News and Media Releases from AVG (AU/NZ)

Travel Smart Online on Your Next Holiday – Tips from AVG (AU/NZ)

Mon, 14 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Fake websites, non-existent resorts, holiday prize scams and pop up deals – all to be avoided as you make your online bookings.

MELBOURNE, 15 May 2012 — With winter drawing close and thoughts drifting to skiing holidays or warmer climes, AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG Internet and mobile security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, reminds holiday makers to be vigilant against Internet scams and fraudulent travel websites as they make their online bookings.

Tourism Research Australia, via the Australian Government’s Stay Smart Online initiative, reports that more and more Australians are taking advantage of online specials and the ability to make late flight changes and other arrangements without visiting a travel agency.

Michael McKinnon, Security Advisor at AVG (AU/NZ), said: “It makes perfect sense – finding your holidays online can be significantly cheaper, you aren’t locked in to any given provider, and you can do it at the click of a mouse button or swipe of the touch-screen. But as you also hand over name, credit card and sometimes date of birth details the dangers are obvious.”

Online crime is driven by volume so when a particular type of activity grows, such as holiday period travel bookings, the cyber criminals follow. AVG (AU/NZ) is detecting a new raft of phishing scams aimed at travel websites and email lists. There are fake sites; email offers for non-existent resorts and packages; operators that don’t provide secure payment pages; and phone competition scams offering tempting luxury holidays.

AVG (AU/NZ)’s safe online holiday booking tips are:

• Be wary of pop ups and unsolicited emails. Once you begin searching you could be distracted by pop up deals and start to receive emails from bogus sources. Don’t click and don’t open unless the messages are from a trusted source.

• Use reputable travel organisations that have industry credentials such as AFTA.

• If you haven’t used the site before, do a Google search on the company to check its bona fides.

• Check on small private operators by giving them a call before you place an online deposit.

• Read the terms and conditions covering refunds, booking changes, deposits and balance due. And if it is an international booking, check which currency you will be making the payment in.

• Any time you are entering personal or financial details, look for the security signs: a padlock symbol in your browser or payment pages that begin with ‘https://’. The ‘s’ denotes security.

As always, the first step to search, surf and email safely is to use a full online protection suite such as AVG Internet Security, or if you use an Android tablet or smartphone, AVG Mobilation.

Stay up to date with the latest news and information about online threats and scams by connecting with AVG (AU/NZ) on Facebook and Twitter, or following the AVG (AU/NZ) Blog.

Heightened Security In New Android App Store

Wed, 09 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Mobile security leader AVG Technologies partners with app platform Livewire Mobile, Inc.

LITTLETON, MASS., and AMSTERDAM - 9 May 2012 - Livewire Mobile, Inc. (otcmarkets: LVWR), the one-stop digital content solutions provider for carriers, consumer device manufacturers, media companies and consumers, and AVG Technologies (NYSE: AVG), the provider of Internet and mobile security to approximately 108 million active users, today launched an initiative in which AVG will provide advanced security checks to apps delivered from Livewire-hosted Android app stores for mobile network operators and handset manufacturers.

With concerns increasing around the potential security dangers for smartphone users, the two companies intend to use AVG’s innovative technology to help users protect themselves from potential malware and viruses.

Livewire Mobile has extensive relationships with Android app developers around the world and will host and manage the new app stores on its industry-leading Daius digital content platform.

Livewire Mobile, in collaboration with AVG, is now working with its developer community to curate and deliver security-screened app stores for customers around the world. Every app being offered to consumers in Livewire’s app stores will be pre-screened by AVG’s technology. Additionally, once a user downloads an app from one of Livewire’s secure app stores, every app update following the initial download will be similarly screened on the device using AVG’s Mobilation® for Android security solution. Mobilation will be made available free of charge to every user to complete the process.

Livewire Mobile COO Dave Moreau said: “Our platform hosts and manages mobile entertainment services for mobile network operators, handset manufacturers and media companies worldwide. We believe that while Google has made great advances in providing security for Google Play, malware and viruses are still an important challenge for smartphone users worldwide. The solution we have put together with AVG provides an innovative ‘clean’ service for consumers and helps MNOs and handset manufacturers deliver on their duty of care to their subscribers. AVG is a leading provider of internet and mobile security – what better way to protect consumers than providing them with AVG’s powerful technology?”

JR Smith, CEO of AVG Technologies said: “The growing use of mobile devices to connect to social networks and entertainment services has made it a preferred method for cyber criminals to spread malware. Our AVG Q1 2012 Community Powered Threat Report indicated a major increase in the use of social networks such as Facebook and Twitter to target Android users – by tricking them into installing malicious apps. In 2011 alone, Google removed more than 100 malicious apps from the official Android market, Google Play. Our joint initiative with Livewire Mobile will help give Android users peace of mind to use their phone apps to safely interact with their favourite social networks and entertainment services.”

