When it comes to malware and viruses, the biggest giveaway that turns your attention towards them being in your system is the fact that they slow your device down. From there on, it is just a downward hill that eventually leads to one destination: identity and password theft. Cyber-attackers continue to find new ways to threaten internet users all over the world, but cyber security software remains vigilant and comes up with newer and more improved ways to protect you against cyber-attacks.
In this detailed comparison, we will weigh the upsides and downsides of two of the most popular antivirus software in the market: Kaspersky and Bitdefender so that you may decide which one is best suited to your cyber needs.
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Bitdefender Pros
- Scores highest in the AV-TEST
- 30-Day Free trial
- Multi-platform support
- Offers users with SafePay browsing option
- Password manager
- Easy layout for users
- 24/7 customer support
- Simple installation and management
Bitdefender Cons
- If you need parental control you will have to purchase a more expensive version of the software
Kaspersky Pros
- Virtual keyboard
- 30-Day Free trail
- 24/7 customer support
- Strong Malware Protection
- Customization
- User-Friendly
Kaspersky Cons
- Lack of password manager
- Bit complicated user interface
Features Comparison
| Bitdefender | Kaspersky | |
| Windows 10 Support | Yes | Yes |
| Protection | 100% | 92% |
| Performance | 100% | 100% |
| Usability | 100% | 100% |
| Ease of Scanning | 100% | 75% |
| Resource Use | 91% | 95% |
| First Quick Scan (minutes) | 1.75 | 2 |
| Average Full Scan (minutes) | 60 | 61 |
| Min. Connected Devices | 3 | 3 |
| Anti-malware | Yes | Yes |
| Autoscans USB | Yes | Yes |
| Scans Incoming Email | Yes | Yes |
| Gaming Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Bootable Rescue CD | Yes | No |
| Password Manager | Yes | No |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
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Malware Detection
In order to estimate each software’s ability to protect a device against malware, we are comparing two particular product testing labs’ results: AV-Comparatives in Austria and AV-TEST in Germany. These companies have made it their mission to regularly test security products such as these. In order to test them, they throw this software in a sea of malware and measure the number of malware caught by the software compared to the ones that go unnoticed.
In AV-TEST’s results, it can be seen that Bitdefender scored four hundred percent detection rates in January and February for Windows 7 and 8. These evaluations were conducted against both widespread malware as well as the zero-day kind. However, Kaspersky scored only showed a 99 percent detection of zero-day malware.
Bitdefender
It can be seen that Bitdefender was the top performer in the AV-TEST results that ended up earning the Gold Award for system performance. This shows you its reliability, usability as well as consistency. Every website that was tested was categorized into three categories: usability, repair, and protection. This is where Bitdefender showed a reliable score that was highly quantitative.
Kaspersky
After Bitdefender, Kaspersky comes second as the highest performer in the AV-TEST results. Due to Kaspersky’s usability as well as its intuitive nature, it received the highest score in protection and in repair. It comes coupled with a two-way firewall, a safe surfing mode, identity theft protection, geo filter, social profile protection as well as an online banking mode.
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Ease of Use and Installation
As far as the installation process goes, both Bitdefender and Kaspersky are quite similar but they do differ when it comes to their interface designs. Upon downloading and paying for the software online, you will automatically be signed up for renewal in the future and your credit card will be charged immediately once your initial subscription expires. It completely depends on you whether you view this as an annoyance or a convenience. You can also turn this feature off once you install the software. We believe in creating awareness in the minds of our readers and therefore we present you with bias-free comparision.
Both of the antiviruses take an average of 5 to 6 minutes to install and the entire process is divided into two parts. With both, users get rescue disks that they can easily download and burn into either USB ports or their optical disks for protection against viruses.
Bitdefender
Bitdefender shines out particularly in this department as it creates a hidden rescue partition for users on their old computers that don’t require Microsoft’s Secure Boot Feature. Its antivirus scans are simply one click away from the screen. Bitdefender also has several handy status widgets that can easily be found on the right side of the screen at all times, contributing a lot to a user’s ease. This antivirus provides uses with a well-composed layout that is pleasing to the eye.
