Marshal warns Optus users about security packages

SYDNEY - Marshal says Optus customers will become complacent about security.

Security vendor Marshal is warning Optus customers not to become complacent about IT security after downloading Optus’ free security suite, announced last week.

Bradley Anstis, director of product development at Marshal told SC that Optus’ security package is a great first step towards securing its internet customers but there’s plenty more they could do.

“If optus are seriously looking at security – they need to protect it from their gateway and their network rather than rely on the end-users to download and configure it.

“Problem with having it at the end-point means people get complacent. We are saying this is a step but let’s not become complacent,” said Anstis.

Disagreeing, Mark Mulder, general manager content and portals products and delivery at Optus said a one-stop-shop of internet security services is best provided at the end-user level rather than at the gateway level as that only protects the user within the network.

Additionally, according to Anstis home users need to learn from the enterprise space and use multi-layered technology, block threats as early as possible, and look at in and out bound threats.

The Optus Internet Security Suite, provides an application control feature which protects users against outbound threats. “The application control feature not only protects outbound threats, it stops the malicious application from launching and manipulating,” added Mulder.

"Home users are the golden market place for cyber-criminals. They are fast and always connected. When the user is sleeping the hackers are attacking," said Anstis.

Last week, Optus announced that it has teamed up with F-Secure to provide free security add-on to its cable and DSL customers at not extra cost for the 12 months.