WatchGuard Technologies has acquired Panda Security, extending the network security company to endpoint security. The deal, which also reinforces WatchGuard’s MSP- and MSSP-friendly cybersecurity partner strategies, is expected to close in Q2 2020. Financial terms were not disclosed. Buy now the best antivirus program for all your devices. Protect your computer, tablet and smartphone against all types of viruses, malware and ransomware. (September 2018) Panda Security is a Spanish cybersecurity software company that specializes in creating products for IT security. It started with antivirus software, and now also provides and develops cybersecurity software. Panda Security is a cybersecurity software built upon intelligent technology grounded on Big Data and artificial intelligence. The security software suite monitors every application that runs on a business system and tags them either as safe or a threat.
SEATTLE and MADRID, June 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WatchGuard Technologies, a leading global provider of network security and intelligence, secure Wi-Fi and multi-factor authentication, today announced that it has closed the acquisition of the advanced endpoint protection provider, Panda Security. WatchGuard announced the signing of a definitive agreement to purchase Panda in March 2020. Panda is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of WatchGuard, and the combined company will enable its current and future customers and partners to consolidate their fundamental security services for protection from network to endpoint under a single company.
“Our customers and partners need access to enterprise-grade security built for the unique needs and requirements of the midmarket. WatchGuard is focused on delivering these security services via an MSP-focused security platform that simplifies every aspect of security delivery, and solidifying our position as the de facto security solution for the midmarket,” said Prakash Panjwani, CEO of WatchGuard Technologies. “The completed acquisition of Panda Security, and the subsequent integration of its portfolio into WatchGuard Cloud, represents a significant milestone for the company and will result in both immediate and long-term benefits for our customers and partners that will address common challenges with security complexity, rapidly changing network topologies, purchasing models, and more.”
The immediate focus of the combined company is to provide partners and customers from both companies access to the newly expanded portfolio of security solutions. Once the portfolios are integrated partners and customers will benefit from advanced threat detection and response functionality fueled by modern AI capabilities, behavior profiling techniques, and cutting-edge security event correlation, as well as additional operational benefits such as centralized management across network and endpoint security.
Panda Security Early Access Program
WatchGuard resellers will enjoy immediate access to Panda Adaptive Defense 360, which includes both endpoint protection platform (EPP) and endpoint detection and response (EDR) capabilities, and Advanced Reporting Tool products via the Panda Security Early Access Program launching on June 1, 2020. This new program will put these exciting new products into the hands of WatchGuard partners quickly for training and internal deployment, as well as resale to end users.
“We believe that Panda’s people and technology were the perfect fit for WatchGuard’s culture and goals,” said Panjwani. “Working together through the final stages of a major acquisition and kicking off integration efforts during a global pandemic has been a unique experience. Though we’ve been physically separated while working from home, the shared experience has brought us closer together faster, and has further validated that WatchGuard and Panda will be a powerful combination.”
“I’m happy to join WatchGuard’s board of directors, and to continue advising on daily operations to help build an integrated company that provides the industry’s best security solution from network to endpoint,” said Juan Santamaria Uriarte, CEO of Panda Security. “In its 30 years as a company, Panda has developed a strong culture of passion, dedication and commitment of excellence to our customers and each other. WatchGuard’s culture and focus mirrors our own, and as we begin a new chapter as members of the WatchGuard team, I’m excited by all that we’ll accomplish together.”
As part of the transaction, Investing Profit Wisely (IPW) will join Vector Capital and Francisco Partners as a shareholder in WatchGuard Technologies. Juan Santamaria Uriarte will join the WatchGuard board of directors. WatchGuard was represented in the transaction by Paul Hastings LLP and Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira LLP. Additionally, Jefferies International acted as sole financial advisor to Panda Security, and Uría Menéndez acted as legal advisor to the sellers of Panda Security in this transaction.
Additional Information:
- WatchGuard Technologies and Panda Security: One Giant Leap for Integrated Security
About WatchGuard Technologies, Inc.
WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. is a leading global provider of network security, secure Wi-Fi, multi-factor authentication and network intelligence. The company’s award-winning products and services are trusted around the world by nearly 10,000 security resellers and service providers to protect more than 80,000 customers. WatchGuard’s mission is to make enterprise-grade security accessible to companies of all types and sizes through simplicity, making WatchGuard an ideal solution for midmarket businesses and distributed enterprises. The company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. To learn more, visit WatchGuard.com.
For additional information, promotions and updates, follow WatchGuard on Twitter @WatchGuard on Facebook or on the LinkedIn Company page. Also, visit our InfoSec blog, Secplicity, for real-time information about the latest threats and how to cope with them at www.secplicity.org. Subscribe to The 443 – Security Simplified podcast at Secplicity.org, or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
About Francisco Partners
Panda Security Network Password
Francisco Partners is a leading global private equity firm that specializes in investments in technology and technology-enabled businesses. Since its launch 20 years ago, Francisco Partners has raised approximately $24 billion in committed capital and invested in more than 275 technology companies, making it one of the most active and longstanding investors in the technology industry. The firm invests in opportunities where its deep sectoral knowledge and operational expertise can help companies realize their full potential. For more information on Francisco Partners, please visit: www.franciscopartners.com.
About Vector Capital
Vector Capital is a leading global private equity firm specializing in transformational investments in established technology businesses. With approximately $4 billion of capital under management, Vector actively partners with management teams to devise and execute new financial and business strategies that materially improve the competitive standing of businesses and enhance value for employees, customers, and all stakeholders. For more information, visit http://www.vectorcapital.com.
About Panda Security
Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2020, Panda Security is a leading global provider of advanced cybersecurity solutions. The company offers a full portfolio of user-centric security products and services for protecting people, devices, and the networks they connect to from malicious websites, malware, spam, and other targeted attacks. With offerings for businesses and consumers alike, Panda Security offers advanced endpoint protection, sophisticated threat hunting services, and more. Designed for maximum protection with minimal complexity, the company packages its robust portfolio of security services to take the guesswork out of endpoint security. Prior to its acquisition by WatchGuard Technologies, Panda was owned by Investing Profit Wisely (IPW), a Spain-based investment company focused exclusively on software publishing companies.
About Investing Profit Wisely
Investing Profit Wisely (IPW) is an investment firm focused on private and public stakes in growth-oriented software companies. As one of Spain’s leading technology investment firms, IPW leverages its deep investing and operational expertise to implement strategic transformations, grow the top-line by deepening penetration in existing market segments, and expand market presence into new verticals and markets across its portfolio companies. For more information, visit www.ipw.es.
WatchGuard is a registered trademark of WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. All other marks are property of their respective owners.
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Finding WiFi in a foreign country can be a hassle. You may be unsure of which WiFi network to choose or give up and switch to LTE, incurring expensive fees. Though WiFi isn’t a necessity when traveling, it does make life a lot easier. That’s why we put together a comprehensive guide on how to find WiFi anywhere you go. From using WiFi hotspot apps to taking advantage of free loyalty programs, there are many ways you can stay connected.
1. Find a Chain Establishment
Maybe you are in a foreign land and need to message a family member or take a last minute business call. Many restaurants and hotel chains around the world offer free WiFi for your convenience. Most of the time, it’s a simple login page with perhaps an ad or two. Some chains ask for an email address — we suggest providing your “spam email” or an unimportant email address.
Retailers
- Apple Store
- Barnes and Noble
- Best Buy
- Bloomingdales
- Gap Inc.
- H&M
- IKEA
- Lowes
- Macy’s
- Michaels
- Microsoft Store
- Nordstrom
- Office Depot
- Safeway
- Sam’s Club
- Sephora
- Staples
- Target
- Urban Outfitters
- Whole Foods
Restaurants
- Applebee’s
- Arby’s
- Boston Market
- Buffalo Wild Wings
- Burger King
- Chick-Fil-A
- Denny’s
- Dunkin
- Einstein Bros.
