Barclays is continuing the trend of banks offering free
security solutions to their online customers, by providing free
F-Secure anti-virus software to its 1.6 million e-banking
customers.
With banks being increasingly targeted by international online
fraud gangs, Barclays took the decision to offer a free two-year
license to F-Secure’s AV solution.
Barclays decision follows a recent move by HSBC to offer all its
business customers free security tokens to help protect access to
their systems.
Both banks have also recently upgraded their fraud detection
systems to allow them to spot potential fraud patterns and
anomalies on customer accounts quicker.
At the beginning of the year Barclays offered its online
customers cut-price licences to the F-Secure software, but it has
now struck a deal with the supplier which enables it to give away
the software.
Barnaby Davis, Barclays Bank director of electronic banking,
said, “Studies show that nearly two-thirds of home PCs don’t have
active virus protection, and one in five is actually infected by a
virus, placing people at risk from data theft as well as damage to
their computers.”
The AV service would normally cost users over £45 over two
years. Barclays Bank customers using F-Secure Anti-Virus product
will also have the option to upgrade to F-Secure’s flagship
Internet Security product, for a reduced price of £9.95 a year
(usual price £38.95).