AVG and Livewire Mobile are taking part in the Privacy in Mobile Applications Initiative, unveiled last month by the MEF, the global community for mobile content and commerce. The initiative was officially launched at MEF’s inaugural Privacy Summit in Washington DC with the goal to help the global mobile industry build consumer trust when interacting with mobile apps.

Rimma Perelmuter, MEF Executive Director, said: “We welcome such thought leadership from two of our members. It’s essential the mobile ecosystem works together to address issues around consumer trust. Both the recently announced privacy initiative and our on-going initiative work around security in M-commerce support the wider industry to overcome key barriers to growth and create a trusted environment for consumers.”

AVG (AU/NZ) at CeBIT Australia 2012

Mon, 07 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT

AVG (AU/NZ) to demonstrate high performance Internet security and channel programs at CeBIT Australia 2012.

AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, distributor of AVG Technologies’ award-winning AVG Internet and mobile security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, will be on Stand N30 at CeBIT 2012 (22-24 May) at Darling Harbour to demonstrate its authority on Internet security and PC performance.

The 2012 AVG Internet Security suite includes the latest threat prevention technologies, along with the recently announced Do Not Track feature, delivering robust online protection for home and business use, as well as AVG PC TuneUp to restore PCs to peak performance.

Michael McKinnon, Security Advisor, will be conducting sessions on “Dealing with Privacy in the Cloud” on Tuesday at 12:30pm and Thursday at 11:30am in the Cloud Theatre; and “Computing on the Move – Mobile Device Security” on Wednesday at 2:15pm in the App Theatre.

For resellers visiting CeBIT, Corporate Sales Director Michael Dowling and his team will be on hand to explain the value of AVG products for private and business clients and AVG (AU/NZ)’s lucrative channel program.

Sam Hendry, General Manager said: “This is the sixth year we have attended CeBIT and we always get enormous value from our participation. We will be building on our well received hands-on format from last year, with practical demonstrations of AVG’s industry leading products and discussions for resellers on how to join the channel program.

Mobile Use Of Social Networks Becoming Preferred Way To Infect Mobile Devices

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:00:00 GMT

AVG’s Threat Report highlights emerging trend of attacks via mobile social network connections.

MELBOURNE and AMSTERDAM 30 April 2012 – AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, distributor of the AVG Internet and mobile security product range in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, today released AVG’s Q1 2012 Community Powered Threat Report. The report highlights the growing use of mobile devices to connect with social networks and how this is fast becoming a preferred method for cyber criminals to spread malware, particularly on those devices running Android.

Michael McKinnon, Security Advisor at AVG (AU/NZ), said: “AVG detected a big increase in the use of social networks such as Facebook and Twitter to target Android users. Cyber criminals are finding it very convenient to distribute their malware straight to a mobile device via these networks. The growth of the Android platform has been phenomenal, which has not gone unnoticed with cyber criminals who have discovered it to be a lucrative target for their malware. In 2011, Google had to remove over 100 malicious apps from the official Android market, Google Play.”

Social networks have become a key source of information and communication. Twitter now has more than 140 million active users; and Facebook has over 845 million users, with some analysts expecting that figure to reach 1 billion this year. The result: targeting those who use Facebook is like targeting around 14 per cent of world’s population or approximately 43 per cent of global internet users. Consider also that there are over 300 million Android phones already activated, with over 850,000 Android phones and tablets added to that number each day, and it is clear these two trends combined result in a new threat: infecting Android devices using social networks.

Most mobile devices are tied into operator billing systems making monetisation of malware a lot more effective than on traditional computer systems. All the attackers need to do is trick users to install a malicious app on their device through which they can then gather cash using the phone companies’ billing systems by utilising premium SMS services. In many cases, this is done by charging low amounts on an infrequent basis so users don’t even notice.

The Q1 2012 Community Powered Threat Report includes examples of this:

• On Facebook, all it takes for a cyber criminal to attack is to set up a fake profile which downloads malware to a device and randomly invite Facebook users.

• On Twitter, a cyber criminal creates a spam profile and then posts tweets containing shortened hyperlinks to malware using trending hashtags. The way in which Twitter works makes sure the tweet appears on the top of many people’s Twitter feed.

About the report

The AVG Community Protection Network is an online neighborhood watch, where community members work to protect each other. Information about the latest threats is collected from customers who participate in the product improvement program and shared with the community to make sure everyone receives the best possible protection.

The AVG Community Powered Threat Report is based on the Community Protection Network traffic and data collected from participating AVG users over a three-month period, followed by analysis by AVG. It provides an overview of web, mobile devices, spam risks and threats. All statistics referenced are obtained from the AVG Community Protection Network.

