- Feb 5, 2012
- 658
After some convincing I gave myself I am back with Bitdefender to check/try out the 2015 version. Just a short "checking out" (I do not want to stay using it) based on the previous trial I did with the 2014 version(BD IS 2014 and BD AV Plus 2014). I have prepared two partitions. One with Bitdefender IS 2015 as the only real-time protection (formerly with Avira Free + Comodo Firewall ver8 with HIPS) and one with Bitdefender AV Plus 2015 + Outpost Firewall Pro ver9.1(formerly with Avira Free + Outpost Firewall Pro ver9.1). The second partition was prepared to check or show contrast as to how the second security combination will fair against just BD IS 2015. I will not delve on the AV as I am confident that BD is superb in this category. The BD Wallet and SafePay I do not use either. I have my own app I trust
So these are some of my observations on BD IS 2015.
Seems sluggish (still).
There is still this sluggish delay feeling when opening programs and application. Even when just opening explorer.exe and the contents of that partition or folder is minimal it would go on reading it as if it was full t the brink or like an unrecognized usb stick being read slowly(or a dvd-disc slowly being read). Programs would pause for a moment while fully opening. Opening PDF files with PDF Xchange Viewer is also delayed. The file would open but it would show blank pages at start and after a few moments it will display the contents. Still observing here.
Blank blue screen-delay
I came to observe that I get a "blank blue screen-delay" and not the old "black-screen-delay" of BD IS 2014. The "blue-screen-delay" seems to surface from cold start. Have seen at least 4-6x at random "blank blue screen-delay" appearing just after the "Welcome" screen. Will try to catch and post an image next time. Still observing here.
Boot speed
Boot speed measurement of Glary Utilities compared to BD IS 2015's own StartUp Optimizer varies. The first measurement was:
Glary : 2:37min
BD IS 2015 StartUpOtimizer : 2:40min
This is Bitdefender Wallet Agent Enabled and running. See image below.
Disabled Bitdefender Wallet Agent and the readings went down but only a fraction(See Image below):
Glary : 1:29min
BD IS 2015 StartUpOptimizer : 2:11min
In the StartUp Optimizer of BD IS the only option there is to "enable/delay/disable". Unlike in say, CCleaner, Autoruns or KillSwitch (and Glary) you have the option to delete the autorun. I would like to try that in BD but it wasn't available. Instead used Killswitch to delete it. I also used KillSwitch to delete the Bitdefender Wallet Agent.
The boot speed readings whether it be Glary or the built-in BD IS 2015 StartUp Optimizer is way off the previous boot speed this partition had when I was using Avira Free + Comodo Firewall ver8 at 38sec. That 38 sec was formerly at around 29sec up until the last update last Jan 22/2015. The image below is a screenshot of the boot speed prior uninstalling Avira Free, Comodo Firewall ver8 and Malwarebytes Antimalware Premium.
In contrast with the second partition I prepared(same content with the exception of Outpost Firewall Pro) the boot speed is also at 38sec (Bitdefender AV Plus 2015 + Outpost Firewall Pro ver9.1). Bitdefender Wallet Agent is enabled as seen in Autoruns / KillSwitch_Autoruns Analyzer and Glary StartUp Manager. Please see image below.
Firewall Network Activity Monitor GONE!
Was surprised to see that Firewall Network Activity Monitor GONE! Had to use Process Hacker and KillSwitch. There isn't any way I can see if BD firewall blocks or allows a connection for an application. I do not understand why it has been removed so I am left with Process Hacker and KillSwitch.
Firewall Stealth.
In the firewall adapter settings and I saw there that "Stealth is ON". So I went to GRC ShieldsUP and PCFlank to see. I got a "FAIL" and "open"result and this was on a dial-up connection. I was shocked. Never got that result when I am using Comodo, Online Armor or Outpost Firewall Pro.
In a similar partition where I have Bitdefender AV Plus 2015 + Outpost Firewall Pro ver9.1 the result is stealth/fail(PING/Solicited TCP Packets) for GRC ShieldsUp and "stealth" with PCFlank Advanced Port Scanner.
Firewall Deny Rule not working.
As with my trial of BD IS 2014 last year I checked to see if DENY rule in BD firewall is working. Settings are:
Went ahead and launched "wpsupdate.exe"of Kingsoft Office Pro 2013 (via explorer.exe) and even-though the rule is DENY it still established a connection to home. See image below.
Launched "Star Defender.exe" a freeware game from MyPlaycity.com. It has a Preloader.exe where a DENY rule was placed. Connection was still established. See image below.
When I tried out BD IS 2014 last year I also used this very same game. The game Star Defender has an auxiliary application "game.exe" which also connects to home(MyPlayCity.com). I have placed the same DENY rule for it but when I launch Star Defender there is no "game.exe" trying to connect to the internet. Only Preloader.exe. Now I do not know if BD firewall "blocked" it or not because there is no network activity and logs to verify.
