Software

Review: Bitdefender Provides Multifaceted Protection During Distance Learning

Boost remote classroom security with robust, high-value anti-virus software.

Carlos Soto is an award-winning reviewer and journalist with 20 years of experience covering technology and business within various sectors and industries.

It’s no secret that K–12 schools are highly vulnerable to cyberattacks. Beyond confidential payment information, education records contain a wealth of other information that could pay dividends for hackers on the dark web and lead to secondary crimes. From healthcare records to personally identifiable information, K–12 districts are in many ways a one-stop shop for cybercriminals.

The coronavirus pandemic has made the situation worse. Working remotely to stay safe has not only exposed cybersecurity gaps, but also provided a new opportunity for cyberattackers and their malware to attack organizations.

Those challenges highlight the important need for solutions like Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2020. Normally bundled with other solutions, such as Bitdefender Total Security 2020, Antivirus Plus offers threat detection that thwarts malware attacks of all kinds, from basic to sophisticated. I tested Antivirus Plus 2020 by infecting laptops, and iOS and Android devices with a host of viruses. I also visited several sites known to be fake. At every step, Antivirus Plus 2020 was able to stop all infections and remediate each attempted breach.

MORE ON EDTECH: The importance of teaching cybersecurity to a 5–Year–Old.

Detect Threats with Impressive Speed

This protection includes multilayer ransomware protection to keep files safe. Bitdefender’s layered approach easily eliminates known malware, while also monitoring for behavior that might indicate advanced threats such as ransomware are trying to gain a foothold.

The ransomware protection specifically is designed with multiple layers, with an approach that includes a separate data protection feature that safeguards all documents, including pictures and videos, from unauthorized encryption. Together with the Advanced Threat Defense module, Bitdefender protects all important files from encryption by ransomware at a level that also includes mitigating attacks and recovering from damage in near real-time.

Speaking of real-time data protection, Bitdefender also works against all e-threats at impressive speed — from spyware and viruses to zero-day exploits, and from worms and Trojans to ransomware and rootkits.

At the network level, Bitdefender provides threat protection that adds a different method to online threat detection and remediation via new cyberthreat intelligence technologies. Using that, the platform can analyze and identify suspicious network-level activities. This new series of technologies also blocks sophisticated exploits, such as botnet-related URL attacks and brute-force incursions.

This capability is further complemented by an advanced threat defense using behavioral detection to closely monitor active applications. As soon as Bitdefender detects anything suspicious, it stops that behavior and prevents the spread of any potential infection.

The education sector may be a target-rich environment for cyberattacks, but Bitdefender’s anti-virus technology offers reliable protection against everything from basic attacks to the most advanced threats.

Bitdefender Antivirus: Full of Fantastic Features

Aside from a robust anti-virus platform, Bitdefender offers a host of other impressive features, such as a comprehensive web protection module that provides strong protection from dangerous links. A service called Safepay is also included to help with online banking protection. Safepay can be used with any website by simply opening it using the Bitdefender Safepay program.

Safepay blocks unauthorized access to the desktop and guards against any attempt to take snapshots of the main screen. It also protects online passwords by safeguarding them in a built-in password manager. Safepay even comes with a virtual keyboard that thwarts a hacker’s ability to read keystrokes and is completely independent from other browsers.

Finally, Safepay provides hotspot protection when computers are connected to unsecured Wi-Fi networks; for instance, at a coffee shop or hotel. This is complemented by Safeguard’s ability to support bookmarks, which allows it to navigate safely among favorite banking or shopping sites.

Bitdefender Internet Security 2020 adds a Windows firewall and a spam filter to keep users safe when browsing online or checking email. The firewall continuously scans web connections and can even halt webcam hijacking.

Safe Files prevents unauthorized changes to important documents and files —another great feature that’s not widely available in anti-virus platforms. By simply adding folders to the program’s watchlist, Bitdefender guards the files within against ransomware and other types of malware; the user decides which applications are trusted enough to access the designated Safe Files area.

By default, Bitdefender automatically detects when the user is navigating to a banking site in any browser and prompts them to launch the site in Safepay, which can be accessed quickly and easily within the main interface by simply selecting the Privacy icon on the left sidebar of the Bitdefender interface and selecting the Safepay action button.

Finally, Bitdefender adds an anti-phishing capability that protects users from online scams. This feature detects and blocks websites that masquerade as trustworthy but which are actually fake sites set up to steal financial data such as passwords or payment information. The safeguard works automatically in the user’s browser of choice.

For educators working from home, away from their IT departments, Bitdefender can provide invaluable protection. It can stop not only common threats, such as viruses, but also many of the most advanced attacks used online today.