Westpac dumps PC Tools for BitDefender

Westpac has ditched PC Tools to offer a free 12-month subscription to BitDefender Internet Security 2012 for its customers.

The consumer security suite contains anti –virus and –spyware, social networking security and a firewall.

It replaces PC Tools' Internet Security, which was free to Westpac customers last year.

Westpac online consumer senior manager Josh Naft said the switch was made in part because BitDefender offered support for Apple users.

“We now have support for Macintosh users which was something they had asked for,” Naft said.

Westpac, St.George, Bank SA and Bank of Melbourne customers can access the service through online banking portals.

Most major banks offer security products as a free service to help combat rising levels of online fraud.

Banks and financial institutions have discussed mandating that customers install anti-virus and do not jailbreak or root phones as a prerequisite for using online banking services, but no official action has yet been taken.

Fraud is estimated to cost Australians approximately $8.5 billion a year, according to the Australian Institute of Criminology. The divide between businesses and consumers on the figure remains unclear.

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