Windows Defender Or Bitdefender: How to Choose the Best?
Windows Defender is the inbuilt antivirus program that you get with Windows 10 and Windows 11 on your PC or laptop. It acts as the first line of defense and does a great job. For most people, it’s more than enough to protect their system. Windows Defender provides decent cloud-based malware detection, but it cannot detect and eliminate all types of threats. Bitdefender is a top-notch security program that is compatible with Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices. But the question you must be asking yourself is whether you should stick with the free option or purchase Bitdefender to protect your PC or laptop. Luckily, we are here to provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision.
Security Features
Previously, Windows Defender had a bad reputation, but over the years, it has made some significant improvements in its threat detection capabilities and features. It doesn’t mean that you can depend solely on it to protect your system without another antivirus program.
Unlike other antivirus suites that you have to download and install, Windows Defender is built into Windows 10 and is mainly focused on securing and protecting your system against threats. So, with Windows, you get what you see; it sticks to the essentials and is more straightforward. However, it still offers some pretty notable features that are hard to ignore.
- Account protection
- powerful antivirus engine with ransomware protection
- Device security
- Firewall and browser control
- Device performance and health
- Family options
Windows Defender offers some exclusive features under a single roof that can’t be replaced with any other antivirus protection program, including Windows Hello, Dynamic Lock, and Microsoft account protection options. It also offers some non-antivirus-related functionalities, including Fresh Start, drive encryption, one drive for ransomware recovery, and customer support.
Unlike Windows Defender, Bitdefender needs to be installed on your PC or laptop. It offers third-party products with full-blown features that Windows Defender can’t seem to match. For personal and home use, Bitdefender offers five premium antivirus products. We will start with Bitdefender’s low-end product, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus for Windows. It’s a base product but packs more features than Windows Defender. These features are grouped into three categories: protection, performance, and privacy.
Other than offering on-device and browser security, Bitdefender’s protection features also offer on-device and browser security. These features are:
- An award-winning antivirus engine with multi-layer ransomware protection
- Real-time data protection
- Web attack prevention
- Network threat prevention
- Vulnerability assessment
- Anti-phishing and anti-fraud
- Advanced threat defense
Privacy features protect and secure your system against online threats. These features are:
- File Shredder
- VPN with a 200MB daily data limit
- Password Manager
- Anti-tracker
- Safe online banking
- Social network protection
Next is Bitdefender Internet Security, which offers more privacy features. These additional features are:
- Parental Control
- Privacy firewall
- Anti-spam
- Wi-Fi security advisor
- Webcam protection
- Microphone monitor
Bitdefender Total Security is one of Bitdefender’s cross-platform products. It's compatible with Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices. It packs all the features of the previous products and some additional ones. These additional features are:
- Supports 10 devices
- Antitheft utilities
- One-Click Performance Optimizer utility
Next is Bitdefender Family Pack, which, like Bitdefender Total Security, is compatible with various devices. It has all the features of previous products and is suitable for people with more than 10 devices or large households. It supports a maximum of 15 devices. And lastly, there is Bitdefender Premium Security, which packs all the features of the previous product and offers unlimited VPN traffic.
Malware Protection
Although Windows Defender is a free built-in antivirus suite, it is good enough to compete with premium antivirus suites. Its antivirus engine was able to match the performance of Bitdefender’s antivirus engine. Both antivirus engines do an excellent job of protecting your system against offline and online threats, including viruses, malware, ransomware, spyware, and other threats.
Windows Defender uses its memory-integrity feature to offer protection against file-less threats. It is also equipped with exploit and tamper protection abilities that prevent malicious apps from turning off. It also checks email attachments in Outlook for malicious code on occasion. For comprehensive protection, Windows Defender relies on real-time and cloud-delivered protection. To offer maximum protection, Windows Defender utilizes online analysis and malware signatures. It also compares new threats to its database of known malware.
In contrast, for a comprehensive solution, Bitdefender offers a couple of technology enhancements. Other than its award-winning antivirus engine, Bitdefender products rely on advanced threat defense and network threat prevention. They also get access to Bitdefender’s cyber threat intelligence, which offers protection against suspicious network-level activities and cyber-attacks. Using these advanced security features, Bitdefender analyzes, identifies, and block network threats.
System Performance
Besides protecting your system against all types of threats, a good antivirus should not impact your system’s performance in a negative way. As Windows Defender is an in-built antivirus, in theory, it should have a minimal effect on the system’s performance. But that is not the case when Windows Defender performs background scans. You may notice that your cooling fans are making a lot more noise than usual. Or your computer may start heating up. On the other hand, Bitdefender uses cloud-based technology for heavy scans, so they won’t get in your way. You can rest assured that Bitdefender won't hobble your system’s performance.
User Interface
Windows Defender features a straightforward and user-friendly interface. The home dashboard hosts all seven features, including:
- Virus and threat protection
- Firewall and network protection
- Account protection
- App and browser control
- Device security
- Device performance and health
- Family options
Bitdefender’s layout is very similar to Windows, but with a few modifications. All its products boast a streamlined interface and well-organized features. The main window sports two panels: a left and a right panel. The left panel boasts six features: Dashboard, Privacy, Protection, Utilities, Notifications, and Settings. While the left panel boasts the feature functionalities.
FAQs
Should you replace Windows Defender with a premium antivirus suite that costs money?
Windows Defender is an in-built antivirus that offers decent protection. If you don’t have any sensitive information and you follow the best cybersecurity practices, then Windows Defender is enough to protect your device. But the protection it provides is nowhere near that offered by premium antivirus software, namely Bitdefender.
How is Bitdefender better than Windows Defender?
Bitdefender is a third-party premium antivirus suite that offers the best security solution against offline and online threats and safeguards your privacy. It offers a wide array of features, including an award-winning engine and minimal impact on system performance, and a few of its products are also compatible with other OS such as macOS, iOS, and Android.
Can you run Windows Defender and Bitdefender together on your PC?
Unfortunately, when you install Bitdefender or any other third-party antivirus solution, its real-time protection will automatically turn off Windows Defender. By default, all of Bitdefender’s products come with real-time protection. And if you are using an operating system other than Windows, then Bitdefender Total Security and Bitdefender Family Pack will be ideal choices for you to keep your devices safe and secure.
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