BitDefender launched their 2010 line of security offerings on Monday, introducing optimized scanning, user profiling, as well as a new technology called Active Virus Control. The Tech Herald met with BitDefender for lunch on Monday to get the details about the new release. We walked away with a solid respect for the new product, not because of what it does, but because of what it doesn’t do.
BitDefender releases 2010 line of products.(IMG:BitDefender)
Security is a trade, when we review security software on The Tech Herald we are aware that if we get more security, we will lose usability. Likewise, the easier the software is to use as a consumer, there is a high chance that there is a loss of security. However, security vendors keep pushing usability for their products, while attempting to keep security in place.
For some this strategy works, for others it is a complete failure. Yet, when talking about usability versus security with BitDefender, we were shocked by a brutal admission from the company. When it comes to the choice, making the application easier to use or offering security, usability will lose each and every time. They simply will not compromise on this point. It’s either offer complete usability at the loss of security or offer security first and usability second.
Another admission, semi-related to usability, BitDefender explained (with images and test results) that they’re faster than the industry standard when it comes to scanning, and they are using a smaller memory footprint than the industry average. However, they’re not the fastest scanner on the market, and they were clear in that explanation.
They understand that consumers need to use their software, and they have to be able to control it to a degree. This is where user profiling comes into play. There is a wizard used during installation of the 2010 products that can be accessed at any time from the control panel, which asks a series of probing questions.
Depending on how the user answers, the 2010 product will alter the usability level. For example, if you are simply on the computer to check email and visit a few sites, you would likely fall into the novice level of computer usage. If that is the case, BitDefender’s 2010 software becomes self aware and manages everything for you. The control panel will display in “Simple View”
Expert users, after answering their questions in almost a complete opposite manner than the novice, will gain access to a granular level of control just as they would expect and desire. This means they will see the “Advanced View” of the control panel. Everyone else will see the “Basic View”
However, no matter your level of control, the security remains, and only those on the upper tiers of the user profile can fully manage and disable the security features.
Something new to the 2010 line of products from BitDefender is a whitelist of known applications. If a program is scanned and known to be safe, it simply won’t be checked again unless something changes. For example, Firefox would be scanned as clean and skipped, yet the second it is updated or an add-on installed to it, BitDefender will scan it and check it.
Active Virus Control is another new offering, AVC works by monitoring programs running on a user’s computer as they execute and then notes Malware-like actions. If enough such actions are detected, the program that ran them is declared harmful.
Like the 2009 version of BitDefender Internet Security, the 2010 version includes parental controls. However, in 2010, these controls are vastly improved. One improvement is the ability to lock applications based on use or time allotment. So if you wanted to allow Yahoo Messenger, but only after 6 p.m. and block it again at 8 p.m., you can do so.
The Tech Herald has a copy of BitDefender Internet Security 2010. We plan on running our tests and presenting a full review next week. While we were impressed with the stance BitDefender takes on usability versus security, we will wait until the lab tests are finished before we will fully endorse it.
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