Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. The system tray icon displays a green checkmark when the VPN is connected, and a black mark when the VPN is disconnected. bitdefender taking too long to Download. Number of servers: 1,300+ Yes I've got the same problem with my WIndows 8.1 installation. You can upgrade to the Bitdefender PremiumVPN version anytime byclicking the Upgrade button located in the product interface. Should a update for this situation arise we will post it on this thread. Once your Bitdefender subscription expires, your device will no longer be protected against threats, and you will not be warned when trying to access dangerous sites. Welcome to the Bitdefender Expert Community. Yes. Advanced attack visibility with guided investigation, Protection for Virtual Servers and Desktops, Purpose-built Container and Linux security, Threat detection, investigation, and response. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. You can also pay by PayPal or direct bank transfer. If it is not a must to connect from your location to a faraway hosted server (e.g. It has an easy to navigate server list, which we like. The server location for users with the free version is automatically set by Bitdefender to the most appropriate server, while premium users have the possibility to change the server location they want to connect toby selecting it from the Virtual Location list. While the quality of the servers is more important than the quantity, I find their spread to be quite thin. On a less positive note, latency was bad across the board. Company No. If your Bitdefender security solution includes a Premium VPN subscription (e.g. NETGEAR provides complimentary technical support for NETGEAR products for 90 days from the original date of purchase. You have to be careful when you access, download, or upload content on the Internet. You can upgrade to the Bitdefender PremiumVPN version anytime byclicking the Upgrade button located in the product interface. To get a full refund, the process is easy: fill out an email ticket stating you want a refund. The next step up, Bitdefender Internet Security, is again only for Windows machines; yearly costs range from $60 . Instead, our recent IPVanish P2P tests confirm the VPN service is still one of the safest torrent VPNs to use. Thats much less expensive than VPN providers such as ExpressVPN and NordVPN, and comparable to the best bargain provider Surfshark. The latest event, about an hour ago, says "Update requires reboot to complete. We dissect the logging and privacy policies of every VPN. What happened? Our overall rating is reached by combining several subcategories. The best VPN for you depends on your needs and budget. The attached file is a screenshot of the error. The feature helps you secure your connection every time you need, and connects you automatically to the optimal server location. I have a problem, I left a comment, to see if it would solve my case, I thought I would get a help, they ended up deleting my comment, why? Bitdefender VPN stuck at configuring. The settings menu is easy to find, but there isnt much there. Regardless of the subscription type, Premium VPN can be used on maximum 10 devices at once. Update requires a system reboot to replace all files." This feature continued to function despite the tricks we used to close the VPN connection. There is no other security solution on that machine. New York, As a result of being a Hotspot Shield white-label, Bitdefender is really fast. 2 3 3 comments Best Add a Comment Bitdefender_ 3 yr. ago The system tray icon displays a green checkmark when the VPN is connected, and a black mark when the VPN is disconnected. Something clearly is not right--either something is "stuck" or very poor user interaction--because the Extration progress dialog is still sitting over my desktop. The kill switch worked well, and while it's missing some features like a Favorites system, it's by no means underpowered. The mobile apps both have a simple layout. Task Manager now shows a reasonably normal activity level, so I guess maybe it's time to reboot, but how would I know that? The issue has been resolved in the latest build of 2016 and it does not reproduce on 2017. Packed with high-end features, Bitdefender is one of the most popular and most reliable consumer antivirus solutions currently available which is why it features on our list of the best antivirus software out there. Yes, Bitdefender Premium VPN is a separate subscription from the Bitdefender security solution one. So running Windows 10 with latest updates on a new computer (just a few months old), I've had Bitdefender for over a year and just decided to try their VPN and now it's stuck on configuring for HOURS now. Theyre all basic and lack many advanced settings. To get unlimited traffic and unrestricted access to content worldwide by choosing a server location at your will, upgrade to the premium version of Bitdefender VPN for Windows. This rating mainly consists of the intuitiveness of setup and everyday use. The VPN doesn't unblock US Netflix, and due to its privacy flaws we don't recommend it for torrenting, either. Agreed with DoubleG. You wont be able to find more private or anonymous payment methods, though. Right-click the red shieldicon in the system tray, and then select Show in the menu. Its servers are located