Bullguard 8.5 security software

The last version Bullguard’s internet security suite offered an impressive collection of tools both to safeguard your computer against the online threats and to keep documents safe.

As with many security programs, existing users of the Bullguard 8 software should find that they have automatically been moved up to version 8.5 depending on their subscriptions. For new users, though, aside from a few tweaks to shore up the security in reaction to new threats, improvements to the firewall and some auto-update features, Bullguard 8.5 hasn’t changed much.

The main interface is the same but this isn’t a bad thing, since it conveniently splits tools into obvious categories such as anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall and spam, and offers a straightforward layout that makes it easy to view the current status and level of protection or make changes to each tool’s behaviour. There’s an impressive degree of control here but Bullguard doesn’t bog users down with menus full of tickboxes and advanced options. Instead it offers the most common options first while still allowing the depth of control that advanced users will require.

Alongside standard security there is a backup program for documents and other data, which includes the ability to back files up online or on the computer (to an external hard disk, for instance). The service includes a decent 5GB of online storage and it also includes round-the-clock online help for all its functions, using a chat application.

We were impressed by the fact that Bullguard’s scans were so fast, effective and had very little impact on the computer's performance. One-click fixes to common problems offer peace of mind that the computer is secured and along with the built-in backup features make it an attractive proposition for new users, though we’d have like to have seen a few more extras on offer such as the ability to monitor wireless networks, parental controls and a system tuning utility.

It’s still good value for money, particularly given that the online storage is more than most competitors offer, so for those who want backup as well protection from the latest threats, Bullguard is still one of the best around.