Bitdefender VPN Review—Can It Be Trusted?
Cybercrime is evolving thanks to rapid technological advancements in recent years. As hackers become more organized, traditional data protection methods like two-factor authentication and firewalls are no longer sufficient to ensure data safety online. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) offer a potential solution—they encrypt data in transit and provide an anonymous IP address, making it harder for cybercriminals to track your online activities.
Established on November 6, 2001, Bitdefender is one of the oldest VPN providers. But can its product, Bitdefender Premium VPN, keep pace with the increasingly sophisticated cyber threats?
This Bitdefender VPN review will examine the VPN's features, helping you decide whether it's the right solution for your needs. If you're interested in securing your sensitive details even after they reach the intended destination, this article will explain how virtual cards can bolster what you get with a VPN.
Disclaimer: The features mentioned in this review are accurate as of May 2024 and may change over time.
How Bitdefender Premium VPN Works
When a user establishes a connection with Bitdefender VPN, it encrypts their data and sends it through a secure tunnel to one of its servers. It can be the server closest to the user if they want to achieve the highest connection speed, or it can be a server in a different country if they want to access local content.
The encryption makes it virtually impossible for third parties to snoop on the traffic between the user's device and the server. The VPN also assigns the user the IP address of the server they're connected to, hiding their actual location and making tracking the user even more difficult.
Bitdefender Premium VPN's Key Features
We'll examine what makes Bitdefender Premium VPN popular among users by reviewing the following:
- Privacy and security features
- Speed and performance
- Global server network
- Device compatibility and support
- User experience and customer support
- Bitdefender VPN pricing
Privacy and Security
Encryption is one of the pillars that makes VPNs, including Bitdefender Premium VPN, great tools for online privacy. The service provider employs the AES-256 encryption algorithm, a high-security standard trusted by militaries and global institutions, to protect user data during transmission.
The VPN supports multiple protocols[1], including OpenVPN (UDP and TCP), WireGuard, and Hydra, to establish a secure and dependable connection to its servers. Bitdefender VPN also maintains a strict no-traffic-logs policy, ensuring user activities are not recorded.
Additional security features Bitdefender Premium VPN offers include:
- Split tunneling[2]—Allows users to choose which applications are routed through the VPN, while the rest go through the regular internet connection.
- Kill switch[3]—Disconnects the device from the internet if the VPN connection is unstable, preventing potential data leaks.
- Anti-Tracker[4]—Blocks trackers that collect data such as device type, location, web queries, and shopping preferences, enhancing user privacy.
- Ad Blocker[4]—Removes ads, banners, pop-ups, and even video ads from websites, reducing the risk of adware and malware.
- Double-Hop[5]—Connects users to an additional VPN server, offering double encryption and enhanced security.
Speed and Performance
Whether browsing, gaming, or videoconferencing, a fast VPN ensures online activities are smooth and lag-free. Recent data[6] shows that Bitdefender Premium VPN can attain the following speeds:
These speeds may not match those of other established VPNs, but they can be adequate for most users. Actual speeds users can achieve may vary depending on several factors, including server location, baseline speed, and device type.
Global Server Network
Bitdefender Premium VPN provides a comprehensive network with over 4,000 servers in over 50 countries[4]. This wide coverage allows users to connect to a server that offers the best performance based on their location.
A global network also ensures users can maintain access to familiar and necessary online services, regardless of their physical location. For instance, individuals can access news websites from their home country while abroad.
Device Compatibility and Support
Bitdefender Premium VPN is compatible with multiple platforms, ensuring users can secure their online activities regardless of their device. Some platforms the VPN supports are[4]:
- Windows
- Mac
- Android
- iOS
The VPN doesn't support Linux, Chrome OS, Fire OS, or other less popular operating systems.
User Experience and Customer Support
From the clean and intuitive home screen to the world map that adds a visual appeal, the Bitdefender Premium VPN app boasts numerous features that improve user experience. The interface has a blue "Connect" button located centrally below the world map, allowing users to initiate their VPN connection with a single click[7].
The location selector is conveniently placed on the lower left-hand side part of the interface, providing quick access to different servers. The information panel on the right-hand side of the screen provides users with real-time data about their VPN connection.
The settings icon is located in the upper right-hand corner of the interface to ensure users have quick access to customization options.
Customer support is a strong point for Bitdefender Premium VPN. Users can get assistance via three methods[8]:
- Live chat
- Phone calls
The service also provides comprehensive guides[9] on various VPN issues, from installation and setup to troubleshooting and advanced features, making it beginner-friendly.
