Bitdefender can be downloaded from the Mac App Store. After providing it with full disk access and access to your security preferences in System Preferences, Bitdefender is ready to use. It will update its virus definitions automatically and allows you to choose between one of three scans: a Quick Scan, Deep Scan and a custom scan of the location of files or external volumes as needed. The application includes a very effective anti-theft function, which allows you to find and record an alarm on your device, then remotely delete its contents and block it from connecting to wifi networks.
The program also comes with a handy online knowledge base with video tutorials and a vast selection of articles and offers a high level of speed for virus scanning – a fast custom scan took only 5 minutes on my test device. It’s also among the few competitors to include a vulnerability scanner that scans your device for weak passwords and outdated software, and it offers an easy scheduler that allows for quick custom scans.
Overall, Bitdefender is among the best malware detection scanners, always delivering outstanding results in independent lab tests. It has the best spyware detection rates and a wide array of security features, including a password manager and parental controls. It even offers machine protection in a number of its plans for business, which is a significant advantage over competing services.
Bitdefender’s interface is easy to use and splits its features into three categories including Privacy, Protection and Utilities. Protection is the portion of Bitdefender which focuses on features that are standard to all antivirus software, such as real time protection, firewall monitoring and countermeasures against ransomware. Privacy concerns ways to stay safe while browsing the internet. For example a safe browser that runs websites within a sandbox in order to protect against malware infecting your usual browser. The Utilities section includes useful utilities and optimization tools.