The trigger behavior (-- launch browser after game exit) this freeware game also cannot be blocked by BD firewall (same as that of BD IS 2014) as when I clicked "exit" on the game's gui, Firefox launched and connected to MyPlayCity.com. See image below.
Same thing with GOM Media Player. Connection was "still" established despite a DENY rule set. See image below.
Same behavior also with Daum PotPlayer. Connection was "still" established despite a DENY rule set. See image below.
So the same as with my BD IS 2014 trial last year, the firewall seems not to block "certain connections" on both protocol and network types. There is also no way of knowing IF BD Firewall is blocking or allowing a connection as there is no pop-up or notice that can be seen. No logs...No notice/pop-ups...I may be wrong but there really ain't anything....
In contrast with the other partition with BD AV Plus 2015 + Outpost Firewall Pro ver9.1.
All Block Rules were intercepted and blocked. See images below:
Outpost Event Viewer_System Guard showing Kingsoft's "wpsupdate.exe" blocked and StarDefender freeware game "Preloader.exe" blocked.
Outpost Event Viewer_Anti-Leak Block of StarDefender freeware game's auxilliary application "game.exe" attempting to launch Firefox.exe after game "exit".
Outpost Event Viewer_System Guard showing block events of GOM Media Player and Daum PotPlayer attempting to bypass internet settings and connect to the internet.
BD Tray icon sometimes disappears.
This is an intermittent one. Sometimes it's there. Sometimes it's not. Maybe just a fluke like that of Emsisoft Antimalware sometimes reverting to "Only show notifications" from "Show icon and notifications".
AutoPilot Profiles Error
In BD Is 2015 the AutoPilot Profiles_Movies not working. AutoPilot selects "Game" instead of "Movies" although the "apps" (PotPlayer, GOM Player, WMP) are in the application list.
In contrast AutoPilot_Profile_Work is functioning correctly.
AutoPilot_Profile_Game is also functioning correctly.
In BD AV Plus 2015, the behavior is the same. I have set the same settings but AutoPilot still seletcs "Game" as Profile when playing movies with GOM Media Player, Daum PotPlayer and WMP. See images below.
Now I am still observing as to both behaviors (BDIS 2015 partition an BDAV Plus 2015 + Outpost Firewall Pro ver9.1 partition) but it seems and feel that the most promising of the two is the second one with BDAV Plus 2015 + Outpost Firewall Pro ver9.1 combination mainly because of Outpost's capability to block what I want to be block and the like. The second partition is also lighter/fast to use in comparison to the BDIS 2015 partition wherein I always have to wait a couple of seconds for programs, applications to open properly. Of course the performance of version 2015 will vary depending on the system used and user (his/her) settings and what he wants BD to do to for him/her. On other system BDIS 2015 or BD AV Plus 2015 performs great or vice versa. As mentioned I am still observing both.
I will supply some info later this week.
So these are some of my observations on BD IS 2015.
Seems sluggish (still).
There is still this sluggish delay feeling when opening programs and application. Even when just opening explorer.exe and the contents of that partition or folder is minimal it would go on reading it as if it was full t the brink or like an unrecognized usb stick being read slowly(or a dvd-disc slowly being read). Programs would pause for a moment while fully opening. Opening PDF files with PDF Xchange Viewer is also delayed. The file would open but it would show blank pages at start and after a few moments it will display the contents. Still observing here.
Blank blue screen-delay
I came to observe that I get a "blank blue screen-delay" and not the old "black-screen-delay" of BD IS 2014. The "blue-screen-delay" seems to surface from cold start. Have seen at least 4-6x at random "blank blue screen-delay" appearing just after the "Welcome" screen. Will try to catch and post an image next time. Still observing here.
Boot speed
Boot speed measurement of Glary Utilities compared to BD IS 2015's own StartUp Optimizer varies. The first measurement was:
Glary : 2:37min
BD IS 2015 StartUpOtimizer : 2:40min
This is Bitdefender Wallet Agent Enabled and running. See image below.
Disabled Bitdefender Wallet Agent and the readings went down but only a fraction(See Image below):
Glary : 1:29min
BD IS 2015 StartUpOptimizer : 2:11min
In the StartUp Optimizer of BD IS the only option there is to "enable/delay/disable". Unlike in say, CCleaner, Autoruns or KillSwitch (and Glary) you have the option to delete the autorun. I would like to try that in BD but it wasn't available. Instead used Killswitch to delete it. I also used KillSwitch to delete the Bitdefender Wallet Agent.
The boot speed readings whether it be Glary or the built-in BD IS 2015 StartUp Optimizer is way off the previous boot speed this partition had when I was using Avira Free + Comodo Firewall ver8 at 38sec. That 38 sec was formerly at around 29sec up until the last update last Jan 22/2015. The image below is a screenshot of the boot speed prior uninstalling Avira Free, Comodo Firewall ver8 and Malwarebytes Antimalware Premium.
