.
• This virtual keyboard hides keystroke tracking.
• Turns off built-in VPN protection (200MB per day limit).

SafePay provided me with the protection I needed, but it was impossible to capture screenshots due to its built-in snapshot blocker. This is great because intrusive hackers can also screen-capture your browser.

SafePay was successfully tested with my PayPal account. SafePay made it impossible to not use the screen capture tools. It was impossible to copy or paste my 2FA codes and password. After I had entered my login details, the virtual keyboard appeared immediately. This prevents keyloggers from accessing my password or personal information.

SafePay did not work for me. SafePay was unable to stream HD video and pages were slow loading. SafePay is not intended to replace your existing web browser. SafePay is an excellent privacy enhancement tool for those who do business online.

SecurePay is an excellent addition to Bitdefender’s web protection toolkit.

Password Manager

Bitdefender’s password manager is easy to use and secure, but not as secure as 1Password. Bitdefender does not offer password vault inspection or two-factor authentication (2FA), but it does provide the most essential functions that password managers should offer, including:

• Multi-device sync.
• Unlimited password storage.
• Autosave/autofill.
• Separate password vaults.
• Password generator.

After Bitdefender’s Password Management is installed, you can create a password vault using the following steps.

1. You can also name the wallet and choose a master password. A master secret password hint can be entered.
2. Choose which devices you want to sync your Passwords.
3. You can choose from which web browsers passwords will be imported. All supported browsers are Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome.

You can create unlimited number of wallets for users sharing a computer. You can create multiple password vaults from one Bitdefender account.

Bitdefender wallet makes it easy for you to store passwords (personal data, addresses, phone numbers), bank accounts, credit cards, passwords for email, license keys, and logins to software.

Bitdefender’s browser extension lets you auto-save and fill passwords. In my tests, both auto-save and auto-fill functions worked well. The auto-save feature saved login credentials every time I signed in to new websites. This annoyed me. It was possible to disable autosave on specific sites.

LastPass is a password manager. LastPass will ask you if you wish to save your login credentials on each account. Bitdefeder’s autofill function filled my login credentials automatically from saved sites. There was no way to disable autofill on certain sites. The best standalone password managers let you disable autofill for certain sites. This is particularly useful for banks. Bitdefender’s browser makes online banking secure and safe.

Bitdefender has a great password generator. It is accessible via the web extension. The default password length for this generator is 15 characters. However, users can create passwords as long as 285 characters. LastPass does not support password lengths greater than 99 characters. This is remarkable. Bitdefender’s password generator generates passwords in lowercase and uppercase letters automatically. However, you can customize the settings to only include one of these options. You can also permit special characters or create passwords that are easy to remember.

Bitdefender’s password manager is simple but not as powerful than standalone password management tools such as LastPass and 1Password. Keeper provides additional tools such as password auditing, password sharing and dark web monitoring 2FA. It also offers biometric logins and other features. Bitdefender’s digital wallet makes a great choice for users who don’t require an advanced password manager.

Bitdefender VPN

Hotspot Shield is one of the most popular VPN providers, and Bitdefender’s VPN uses it. Bitdefender’s VPN has less functionality than Hotspot Shield and has a smaller network of servers.

All Bitdefender plans come with a free VPN. It’s very limited. It offers only 200MB per day of free browsing, which is barely enough to stream one YouTube video.

Bitdefender’s Premium Security Plan, as well as a separate VPN subscription, offer unlimited browsing data. Bitdefender premium VPN has the fastest speeds available – it is faster even than standalone competitors.

This is an example of my internet connection prior to and after activating Bitdefender’s VPN at the US local server.

It is clear that there was no noticeable difference in internet speed. This is especially true when you compare it to VPNs from companies like Panda that can reduce your download speeds by half, and send PING skyrocketing.

Bitdefender is however great for torrenting. Bitdefender allows you to set Bitdefender VPN to automatically connect whenever you open a peer-to-peer sharing app. This is in stark contrast to Norton’s policy that you cannot activate your VPN if there is a torrenting client installed on your computer.

Bitdefender’s premiumVPN overall is excellent. Bitdefender Premium VPN doesn’t have the same features that standalone VPNs. Bitdefender Premium VPN offers fast connection speeds and encrypted browsing to those who want to increase their internet security.

Control of the Environment

Bitdefender can be downloaded separately on Windows, macOS, and Android.

I tried the parental controls app on both my Android and Windows PC. To activate Bitdefender’s parental controls app, I first navigated to Privacytab in the desktop application. Next, I clicked Configureunder Parental Advisor. Bitdefender Central allows me to add children online. The Bitdefender parental app was installed on the device that my child would use. It took me only a few minutes to grant permissions to the Bitdefender parental app.

Next, I needed to be able to modify the parental settings. Bitdefender Central allowed me to:

• Set daily device limitations (not available on iOS).
• Set device usage schedules.
• Manage (allow/block) apps.
• Sites and categories can be whitelisted or blacklisted
• Check your location to ensure you’re only in safe areas (available only for iOS and Android).
• Check out the most recent additions to your phone’s contact list (only available for iOS and Android).

After setting up the settings, the app was available to me and a friend. Bitdefender’s parental control software prevented my friend from accessing websites that were blacklisted. These content filters are great. BullGuard offers many filters, but it does not block all inappropriate content. Bitdefender’s website filtering does not allow children to request specific websites through the app.

Bitdefender’s parental app worked flawlessly. I was able to see how long my friend had been on her phone and see which apps she used. I also tracked her location. It was amazing that my friend could request a notification when she reached a specific location safely. This feature isn’t available in other antiviruses.

Bitdefender provides geo-fencing to notify you if your child leaves a predetermined safe zone.

Bitdefender’s pinpoint accuracy in locating my friend was also impressive to me. Bitdefender found my friend’s house within a radius of 20 meters (65 feet). Norton can track children.

Bitdefender parental controls provide the best protections of any parental control program. Bitdefender’s parental controls program is an excellent choice for parents who want their children to be safe online and offline.

Protect your webcam and microphone with Microphone Security

Bitdefender microphone protections and webcam security protect you from hackers looking into your webcam or listening in on private conversations.

Bitdefender checked all apps that attempted to access my microphone and webcam. Each time an attempt was made to gain access, Bitdefender displayed a notification. It allowed me to choose whether to grant access.

I appreciate the freedom I have to customize access to my microphone and webcam. My web browser was blocked from accessing my microphone and webcam. These functions could not be accessed by any apps.

The only problem was that microphone and webcam protections cannot be used with Windows devices.

Bitdefender’s microphone and webcam protections are excellent. These protections are easy to set up and customize. You can also see which apps attempted to access them.

Ransomware Removal

Bitdefender’s Ransomware Remediation will automatically protect your files when it detects ransomware on the system. Files that have been encrypted by ransomware attacks can be restored

Ransomware Removal was ineffective in certain cases.

To view a list supposedly of recovered files, I clicked on the Restored Filesbutton. The list included video clips and photos. The files were all restored with the original information intact. I was able to access almost all of them. A few files were not correctly restored, which was a little concerning.

While there are some missing files, this feature can be very useful.