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VPN and security provider Bitdefender has just announced new additions to its premium tier VPN service, helping it compete with the latest VPN rivals.
This year has seen some monumental changes in the way we work and play. While plenty of businesses have struggled, one of the few to benefit has been the VPN industry, with a purported four-fold increase in use among Americans this year.
Keen not to miss out security specialist Bitdefender has been investing in its premium VPN platform. The new additions include an internet kill switch, a new interface, and a resigned core including a new “dark” theme.
See our guide to Bitdefender vs Avast
New Bitdefender Premium VPN Features
There are several new additions the Premium tier of Bitdefender, perhaps the most notable being the kill switch function. Bitdefender has received criticism in the past for not offering this feature, while several of its competitors do. Its addition now makes Bitdefender’s VPN a real viable option when considering which provider to opt for.
A VPN kill switch is a useful tool to aid in protecting the user from having their identity discovered or risk personal data being exposed. When enabled, the feature acts as a fail safe should the VPN connection fail. In usual circumstances, a device would fall back on its traditional connection – meaning that traffic and activity would be routed through your ISP. As this doesn’t have the level of privacy protection offered by a VPN, it would immediately compromise a user’s data and viewing habits.
A kill switch will, as the name suggests, simply stop the internet dead, should the VPN connection fail. The user can choose then to reconnect via VPN or revert back to their standard connection.
In addition to the kill switch, Bitdefender has also redesigned its core (the way in which it connects to its servers), and is now, according to Bitdefender, 25% faster.
Lastly, the user interface has also seen an upgrade, and users are now able to enable a dark mode.
Bitdefender isn’t just in the VPN business of course. It also offers anti-virus software.
if it’s a VPN you’re primarily after, see the table below for a round-up of Tech.co’s recommendations, based on our independent tests and assessments of privacy, speed and ease of use:
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Test Score
Our scoring is based on independent tests and assessments of features, privacy settings, ease of use and value.
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Price From
Lowest price for single month subscription to cheapest paid tier. Other plans are available.
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Verdict
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Free Trial
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Try
Click to find the latest offers, deals and discounts from the VPN provider
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BEST ON TEST
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4.0
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4.3
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3.8
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3.7
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4.0
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4.1
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3.8
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4.3
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3.9
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4.3
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3.5
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$3.39/user/month (Up to 72% off!) |
$2.99/month |
$2.03/month |
$9.99/month |
$3.00/month min. ($1 per location) |
~$4.87 per month |
$2.19/month |
$4.99/month (with two-year commitment) |
~$2.20 (3-day plan) |
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Super fast and easy to use, NordVPN is among the best we’ve tested. Advanced features like Onion-Over-VPN make it stand out from the crowd. |
An excellent price for a powerful VPN tool with an adblocker, malware detector and no limit on the number of devices you can use it on. |
A fast VPN that performed well on our speed tests, and also owns a lot of its own server infrastructure. |
Affordably priced ultra-secure VPN that has great privacy features but is a little slow. |
A reliable, widely-used VPN that has decent privacy controls, but it performed very poorly on our speed tests. |
A safe, easy-to-use and relatively robust VPN app that performed really well on our 2024 unblocking tests. |
A decently-priced VPN that does all the basics well, but has an incredibly small server network compared to PureVPN and Co. |
A decent option for seasoned torrenters, but a little pricier than PureVPN and Private Internet Access. |
A user-friendly VPN based in Romania with servers optimized for streaming, but no obfuscation technology. |
A highly reliable VPN with servers in more than 100 countries – but it comes with one of the heftiest price tags on the market. |
A powerful tool for expert users |
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30-day money-back guarantee |
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Yes (iOS and Android) |
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7 days |
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30-day money-back guarantee |
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| See Deals | See Deals | See Deals | See Deals | See Deals | See Deals | See Deals | See Deals | See Deals | See Deals | See Deals |
For more, see our guide to the Most Secure VPNs for 2020, ranked by Tech.co
Why Should You Use a VPN?
There are many reasons why people use VPNs, from security concerns, to accessing region-locked shows on Netflix, to getting better deals when buying online. They are a a flexible tool that many are finding invaluable in 2020.
Many subscribers use VPNs to take advantage of the global content of streaming services. Netflix, for example, varies its catalog depending on the country you’re accessing it from. The latest film release may not be available in one region due to rights issues, but readily available in another. A VPN unlocks Netflix’s entire global library.
See which VPN is the best for accessing Netflix
Other people use VPNs to protect their privacy. Because a VPN bypasses your ISP and funnels your traffic through protected servers, you’re essentially anonymous. This makes it especially difficult for snoopers to gain access to your data. This is especially relevant when using a public Wi-Fi hotspot which may have poor security features.
A VPN can mask your data no matter where you’re accessing the internet from.
Are VPNs legal? Yes, but there are caveats…
There are also financial benefits to using a VPN. While the internet has meant that businesses can offer their products to a global market, pricing often varies due to a variety of reasons. The price you’re seeing in your own country might not be the best deal available. A VPN lets users appear to be from a different country, and take advantage of regional pricing.
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