Security firmPrevxis giving free protection to customers of
organisations that do business online.
Customers of partner organisations, such as banks or government
departments, will be able to download the SafeOnline software to
protect against a wide range of techniques used to steal personal
information.
The software locks down the user's operating system and browser
to hide information from criminal malware. It is designed on the
assumption that no security product can offer full protection, says
Mel Morris, Prevx's CEO and CTO.
"The challenge for many banks is giving customers enough
confidence to keep using online facilities," said Morris.
More than a third of UK consumers say security is the most
important reason for
not banking online, according to a June 2009 survey by research
firm Gartner.
Other benefits to partner organisations include real-time alerts
about malware targeting their customers.
End-users will also be alerted to attempts to redirect their
browsers to fake sites and to steal information through key logging
or screen capture.
"Even if an end-user's computer is infected with a Trojan, the
Prevx software will prevent the malware from accessing any of the
transaction information," said Morris.
The launch of the partnership programme marks the end of four
months' beta testing of the software that has been approved by
penetration testing firm Immunity, he said.
According to Morris, the
Immunity
testing found Prevx SafeOnline was 100% effective against cyber
threats including the
Zeus and Silent Banker Trojans.