AVG has focused on building communities that help millions of online participants support each other on computer security issues and actively contribute to AVG’s research efforts.

To download the Q1 2012 Community Powered Threat Report click here.

Nearly half of parents keep tabs on teens via Facebook, latest AVG Technologies’ research reveals

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Nearly half of parents keep tabs on teens via Facebook, latest AVG Technologies’ research reveals

Is this a new kind of parental relationship, or is it spying?

MELBOURNE and AMSTERDAM 18 April 2012 - 44 per cent of parents are keeping tabs on their teens by accessing their Facebook accounts without their consent, AVG Technologies’ latest Digital Diaries global study reveals.

Digital Coming of Age, the fifth instalment of AVG’s Digital Diaries study, features responses to AVG’s questions to 4,400 parents with 14-17 year olds in 11 countries, including Australia and New Zealand. It found that more than a third of parents were concerned that their teen’s interaction with social media sites could affect their future job prospects. Spanish parents (65 per cent) were the most concerned, while parents in the Czech Republic (29 per cent) were the least worried, compared with Italy (57 per cent), Germany (47 per cent), France (45 per cent), Australia (42 per cent), US (40 per cent), Canada (38 per cent), New Zealand (37 per cent), Japan (33 per cent) and the UK (30 per cent).

Michael McKinnon, Security Advisor at AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, said, "AVG’s latest research encourages us to consider whether Facebook and other social networking sites are creating a new kind of parental relationship, or whether we are in effect spying on our teens? These sites are providing parents with new methods to monitor what their kids are doing without necessarily having to be ‘heavy handed’ or to quiz their child directly."

Digital Coming of Age also unearths that nearly half of all parents surveyed globally felt that schools were effective in teaching their teens to use the internet responsibly. UK parents have the most faith in the teaching ability of schools (59 per cent), while the Czech Republic had the lowest (31 per cent), compared with Spain (54 per cent), Australia (53 per cent), United States (49 per cent), New Zealand (47 per cent), Germany (44 per cent), Canada (43 per cent), France (43 per cent) and Italy (35 per cent).

Will Gardner, CEO, ChildNet International, commented: "We know from our work in schools that children and young people are using a wide range of devices to surf the net and we also hear from many parents who are confused about how their children are getting online and what they are doing online. One of our key messages is to encourage parents to talk with their children and young people about what they're doing online, who they're talking to and to find out whether they have any safety concerns. It's great when families can connect online, but offline conversations are also a key part of staying safe online."

Other key findings from the Digital Coming of Age include:

UK parents are most likely to suspect teens of ‘sexting’ - nearly one quarter (23 per cent) of UK parents suspect their kids of sexting, compared with Australia (22 per cent), United States (21 per cent), Spain (21 per cent), Canada (20 per cent), New Zealand (17 per cent), Japan (15 per cent), Italy (11 per cent), France (10 per cent), Czech Republic (13 per cent) and Germany (9 per cent).

Spanish parents (45 per cent) are most suspicious their teens are illegally downloading music - compared with parents in the Czech Republic (35 per cent), France (30 per cent), UK (28 per cent), Australia and New Zealand (27 per cent) and US (19 per cent) - UK teens could even face up to ten years in jail for illegal downloads, as a result of Britain signing the disputed Anti-Countering Trade Agreement (ACTA) bill.

Just under half of parents surveyed are concerned their teens mobile photos are geo-tagged.

One fifth of UK and US parents suspect their teens of accessing pornography on their PC - compared with over a quarter of Spanish parents, and 17 per cent of Australian parents.

One fifth of UK and US parents have seen explicit or abusive messages on their offspring’s social networks - compared with over one quarter of Australian and New Zealand parents.

Parents ‘friending’ teens on Facebook - over half of UK parents are connected with their teens on Facebook, compared with United States (72 per cent), Canada (66 per cent), Italy (66 per cent ), Spain (64 per cent), New Zealand (60 per cent ), Australia (57 per cent), Germany (51 per cent), Czech Republic (50 per cent), France (32 per cent) and Japan (10 per cent).

About AVG Digital Diaries Campaign

The first stage of AVG’s Digital Diaries campaign, Digital Birth, focused on children from birth to age two. The study, released in October 2010, found that on average, infants acquire a digital identity by the age of six months old. Nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of children have had their pre-birth scans uploaded to the internet by their parent - establishing a digital footprint even before birth. The second stage, Digital Skills, was released in January 2011 and showed that for two to five year olds, ‘tech’ skills are increasingly replacing ‘life’ skills. In fact, many toddlers could use a mouse and play a computer game, but could not ride a bike, swim or tie their shoelaces. Digital Playground, released in June 2011, found nearly half of six to nine year olds talk to friends online and use social networks. This was followed with Digital Maturity in November 2011, which revealed how 11 year olds had developed adult skills in technology.

