Bitdefender Total Security 2013 review

Bitdefender's 2012 security products were regarded as amongst the best available, adding a host of new features and comprehensive anti-virus protection that could deal with all but the most sophisticated malware.

However its ability to shine was hampered by certain interface issues, with many users complaining it was too intrusive and difficult to get to grips with.

For its 2013 suite, Bitdefender's moved to fix these issues, while retaining the strong protection seen in its 2012 Total Security package.

New user interface
Bitdefender has pulled out all the stops attempting to improve Total Security 2013's user interface. One of the most noticeable additions is the inclusion of a circular desktop widget that sits at the bottom right of the screen.

The widget contains shortcuts to various Total Security 2013 features and also offers dynamic updates to the user. The information is displayed in such a way that even the least tech-savvy of individuals can understand it.

The overall security of the computer is displayed with a colour coded ring at its centre. If the ring is green everything is okay, if it's amber there's something that requires your attention, if its red then you are in trouble. A final nice touch is that users can drag and drop individual files onto the widget to have them scanned.

The widget is a nice touch as it lets you see the status of your machine without having to open up the main Total Security 2013 app. While some will find it intrusive, it can be removed and we found the constant updates about our computer's status fairly reassuring.

Total Security 2013's main window display is somewhat different to toosl supplied by most other vendors featuring a tiled design that is clearly influenced by Microsoft's Windows 8 interface.