Defining general startup type settings

Run at Windows startup: Will start the BullGuard interface as soon as you log in to the Windows account. By disabling this option, you will need to start the BullGuard interface manually from the desktop icon or from the BullGuard folder created in the All programs folder in the Start button menu.

Minimize at startup: When the BullGuard interface is started automatically, it will always be minimized to the System tray (the BullGuard round icon in the lower right corner of the screen). To maximize the application simply double click the icon or right click it for more options.

Enable communication screen: Enables the application to display a window with information about the BullGuard subscription, new viruses or viral outbreaks, BullGuard promotions or new versions. This option is not available by default for the BullGuard Spamfilter application.

Restore to defaults: Will restore the BullGuard interface settings to default.

What is a proxy server?

In a computer network, a proxy server is just another computer that works as a buffer between the user’s computer and other computers – a proxy server acts as an intermediary between the user and other computers. Basically, when a user wants to view a website, the computer will ask the proxy server to display that page; the proxy server will look for that page (hosted on another computer), will retrieve it and then pass it on to the user’s computer. Proxy servers are commonly used to provide anonymity for the computers behind it, to filter content and network traffic or to speed up access to specific resources.

If the user behind a proxy server wants to either register a BullGuard account or login with an already existing account, the user’s computer will try to access our login server and fail on the account of the proxy server (the entire process is very similar to asking a question to a person who doesn’t have the knowledge to provide an adequate answer). This is why such users need to configure the proxy server details first so that the login or register process will succeed.

Use proxy server: This option must be enabled if a proxy server is used. It allows you to enter your proxy server details.

Proxy server: This is the proxy server address (be it a domain or an IP address) that tells the Login service who manages the network traffic.

Proxy port: This is used to enter the port number in use for that specific proxy server.

User and Password: Some proxy servers are protected by credentials and they will request a username and a password. The credentials are not widely used so in most cases there will be no need to enter such information. Note that the User and Password fields do not refer to your BullGuard account username and password.

If using a proxy server

If you use a proxy server, but you are unsure about the proxy details, it is recommended to ask either your System Administrator (the person or company that manages the local network you are a part of) or ask your Internet Service Provider where you have your Internet access from.

Password protected settings: allows BullGuard to restrict access to some of its areas and ask for the user account password confirmation whenever accessed:

- Home and Spamfilter section settings are password protected

- Turning off the BullGuard Spamfilter module will ask for password confirmation

- Closing BullGuard from the System Tray icon (right click and select Exit) will ask for password confirmation.

When you try to access one of the above sections, BullGuard will ask for the password once, after which -for a specific period - you will not be asked for the password again. When the “no password request” period expires, you will be prompted for your password again. Also, closing and restarting BullGuard will reset the password lock timer.

You can enable or disable this option when you first login/register an account or, afterwards, from the Home Status and Settings section.

Allow BullGuard to protect its components against termination: with this option enabled, BullGuard’s process will not be susceptible to process termination by third party users or applications. This is mainly a safeguard against various malware that use process termination techniques when infecting a computer.

BullGuard should be as quiet as possible: When this option is enabled, no notifications for automated tasks or actions will be displayed (such as Antivirus automatic actions against malware or Firewall automatically allowing whitelisted applications to connect to the Internet). However, all dialogue messages that require user actions will be displayed.