Research for all stages of the Digital Diaries series was conducted by Research Now on behalf of AVG Technologies.

For more information, please visit: www.avgdigitaldiaries.com

Some Competitions Are Not Worth Winning - How To Spot A Fraud

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:00:00 GMT

AVG (AU/NZ) warns of ‘Cost per Action’ cyber fraud.

SYDNEY 10 April 2012 - AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG Internet and mobile security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, alerts Internet shoppers to be on the lookout for scams infiltrating online competitions.

Michael McKinnon, Security Advisor at AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, said: "Cybercriminals have created highly lucrative illicit revenue streams by using legitimate advertising networks and fraudulently altering promotional collateral, including competition entry forms - often from large and otherwise trusted brand names."

The method that makes this type of fraud possible is a commercial Internet marketing arrangement known as "Cost per Action" (CPA) sometimes also called "Cost per Acquisition", which pays an advertiser for each action they can get someone to complete. These actions can be as simple as capturing an email address from a competition entry, or as complex as an online marketing survey that takes 15 minutes to complete.

Online fraudsters sign up to an advertising network - usually with false details, but just enough to collect a payment. They then copy and digitally alter promotional and competition offers to make them seem much more enticing - such as changing a $100 prize to a $10,000 prize. This produces better response rates to the legitimate offer and hence opens more people to the scam.

Falling for a CPA scam is at its most innocuous a time waster but according to McKinnon there are more serious ramifications:

• There is the risk of divulging potentially personal information in surveys and other forms that may act as a springboard for either identity fraud if the data ends up in the wrong hands and costing money, or much more time being wasted through dealing with further contact from telemarketers and other companies making direct contact with all manner of offers.

• A blended threat may occur by innocently providing your mobile phone number in an online survey and then receiving an SMS offer which contains a malicious link to a rogue mobile application which in turn starts sending premium SMSs that are charged to your monthly bill without you noticing, and again putting money in the pockets of the scammers.

McKinnon says: "The saddest part is that people who are vulnerable - to the extent that they fall for the initial survey and competition scams - are often very easy targets for further attack, and cybercriminals like to exploit this to their advantage by extending their reach with each victim."

AVG (AU/NZ)’s clues as to what to look for and how to avoid trouble:

• One of the most obvious tell-tale signs can be mismatched buttons or images. For example, sometimes an ‘action’ button is a slightly different colour from the rest of the page, and a different size and alignment. These ‘amateurish’ adjustments are clues which you should scan carefully for.

• Being directed to multiple offers or surveys in quick succession is a sign that you’re being led down ‘scammer’s lane’. It is common for cyber crooks to chain lures together to encourage you to fill out several entries - remember for each one you complete, they receive a fraudulent payment.

• The URL in your browser address bar can provide some idea of the legitimacy of the offer or survey form. The most obvious sign is an IP Address http://n.n.n.n/ - (where n is a number) instead of a domain name.

• Many of these types of fraudulent offers and promotions are presented in conjunction with other viral campaigns. For example, if you try to click on a video and then you get a popup asking you to enter the competition or complete a survey first, this signals you are being scammed into providing the ‘action’ that is going to put money in the scammer’s pocket and waste your time.

For safe, fun online exploration McKinnon advises that: "Vigilance and calm are the key words here. Take your time, read and look carefully and don’t click before you think."

For security trends, analysis and other practical tips, please visit the AVG (AU/NZ) Blog, or follow AVG (AU/NZ) on Facebook and Twitter.

AVG Introduces “Do Not Track” Feature, Actively Protecting Consumers’ Online Privacy

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 13:00:00 GMT

AVG putting control over online privacy back in the hands of users.

MELBOURNE and AMSTERDAM 28 March 2012 – AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG Internet and mobile security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, today announces an active “Do Not Track” feature to the mainstream Internet security marketplace.

Michael McKinnon, Security Advisor at AVG (AU/NZ), said: “This new feature is all about putting control of online privacy in the consumer’s hands. AVG helps provide Internet users with peace of mind---and today, making users aware of issues with online privacy is a logical extension of its community-centric platform. We believe all Internet users are entitled to know how their online data is collected and used---and they should have possible solutions available. AVG Technologies continues to work on innovative technologies focused at supporting Internet users to protect and stay in control of their own online privacy.”

Today, it is commonplace for websites to collect data about users. While not inherently bad, some sites share user data with third parties, and consumers - as well as policy makers - are growing increasingly concerned about this practice. For example, some forms of tracking allow advertisers to follow users around the Internet and deliver targeted advertising across multiple websites in ways consumers are unaware.

AVG Technologies (NYSE:AVG) CEO JR Smith said: “We continue to listen to our approximately 108 million-strong community and we are constantly focused on driving our research and development to the creation of innovative technologies. Today we deliver another important milestone with an active Do Not Track feature available in the latest version of AVG 2012 and through our latest product update for existing customers. This feature is available free because we believe all consumers have the right to take back control of their online privacy.”

Last month, the Obama administration proposed a “Consumer Bill of Rights” for privacy and the EU has previously proposed similar initiatives. AVG’s Chief Policy Officer, Siobhan MacDermott, added: “AVG is assuming a leadership role in the future of consumer privacy, and is involved in policy discussions on both sides of the Atlantic.”

Passive “Do Not Track” was introduced by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and relies on users’ voluntary adherence to this feature notification. This W3C Service Pack adds passive Do Not Track and is on by default. However, because compliance is voluntary, it doesn’t give the consumer real control over data collection. By contrast, AVG’s additional new and active “Do Not Track” feature brings online privacy control to mainstream consumers by informing them and offering the choice to block tracking directly or turn it on and off as desired.

New customers who purchase AVG's 2012 product and current customers who update AVG’s free and paid 2012 consumer security products with the new Service Pack will be automatically protected from sites and networks that invade their online privacy. At the same time, users can modify this default setting from within the user interface ---putting control firmly in the hands of consumers.

Another new Service Pack feature is WiFi Guard---offering protection from unknown WiFi access points. Laptops that are set to automatically connect to any available WiFi network are convenient when roaming, but can expose users to security risks. For example, cybercriminals can set up rogue WiFi access points using the name of a popular coffee shop chain, hotel or public WiFi provider, and then eavesdrop and breach consumer security. Now, after installing AVG’s 2012 Service Pack, a pop-up window automatically warns users if their device attempts to connect to a never-before-used public WiFi access point.

The Service Pack for AVG 2012 is available free from the AVG website for the following products:

• AVG Internet Security 2012 - Ultimate protection for everything you do online.

• AVG Anti-Virus 2012 - Exceptional protection that won’t get in your way.

• AVG Anti-Virus FREE - The original FREE virus protection.

For more information on tracking, Do Not Track, WiFi Guard and other changes in the AVG 2012 Service Pack, please visit the AVG blog.

Security Lessons from Security Professionals to SMBs and their Mobile Workforce

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:00:00 GMT

10 guidelines from AVG (AU/NZ) to keep valuable business data safe while on the move.

MELBOURNE, 13 March 2012 — AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG Internet and mobile security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, today announced the publication of 'The Common Sense Guide to Working on the Move’.

The Guide applies knowledge gleaned by AVG from security professionals around the world to create advice for SMB business owners and their staff who, by using multiple devices in conjunction with work, have embraced the mobility revolution.

This latest advice represents AVG (AU/NZ)’s ongoing commitment to helping enterprises and SMBs avoid the devastating consequences of data loss or theft.

Today’s executives and mobile employees now access e-mail and other proprietary data from more than one device. As content is increasingly packaged for mobile consumption – delivered via apps from cloud servers – methods to stay secure can become as confusing as they are numerous.

Michael McKinnon, Security Advisor at AVG (AU/NZ), said: “Cyber criminals have SMBs firmly in their sights as smaller organisations tend to have less sophistication and structure to their security mechanisms. Everything is of value to the crooks - from product roadmaps and pricing data to corporate bank account information and customer databases.”

AVG (AU/NZ) knows that while most users are familiar with the benefits of anti-virus and Internet security software, not everyone recognises the ever-changing multitude of phishing, scams and other malware waiting to take up residency on a device. Often undetected by users, criminals win access to trade secrets, launch plans, operational literature, market strategies and other confidential corporate data.

Equally damaging but more embarrassing are those incidents where people misplace disks, documents and laptops in public places.

To help businesses reduce their exposure risk, The Common Sense Guide to Working on the Move offers executives the following 10 guidelines:

1. Use strong password protection on your laptops and smartphones.

2. Enable filters and other onboard protection barriers for Internet-connected smartphones.

3. Shut down Bluetooth in public to guard against Bluejacking or Bluesnarfing.

4. Beware of ‘free’ Wi-Fi, unless branded by the business you’re currently patronising. If you don’t know where your connection comes from, then you don’t know what you are connecting to.

5. If you have to use a public (or kiosk) computer, never access your online banking details, make electronic purchases or enter ANY personally identifiable information.

6. Think about where you are sitting and whether anyone can look at your screen.

7. Count the items you take out of your bag when travelling – and count them as you put them back in.

8. Don’t ask a stranger to ‘look after’ your laptop while you use the restroom or go to the counter in a web café.

9. Make a note of your mobile operator’s emergency phone number so you can call them to have your phone immobilised in the event of a loss.

10. As always, the first step to search, surf and email safely is to use a full online protection suite such as AVG Internet Security, or if you use an Android tablet or smartphone, AVG Mobilation.

The Common Sense Guide to Working on the Move can be downloaded here.

Watch the video accompanying the guide here.

Avalanche Technology Group Creates CTO Role for Strategic Partnership Growth

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Kevin Yank to provide technical oversight in expansion of subsidiary partnership opportunities at Avalanche, parent of AVG (AU/NZ), and internal technology development.

MELBOURNE 8 March 2012 - The Australian owned Avalanche Technology Group, that takes innovative technologies to market in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, has appointed Kevin Yank to the newly created position of Chief Technology Officer (CTO).

Avalanche’s continuing growth has necessitated a dedicated CTO role with both internal and external responsibilities for the Group which includes AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the local regional distributor of the award-winning AVG Internet and mobile security software.

As CTO, Kevin Yank will be working with the executive team to identify and evaluate the technology and business opportunities for expanding the group of companies with proven partnerships such as that with AVG. His role is to provide technical perspective, guidance and oversight in that process. He has also taken ownership of all internal systems including the Group’s internally developed e-commerce / CRM / Reseller management system.

Over the past decade Yank has held CTO and other positions at online media company SitePoint and has built a strong reputation, especially in the web development and broader technical communities. He is also a highly regarded author and accomplished presenter. Yank holds a Bachelor of Engineering, Computer Engineering from McGill University, Montreal, Canada.

Kevin Yank said: “I was attracted to the potential in Avalanche’s thriving business and this demanding position where I can be pivotal in helping make the right technology choices from the exciting opportunities in front of us.”

Avalanche’s CEO Peter Cameron said: “The AVG (AU/NZ) subsidiary is a success story we’re looking to repeat. Kevin’s appointment, with his expertise and commitment, will ensure we have the right team to provide outstanding technology solutions for the Australian, New Zealand and regional marketplaces. We are delighted to have him join us.”

AVG Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2011 Financial Results

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Revenue Grows 29% in Q4 and 25% in Fiscal Year; Non-GAAP Unlevered Free Cash Flow Reaches $89.6 million and Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities Reaches $82.9 million in Fiscal Year

MELBOURNE March 7 2012 - AVG Technologies N.V. (NYSE: AVG) today reported results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.

Revenue for the fourth quarter of 2011 was $74.3 million, compared with $57.4 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, an increase of 29 percent. For the fiscal year 2011, revenue was $272.4 million, compared to $217.2 million reported in fiscal year 2010, an increase of 25 percent.

Net income for the fourth quarter of 2011 was $0.8 million, compared to net income of $10.1 million in the fourth quarter a year ago. Reduced net income in the fourth quarter of 2011 reflects increased investment in new products and initiatives intended to drive long-term growth, certain professional costs including those related to AVG's conversion to U.S. GAAP and controls based assessments related to its IPO and future public reporting, interest costs, the impact of the deferred tax asset release, the impact of acquisition accounting for TuneUp and the payment to AVG's German distributor in connection with the settlement of pre-existing relationships between the parties. These increased costs were offset by optimization of AVG's revenue streams in the security business. Loss per diluted ordinary share was $(0.03) for the fourth quarter of 2011, as compared to earnings per diluted ordinary share of $0.16 in the fourth quarter of 2010(1).

Non-GAAP adjusted net income for the fourth quarter of 2011 was $10.9 million, resulting in $0.21 per diluted share(2). This compares to non-GAAP adjusted net income of $13.4 million, resulting in $0.26 per diluted share, for the same period of the prior year. Reduced non-GAAP adjusted net income in the fourth quarter of 2011 reflects increased investment in new products and initiatives intended to drive long-term growth, certain professional costs including those related to AVG's conversion to U.S. GAAP and controls based assessments related to its IPO and future public reporting, interest costs, the impact of the deferred tax asset release and the impact of acquisition accounting for TuneUp. These increased costs were offset by optimization of AVG's revenue streams in the security business. Non-GAAP results for the fourth quarter of 2011 exclude $3.4 million in share-based compensation expense, $1.9 million in acquisition amortization and $3.7 million relating to an acquisition adjustment and reflect a $1.2 million adjustment to normalize to a tax rate of 14 percent.

Net income for fiscal year 2011 was $100.4 million, resulting in $1.69 per diluted ordinary share, compared to net income of $57.9 million, resulting in $0.99 per diluted ordinary share, in fiscal year 2010.

Non-GAAP adjusted net income for fiscal year 2011 was $56.5 million, resulting in $1.11 per diluted share. This compares to non-GAAP adjusted net income, of $66.2 million, resulting in $1.31 per diluted share, reported in 2010. Non-GAAP results for fiscal year 2011 exclude $6.4 million in share-based compensation expense, $4.5 million in acquisition amortization and $3.7 million relating to an acquisition adjustment and reflect a $58.5 million adjustment to normalize to a tax rate of 14 percent.

Deferred revenue as of December 31, 2011 was $151.1 million, an increase of $15.7 million, or 12 percent, compared to $135.4 million at December 31, 2010, and an increase of $10.9 million, or 8 percent, compared to $140.2 million at September 30, 2011. Cash and cash equivalents totaled $60.7 million as of December 31, 2011.

AVG generated $20.2 million in cash from operating activities in the fourth quarter of 2011, and $24.4 million in non-GAAP unlevered free cash flow, an increase of 24 percent over the same period of the prior year. For the fiscal year, AVG generated $82.9 million in cash from operating activities and $89.6 million in non-GAAP unlevered free cash flow, an increase of 18 percent over fiscal year 2010. For the fiscal year, this equates to a 33 percent revenue to non-GAAP unlevered free cash flow conversion rate. In the fourth quarter of 2011 and in full year 2011, AVG made a $3.2 million adjustment (net of tax) to non-GAAP unlevered free cash flow associated with its acquisition of its German distributor.

“Our fourth quarter results capped a year of solid execution across AVG’s business where we continued to grow our customer base, increase revenue per active user, diversify our product portfolio and advance our disruptive business model,” stated J.R. Smith, chief executive officer of AVG. “During the year, we continued to successfully evolve our business beyond “freemium” computer security through the enhancement of our portfolio of products to include, amongst other things, system tune-up as well as tablet and mobile phone security suites. This has enabled AVG to deliver on its promise to provide true “Peace of Mind” products and services to its customers. At AVG we engage customers by simplifying, optimizing and securing their computers, mobile devices and online experiences and in so doing, we've created a platform through which AVG has become a more relevant and important part of our customers’ lives.”

Financial Outlook

Based on information available as of March 6, 2012, AVG is providing financial guidance for the first quarter and fiscal year 2012.

For the quarter ending March 31, 2012:

• Revenue is expected to be in the range of $76.0 million to $78.0 million.

• Net income is expected to be in the range of $4.0 million to $5.0 million.

• Non-GAAP adjusted net income is expected to be in the range of $10.0 million to $11.5 million.

AVG’s expectation of non-GAAP adjusted net income for the first quarter of 2012 excludes share-based compensation expense, acquisition amortization and the assumed tax effects of such adjustments. The company assumes a tax rate of 14 percent. For the purpose of calculating US GAAP EPS in the first quarter, the company would assume approximately 47 million weighted average shares outstanding. For the purpose of calculating non-GAAP EPS in the first quarter, the company would assume approximately 54 million shares. The difference of 7 million shares primarily reflects the preference shares only being recognized for part of the period under US GAAP as they converted to ordinary shares at the time of the company’s Initial Public Offering.

For the fiscal year 2012 ending December 31, 2012:

• Revenue is expected to be in the range of $317.0 million to $325.0 million.

• Net income is expected to be in the range of $30.0 million to $33.0 million.

• Non-GAAP adjusted net income is expected to be in the range of $52.0 million to $55.0 million.

• Non-GAAP unlevered free cash flow is expected to be in the range of $100.0 million to $104.0 million, with operating cash flow expected to be in the range of $99 million to $103 million.

AVG’s expectation of non-GAAP adjusted net income for the fiscal year 2012 excludes share-based compensation expense, acquisition amortization and assumes a tax rate of 14 percent. For the purpose of calculating US GAAP EPS for 2012, the company would assume approximately 54 million weighted average shares outstanding. For the purpose of calculating non-GAAP EPS for 2012, the company would assume approximately 55.5 million shares. The difference of 1.5 million shares primarily reflects the preference shares only being recognized for part of the year under US GAAP as they converted to ordinary shares at the time of the company’s Initial Public Offering.

Conference Call Information

AVG will hold its quarterly conference call today at 23:00 CET/5:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. PT to discuss its fourth quarter financial results, business highlights and outlook. The conference call may be accessed via webcast at http://investors.avg.com/ or by calling +1 (877) 941-1427 (United States and Canada) or +1 (480) 629-9664 (International).

A replay of the webcast can be accessed via http://investors.avg.com/. Additionally, an audio replay of the conference call will be available through March 13, 2012 by calling +1 (800) 406-7325 (United States and Canada) or +1 (303) 590-3030 (International), (conference passcode required: 4516822#).

