Bitdefender Total Security: configure protections effectively

Renowned for the quality of its antivirus defensive technologies, the Bitdefender Total Security security suite provides real-time protection against all types of threats. Although it can operate in a fully automated manner thanks to “Autopilot” mode, users can access different configuration options to personalize protection or perform certain tasks on demand.

Compatible with Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, Bitdefender Total Security provides protection against all types of cyber threats such as Trojans, zero-day attacks, malware including ransomware, network intrusion attempts, exploitation vulnerabilities, malicious advertising, phishing, etc. Suffice to say that they far outperform free antiviruses. The “Protection” menu includes different categories for configuring Bitdefender Total Security defense modules such as “Antivirus” and “Advanced Threat Defense”. Find out what these modules are for and how to take advantage of them.

Antivirus: configure the different types of scans

Go to the Bitdefender Total Security dashboard, and click on “Protection” on the left menu, then on the “Antivirus” pane and finally “Open”. In the “Scans” window that appears, you can manage the different types of scans: “Quick Scan” which uses the publisher’s cloud base to detect malware quickly and using very few system resources, and “System Scan” that inspects the entire device to spot threats like malware, spyware, corrupted ads, and network intrusions.

Click the “Run Scan” button on either option to start a system scan. To go even further on Windows (only), a third option “Rescue mode” allows you to analyze and disinfect all hard drive partitions of the operating system or removable media connected to it. Click the “Open” button, then click “Restart” in the small window that opens. Reboot and the software will automatically launch the system into rescue mode. When a threat is detected, follow the on-screen instructions to remove it.

Advanced Threat Defense: manage the advanced threat defense module

Enabled by default, Advanced Threat Defense is a proactive detection technology responsible for detecting ransomware and other advanced threats. To do this, the service monitors running applications and looks for those that behave suspiciously. It is possible to activate or deactivate this module by clicking on “Open” in the “Advanced Threat Defense” pane, then on “Settings” in the window that appears. Then simply slide the switches left or right to stop or start protections against ransomware and different types of exploits.

When a threat is detected, the software automatically blocks it before it infects the system. The “Settings” menu also allows you to configure exception rules for authorized applications to prevent Advanced Threat Defense from blocking them. Click the “Manage Exceptions” tab, then click the “Add Exception” button in the window that opens. All you have to do is indicate the path to the application and then click “Save”.