| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer software |
| Founded | Copenhagen, Denmark 2002 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Products | BullGuard Internet Security BullGuard Mobile Security BullGuard Antivirus BullGuard Backup |
BullGuard is a UK-based, privately held software company that produces internet security products for home users and small businesses. It has offices in Denmark, Romania, The UK, Sweden, Benelux, France, Germany, Australia and the USA.
The BullGuard logo is a white bulldog on a red background. The watch dog supposedly symbolizes the protection provided by the company to its users and also stands for the claimed user-friendliness of the products’ design. The bulldog is, however, not just a logo, but a real live dog called Winston, who belonged to an employee at BullGuard. Although Winston has now gone into retirement, he occasionally visits the BullGuard offices in Copenhagen.
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BullGuard was founded in 2002 by two Danish entrepreneurs, Morten Lund and Theis Søndergaard.[1] Their aim was to create one PC internet security product that included all the security features necessary to protect the home user.
The first version of BullGuard Internet Security was launched in June 2002. In 2003 the company’s customer base had already registered over 3 million users, and by 2009, its products had gained notoriety, especially in the UK market, and recognition from PC Pro, Virus Bulletin, Computer Buyer, PC Plus magazines.[2]
Aside from developing security products for computers, BullGuard has also been working with mobile security technologies since 2005, when the company was among the first to launch a mobile security product.[3] In February 2011, it was announced that BullGuard had partnered with Juniper Networks to co-brand and sell the BullGuard Mobile Security 10 based on Junos Pulse Mobile Security Suite, Juniper's security software suite for mobile devices.[4]
In May 2011, BullGuard launched Mobile Security on the Android Marketplace.[5]
Since June 2007, BullGuard has passed ten VB100 tests, failed two, and missed the entrance to fourteen tests, out of 26 tests conducted by Virus Bulletin over the 4-year period [6] . In June 2011, the company’s Antivirus product made a top 3 (out of 43 products available to buy on the market) result of 97.7% in the RAP (reactive and proactive) tests.[7]Also, in the latest chart – covering the RAP averages over the Feb-August 2011 quadrant – issued by Virus Bulletin, BullGuard Antivirus managed to seize the top position.[8]
In TopTenREVIEWS’ 2011 Internet Security Suite Review, BullGuard Internet Security ranks 9th, while the company’s Mobile Security suite ranks first in the same reviewer’s 2011 Mobile Security Software Review.[9][10]
In April 2011, the tests conducted by AV-Comparatives on BullGuard Internet Security resulted in high scores in detection and false positives.[11]
BullGuard’s flagship product is the all-in-one internet security suite, BullGuard Internet Security.
The beta program for BullGuard 4.5 starts in May 2004. The released product includes Antivirus, Firewall and Online Backup modules. BullGuard 4.5 was officially discontinued on October 26, 2007.[12]
BullGuard becomes a modular application with a possibility for new plug-ins to be integrated more efficiently.
BullGuard 5.0 comes with a new interface and Firewall engine powered by Sygate[13] to complement the Antivirus and Online Backup modules. The new Firewall provides Beginner and Advanced levels that allow customization of traffic rules.
BullGuard 5.1 comes with a new Spamfilter module that supports Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express e-mail clients. The new Spamfilter uses a server-side Bayesian filter, which is personalized for each user and adapts automatically to changes in spam e-mail content, and a user-side local database with keywords characteristic to spam e-mail.
With the release of BullGuard 6.0,[14] the Spamfilter becomes a permanent module for the Internet Security suite and the other modules gain in performance and usability. The new Antivirus e-mail scanning feature checks outgoing e-mails.
Version 7.0 marks a new milestone for the BullGuard products, as it introduces module changes and a new user interface. The Sygate-based Firewall engine is replaced with a more capable Outpost engine that allows a better in-depth traffic management. The Antivirus gains improved features for detection and removal of spyware. The Online Backup module is modified to allow backup tasks for e-mail clients such as Outlook Express and Microsoft Outlook.
BullGuard 7.0 comes with a new Support module that provides instant access to the BullGuard technical support team by Live Chat or e-mail.
Version 8.0 [15] comes with several changes that extend the module performance and improve the user interface. The Spamfilter and the Online Backup module both support the Mozilla Thunderbird email client.
BullGuard 9.0 [16] is the merge between the Internet Security suite and the former SteelSecurity suite designed to fine-tune the computer performance for gamers. The new module allows users to minimize the impact of the security suite by reducing pop-up messages and fine-tuning the modules for minimum interference.
Antiphishing is added to the Antivirus module, improving malware detection, catch rates and removal tools.
The Spamfilter now supports Windows Live Mail and IncrediMail e-mail clients. It also allows more customized settings than the previous version.
The Firewall is improved by adding a local whitelist for the most commonly used applications (e-mail clients, Internet browsers, text processors, games or multimedia applications).
The Online Backup module comes with a new wizard that provides customizable Backup profiles and automatic Backup profiles for commonly used computer locations (desktop items, e-mails and user account folders for documents or multimedia files). The users now have instant access to the Online Backup drive, as this is integrated in the Windows Explorer file manager.
The version is added a Game Mode feature that protects the gamer's PC without lowering the quality and speed of game play.
BullGuard Internet Security 10 is improved so as to address the rapid expansion of online threats. The new additions are:
Key features:
BullGuard Online Backup is a remote backup service that stores important files in an offsite facility.[18] This way, files, photos and music stay protected in case of computer damage and theft.
Key features:
BullGuard provides a free e-mail Spamfilter that protects against an increasing number of unwanted and sometimes malicious e-mails. It is also included in the BullGuard Internet Security package.
Key features:
BullGuard Mobile Security 10 supports the four main mobile operating systems – Android, Symbian, Windows and Blackberry –, covering more than 80% of the smartphone market.[19][20]
Key features:
BullGuard live support is an online chat and e-mail service built into the BullGuard products. The customer can contact live support for any Internet security-related problem 24/7, every day of the year. The chat support tool enables BullGuard specialists to receive and process customer questions in real time, as well as send guides, screenshots and transcripts of the advice given.
The BullGuard Security Center is a virtual virus information center that gathers articles on various Internet security trends, threats (rootkits, keyloggers, phishing etc.) and types of software solutions.
The BullGuard Antivirus Forum is a chat forum created for advanced users and IT-professionals. Users can read Internet security-related questions and answers from other users and post their own questions.