- Jimmy John’s
- Hooters
- IHOP
- Krispy Kreme
- McDonalds
- Panera
- Peet’s Coffee
- Qdoba
- Quiznos
- Starbucks
- Subway
- Taco Bell
- The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
- Wendy’s
Hotel Chain
Panda Security Download
- Marriott (free for all rewards members)
- Hyatt (free for all guests)
- Extended Stay America
- Best Western
- Comfort Inn
- Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts
- Holiday Inn
- Ritz Carlton (free for reward members)
- Walt Disney Resorts
- Motel 6
2. Use WiFi Hotspot Apps
While finding free WiFi is great, many question whether the network is safe to join. While we always advise that you use a VPN when accessing free WiFi, you can also download WiFi hotspot apps. These can pinpoint WiFi locations that you can connect to, including networks that are hidden from view. The apps can also show you WiFi networks that are outside your vicinity.
- Wiffinity
This app offers free WiFi connectivity in just about every city in the world. It contains an interactive map that pinpoints all the hotspots near you. By clicking on the Free WiFi Near Me button, Wiffinity will show you how far you are from the nearest WiFi hotspot and how to get there. Users can also add WiFi networks that are not in the database.
- WifiMapper
This WiFi app stores nearly half a billion WiFi networks in its database. It also can remove all hotspots that have a fee, time limit or require you to register using a filter system. Much like other apps, this app allows users to agree whether the hotspot is free or requires a paid subscription.
The Facebook mobile app is an easy way to find quick WiFi if you have already installed the app. To find free internet on the app, open the More menu and then tap Find Wi-Fi. You may need to select See More at the bottom to show it. If you cannot find WiFi networks where you are located, you can select a different area on the map and select Search this area to look there.
- WeFi
This WiFi app automatically connects your device to the best network in your location. It also contains a map where it shows WiFi hotspots around you. WeFi delivers up to two times faster data transfer speeds on average in comparison to manual WiFi selection.
3. Go to a Public Shared Space
Sometimes you might not want to purchase something to gain access to free WiFi. That’s where public shared spaces come in handy. We listed some of the most popular public transit services and museums that offer free WiFi services.
Here are some popular public places that host free WiFi:
- Most U.S. public libraries
- US. Metro locations
- Amtrak
- Boltbus
- Megabus
- Art Institute of Chicago
- National Mall
- Museum of Modern Art
- Louvre (certain hot spots)
- Byzantine Museum
- British Museum
- National Museum of China
4. Rent a Travel WiFi Router
Depending on where you are headed, it may be worth it to rent travel WiFi. Free public WiFi can have slow connection speeds, unreliable security and a plethora of other travelers taking up signal. Mobile hotspots can offer reliable, fast internet that does not cause you to change your cell phone plan or purchase a travel router.
This is best for someone who will need strong, reliable WiFi that keeps data secure. It also charges in less than 3 hours and has about 6 hours of device usage. Renting travel WiFi starts at around $10 a day, but the longer you rent it for, the cheap the rate becomes. You can purchase most travel WiFi devices online.
A few of the best rent travel WiFi devices:
- TEP Wireless
- Roaming Man
- Travel WiFi
- Google Project Fi
- Keepgo
- Always Online Wireless
- Skyroam
- HooToo
- GlocalMe
5. Use Your Internet Service Provider’s Hotspots
One simple way to find travel WiFi? Use your home provider. If you’re a Comcast user, you will have access to Xfinity WiFi networks when traveling. For most ISP networks, check their WiFi page on the main site or download the hotspot app for your ISP. Find a hotspot by entering an address or form of location. Then connect to your ISP’s available hotspots.
Helpful ISP Hotspot pages:
6. Sign Up for a Loyalty Program
Maybe you are in a hotel that does not offer free WiFi or are in a store with a long line and want a quick distraction. Loyalty programs are great ways to connect to free WiFi when password-free connections are not available. Hotels like Hilton give free WiFi for those who sign up for Hilton Honors Rewards, a free service that offers discounts and a points system for members.