in Europe, North America, Asia, and South America. All in all, Bitdefender VPNs free service is very disappointing and cant match the best free VPNs weve reviewed. As youll discover diving into our latest review, Bitdefender is not a good VPN and significantly inferior to our highest-rated VPNs. It can also be installed as a standalone app from the product page, from Google Play Store & App Store. That will mean it's lacking in some features power-users might expect, but for most this will do the job while offering decent speeds too. Weve spent thousands of hours testing and reviewing 56 VPN services using our impartial review process to recommend you the best VPN software. Enter the menu, and you'll be able to tell the app to connect when it detects a P2P app being opened (or any other app, for that matter). I was impressed that both antivirus programs provide excellent defense against all strains of malware but Norton ultimately outperformed Bitdefender in security, performance, ease of use, and extra features. Bitdefender Premium Security), then the VPN will inherit the device limit in that bundle (10, 15, etc.). Dashboard: An overview of your connection time, the amount of secured traffic, and the top VPN servers you spent the most time connected to. Click to reveal Like most reputable providers, Bitdefender VPN is relying on Advanced Encryption Standard. Download speed loss when Bitdefender VPN is running: 7%. Bitdefender VPN doesnt operate any kind of obfuscation technology, so it won't break through Chinas Great Firewall. NOTE : If you update your network card drivers there is no need to use these commands as the cache is purged when switching the driver. Privacy Policy. There is a warning saying DO NOT TURN OFF YOUR DEVICE, do not restart whilst configuring. Bitdefender has dedicated VPN apps for Windows, Android, macOS, and iOS. | With Bitdefender VPN, you benefit from a daily 200 MB daily traffic quota per device included in your subscription (a 500 MB daily traffic quota is included only in Bitdefender Small Office Security subscriptions). Download speeds on a 1Gbps US data center to Bitdefenders VPNs nearest location peaked at 350-410Mbps, which is good and, unsurprisingly, very similar to Hotspot Shield's performance. While these issues have been resolved, we think its important that users know about this before they commit to a VPN product managed in some capacity by Aura. Regardless of the subscription type, PremiumVPN can be used on maximum 10 devices at once. The VPN interface displays the status of the app: if you are using the free version of the VPN product, you can, You can upgrade to the Bitdefender PremiumVPN version anytime byclicking the, GravityZone Security for Virtualized Environments, How to upgrade to Bitdefender PremiumVPN on Windows, Fix Microsoft .NET Framework is corrupted error in Bitdefender VPN for Windows, How to disable Secure DNS in your browser settings, How to install & activate Bitdefender Premium VPN on Windows, Mac, Android & iOS, How to upgrade your Bitdefender VPN subscription from Free to Premium VPN on Windows, Boost Internet traffic for your Apps with Bitdefender VPNs App Traffic Optimizer. In this Bitdefender VPN review, we put its virtual private network software under the microscope to assess whether its worth recommending. In the Connection name box, enter a name you'll recognize (for example, My Personal VPN). Thank you for taking the time to respond. The NETGEAR documentation team uses your feedback to improve our knowledge base content. In comparison, our CyberGhost review details how the VPN covers 90 countries, with city-level choice in the US, UK and eight other nations. With NETGEARs round-the-clock premium support, help is just a phone call away. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a1457c2ab5a361d Still no fix? Bitdefender is quick to claim that its VPN can unlock media from all over the world. Thats not true, though. This rating does not directly contribute to the Overall Rating, but instead makes up a portion of the Security & Features rating. With Bitdefender VPN, you benefit from a daily 200MB daily traffic quota per device included in your subscription (a 500MB daily traffic quota is included only in Bitdefender Small Office Security subscriptions). I am having the same problem today for many hours. We are currently working on a solution that will be sent via auto updates. Unfortunately, Bitdefender VPN is not a service we recommend our readers use. Aura has been the subject of some controversy in the past, which you can read about in our Hotspotshield VPN review. There is a free VPN service which comes bundled with any purchase of a Bitdefender product. If the problem persists, uninstall and then reinstall the Bitdefender VPN app. If Bitdefender is already installed on other devices, click on + ADD DEVICE. Regarding its usefulness as a mobile VPN, the apps for both Android and iOS are pretty similar in terms of both the interface and the functionality. While connected to a manually selected location, the IP address is displayed on the main interface. use Split tunneling to allow certain websites & apps to bypass the VPN connection No. I'm new to Bitdefender..and doing a full system scan for the 1st time. activate a Kill-Switch to pause all Internet traffic should the VPN accidentally disconnect activate a