Kenrick Josephs, Staff Reporter
IN AN attempt to eliminate phishing online, Symantec Corp. recently announced that in September it will release a beta version of a security software product called Norton Confidential, which will cement a computer's defences against online shopping and banking fraud.
The increasing form of Internet fraud, phishing, is common and has been improved to make Internet surfers oblivious to the unfolding of the crime. The software will detect when a website or malicious programme is trying to access a user name or password.
Phishing attacks usually involve a link sent by email or instant message that leads to a webpage constructed to appear legitimate. Once the user reaches the phoney site, the webpage often asks for information such as the user's bank account or Social Security number or other information that is most commonly used for an identity theft scheme.
Norton Confidential will scan the websites visited by a user for fraudulent or suspicious activity and automatically compare a website against lists of fraudulent ones.
FEATURES AND BENEFITS
Fraud site (anti-phishing) protection - blocks or warns you from visiting known or suspected phishing websites
Crimeware protection - protects you from known and unknown keystroke loggers and other malicious programmes designed to steal your identity
Website authentication - confirms the authenticity of high-profile banking, shopping and other sites which require financial or other personal information
Confidential info blocking - blocks your password information from going to unauthorised sites
Password protection - secures and manages passwords
Norton Confidential will also generate warnings for pages that function like known fraudulent sites. Internet service providers take down most phishing sites within a few hours or days, but a window of attack remains in the interim.
Norton Confidential will verify sites' authenticity using Secure Sockets Layer encryption technology, Symantec said. Hackers have found a variety of ways to fake a site with SSL; their methods include manipulating graphics or exploiting Web browser flaws.
The software is capable of encrypting stored passwords and prompting when credentials are sent to unknown or unauthorised sites, Symantec said. In October, Symantec will offer a version for Apple Computer Inc.'s Macintosh operating system that is similar to the one for Microsoft Corp.'s Windows XP OS. Pricing will be released later, the company said.
- Sources: Symantec.com and Computerworld.com
Top 5 articles viewed on Jamaica Gleaner week ending June 24
1. Dad poisons kids, kills himself on Father's Day
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20060620/lead/lead6.html 9,200 views
2. Extortion, murder hit St. Thomas
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20060621/lead/lead7.html 8,822 views
3. $79 toll cap - Damned if you do ...
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20060620/lead/lead1.html 7,724 views
4. 'Pay it back' - PNP aide linked to US$40m Whitehouse hotel overrun
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20060621/lead/lead2.html 7,543 views
5. Policeman surrenders
http://jamaicagleaner.com/gleaner/20060622/news/news5.html 7,530 views
Top 4 pages viewed on Jamaica Star week ending June 24
1. Poster Girl
http://jamaica-star.com/poster_girl/pg_110.html 13,526 views
2. Ms Ting pleads guilty - Trial date for deejay set for next month
http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20060621/news/news1.html 7,640 views
3. Death still stalks mom
http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20060620/news/news1.html 6,966 views
4. Hottie Hottie
http://jamaica-star.com/hottie-girls/783.html 6,551 views