7. Use Your Phone As a Hotspot
When in doubt, you can always use your phone as a hotspot device (also known as tethering), although this may be a costly choice unless you have an unlimited data plan. Some carriers have restrictions or fees associated with tethering, like only being able to use a certain amount of data for tethering, so be sure to check with your provider.
Android Tethering
- Open Settings and tap the More option under Wireless & Networks.
- Tap Tethering& portable hotspot.
- Tap Hotspot & tethering and this is where you’ll be able to configure your phone’s WiFi hotspot. You can also change its SSID and password.
- Keep the security set to WPA2 PSK.
- Click Save.
iPhone Tethering
Note: iPhone must be 3G or later to support tethering.
- Go to Settings > General > Network.
- Tap the Personal Hotspot option.
- Select the WiFi password option to prevent unwanted devices from connecting.
8. Find WiFi in Your City
When you are exploring a new city or on a mission to find a location, internal city WiFi can be a big help. Many large cities around the globe offer free WiFi to those within a certain mile radius of the city’s center. These are some of the best cities on earth to pick up free WiFi.
- Malmö, Sweden
- Tel Aviv, Israel
- NYC, U.S.
- Seoul, South Korea
- Bangladore, India
- Osaka, Japan
- London, U.K.
- Dublin, Ireland
- Paris, France
- Florence, Italy
- Vienna, Austria
- Perth, Australia
- Barcelona, Spain
9. Join a Community
Lastly, before embarking on your journey, you may want to consider joining a community. With an app like Instabridge, you can find crowdsourced WiFi connections all in one place. WiFi communities help you connect with others who have been to your locations and rated the WiFi quality. This is a good way to plan ahead if you’ll need WiFi for more than a few hours.
10. Connect to a Hidden Network
You can also use tools like NetSpot. Once a hidden network is identified and you’ve located the SSID, type of security used, and password, here’s how you connect to it:
Windows 10
- Open Settings.
- Choose Network and Internet.
- Select WiFi from the left menu.
- Choose Manage Known Networks.
- Select Add a new network.
- Enter the SSID, select the security tape and enter the password.
- Select Connect Automatically in order to connect this network whenever available.
Android
- Open WiFi application.
- Scroll to the bottom of the list and then click on Add WiFi.
- Add the WiFi network name from the router.
- Then select the encryption type in Security. Ie. WPA, PSKWPA2-PSK.
- Enter the password and click connect.
iPhone
- Go to Settings > Wi-Fi and toggle Wi-Fi on.
- Select Other and enter the SSID in the Name bar.
- Select the Security type. Ie. WEP, WPA.
- Tap Other Network to return to the previous screen.
- Enter the network password in the password field and click Join.
Apple
- Click on the WiFi icon at the top right of your screen next to the power icon.
- Select Join Other Network near the bottom.
- Type in the hidden network SSID in the Network Name field.
- Choose the Security type.
- Select Remember This Network if you’d like your computer to connect each time.
- Click Join.
How to Stay Safe on Public WiFi
As you can see, there are a variety of ways you can find yourself free WiFi. Whether you are on vacation, traveling to see family during the holidays or on a business trip, the internet is essential to stay connected. While public WiFi may be convenient, it’s important to be cautious when connecting. One of the most foolproof ways to stay safe on public WiFi is with a VPN. A VPN encrypts your data, hides your location and allows you to surf the web anonymously.
Other ways to stay safe:
- Use HTTPS sites only
- Refrain from accessing confidential data (ex. bank account)
- Give a secondary “spam” email for sign-ups
- Avoid performing online transactions
- Cover your keyboard when entering any passwords or credentials
- Install an antivirus that includes parental controls for kids accessing public WiFi
- Always make sure paid WiFi is legitimate and use a third-party payment system
- Keep antivirus up-to-date
Sources:
The Simple Dollar | PC Mag | Consumer Reports | Boost and Co | Slideshare | Netspot App | Lifewire | Profandroid.com | The Windows Club | Hilton Honors | How to Geek | PC World | CN Traveler | World of Wanderlust |