Kaspersky
Kaspersky however buries very important buttons such as its scan button under a heap of pages that users have to wade through to scan their device. The screens of Kaspersky look a bit sloppy for user access with a lot of white space that could have been utilized for better access. This can weigh Kaspersky down in comparison to Bitdefender.
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System Performance Impact
We ran the OpenOffice benchmark test to evaluate how active each program was during a scan. This benchmark test can easily check how fast a system can connect 20,000 names to 20,000 addresses. Bitdefender and Kaspersky did very well on this test and didn’t slow down the system that was being used for them (Asus X555LA laptop running on Intel i5-4005U).
Bitdefender
OpenOffice finished its scan in 7 minutes and 48 seconds while Bitdefender was running. Since the baseline set for this test is 6:53, Bitdefender showed a 13 percent negative rate. Bitdefender inexplicably scored higher than Kaspersky, taking the lead once again.
Kaspersky
Kaspersky finished its benchmark test in 8 minutes and 18 seconds which is a 21 percent negative rate when we review the baseline for the test.
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Security Features
Both Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, as well as Kaspersky Anti-Virus, offer users a ton of security features that they can make use of. The biggest feature would be the defense against ransomware. As results will tell you, one antivirus software takes the lead.
Bitdefender
Bitdefender offers users protection against screen-locking ransomware. But where it stands out is when it provides users with the option to lock down their files so that they cannot be encrypted by the hackers during the ransomware attack. Along with providing users with virtual keyboards that prevent keylogging software from getting sensitive data, Bitdefender has all aspects of security covered. It even offers users a secure web browser called SafePay.
Kaspersky
Even though Kaspersky Anti-Virus provides users with virtual keyboards and defenses against screen-locking ransomware, it is one step behind due to it not offering users a safe browser.
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Extra Features
Both of the antivirus software that we are comparing today have their own features but not all of them are for protection, some are for ease of use. Have you ever played a game and wished that your PC wouldn’t have an antivirus that would constantly prompt you with updates and virus alerts? Take a look at what both Bitdefender and Kaspersky have to offer you.
Bitdefender
Bitdefender offers you a “game mode” so that you can easily play games or watch a movie on your device without constantly being interrupted by updates. Among other features, Bitdefender provides users with a file shredder so that they can securely delete any and all sensitive material that they might have on their devices. To top it all, Bitdefender gives you access to a password manager so that you can create your own passwords that are much more complex and hard to crack.
Additional Features:
- eWallet
- Controlled surfing
- Account monitoring
- Scheduled sessions
- Unlimited profiles
- Cross-device filtering
Kaspersky
While Kaspersky Anti-Virus provides users with a “game mode” just like Bitdefender does, it lacks a lot of other features. If you were to spend a little more money and upgrade to Kaspersky Total Security, then you would have access to all of these features as well.
Additional Features:
- Anti-phishing technology
- Virtual Keyboard
- Online banking protection
- Webcam and microphone protection
- Safe Kids Mode
- Separate profiles
- Activity history and reports
- Filter
- Scheduled sessions
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Customer Support
When an issue presents itself, you want to be dealing with a company that is readily available, helpful as well as friendly. Thankfully, both Bitdefender and Kaspersky are known for their quality services, but we will be looking at them a bit closer in this comparison and tell you which one does better.
Bitdefender
This antivirus software comes with an incredibly thorough customer support system. Whenever a query is presented, you will notice that the representatives are constantly available for help through email, live chat, or phone calls. If that wasn’t enough, it even offers users a chat forum where questions and answers are regularly posted. The most impressive feature however is that Bitdefender comes with a virus encyclopedia where it explains to users each and every virus there is out there and the threat they pose. For unaware users, this can prove to be a huge help.
Kaspersky
Yet again, Kaspersky is one step behind Bitdefender as the only thing it provides in customer service is round-the-clock service. But with every feature offered along with the virus encyclopedia and chat forums, Bitdefender takes the lead again.
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Conclusion
While Kaspersky comes with a lot of features, someone who is looking for an advanced level of security should choose Bitdefender as it clearly wins this comparison by a mile.
