BullGuard

BullGuard
Private company
Industry Computer software, Computer Security, Security software, Antivirus, Mobile Security
Founded Copenhagen, Denmark 2001
Founder Morten Lund and Theis Søndergaard
Headquarters London, United Kingdom
Key people
  • Nedko Ivanov (CEO)
  • George McDevitt (CFO)
  • Mike Hodges (COO)
  • Cam Le (CMO)
  • Steve Hicks (Head of Global Sales)
Products
  • BullGuard Internet Security[1]
  • BullGuard Mobile Security[2]
  • BullGuard Antivirus[3]
  • BullGuard Online Backup[4]
  • BullGuard Mobile Backup[5]
Slogan Safe. Simple. BullGuard.
Website www.bullguard.com

BullGuard is a global, privately held software company in the internet and mobile security market. Its product portfolio features internet security solutions for home users and small businesses, including award-winning antivirus and antiphishing tools, parental controls for PC and mobile devices, as well as PC and mobile backup software. The company has offices in the UK, Denmark, Romania, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Australia and the US.

BullGuard competes in the antivirus industry against Avira, ESET, F-Secure, Kaspersky, McAfee, Panda Security, Sophos and Symantec among others.

History

BullGuard was founded in 2002 by two Danish entrepreneurs, Morten Lund and Theis Søndergaard.[6] Their aim was to create a powerful PC internet security suite that included all the security features necessary to protect the home and small business user. Since then the company’s guiding principle is to develop security tools that are not only easy to use for an average user but also include the most advanced security technologies possible, whether this is helping to protect children online or creating multi-layered defences to guard against all forms of malware attack. The first version of the company’s flagship product, BullGuard Internet Security, was launched in June 2002. By 2009, BullGuard’s products had gained mass adoption around the world with Internet Security gaining particular prominence in the UK market.[7]

Partnerships

In 2008, BullGuard partnered with Steel Series to introduce advanced security for gamers.[8] As a result, BullGuard Gamer’s Edition was the world’s first internet security product specifically developed for gamers. It ensured they had the security they needed and it didn’t impact on the computer’s performance. Similarly, in February 2011, BullGuard partnered with Juniper Networks[9] to co-brand the BullGuard Mobile Security 10 based on Junos Pulse Mobile Security Suite, Juniper's security software suite for mobile devices. BullGuard is also a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and an OPSWAT Certified Partner, with both OPSWAT Gold Certified Antivirus and OPSWAT Mobile Certified Android certifications.[10]

Products

Internet Security

BullGuard’s flagship product is BullGuard Internet Security, an all-in-one internet security suite. The original launch included antivirus, firewall and online backup features. Since then it has developed significantly as threat levels have increased and attack vectors evolved. It incorporates security features such as a multi-layered defence system, including both behavioural detection and signature-based detection technologies, improved parental control.[11] The product is compatible with Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP (SP2 minimum), and is available in English, Swedish, German, Norwegian, French, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Danish, Portuguese and Chinese.

Identity Protection

BullGuard Identity Protection monitors the web, social networks and dark web where personal data is traded. It searches for private information ranging from credit and debit cards to bank account numbers email and postal addresses, usernames and passwords. This is the type of information generally stolen by hackers and then offered for sale on the dark web. If the details are discovered BullGuard Identity Protection immediately alerts the owners via SMS or email. Identity Protection also includes social media protection. It permits parents to discreetly monitor children’s Facebook accounts for ‘suspicious’ behaviour, to protect against cyber bullying, and guard against exposure to inappropriate content and potential predators.[12]

Premium Protection

BullGuard Premium Protection is the most advanced product from BullGuard. It incorporates all the different BullGuard protection components into one software security suite, ranging from identity protection, parental controls and social media protection to antivirus, PC tune-up and back-up.

Antivirus

BullGuard Antivirus incorporates the same antivirus engine as BullGuard Internet Security. Based on behavioural detection and signature-based detection technologies it also includes safe browsing and anti-spam protection.

Mobile Internet Security

BullGuard Mobile Security supports the widely used Android operating system. A web-based interface provides remote access to a user’s device, lock, wipe, backup functions and SIM card protection, alarm, and GPS functions.

Online Backup

BullGuard Online Backup is a remote backup service that stores important files in an offsite facility.

Mobile Backup

BullGuard Mobile Backup is for mobile users’ backup and data migration needs. The app supports Android, iOS, Symbian and BlackBerry operating systems and enables backup and restoration of contacts, photos, text messages, MMS, calendar, music, videos, ringtones, user settings, selected files and folders.

Reviews and tests

BullGuard’s Internet Security and Antivirus products are certified by independent testing bodies VB100, AV-Comparatives and AV-Test.

Criticism

After being criticized in July 2011 [16] as being unresponsive, support was made available 24/7 on telephone, e-mail, and Livechat. 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.

On 20 March 2010, computers running BullGuard under 64 bit versions of Windows were affected by a malfunctioning update which classified every executable program as well as dll files as infected.[17] These files were all marked as 'Trojan.FakeAlert.5' and were moved into quarantine. This action led to software and systems malfunctions that affected users around the world.

See also

References

External links