October 2019 • Macworld 91BUYING GUIDEOther security features
Outside of direct malware scanning and detection,
Bitdefender includes a Safe Files feature. Turned
off by default, this protects your Desktop,
Documents, Downloads and Pictures folders so
that no unauthorized app can delete or change
files there. You can add any additional folder of
your choice to the list.
Safe Files is designed to avoid ransomware
locking your files. Already on the whitelist are
apps including Microsoft Word and Google Chrome,
and indeed all apps from most reputable vendors.
However, if any non‑whitelisted app tries to write
to the folders, you’ll see a pop‑up warning you
asking if you want to authorize it.
You also get a VPN tool included in the
subscription. This is a cutdown version of
Bitdefender Premium VPN, which costs £2.55
per month. The main limitations are that you can’t
choose which country you connect to (that is, UK
users will always use a UK end point), and you’re
limited to a measly 200MB of data per day, per
device. Still, this might be useful for a little light
browsing if you’re connecting to untrusted Wi‑Fi
in a café or hotel.
Curiously, the VPN tool uses macOS’s own
VPN tools, so by opening System Preferences
and clicking the Network icon, you can connect
or disconnect from the VPN without the need to
run the Bitdefender VPN app. You might as well
because Bitdefender’s VPN app doesn’t offer
any other features typically found in VPN apps,October 2019 • Macworld 91BUYING GUIDEOther security features
Outside of direct malware scanning and detection,
Bitdefender includes a Safe Files feature. Turned
off by default, this protects your Desktop,
Documents, Downloads and Pictures folders so
that no unauthorized app can delete or change
files there. You can add any additional folder of
your choice to the list.
Safe Files is designed to avoid ransomware
locking your files. Already on the whitelist are
apps including Microsoft Word and Google Chrome,
andindeedallappsfrommostreputablevendors.
However,if anynon‑whitelistedapptriestowrite
tothefolders,you’llseea pop‑up warning you
asking if you want to authorize it.
You also get a VPN tool included in the
subscription. This is a cutdown version of
Bitdefender Premium VPN, which costs £2.55
per month. The main limitations are that you can’t
choose which country you connect to (that is, UK
users will always use a UK end point), and you’re
limited to a measly 200MB of data per day, per
device.Still,thismightbeusefulfora littlelight
browsingif you’reconnectingtountrustedWi‑Fi
in a café or hotel.
Curiously, the VPN tool uses macOS’s own
VPN tools, so by opening System Preferences
and clicking the Network icon, you can connect
or disconnect from the VPN without the need to
run the Bitdefender VPN app. You might as well
because Bitdefender’s VPN app doesn’t offer
any other features typically found in VPN apps,