In contrast with the second partition I prepared(same content with the exception of Outpost Firewall Pro) the boot speed is also at 38sec (Bitdefender AV Plus 2015 + Outpost Firewall Pro ver9.1). Bitdefender Wallet Agent is enabled as seen in Autoruns / KillSwitch_Autoruns Analyzer and Glary StartUp Manager. Please see image below.
Firewall Network Activity Monitor GONE!
Was surprised to see that Firewall Network Activity Monitor GONE! Had to use Process Hacker and KillSwitch. There isn't any way I can see if BD firewall blocks or allows a connection for an application. I do not understand why it has been removed so I am left with Process Hacker and KillSwitch.
Firewall Stealth.
In the firewall adapter settings and I saw there that "Stealth is ON". So I went to GRC ShieldsUP and PCFlank to see. I got a "FAIL" and "open"result and this was on a dial-up connection. I was shocked. Never got that result when I am using Comodo, Online Armor or Outpost Firewall Pro.
In a similar partition where I have Bitdefender AV Plus 2015 + Outpost Firewall Pro ver9.1 the result is stealth/fail(PING/Solicited TCP Packets) for GRC ShieldsUp and "stealth" with PCFlank Advanced Port Scanner.
Firewall Deny Rule not working.
As with my trial of BD IS 2014 last year I checked to see if DENY rule in BD firewall is working. Settings are:
- Network Type: Any
- Protocol : Any
- Permission : DENY
Went ahead and launched "wpsupdate.exe"of Kingsoft Office Pro 2013 (via explorer.exe) and even-though the rule is DENY it still established a connection to home. See image below.
Launched "Star Defender.exe" a freeware game from MyPlaycity.com. It has a Preloader.exe where a DENY rule was placed. Connection was still established. See image below.
When I tried out BD IS 2014 last year I also used this very same game. The game Star Defender has an auxiliary application "game.exe" which also connects to home(MyPlayCity.com). I have placed the same DENY rule for it but when I launch Star Defender there is no "game.exe" trying to connect to the internet. Only Preloader.exe. Now I do not know if BD firewall "blocked" it or not because there is no network activity and logs to verify.
The trigger behavior (-- launch browser after game exit) this freeware game also cannot be blocked by BD firewall (same as that of BD IS 2014) as when I clicked "exit" on the game's gui, Firefox launched and connected to MyPlayCity.com. See image below.
Same thing with GOM Media Player. Connection was "still" established despite a DENY rule set. See image below.
Same behavior also with Daum PotPlayer. Connection was "still" established despite a DENY rule set. See image below.
So the same as with my BD IS 2014 trial last year, the firewall seems not to block "certain connections" on both protocol and network types. There is also no way of knowing IF BD Firewall is blocking or allowing a connection as there is no pop-up or notice that can be seen. No logs...No notice/pop-ups...I may be wrong but there really ain't anything....
In contrast with the other partition with BD AV Plus 2015 + Outpost Firewall Pro ver9.1.
All Block Rules were intercepted and blocked. See images below:
Outpost Event Viewer_System Guard showing Kingsoft's "wpsupdate.exe" blocked and StarDefender freeware game "Preloader.exe" blocked.
Outpost Event Viewer_Anti-Leak Block of StarDefender freeware game's auxilliary application "game.exe" attempting to launch Firefox.exe after game "exit".
Outpost Event Viewer_System Guard showing block events of GOM Media Player and Daum PotPlayer attempting to bypass internet settings and connect to the internet.
BD Tray icon sometimes disappears.
This is an intermittent one. Sometimes it's there. Sometimes it's not. Maybe just a fluke like that of Emsisoft Antimalware sometimes reverting to "Only show notifications" from "Show icon and notifications".
AutoPilot Profiles Error
In BD Is 2015 the AutoPilot Profiles_Movies not working. AutoPilot selects "Game" instead of "Movies" although the "apps" (PotPlayer, GOM Player, WMP) are in the application list.
In contrast AutoPilot_Profile_Work is functioning correctly.
AutoPilot_Profile_Game is also functioning correctly.
In BD AV Plus 2015, the behavior is the same. I have set the same settings but AutoPilot still seletcs "Game" as Profile when playing movies with GOM Media Player, Daum PotPlayer and WMP. See images below.
Now I am still observing as to both behaviors (BDIS 2015 partition an BDAV Plus 2015 + Outpost Firewall Pro ver9.1 partition) but it seems and feel that the most promising of the two is the second one with BDAV Plus 2015 + Outpost Firewall Pro ver9.1 combination mainly because of Outpost's capability to block what I want to be block and the like. The second partition is also lighter/fast to use in comparison to the BDIS 2015 partition wherein I always have to wait a couple of seconds for programs, applications to open properly. Of course the performance of version 2015 will vary depending on the system used and user (his/her) settings and what he wants BD to do to for him/her. On other system BDIS 2015 or BD AV Plus 2015 performs great or vice versa. As mentioned I am still observing both.
I will supply some info later this week.
Last edited: