Barclays offers discounted security software to customers

Barclays Bank is recommending that its online banking customers buy discounted F-Secure internet security software to protect their online activity.

The F-Secure software on offer at a discount to customers, via the Barclays website, includes anti-virus and anti-spyware protection, along with rootkit detection.

Rootkit infections are malicious code that can lie on a user’s system without the owner knowing. The code can be used by remote hackers to take control of the machine.

The software will be offered to all customers who hold a Barclays online account.  The bank said it chose F-Secure as part of its drive to reassure its customers that online banking was both safe and convenient.

David Mitchell, Barclays Bank senior operations manager, said, “When it comes to online banking, acting responsibly means not just ensuring that our own processes are completely secure, but also that the customer’s PC is protected, so that the whole transaction is totally safe.”