Bitdefender VPN Pricing
While most premium VPNs require multi-year commitments, Bitdefender VPN pricing offers two options:
- Monthly subscription—At $6.99 per month, the 1-month plan can be a good option for individuals who prefer not to commit long-term and want the flexibility to cancel anytime.
- Annual subscription—For people who prefer a more cost-effective option, the 1-year plan is available at $39.99 for the first year. This price works out to around $3.33 a month, offering significant savings over the monthly plan.
Bitdefender VPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing users to try the service risk-free and decide if it meets their needs. Other providers that offer free trials include:
Does Bitdefender Premium VPN Offer 100% Safety?
Even though Bitdefender Premium VPN adds a layer of security to online activities, it doesn't provide complete protection against all potential threats. Some of the risks that are beyond the scope of a VPN's protection include threats of social engineering, third-party server security risks, and software zero-day exploits.
Many of these threats target your credit card data specifically. You can try measures such as using a password manager to generate and store your credentials securely, enabling multi-factor authentication to protect all of your accounts, and updating your software regularly. However, your payment card details will only be as safe as the online stores where you use them are.
One potential solution to that issue comes in the form of virtual cards. They work just like regular cards, but they shield your real financial information with unique numbers at checkout. So, even if the virtual card information gets compromised, your real funding source remains safe.
If you opt for trusted virtual card providers like Privacy, you will also get robust security and spending controls, providing peace of mind when transacting online.
Use Privacy Cards To Protect Financial Details
Privacy Virtual Cards include unique 16-digit payment card numbers, CCV, and expiration dates. They serve as a stand-in for your actual card information, adding another layer of security between your financial details and merchants.
Privacy employs rigorous safety and security protocols to safeguard your information, much like any financial institution. Some of the ways Privacy helps protect you and your data include:
- Encryption—Privacy uses AES-256, one of the best encryption standards, to shield sensitive information in transit.
- Real-time notifications—The service sends instant notifications for every transaction made using a Privacy Card, allowing you to detect any potentially unauthorized activity and report it immediately.
- Two-factor authentication—Privacy offers email as the second factor by default and supports SMS and authenticator apps.
Privacy Card Types and Features
Depending on your needs, Privacy offers three types of virtual cards you can choose from:
- Single-Use Cards
- Merchant-Locked Cards
- Category-Locked Cards
Here's a breakdown of how they work:
With Privacy Cards, you can set spending limits, and Privacy will decline any charge that goes above that limit. This feature can help protect your bank account from any overcharges and price hikes you weren't notified about.
You can also pause and close your cards at any time. Any charges on the paused or closed card will be blocked, protecting your account from unexpected fees.
Convenience Features
Beyond security, Privacy focuses on making online transactions convenient. Here are some features that enhance your experience using the service:
- Mobile app—The Privacy App, compatible with iOS and Android, allows you to generate new cards, set spending limits, and monitor transactions directly from your smartphone, no matter where you are.
- Browser extension—The Privacy Browser Extension is compatible with major browsers, including Edge, Firefox, Chrome, Safari, and Safari for iOS. It integrates seamlessly with your web browsing experience, enabling quick and secure autofill of card details during checkout.
- Integration with 1Password—You can use 1Password to autofill card details at checkout, helping protect you from keyloggers and saving you from having to remember your virtual card details.
- Shared Cards—With Privacy, you can share card details securely with trusted individuals. This feature can be useful when you want somebody to purchase an item on your behalf but don't want to disclose your actual card information.
How To Get Started With Privacy
Getting started with Privacy is straightforward:
- Sign up for a Privacy account
- Add the required information to verify your identity
- Connect a source of funds, such as your bank account or debit card
- Request your first Privacy Card
To suit different needs, Privacy offers four plans:
- Personal—Free for domestic transactions, allows up to 12 unique cards per month.
- Plus—For $5 per month, this plan allows up to 24 unique cards per month and enables access to the Shared Cards feature. It also includes Category-Locked Cards, the ability to make card notes, and priority customer support.
- Pro—This plan costs $10 per month, allows up to 36 virtual cards per month, waives foreign transaction fees, and offers 1% cashback on eligible transactions totaling up to $4,500 per month.
- Premium—At $25 per month, it allows up to 60 unique cards per month and offers 1% cashback on eligible transactions.
Each plan comes with Merchant-Locked and Single-Use Cards, the ability to set spending limits, pause and close cards, and access to the web app, mobile app, and browser extension.
