The Bat! email client users can install either the 64-bit or the 32-bit version of The Bat! executable file, depending on the bitness of their Windows operating system.

Security advantages of the 64-bit application

Using 64-bit x64 programs in 64-bit Win64 operating systems is more secure, as threats that particularly target the 32-bit applications are harmless to the 64-bit ones. Data Execution Prevention, a security feature that prevents code execution from system memory reserved for Windows and other authorized programs, is always turned on for 64-bit programs, while it might be disabled for 32-bit programs. The 64-bit operating systems offer a higher level of security as its Windows ASLR (Address Space Layout Randomization) is more effective due to a much larger address space than in 32-bit systems. Additionally, the 64-bit version of Windows automatically rejects drivers without valid digital signatures.

Integration with 64-bit Microsoft Office

The Bat! 64-bit version offers yet another advantage to the users of the 64-bit Microsoft Office, allowing them to connect to MS Exchange Servers. The 32-bit version of The Bat! was able to interoperate only with the 32-bit version of Microsoft Office.

Speed advantages

The Bat! 64-bit version is 5% faster than the 32-bit edition in a 64-bit operating system. The 64-bit version of the email program is particularly interesting to users who simultaneously run high memory consumption applications in 64-bit operating systems. Since 32-bit applications in 64-bit Windows are run in emulation mode, their performance might be affected.

Nowadays, more and more users run the 64-bit versions of Windows. They are convinced that the bitness of applications and the bitness of operating systems must match as this is way the programs will perform at their best.