F-Secure, the leading Internet security provider, has signed a
strategic agreement with Barclays Bank to provide its 1.6 million
online banking customers with a free two-year licence of F-Secure
Anti-Virus. This significant investment demonstrates Barclays’
commitment to keeping customers safe from hacking attempts, viruses
and other malware while using the Internet not just when they’re
banking online.
The bank selected F-Secure for the technical strength of its
anti-virus offering, speed of response to emerging Internet
security threats and high levels of service and customer support.
Risto Siilasmaa, President and CEO, F-Secure Corporation,
commented: "F-Secure’s research labs work around the clock to
ensure a level of protection not found in rival products.
Independent studies in 2004 and 2005 show that F-Secure’s response
time to new threats is significantly faster than our major
competitors. Our anti-virus protection, desktop firewall with
intrusion prevention, anti-spam and anti-spyware solutions have
been selected by Barclays as ‘best of breed’. Barclays knows it is
offering customers the best available online protection and, with
our 24/7 helpline, the best customer service."
Barnaby Davis, Director of Electronic Banking at Barclays
Bank, commented, "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. Because of the risks, some people are
concerned about the security of online banking, despite banks
themselves being secure. F-Secure’s Anti-Virus product will provide
our customers with excellent protection, giving them peace of mind
when using the Internet and banking online, without annoying them
with pop-ups and confusing instructions. The software and service
met all our requirements it’s straightforward to set up, provides
thorough protection that’s updated daily and is backed up with an
excellent support," concluded Davis.
"The agreement with F-Secure allows Barclays to offer a free
service to its online customers that would normally cost over £45
for the two years. This offer places Barclays in a different league
to its competitors when it comes to keeping customers safe online,"
commented Siilasmaa."By protecting them online, Barclays is
ensuring that, whether on bank business or not, its customers are
given the best possible service."
Barclays Bank customers using F-Secure Anti-Virus 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),
giving them additional features including parental control, a
personal firewall, spam filters and application control.
About F-Secure Corporation
F-Secure Corporation protects consumers and businesses
against computer viruses and other threats from the Internet and mobile
networks. We want to be the most reliable provider of security services in the
market. One way to demonstrate this is the speed of our response. According to
independent studies in 2004, 2005 and 2006 our response time to new threats is
significantly faster than our major competitors. Our award-winning solutions are
available for workstations, gateways, servers and mobile phones. They include
antivirus and desktop firewall with intrusion prevention, antispam and
antispyware solutions, as well as network control solutions for Internet Service
Providers. Founded in 1988, F-Secure has been listed on the Helsinki Exchanges
since 1999, and has been consistently growing faster than all its publicly
listed competitors. F-Secure headquarters are in Helsinki, Finland, and we have
regional offices around the world. F-Secure protection is also available as a
service through major ISPs, such as France Telecom, TeliaSonera, PCCW and
Charter Communications. F-Secure is the global market leader in mobile phone
protection provided through mobile operators, such as T-Mobile and Swisscom and
mobile handset manufacturers such as Nokia. The latest real-time virus threat
scenario news are available at the F-Secure Data Security Lab weblog at http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/
About Barclays:
Barclays is an international financial
services group engaged primarily in banking, investment banking and
asset management. In terms of market capitalisation employed,
Barclays is the third largest financial services group in the
UK. The Group also operates in many other countries and is a
leading provider of global services to multinational corporations
and financial institutions in the world’s main financial centres.
For further information contact:
Liz Holloway
Barclays PR
Tel 020 7116 6229
Elizabeth.holloway@barclays.com
Andrew McDougall
Barclays PR
Tel: 020 7116 6159
Andrew.mcdougall@barclays.com
For further information, contact.
Richard Hales, UK Country Manager
Tel. +44(0) 7884 46 40 30
