Hollie Guard Among First Personal Safety Apps to Achieve New Cyber Security Accreditation

Developed by PanicGuard, Hollie Guard provides users with a range of personal safety features, including silent SOS alerts, live GPS location sharing, journey tracking and audio and video evidence capture. The app is used by more than 750,000 people and is also recommended by police forces across the UK to help support victims of domestic abuse, stalking and other forms of violence.

Whether travelling home alone and needing reassurance, working in isolation, or experiencing stalking or domestic abuse, users rely on the app to share their location, alert trusted contacts, access help or a monitoring service quickly if they feel at risk, or report incidents. As more people depend on technology to help their personal safety, ensuring these applications are secure and their personal data is protected is critical.

Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) remains a national priority. However, tech-enabled abuse is on the rise as perpetrators find new ways to exploit digital platforms through online harassment, cyberstalking, non-consensual image sharing and coercive control.   

To help raise cyber security standards, Secured by Design’s Secure Connected Device (SCD) scheme has introduced the new dedicated mobile app accreditation, providing independent assurance that robust measures have been implemented to protect users and their data.

To achieve the accreditation, Hollie Guard underwent independent penetration testing by Secarma against the OWASP Application Security Verification Standard (ASVS) Level 1, a globally recognised benchmark for cyber security. The assessment evaluated key areas such as authentication, encryption, secure data handling and logging, resilience against common threats, and protection against device tampering.

Michelle Kradolfer, SBD National Manager, said: “I am delighted that Hollie Guard is one of the first personal safety apps to obtain our SCD app accreditation. By going through this accreditation process, they have clearly taken active steps to secure their app, implemented robust security requirements and are protecting their users from further harm. It sends a clear message to the wider industry that Hollie Guard believe that digital safety is required and needed when it comes to protecting women and girls both in the online and offline world.”

Adam Constable, Head of Business Development at PanicGuard said: “We wanted to be among the first personal safety apps to achieve this accreditation because we work closely with police forces and victim support services, and we want to demonstrate to them – and most importantly our users – that cyber security is something we take extremely seriously. Protecting people’s data and online safety is just as important as helping protect them in the physical world’

Hollie Guard can be found on their dedicated SBD member’s page here and is available to download via the Apple App Store and Google Play.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SBD is owned by the UK Police Service with the specific aim of reducing crime and increasing safety for businesses and individuals.

SBD seeks to improve the physical security of buildings and the surrounding area using products such as doors, windows, locks and walling systems along with fencing systems that meet the SBD Police Preferred Specification security requirements.

SBD have many partner organisations, ranging from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government through to local authorities, housing associations, developers and manufacturers and work closely with standards and certification bodies.

SBD is the only way for companies to obtain police recognition for security-related products in the UK, through the Police Preferred Specification - a product-based accreditation scheme developed 25 years ago, which provides a recognised standard for all security products that effectively deter and reduce crime. SBD work with manufacturers and standards authorities to ensure that security standards are current and updated to keep pace with emerging crime trends.

Learn more about Secured by Design and our member companies at: https://www.securedbydesign.com/