With almost every Filipino using a number of digital devices, Russian Internet security firm Kaspersky Lab has announced the local availability of a new product aimed at bringing protection across different platforms.
The newest solution, the Kaspersky Internet Security ? Multi-Device 2015, will be currently available only in the Philippines in the entire Southeast Asian region.
At the same time, the flagship consumer products Kaspersky Internet Security for hardcore Internet users and Kaspersky Anti-Virus for occasional Internet users now both come in enhanced 2015 versions.
All solutions were developed to protect users of Windows, OS X, and Android devices from existing and new threats.
“Today, people rarely access the Internet from just one device so they need to be aware of the full variety of online threats and know how to deal with them. Kaspersky Lab has developed a multi-platform solution that enables the user to easily manage protection products on Windows, OS X and Android-based devices under a single license,” said Nikita Shvetsov, acting CTO at Kaspersky Lab.
Kaspersky Lab’s first-ever multi-platform solution will be essential in a country like the Philippines, which has become one of the biggest and fastest growing markets for Android smartphones in Southeast Asia.
Singapore-based research firm GfK said the Philippines scored a staggering 326-percent increase in smartphone sales in 2012. It added that last year, the Philippines posted the highest Android penetration rate among six nations in the region, making up 91 percent of the total smartphone sales locally.
“The popularity and affordability of mobile devices as well as the accessibility of Internet has made Filipinos more gadget-loving and Internet-savvy than their regional counterparts that it?s no wonder almost everyone?s going online from their devices here. Unfortunately, this scenario makes Filipinos become increasingly and easily vulnerable to cyber-threats, particularly those using social engineering tactics, through multiple access points,” warned Jesmond Chang, corporate communications manager of Kaspersky Lab South East Asia.
?It is a very risky scenario but the availability of Kaspersky Internet Security – Multi-Device, the latest addition to our roster of protection tools, can be an effective first line of defense for Filipinos against online attacks,? Chang said.
In a new research conducted by Kaspersky Lab and B2B International, it was revealed that Internet users’ biggest concerns while online are the protection of their privacy and identity, their personal data, their finances and their children?s safety.
Kaspersky Lab has discovered that 315,000 new samples of malicious software appear every day. For Android, about 20,000 new samples of malicious software per month have been detected.
Phishing websites ? fake pages designed to steal personal information ? have become a universal cyber-threat to all devices or operating systems. Every month, Kaspersky Security Network logs over 137,000 new phishing sites aimed at deceiving people into handing over their sensitive personal and financial data.
Kaspersky Lab warns that no operating system can now be considered safe since attacks on Macs and mobile operating systems are also on the rise. After the detection of the Flashback botnet which infected more than 700,000 computers running under OS X, Apple users can no longer argue that their operating system is completely safe.
And since 77 percent of people are now using devices on different platforms, multi-platform security solutions are now very much required, especially considering the constant growth of online threats.
The latest versions of Kaspersky Lab?s consumer software incorporate several entirely new technologies that improve the level of protection against encryption malware, prevent webcam surveillance of the user, and shield against the risks of working on vulnerable Wi-Fi networks.
Webcam hacking, or intercepting images from the webcam, is one way of using malware for online espionage. Many users pay little attention to what might be recorded on their webcams ? even though the camera could capture images of documents containing bank details, credit cards, or simply personal activities that people prefer not to expose to strangers.
Kaspersky Lab has developed the Webcam Protection feature. It helps monitor which applications attempt to connect to the webcam, warns the user of access attempts, and, if necessary, blocks webcam access1.
One of the most serious threats to our customers? documents, pictures, and music comes from so-called cryptomalware, or malware that encrypts files and demands a ransom before restoring access to the information.
Once the data is encrypted, not even removing the malware itself can restore access to the encrypted files, so Kaspersky Lab has built a way to regain access to data without paying any ransom.
Kaspersky Lab?s System Watcher module analyzes all processes running on the operating system, and now features new data backup functionality.
When System Watcher detects a suspicious program attempting to modify a user file, it instantly creates a local backup copy of that file, free from any external changes. If further observation indicates that the program that changed the file was malicious, then the changes will be rolled back.
In the hands of criminals, public wireless networks can easily become yet another tool to intercept user data. That?s why Kaspersky Lab has introduced a Wi-Fi Security Notification module into the new edition of Kaspersky Internet Security.
This module verifies the security of Wi-Fi hotspots and alerts the user to any potential threats, such as a vulnerable network connection or the transmission of an unsecured password via the Internet. Users also receive tips and recommendations on how to securely configure their own home Wi-Fi network.
In addition to these key new features, the 2015 versions of Kaspersky Lab?s consumer security portfolio includes a number of extra enhancements:
? Kaspersky Internet Security and Kaspersky Anti-Virus now include automatic updates and upgrades when newer versions become available. This innovation means users will always have the most recent and reliable version of their security product without the hassle of manually downloading and installing it.
? Improvements were introduced into the Safe Money module to protect online financial transactions at every stage. Now, Safe Money also blocks third-party applications from accessing the web browser clipboard, which may temporarily contain confidential data (such as copied login credentials). The Safe Money module continues to offer protection from screen-capture technology, malicious browser extensions, and other money-stealing tactics used by cybercriminals.
? For users of paid Wi-Fi networks, 3G or LTE connections, the solution now includes the Cost-Aware Networking feature that reduces the amount of data communicated by the product via the net2.
? In the anti-phishing module, which helps the user avoid unwanted and malicious webpages, improvements were introduced into the text, image and website link analysis technology. This leads to faster and more accurate detections of fake websites designed to steal money and sensitive user information.
? The main menu and interface has been unified across all products so users can easily navigate applications regardless of the operating system or product version. Careful attention to resource consumption has helped improve the effectiveness of security tools without affecting the performance of the operating system.
Kaspersky Anti-Virus also includes an automatic exploit protection system, which prevents malware from exploiting security gaps in legitimate applications and software used by millions of people across the globe.
Kaspersky Internet Security provides premium PC protection to protect our customers from all types of Internet threats. In addition to antivirus and anti-phishing protection, it includes a range of other tools and technologies to help protect privacy, personal data and online payments.
Kaspersky Internet Security also enables parents to monitor their children’s activity on the Web with the help of the Parental Control module.
With just one license, users can activate Kaspersky Lab products on computers, tablets or smartphones (the combination can vary according to the user’s needs, and the number of devices is determined by the purchased license). The new Kaspersky Internet Security ? Multi-Device, meanwhile, protects devices that run under:
? Microsoft Windows with Kaspersky Internet Security
? Apple OS X with Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac. The product blocks malware as well as phishing and other dangerous sites in Safari, Mozilla Firefox browsers or in Google Chrome. The product also integrates virtual keyboard and the Parental Control module
? Google Android with Kaspersky Internet Security for Android. It can block dangerous apps, filter out unwanted calls and messages and protect against online fraud. Users can also wipe personal data if their device is lost or stolen, or help locate it using GPS services
? Windows Phone and iOS with Safe Browser for Windows Phone and Safe Browser for iOS. Safe Browser filters out phishing sites and pages with undesirable content. Both versions of Safe Browser are free and available from Apple Store and Windows Phone accordingly.
Pricing and availability
The Kaspersky Internet Security–Multi-Device, which provides protection for up to five devices, will be offered with a special introductory price of P1,980..
The 1-user of Kaspersky Internet Security 2015 will retail for P990 while the 1-user Kaspersky Anti Virus 2015 will be sold for P760.
A special promotion is currently ongoing where specially marked KIS and KAV 2015 boxes come with extra license/s for free valid for one year.