Kill-Switch to pause all Internet traffic should the VPN accidentally disconnect . "Downloading package" is taking to long to download and after a moment it will fail to download. Select Settings > Network & internet > VPN > Add VPN. There are several steps you can take to troubleshoot any connection error:Troubleshooting Bitdefender VPN errors on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. Click Privacy on the left sidebar of the Bitdefender interface. Have queried this with Bitdefender in a survey - no reply yet. I'm on the forum within the rules. is already installed on your Windows computer, you can open Bitdefender VPN from there: Bitdefender could not change the update location". New York, So, Bitdefender VPN isn't as speedy as providers like NordVPN (880Mbps), but on the whole Bitdefender is swift and should keep up with any task. my question to the forum is-- how long does it take for your full system scan and does it take this long with every full system scan? While it's fast, it temporarily logs your IP address and it leaks DNS credentials. NY 10036. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, meanwhile, is the company's first-tier commercial product and starts at $19.99 for a one year, one device license ($39.99 on renewal). There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Sadly, Bitdefender VPNs privacy policy confirms the service collects personally-identifiable information. The account I am using does NOT have admin privileges. Click to reveal You should get decent service, but be aware it's not as robust as the support you'll get from the leading dedicated VPN providers. The server location for users with the free version is automatically set by Bitdefender to the most appropriate server, while premium users have the possibility to change the server location they want to connect toby selecting it from the Virtual Location list. Bitdefender Premium VPN uses VPN provider Hotspot Shield (opens in new tab)'s tech for its protocol, which is the purpose built and impressive Catapult Hydra protocol. Bitdefender VPN is a feature of Bitdefender Security and is included with your NEGEAR Armor subscription. GearHead Support is a technical support service for NETGEAR devices and all other connected devices in your home. This could potentially be useful in some cases, but considering that Bitdefender VPN is actually quite capable as a torrenting VPN, with P2P allowed on all servers, a per-app split tunnelling system would be most welcome. With Bitdefender VPN, you benefit from a daily 200MB daily traffic quota per device included in your subscription (a 500MB daily traffic quota is included only in Bitdefender Small Office Security subscriptions). This is not a secure VPN, and should only be used with caution. Created on November 8, 2020 Bitdefender issue - currently configuring Bitdefender VPN & not finishing after many hours. The situation is know and it is being worked on. if you are using the free version of the VPN product, you can upgrade to the premium plan from here. As well as the support teams, users can find information in Bitdefenders knowledge base (opens in new tab), which is stocked with articles, how-to-videos, and FAQs. There was a problem. Here's how to download it and begin using it. We also publish VPN research and advice to help protect your internet privacy and security. As its name suggests, Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition costs nothing and offers a simple Windows tool that focuses on two core security basics: antivirus, and the blocking of phishing and scam sites. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. so i bought Bitdefender antivirus Plus, and when i selected my product name i clicked "install" button. That error code appears when there is a interruption in your internet connection. At this time the workaround this annoyance is to run the product with Administrator rights. There is no Smart DNS and no router support, meaning you cant use Bitdefender VPN on Apple TV or games consoles. If you close it, sometimes it comes back over and over really quickly. Our remote-access server in Shanghai, China routinely tests if a VPN can beat restrictions and access a free, open internet. Performance & security by Cloudflare. If you have any other security solution on that machine I would advise removing it. Its not a surprise, though, considering Bitdefender even states on its website that it restricts use of the VPN in the below countries: We dont recommend using Bitdefender VPN if you intend to travel to a highly-censored nation, because it just wont work. However, thanks to that link with Hotspot Shield, Bitdefender VPN is pretty fast. Ranked #39 out of 56 VPNs for Customer Support. While its fast and supports P2P traffic, it logs your IP address and it your leaks DNS credentials. You have to log into a wider suite in order to open the VPN, though, which is confusing and unnecessary. The Bitdefender VPN for NETGEAR Armor secures and encrypts your connection to the Internet. What's the issue? Country of registration: USA Payment options include credit card, PayPal, bank transfer, check, and even cash (if youre a US resident with a 7/11 nearby). Ranked #49 out of 56 VPNs for Privacy & Logging Policy. Your ISP wont know what youre torrenting, but it will know when and where youre torrenting. You'll need to, At