Security benchmarks from SafeCentral help protect consumers from identity theft and malware while banking and shopping online
Palm Beach Gardens, FL,
July 7, 2010 – Are you sure your most sensitive financial and personal information is safe when you’re banking or shopping online? The Web Safety Score checklist created by Internet security provider SafeCentral helps consumers answer that question.
With its new set of Web safety benchmarks, SafeCentral aims to help everyday Internet users understand their online safety. Once consumers determine how safe or risky their Internet behaviors really are, they can follow SafeCentral’s prescribed steps to ramp up security measures. These Web Safety Score guidelines come as a precursor to the SafeCentral WebAdvisor toolbar, a browser plugin with the same safety principles, scheduled to debut this July. With a few simple clicks of the mouse, SafeCentral WebAdvisor will help consumers take action on the different Web Safety Score checklist items outlined here and improve a user’s Web Safety Score.
“It’s vitally important for consumers to take control of their personal information by putting good Internet security measures into practice,” says Ray Dickenson, SafeCentral Chief Technology Officer. “Any time you’re inputting sensitive information or logging into websites like Amazon or PayPal, your data is potentially at risk. We realize the precautions users must take to keep themselves safe online can seem daunting and complicated. It’s our hope that this Web Safety Score checklist will simplify the process, so consumers have a much better chance of protecting their personal information while doing everyday tasks online.”
In the complete Web Safety Score checklist below, SafeCentral suggests consumers ask the following questions to determine whether their Web safety is up to snuff:
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Are your Windows Updates set to “Automatic?” Windows Updates are free for all Windows users and can be even more vital than antivirus protection. Setting Windows Updates to Automatic ensures they are legitimate, and by keeping PCs up-to-date with the latest safety patches from Microsoft, consumers can close off dangerous holes in the Windows operating system that malware writers can use to infect computers.
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Is your antivirus software installed and activated? Antivirus programs keep out malware that sneaks in through holes in an unprotected operating system, or through other downloadable applications like Adobe Flash and Apple QuickTime. Layering antivirus protection with Windows Updates helps to plug most major security breaches.
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Is your firewall turned on? Firewalls keep out network worms from the local network or Internet that can infect computers. Firewalls also have advanced features that block out other forms of malware.
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Do you visit websites using HTTPS? Most people are used to visiting websites with an “HTTP” prefix. When dealing with sensitive online activities, like banking and shopping, Internet users should protect themselves by visiting the HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) version of the site. This helps to verify that consumers are on the website they think they’re on. HTTPS verifies sites by name, ensuring that
www.BankofAmerica.com, for example, is really Bank of America.
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Do you use a “shielded” browser? More security layers equates to greater online safety. Using a secure browser like
SafeCentral delivers a locked-down Internet session, even on an already infected PC, by blocking key loggers, screen stealers and DNS redirection attacks.
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Do you verify the websites you visit? Using relatively unknown websites is much riskier than sticking to well-known names and brands. Internet users should research new sites before visiting them, just like they would any new restaurant or store in the non-virtual world. Consumers who use SafeCentral have the added benefit of the SafeCentral Directory – a repository of well-known websites that helps determine quickly and easily if a website can be trusted.
Internet users who do all of these things are taking the right steps to protect themselves against malware and identity theft. Consumers who follow the Web Safety Score guidelines set forth by SafeCentral can dramatically improve the security of their personal and financial data.
“Banks and online retail sites want to make it as easy as possible for consumers to transact. This is inherently a good thing, but they can’t protect everyone’s computers from malware and identity theft,” Dickenson explains. “The SafeCentral Web Safety Score checklist, secure browser, and soon, the SafeCentral WebAdvisor toolbar, are designed to help consumers advocate for themselves – a powerful security technique.”
About SafeCentral
SafeCentral is privacy, in one click. SafeCentral is the secure companion to everyday Web browsing, providing end-to-end security against identity theft by locking out desktop malware and establishing trusted Web connections. SafeCentral features patent-pending TSX technology to block key loggers, screen scrapers and other malware agents, even on an already infested PC; SecureDNS to ensure a connection to the actual site, eliminating man-in-the-middle attacks; automated "launch anywhere" protection for seamless integration into your existing browsing habits; and peace of mind when transacting online. For more information, visit www.safecentral.com.