My Ever Growing Suggestion List To Improve BitDefender:
BitDefender Firewall NDIS Filter Miniport Stops Working
Since I run a network bridge that is controlled by the Wireless Zero Service, I sometimes need to delete the bridge which separates my wireless from my LAN connection, and I sometimes need to reenable the bridge. BitDefender doesn't seem to like these constantly changing adapters, as BitDefender Firewall NDIS Filter Miniport stops working on any adapter after changing it multiple times.
I then have to refer to: http://kb.bitdefender.com/KB391-en--Firewa...vity-issue.html
To get the firewall working again.
This is a huge security risk!
I cannot afford for my firewall to ever stop working even if I change some of my connection settings by either deleting or re-bridging two network devices.
I can tell the firewall doesn't work when LeakTest.exe is able to penetrate the firewall and BitDefender fails to alert me.
I think BitDefender ISS should utilize another method of monitoring internet communications through network adapters on the firewall end.
Seccenter.exe Stops Responding
I've also lately noticed that seccenter.exe stops responding at times. I can just sit there with my mouse over the BitDefender ISS icon in the taskbar clicking on it, and nothing happens. I can even right click on the icon and choose show, but nothing happens either. Thus, I cannot modify any security settings, as BitDefender will not show. BitDefender is still actively protecting my machine; I just can't change anything.
To fix the problem, I normally restart my computer. As I'm trying to restart, Windows finally pops up the dialogue stating that seccenter.exe is not responding, and I choose to end it. After rebooting, BitDefender will "show". However, eventually it stops responding.
Weak Firewall:
I don't know if this has come to your attention, but your firewall is obviously horrible. I mean, just look:
http://www.matousec.com/projects/firewall-...nge/results.php
http://www.matousec.com/projects/firewall-...2012.0.10.2.pdf
I'm hoping that BitDefender 2010 will pass most of these tests and continue to use less than 10MB of background memory for the suite's entire operation. However, this should not be a priority as Matousec's results only occur if a virus is not detected by BitDefender and hijacks the system.
BitDefender Firewall NDIS Filter Miniport - Hardware Installation
When installing drivers for my Ralink Wireless N Adapter, BitDefender repeatedly popped up a window in which XP asked if I wanted to continue with the installation since NDIS Filter Miniport had not passed WHQL testing. This is strange, because it says it's trying to install BitDefender Firewall NDIS Filter Miniport. BitDefender NDIS Filter Miniport has nothing to do with my installation of drivers, so why do I receive warnings about it? I think this needs to be fixed, as I don't want to continually have to click allow during installations when the drivers themselves do not flag WHQL.
BitDefender Firewall NDIS Filter Miniport was interfering with my drivers. My internet would disconnect and reconnect. I disabled BitDefender from my startup, uninstalled the drivers, and reinstalled the same drivers, and now the adapter works perfectly. My adapter doesn't disconnect and reconnect. Thus, I think this feature should be improved so that it does not interfere with Ralink's Wireless N USB Adapters.
ASP.NET Machine Account:
After installing BitDefender Total Security Suite 2009, I noticed that a new account has been created under User Accounts in Control Panel. The new account is called ASP.NET Machine Account, and I believe it appears after the installation of .net Framework 1.1 which is included in BitDefender's installation package. This is annoying, as I now have to delete this account so that XP will not ask me to logon. I don't use a password on my account, so I just want XP to load and automatically sign me in. It will only do this if there is only one account. In BitDefender 2010, please fix this bug.
BitDefender's Look:
Instead of having a dreary, boring silver look, BitDefender’s interface should include a variety of eye pleasing colors. I think it would be cool if the BitDefender could look as professional as Internet Security Suite Version 10 did. Give it back it's professional look,
and let us change the theme to blue or red again!
Give us the option to create custom skins since you won't ever make a nice looking one ever again unless you revert back to the v10 design.
Firewall Alerts:
Instead of asking users to approve or deny up to 6 different connection protocols when the firewall is set to report for different programs, why not only ask me once whether the process should be allowed to connect to the internet or not and set the RULE to ANY PORT, ANY PROTOCOL. However, please let us change the rule in the "Rules" section should the user need to change or limit access.
Game Mode Configuration:
Game mode’s firewall mode should be configurable. I want antivirus scanning to cease when I play games, but I'd still like the firewall actively shielding my computer from malicious packets, new programs trying to access the internet, and packets which are unnecessary and privacy invading. Keep the firewall set to REPORT, because during play, an inactive firewall can lead to several virus threats and unwanted activity.
Privacy Tab / P2P:
BitDefender ISS 2010 should also have a P2P / Torrent / Connection Privacy Control in addition to registry control and identity control. This function would add an IP block list for known malicious IPs. Kinda like Peerguardian. It would also closely monitor the ports being used. In this tab, a basic IP filter would be nice to block out private instigators over P2P who infringe privacy and block commonly known hacker IPs.
Please make BitDefender more compatible with BlueTack!
Privacy Tab / Cookie and ****** Controls:
Under the Privacy Control for Cookies and ****** controls, instead of manually having to set rules for every site, why not allow the user to set a general privacy setting that blocks cookies, ads, popups, javascript, vbscripts, and activeX on every site and is fully configurable instead of having to manually set everything for the trillions of sites out there? However, still keep the manual settings, as some sites should be setup differently.
Exit Option:
Please re-add the exit option which will shut down BitDefender’s protected processes.
Add an HIPS:
Add an HIPS to BitDefender 2010 so that it monitors a few activities of currently running programs. However, don't create a HIPS that marks safe programs as unsafe such as WordPerfect Office X3.
We need "true" rootkit protection which I've noticed BitDefender has a hard time detecting.
Add Monthly Bandwidth Consumption Charts:
In the Firewall section of BitDefender, I think it would be cool to add a tab next to the "Activity" tab named "Statistics". In it, our daily bandwidth usage could be merged into a graph that informs users just how much internet bandwidth they consume per month. Since ISPs in the United States are trying to cap our "unlimited" internet, which I hope someone sues Comcast and the FCC jumps in again, it would be nice if the firewall could record how much bandwidth we use so that we're informed.
Remove Temporary Internet Files:
Add an option to clean temporary internet files including cache, cookies, and history. Allow us to permanently delete all internet cache quickly with just the click of a button. Support for IE 5.5, IE 6.0, IE 7.0, FireFox 2.0, and FireFox 3.0 would be ideal. The browser can delete these files, but instead of having to go through many options to delete everything, I think it would be cool if BitDefender could do it.
Scan Activity Bar:
I've noticed that when gaming, the little BitDefender scanning graph/chart that provides information on local and internet scanning activity pops through my games. It's literally flashing on and off during play. This should not happen.
Thus, perhaps when gaming is initialized, BitDefender could set the option for the chart to hide but only while the user is gaming, as I like this feature, and it's nice to see what's going on when I'm not gaming.
Instant Messaging Encryption:
Please add support for the two other major popular IM programs you left out; AOL Instant Messenger and ICQ.
Better yet, support encryption for Trillian Astra which includes MySpace IM, MSN, Yahoo, AIM, ICQ, IRC, GoogleChat all in one application. It's quite popular, and I use it a lot. I'd love to have encryption for all of Trillian. Trillian Astra is a new version that will be released soon.
BitDefender’s Settings:
It's imperative that BitDefender remembers all security settings, no matter what happens dealing with BitDefender updates or random computer crashes.
Updates have caused my firewall settings to be reset which should
never happen even in version 2009!
BitDefender Forum Suggestion:
Let users edit or modify there posts no matter how old the post may be.