BitDefender Total Security offers all the usual components, plus online backup with 2GB of storage, parental controls, file encryption, identity protection and even a duplicate file finder. There's a more basic Internet Security package too, but this fully-loaded edition costs no more than many simpler competing suites.

Key features haven't been neglected: the 92% malware detection test was this month's second highest overall, and its score of 57% in our web threats test placed it a respectable fourth.

We did have a few reservations: BitDefender left our machine more exposed to direct network attacks than we'd like, with six high- and medium-risk vulnerabilities accessible as well as two TCP ports used by worms.

Its RAM footprint was on the larger side, and it kept grinding long after the test machine had booted. Its icon didn't even appear in the system tray until 40 seconds after the desktop had appeared.

There are some presentational niggles too. At one point the firewall complained about a process called "signcheck": this turned out to be a component of BitDefender itself. One database update ticked all the way up to 276% before finishing. And we found the overall look of the program cold and alienating.

Still, it's easy to get at all the basic controls, and there are numerous thoughtful features. In laptop mode it will optionally postpone scans and skip backups when running on battery power.

An extendable list of known games tells the firewall when to automatically go into silent mode. Total Security 2009's do-everything approach won't suit everyone, but if you're not precious about memory or boot time it has a lot to recommend it.