this point you can perform an initial security check by clicking. Once the installation file is downloaded, Once that's done, you'll get a check box, asking you to read and agree to the terms of your subscription. It's just the apps you work through which are Bitdefender designed. The system tray icon displays a green checkmark when the VPN is connected, and a black mark when the VPN is disconnected. To access the main interface of Bitdefender VPN, use one of the following methods: Right-click the red shieldicon in the system tray, and then select Show in the menu. It has a cancel button and nothing else. You can test Norton for yourself using its 60-day money-back . Registered in England and Wales. if you are using the free version of the VPN product, you can upgrade to the premium plan from here. While connected to a manually selected location, the IP address is displayed on the main interface. We believe the reader should decide what is or isnt a reasonable price. Here you can learn more about your Bitdefender VPN app, virtual server locations, Premium VPN subscriptions, and other topics important to our customers. The Bitdefender VPN for NETGEAR Armor secures and encrypts your connection to the Internet. Having the same issue, Win 10 Pro x64, Internet Security 2016. You will receive a verification email shortly. Configure DHCP; Configure PPPoA ; Configure PPPoE ; Connect Printer to Router ; Connect Router ; . (Image credit: Stephen Warwick / Windows Central), Fantasy MMO Pax Dei is coming to PC and cloud gaming platforms, Hi-Fi Rush has attracted two million players on Xbox and PC, The Wolf Among Us 2 delayed out of 2023 to keep from crunching. This has been going on for a couple of hours (at least) on two of my computers. Hydra protocol on all platforms, 256-bit AES encryption, or the highest available cypher supported by both client and server, with Perfect Forward Secrecy. If a Bitdefender security product such as Bitdefender Total Security or Bitdefender Antivirus Plus etc. The speed of Bitdefender Premium VPN is below-average. Settings No, with Bitdefender VPN your privacy is 100% safe. Don't just take my word for it. Settings: Depending on your needs, you can customize the behavior of your product. Here is what our VPN leak test looked like: From the screenshot above, you can see we were correctly assigned a Danish IP address, but our UK DNS servers were also visible. The Bitdefender server list is limited to 25 countries, with 15 of them based in Europe. This doesnt mean the app design is bad on the contrary it is very easy to use but its limited functionality wont be getting too much praise from us. But now i'm not able to install it again. We're missing a Favorites or Recent list to swiftly connect to your most-used servers, and theres no real connection status information. What customer support does Bitdefender VPN offer? This latency is simply not good for gaming online without lag. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. It has been 3 weeks since the last update. I have a dialog with a Bitdefender title that says "Extraction progress." The bug implies QA is done primarily using admin privileges, really you should encourage clients to run normally without admin as a best practice from a security point of view. We particularly like that you can change the server location youre connected to without having to disconnect from your current one. We calculate the average download bitrate of every VPN using a bespoke torrenting setup. Why is my Bitdefender VPN not connecting? Overall, Bitdefender VPN is not private, to the extent that its one of the worst VPNs weve tested. and our If the VPN displays Connecting for a few seconds, then goes back to Turn On to Secure your Connection, restart your device. In order bypass that message, please login as an Administrator and perform the update. That happens because your Windows user doesn't have proper Administrator rights as the extraction window should have been silent. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Was this article helpful? Thank you. Ranked #33 out of 56 VPNs for Server Locations 25 Countries 25 Cities 1,300+IP Address A VPN should never log: A base of operations outside of 14-Eyes or EU jurisdiction is preferable. We have the answers! There is no ETA at this time, our devs are working on resolving more than just this issue with one update. About: Displays information about the installed VPN version. It's difficult even here. A quick scan is what I suggest. Simultaneous connections: 10 change the auto-connect options Connecting to Bitdefender VPN for Windows Bitdefender VPN is based in an EU member state and outsources its VPN service to Aura, who log far more than is necessary. While connected to a manually selected location, the IP address is displayed on the main interface. You have two choices: monthly or yearly. Speed ratings are calculated using upload speeds, download speeds, and ping (latency). Open a command prompt and use the commands bellow. From the Bitdefender interface VPN split tunneling is also available, in case you want certain apps to use your real Internet address. Streaming is rated by the number of different services unlocked, how many regional libraries are viewable, and how consistently the VPN can access them. How to use Bitdefender VPN for Windows: