With BitDefender Total Security 2010, the company aims to please advanced users and newbies alike. Consumers can specify how tech-savvy they are, and the user interface will adjust itself accordingly. The feature set is designed to be all-encompassing, too: in addition to antivirus and malware protection, BitDefender includes identity theft protection, parental controls, tune-up utilities, and 2GB of online storage (upgradable to 5GB). While the suite remains king for tweakers, however, the interface could use some streamlining.
Installing the large (600MB) program on our Toshiba Tecra M10 took 2 minutes. Then you must choose a user profile, defining how tech-savvy you are. Profiles, which you can change anytime, include Custom, Gamer (for minimal performance impact), Parent, and Typical for novice users.

BitDefender compliments virus and malware protection, with IM encryption, a firewall, and home network security. File Vault stores, encrypts, and password-protects data. The parental controls include three age settings: adult, child, and teenager, but these categories don’t stop you from customizing every detail, including times users can access the Internet. The program lets parents block keywords (in e-mail, IM, and search engines), instant messaging users, and certain types of Web sites, such as gambling or hate sites.
Total Security 2010 also comes with a toolbox of tune-up utilities, but no startup programs remover.

BitDefender doesn’t promise the fastest scans or the lowest performance impact, but application open times only slowed by a second or two. Our boot time rose by 12 seconds; slightly better than average. Norton 360 and Internet Security Pro slowed the boot time by 15 and 17 seconds, respectively.

As BitDefender works to appeal to techie and mainstream customers alike, it has produced an attractive solution in that allows users to customize the level of sophistication. Despite its high price, Total Security 2010 is the strongest all-in-one security suite out there, offering detailed parental controls and minimal performance impact.