Is BitDefender the Best Antivirus?

Once again you come across with the facts.
I'll add BitDefender. to my security platform.
Thanks again, Mr. Bob!

Looks like a good site, but it's kind of ironic that other independent sites offer much different results: http://www.av-comparatives.org/en/comparativesreviews/detection-test
One would think that 'independent sites' would have results that are a little closer to each other. I dunno! Maybe it's politics, computer configuration, types of viruses used
I remember when Norton was the best (and AVG was the best free one). Times change. Stay aware.
BTW: I'm using Avira this year again. So far, so good.

Way better than all those tested antivirus programs is simply using the Linux operating system...even without any antivirus program running it's much more secure.

I have used many different Anti-Virus programs over the years, I finally found one that is best for me. I use Vipre Home Premium, I haven't had a virus since I started running Vipre last November. It is not a resourse hog, user friendly and also has firewall. I got the newest edition on ebay for only $12.88 for unlimited pcs and one year of support and undates. Works great.

I have heard that using more than one AV program isn't recommended. I use Microsoft Security Essentials and I read that avast! was compatible and that they could be used together. I want to continue to use MSE but would like to supplement it with a compatible program. Are there others that would do the job...how about Panda Cloud?

I used BitDefender for two years, because it was rated highly by TopTenReviews among others. But then the automatic update quit working. It would put the computer in an endless loop, and it took a whole day to figure out what was causing the problem and how to stop it--basically by disabling automatic update--not an easy task when autoupdate would kick in before you could click on the appropriate buttons!

I started doing manual updates every week, but even that was not without its problems and I sometimes had to try two or three times due to some problem with one of the temp files it was loading or trying to delete (I don't recall).

I did try to get help from them, but got "canned" responses and I don't think they ever understood exactly what was happening to me. So a couple of months before it was time to renew, I switched to WebRoot.

Norton and McAfee always rate pretty highly, but I get tired of the bells and whistles (bloatware) and the way they slowed my computer down at the times I used them (always for at least two years, so I went through at least one update/upgrade).

If I ever switched to BitDefender (or any other internet security package) I would first research what customers had to say about it on their forums.

I use Avira. Does Bitdefender use a lot of resources?

What about Microsoft Security Essentials?
What about the size of other anti virus programs, slowing the computer down?

I'm confused. Under "Protection" it says, "The test measures how well a program identifies and blocks the many threats thrown at it." Microsoft Security Essentials didn't even get an honorable mention.

Under "Repair" it says, "The test measures how well the programs detect infections and how thoroughly infections are removed." MSE got 4.5 points and tied with several other AV programs.

Since MSE was unable to "identify and block" malware (protection) then how was it possible for MSE to "detect and remove" malware (repair)? That just doesn't make sense to me. Aren't the same signatures and heuristics used/needed to detect and remove as well as to identify and block it in the first place? If not, why not?

EDITOR'S NOTE: I'm not sure why you say that "Microsoft Security Essentials didn't even get an honorable mention" for Protection. It's just that I didn't mention the ratings of all 25 products in every category. MSE scored a 2.5 in that category, but the devil is in the details. There are three components in the Protection score. MSE scored 100% in "Detection of widespread and prevalent malware" but did not do well at "Protection against zero-day attacks".

See the full report on MSE and I'm sure it will make things clearer:
http://www.av-test.org/no_cache/en/tests/test-reports/test-reports/?tx_avtestreports_pi1%5Breport_no%5D=113178

I would quite like to see Mary's comments addressed because I'm now confused too.

I used Defender Pro 5 and 1 for several years until, I changed to the 15 and 1 , its Great, been using it about 4 yrs no problems at all.

I've Bit Defender security for at least three years and only one problem using an HP wireless printer. It keeps blocking the IP port for the printer. It updates by itself and works great.

I am using Panda freeware. I have installed it on my wife's, my grandson's, my brother's, and my daughter's PCs. I has worked well on all of these PCs. The elimination of daily checking for updates is a stellar feature of Panda.

I wish America would embrace Linux instead of Windows. Then the electronic pestilence problem would shrink dramatically.

Over time I find Bit Defender to be a resource hog on my computer.
I'm using Avast free atm,seems to work great and doesn't bog down my computer at all.

I switched to Bit Defender this year after using McAfee for many many many years, it had the highest ratings that didn't have a Norton name on it. I do computer work for a few small firms and almost universally if they call about slow running systems Norton is the culprit. BD does however have some annoying issues.
1) port scans. BD reports port scans from my ISP if I leave a browser ope for a while.
2) Auto update includes auto restart. Automatic update works BUT if you allow it to auto-install and are away when it happens a restart may occur just like dear old Microsoft. If you turn auto-update they are downloaded but a notice isn't sent nor a popup visible unless you check their control center for "events." Just pop up and say I'm ready to install every hour or so please so I don't forget.
3) No internal scheduler. One of the events that will get you a warning is no recent system scans. The problem is that unlike all others I've used there is no way to schedule a regular scan on Friday night at midnight.
4)Infections that aren't. Every time I access a network drive and open a folder where I stored a downloaded program executable file Bit Defender calls the executable an infection. You can turn off network drive scanning but you shouldn't have to.
I know these look like a pain but after McAfee and Kaspersky slowed my system to a crawl they are tolerable.

Thank you for sharing these results and explaining them in a way that the average person can understand them. I am surprised at the findings.
I have PC cillin trend now for 2 years on 3 home computers that get a lot of internet use...one by a teenager. I have not had any crashes or viruses. In the past when I had Bit Defender, I got invaded by a virus so severly that my computer crashed and It cost me a lot of money to have a PC store clean it and retrieve my files. I still didn't retrieve everything. Before that I had Norton and it was just a pain in every way imaginable plus I got a virus and a lot of mal ware.
I was amazed to see that PC cillin was at the bottom of the ratings.
Feel free to respond or add aditional input.
Thanks again.

I am a firm believer in Avast 7 free edition.You can scheduel scans,it up dates itself and has a sandbox that will grab something you downloaded and asks you if you are sure you wanted it.
It also has shields you can modify to your needs.
It doesnt seem to be a resource hogger and runs smoothly all the time.
It will alert you when it starts a scan and you can decline if you are doing things it would slow down.
I have tried almost every AV program and am very happy with Avast.I am a download freak and it has saved me a couple times.I highly recommend it,and NO I dont work for Avast or know any one who does.

I appreciate the the information you provide us. I have been using Panda for approx. 6 years on 3 home computers. I am basically satisfied with it. However, I am always checking to see if there is anything better. My Panda subscription is up in 15 days. This article has been helpful. I probably would switch to BD but got scared off by some of the negitive comments. Panda scored right behind BD so I guess I will stay with it for now.

This information came at a good time for me. I have used Panda on three home computers for approx 6 years and I have basically been pleased. My subscription is up in 15 days. I considered BD after reading the testing results, but after reading some of the negitive comments about it was unsure. Panda fell just a little behind BD ratings so I will probably stay with it for now. If you have any additional information that would help me, I would appreciate you posting it.
Thank you for keeping all of us on top of what is happening.

Finally Fast PC is actually running tv commercials stating that they are better than Bit Defender and Kaspersky but their product never even makes the list in any tests. I'm actually going to drop my Kaspersky and go with Bit Defender.