Security company McAfee announced the acquisition of TunnelBear, a Toronto-based company best known for its VPN product TunnelBear, today.

We reviewed TunnelBear's VPN solution in 2015 for the first time when the company launched a Chrome extension that users could install to integrate the functionality into the Chrome browser.

The company expanded its offering in recent years and maintains apps for the desktop operating systems Windows and Mac OS, and the mobile operating systems iOS and Android next to its browser extension offerings.

TunnelBear launched a major update to its application in late 2016 which introduced Trusted Networks functionality among other things in the client. The feature gives users options to add networks to a trusted list to auto-connect to the VPN service if the device is not connected to a trusted network.

TunnelBear, the company, launched the password manager RememBear in November 2017.

The acquisition

McAfee's press release offers little in terms of information and deal specifics. The Santa Clara company did not disclose the price it paid for the company.

McAfee plans to integrate the VPN technology of TunnelBear into its Safe Connect product. Safe Connect is a VPN product that is available for Windows and the mobile operating systems Android and iOS.

Safe Connect is available for $7.99 per month; subscribers get unlimited data on up to five devices simultaneously for that and may connect to 18 virtual server locations.

“TunnelBear has built an engaging and profitable direct-to-consumer brand, and we’re confident this acquisition will serve both our end users and partners by embedding its best-in-class, hardened network into our Safe Connect product,” said Christopher Young, chief executive officer, McAfee.

TunnelBear operates servers in 20 different countries currently. McAfee plans to integrate the network into its own which should expand available capacities and supported regions.

The press release makes no mention of TunnelBear's or RememBear's future. Will the products remain available as standalone products?

It appears that TunnelBear won't be shut down at the very least. TunnelBear co-founder Ryan Dochuk revealed in the press release that the acquisition is beneficial to the development of the product as it provides the developers with resources to develop the service and expand into new regions.

Now You: Do you use a VPN service?

Summary Article Name McAfee acquires VPN company TunnelBear Description Security company McAfee announced the acquisition of TunnelBear, a Toronto-based company best known for its VPN product TunnelBear, today. Author Martin Brinkmann Publisher Ghacks Technology News Logo

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