\u00a0Free Community Web Site Rating Service Located at safeweb.norton.com\u00a0<\/p>\n
SYDNEY, Australia \u2013 March 2, 2009 \u2013 Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC), makers of Norton security software, is offering a free community site \u2013 safeweb.norton.com \u2013 to arm consumers against the growing number of malicious Web sites. Norton Safe Web acts as a Web site rating service that aims to make the Internet a safer place, whether shopping, watching video, downloading music or just surfing the Web.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Norton Safe Web addresses questions such as:\u00a0 Is the site safe to visit? Is it going to infect my PC? Is it safe to download content from the site? Is it going to abuse my personal information? Is the online merchant someone I can safely transact with?<\/p>\n
Malicious Web sites, which may not initially appear as sinister, are often responsible for stealing credit card numbers, passwords or other private information from consumers online.\u00a0 According to the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce (ACFT) Internet and email scams are on the rise all over the world, and Australians need to take action to protect themselves against these threats.<\/p>\n
Symantec, a global leader in Internet security software, has partnered with the ACFT to help increase the awareness of online fraud during its annual fraud education and awareness week, to be held on March 2-8, 2009.\u00a0 Symantec recognises the seriousness of consumer fraud and is committed to raising public awareness of cyber-based scams including \u2019phishing\u2019, where people are directed to fake, but seemingly legitimate Web sites, and asked to update personal information such as passwords and bank details.<\/p>\n
In the first six months of 2007, Symantec blocked more than 2.3 billion phishing messages, and current increases in occurrences indicate that cyber-criminals are working twice as hard. As part of the ongoing commitment to online safety for all users, Symantec introduced Norton Safe Web beta, safeweb.norton.com.<\/p>\n
David Hall, Symantec\u2019s consumer spokesperson for Pacific, says the Norton Safe Web site and browser tool makes it easy for consumers to differentiate safe sites from malicious ones.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyone on the Internet can use this tool to look up a site’s safety rating or submit Web site reviews based on their personal experience with any site on the Web,\u201d said Hall.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur goal for Norton Safe Web is to provide users with the most up-to-date and accurate Web site ratings of any offering on the market.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can do this by leveraging the millions of members of Norton Community Watch \u2013 a \u2018Neighbourhood Watch\u2019 program that relies on the eyes and ears of Norton consumers worldwide to detect and report trouble. This trusted information helps us deliver rapid analysis and categorisation of the safety and security of the Web pages consumers are thinking of visiting,\u201d said Hall.<\/p>\n
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Incidence of Fraud in Australia<\/p>\n
A total of 806,000 Australians reported they were victims of at least one incident of personal fraud in 2007, costing the country nearly one billion dollars (AUD$980 million) according to a Personal Fraud Survey, conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics –\u00a0 released June 2008.<\/p>\n
Internet crime is increasing its share of this market every month with cyber-criminals generating millions of dollars in revenue through the purchase and manipulation of credit card information, access to financial accounts, software piracy and the buying and selling of fraudulent goods and services.<\/p>\n
Between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008, Symantec monitored publicly accessible channels set up for buying, selling, and trading stolen goods and the tools to obtain these goods, which includes credit cards.
\nStolen credit card number could sell for as little as 10 cents or as much as USD$25 per card and the average advertised stolen credit card limit observed by Symantec was more than USD$4,000.<\/p>\n
Chair of the ACFT, Peter Kell says ,\u201cThe ACFT welcomes Symantec\u2019s participation and support in the crucial partnership between governments and the private sector in keeping consumers safe online.\u201d<\/p>\n
Consumers are encouraged to check any Web site by visiting http:\/\/safeweb.norton.com\/<\/a>. Australians can also report scams and check for those currently operating on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission\u2019s SCAMwatch Web site www.scamwatch.gov.au<\/a> or phone 1300 795 995.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n About Norton from Symantec<\/p>\n Symantec\u2019s Norton products protect consumers from traditional threats with antivirus, anti-spam and spyware protection, as well as bots, drive-by downloads and identity theft– while also being light on system resources. The company also provides services such as online backup and PC tuneup, and is a trusted source for family online safety.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n About Symantec<\/p>\n Symantec is a global leader in providing security, storage and systems management solutions to help consumers and organisations secure and manage their information-driven world. Our software and services protect against more risks at more points, more completely and efficiently, enabling confidence wherever information is used or stored. More information is available at www.symantec.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Symantec and the Symantec Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Symantec Corporation or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n About Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce<\/p>\n The Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce (\u201cTaskforce\u201d), established in March 2005, is comprised of 19 Federal and State government regulatory agencies and departments (including New Zealand) that have a responsibility for consumer protection in relation to frauds and scams.<\/p>\n The purpose of the Taskforce is to work together to:<\/p>\n \u00a7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 enhance the Australian and New Zealand Governments\u2019 enforcement activity against frauds and scams<\/p>\n \u00a7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 to share information and generate greater interest in research on consumer fraud and scams<\/p>\n \u00a7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 create a yearly co-ordinated information campaign for consumers timed to coincide with International Consumer Protection Enforcement Network (ICPEN) Global Consumer Fraud Prevention Month<\/p>\n The Taskforce is chaired by Peter Kell, Deputy Chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and is part of the Mass-Market Global Fraud project of ICPEN.\u00a0 Due to the exponential growth of global scams, over 30 ICPEN consumer regulatory agencies around the world participate in campaigns to warn consumers against global scams and fraud during the February\/March period.\u00a0 See www.ICPEN.org<\/a> for the list of nation state members.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0Free Community Web Site Rating Service Located at safeweb.norton.com\u00a0 SYDNEY, Australia \u2013 March 2, 2009 \u2013 Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC), makers of Norton security software, is offering a free community site \u2013 safeweb.norton.com \u2013 to arm consumers against the growing number of malicious Web sites. Norton Safe Web acts as a Web site rating service<\/p>\n