Interface, Connection, Settings, Subscriptions. Its fast, private and it unblocks most streaming platforms including Netflix USA. A subscription for Bitdefender Premium. Bitdefender operates a small network 1,300+ VPN servers in 25 countries. Bitdefender VPN Subscriptions Limited VPN. The server location for users with the free version is automatically set by Bitdefender to the most appropriate server, while premium users have the possibility to change the server location they want to connect toby selecting it from the Virtual Location list. Read Surfshark review. First off, we've got a host of new server locations, jumping up to 48 countries covered in total, as opposed to 30 previously. The VPN interface displays the status of the app: connected or disconnected. I'm not using my administrator account for regular computer use. It offers further features, including ransomware protection, Wi-Fi security scanning, banking protection via a secure browser, secure file deletion, a vulnerability scanner and a password manager. Defragmentation is a good option with hard drives. Wed like to see the option to pay with cryptocurrency or a prepaid credit card, or even cash. Netflix, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video and more are all tested on a weekly basis. This is the VPN connection name you'll look for when connecting. Bitdefender Premium VPN is a super simple to use, no-nonsense option for anyone that wants a no-frills way to keep their privacy secure online. Although Bitdefender Premium VPN may be packaged as a Bitdefender product, it actually works by connecting through Hotspot Shield's Catapult Hydra protocol. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Or you may want a local country for potentially faster speeds than one far away. The ping time to the nearest VPN server was 10ms, which is good enough for online gaming. Among many others he writes across Future titles covering health tech, software and apps, VPNs, TV, audio, smart home, antivirus, broadband, smartphones, cars and plenty more. Please refresh the page and try again. Yes, Bitdefender has a VPN, and it's one of my favorite antivirus-bundled VPNs in 2023. It offers me a Restart Now button. What is the difference between the standard and the Premium version? 1996-2023 Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy. Bitdefender VPN is designed to protect your personal data, hide your IP address while connected to unsecured wireless networks, and access restricted content in certain countries. I am having the same problem. Then choose This device to download the Bitdefender installer on your Windows computer. Bitdefender's apps are all pretty easy to use, if only because they're so simple. Bitdefender is fast enough for HD streaming and works with BBC iPlayer, which is a difficult service to unblock. This is far from ideal from a privacy standpoint. First up, we tried to access US Netflix and UK Netflix, and Bitdefender was unable to get us in to either, even after trying several servers. Signing up for longer will save you even more cash, though, with the best option currently coming in at just $2.49 a month for an annual plan. Your traffic is redirected through a separate server; thus making your device almost impossible to be identified through the myriad of other devices that are using our services. From your desktop There are no city level locations, though. The Bitdefender VPN home screen on Windows. I'm a relatively new user, and I wondered what to expect. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. If you want, you can use the anti-virus and security features in the other tabs, but you wont find any additional VPN settings. We've found all three of these to be fast and useful. Bitdefender uses Hotspot Shield's superfast Catapult Hydra protocol which is widely thought of as secure, and we've received clarification from Bitdefender that no user data is shared with Hotspot Shield or its parent companies. Log in to your Bitdefender account and manage security for what matters. I stopped the installation and the roll back took a while as well, but certainly a lot less time than what it spent installing. Ranked #40 out of 56 VPNs for Bypassing Web Censorship. Thanks. Most importantly it doesnt leak. The Bitdefender suite of security software (mainly its antivirus) was developed in Romania in 2001, but its predecessor a program called Antivirus Expert was developed under the company name Softwin in 1996. To be clear, this is the Bitdefender Premium VPN review, which is the unlimited version as opposed to the free version that comes with the Bitdefender security suite and only offers a meagre 200MB data limit. Ultra-fast VPN that keeps your online identity and activities safe from hackers, ISP's and snoops. If that is the problem--and I have already run into it in another context with Bitdefender--then I have a rant: Software developers HAVE to write their Windows software to consider (a) machines with multiple user accounts that (have different levels of privilege. Device or platform compatibility and customization options are also a factor. Bitdefender Premium VPN is not a good service. How private is Bitdefender VPN and does it keep logs? Support: Articles, email, live chat. Kill switch: Yes The forums are pretty helpful too, although these are mostly user-operated so arent the most reliable source out there.