PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.

PCMag UK

Bitdefender Internet Security (2014)

Neil J. Rubenking
 & Neil J. Rubenking Principal Writer, Security

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

Our Expert
LOOK INSIDE PC LABS HOW WE TEST
65 EXPERTS
43 YEARS
41,500+ REVIEWS
Bitdefender Internet Security 2016 combines top-scoring antivirus, antiphishing, and antispam components with a wealth of other integrated security features, yet it manages to do its job with minimal fuss. - Bitdefender Internet Security (2014)
4.0 Excellent

The Bottom Line

Bitdefender Internet Security does everything a suite should, and does it without bombarding the user with queries and alerts. It's a big package, but its performance impact is no more than average. It's definitely a good choice.
Best Deal£24.99

Buy It Now

£24.99

Pros & Cons

    • Autopilot mode minimizes user interaction.
    • Good antivirus scores in PCMag's tests; great scores in lab tests.
    • Excellent phishing protection.
    • Very accurate spam filtering.
    • Password management.
    • Secure browser.
    • Firewall resists direct attack.
    • Full-scale parental control and Facebook monitoring.
    • Default firewall configuration omits some protections.
    • Average impact on performance.
    • Some difficulty installing on malware-infested systems.
    • Password management is limited.

Bitdefender Internet Security (2014) Specs

OS Compatibility: Windows 7
OS Compatibility: Windows 8
OS Compatibility: Windows Vista
OS Compatibility: Windows XP
Tech Support: 24/7 email
Tech Support: and phone support. Remote sessions as necessary.
Tech Support: live chat
Type: Business
Type: Personal
Type: Professional
All Specs

You don't install a security suite in order to play with it. You expect it to protect your security and stay out of the way. Right? Bitdefender Internet Security 2016 ($59.95 per year; $79.95 for three licenses) packs a ton of protective features, but if you leave it in its default Autopilot mode, you'll hardly know it's there. And it earned top scores in many different tests, both our own and those of independent antivirus labs.

The product's main window hasn't changed a lot since last year. It's still dark grey, with big panels representing important tasks like scanning for malware, or vulnerabilities. The biggest panel takes you to Bitdefender Central online. From the online console, it's extremely simple to extend protection to your other PCs, as many as the number of licenses you purchased.

View All 11 Photos in Gallery

Final Thoughts

Bitdefender Internet Security 2016 combines top-scoring antivirus, antiphishing, and antispam components with a wealth of other integrated security features, yet it manages to do its job with minimal fuss. - Bitdefender Internet Security (2014)

Bitdefender Internet Security (2014)

4.0 Excellent

Bitdefender Internet Security does everything a suite should, and does it without bombarding the user with queries and alerts. It's a big package, but its performance impact is no more than average. It's definitely a good choice.

Get It Now
Best Deal£24.99

Buy It Now

£24.99

About Our Expert

Neil J. Rubenking

Neil J. Rubenking

Principal Writer, Security

My Experience

When the IBM PC was new, I served as the president of the San Francisco PC User Group for three years. That’s how I met PCMag’s editorial team, who brought me on board in 1986. In the years since that fateful meeting, I’ve become PCMag’s expert on security, privacy, and identity protection, putting antivirus tools, security suites, and all kinds of security software through their paces.

Before my current security gig, I supplied PCMag readers with tips and solutions on using popular applications, operating systems, and programming languages in my "User to User" and "Ask Neil" columns, which began in 1990 and ran for almost 20 years. Along the way, I wrote more than 40 utility articles, as well as Delphi Programming for Dummies and six other books covering DOS, Windows, and programming. I also reviewed thousands of products of all kinds, ranging from early Sierra Online adventure games to AOL’s precursor Q-Link.

In the early 2000s, I turned my focus to security and the growing antivirus industry. After years of working with antivirus, I’m known throughout the security industry as an expert on evaluating antivirus tools. I serve as an advisory board member for the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization (AMTSO), an international nonprofit group dedicated to coordinating and improving testing of anti-malware solutions.

The Technology I Use

Much of the testing I do, particularly testing with real-world ransomware, is just plain dangerous. To perform such tests safely, I sequester them inside virtual machines managed by VMWare Workstation. For cross-platform testing, I use a MacBook Air, a Google Pixel 4, and a 6th-generation iPad.

I rely on my Delphi coding skills to create and maintain small applications. These include programs to check whether an antivirus correctly handled the malware it detected, launch dangerous URLs and record the security program’s reaction, and analyze the malware that I collect for use in testing. I also wrote a tiny browser and text editor for use in testing security apps that have predefined reactions for known products.

I do my writing and research on a Dell OptiPlex desktop, relying on Microsoft Word (my fingers know all the shortcuts). Many of my articles include charts and analysis; Excel is my go-to for those. When work hours end, though, I escape the bounds of Microsoft and Windows. There’s an iPhone in my pocket, I relax with my oversized iPad, and my Kindle Oasis is always loaded with the best science fiction and fantasy.

Read the latest from Neil J. Rubenking

Read full bio