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information

This press release includes the following supplemental non-GAAP financial measures: non-GAAP adjusted net income, non-GAAP adjusted net income per diluted share and non-GAAP unlevered free cash flow. The presentation of this supplemental non-GAAP financial information, which is not prepared under any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles, is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. In particular, adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted share and unlevered free cash flow should not be considered as measurements of the company’s financial performance or liquidity under U.S. GAAP, as alternatives to income, operating income or any other performance measures derived in accordance with U.S. GAAP or as alternatives to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of the company’s liquidity. Adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted share and unlevered free cash flow have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation from, or as substitutes for, analysis of AVG’s results of operations, including its cash flows, as reported under U.S. GAAP. Some of the limitations of adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted share and unlevered free cash flow as financial measures are:

• they do not reflect the company’s future requirements for capital expenditure or contractual commitments, nor, in the case of the income measures, do they reflect the actual cash contributions received from customers;

• except in the case of free cash flow, they do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, the company’s working capital needs;

• they do not reflect the interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on the company’s debt;

• although amortization and share-based compensation are non-cash charges, the assets being amortized will often have to be replaced in the future and such measures do not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements; and

• other companies in AVG’s industry may calculate these measures differently than AVG does, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures.

Because of these limitations, investors should rely on AVG’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and treat the company’s non-GAAP financial measures as supplemental information only.

AVG is providing these non-GAAP financial measures because it believes that such measures provide important supplemental information to management and investors about the company’s core operating results, primarily because the non-GAAP financial measures exclude certain expenses and other amounts that management does not consider to be indicative of the company’s core operating results or business outlook. AVG management uses these non-GAAP financial measures, in addition to the corresponding U.S. GAAP financial measures, in evaluating the company’s operating performance, in planning and forecasting future periods, in making decisions regarding business operations and allocation of resources, and in comparing the company’s performance against its historical performance.

For a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, please see “Reconciliation of U.S. GAAP to non-GAAP Financial Measures.” All non-GAAP financial measures should be read in conjunction with the comparable information presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including those relating to an expected range of revenue, non-GAAP adjusted net income per share and non-GAAP unlevered free cash flow for the three-month period ending March 31, 2012 and/or the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012. Words such as “expects,” “expectation,” “intends,” “assumes,” “believes” and “estimates,” variations of such words and similar expressions are also intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated herein. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include but are not limited to: changes in the company’s growth strategies; changes in the company’s future prospects, business development, results of operations and financial condition; changes to the online and computer threat environment and the endpoint security industry; competition from local and international companies, new entrants in the market and changes to the competitive landscape; the adoption of new, or changes to existing, laws and regulations; flaws in the assumptions underlying the calculation of the number of the company’s active users; the termination of or changes to the company’s relationships with its partners and other third parties; the company’s plans to launch new products and online services and monetize its full user base; the company’s ability to attract and retain active and subscription users; the company’s ability to retain key personnel and attract new talent; the company’s ability to adequately protect its intellectual property; flaws in the company’s internal controls or IT systems; the company’s geographic expansion plans; the anticipated costs and benefits of the company’s acquisitions; the outcome of ongoing or any future litigation or arbitration, including litigation or arbitration relating to intellectual property rights; the company’s legal and regulatory compliance efforts; and worldwide economic conditions and their impact on demand for the company’s products and services. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

Further information on these factors and other risks that may affect the company’s business is included in filings AVG makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from time to time, including its Registration Statement on Form F-1, particularly under the heading "Risk Factors."

The financial information contained in this press release should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto to be included in the company's report on Form 20-F. The company's results of operations for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the company's operating results for any future periods.

These documents are available online from the SEC or in the Investor Relations section of our website at http://investors.avg.com/. Information on our website is not part of this release. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information currently available to us, and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events.

Cyber Crime Is Here To Stay – Whole-of-Community Response Required for Protection of Online Lives

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Michael McKinnon, Security Advisor at AVG (AU/NZ) speaks at Inaugural Cyber Crime Symposium

SYDNEY 1 March 2012 – Speaking at the Inaugural Cyber Crime Symposium* today, Michael McKinnon, Security Advisor at AVG (AU/NZ) told delegates that cyber crime is here to stay and that protection will only come from a strong, unified community response.

The Symposium is being staged in recognition of the impact of cyber crime which, according to the Symposium website, is estimated to cost Australia as much as $1.8 billion and another $2.8 billion in time spent resolving cybercrime issues - more than the traditional crimes of burglary ($2.2 billion annually) and assault ($1.4 billion).

McKinnon sees that: “Only the combined vigilance of government, law enforcement agencies, business, social communities and individual actions will raise the standards of protection and reduce cyber crime’s unfettered expansion.

“As we built the Neighbourhood Watch concept of education, involvement and care for our physical world, we all need to be constantly aware and take steps to protect our online lives.”

From fraud and identity theft at its most serious to the inconvenience of infected PCs, smartphones and tablets at the lower end of the spectrum, cybercrime impacts us all: personally and through lost business productivity; and vulnerable children and older citizens, and even the tech savvy.”

As an example of the creativity of cyber criminals, McKinnon outlined how AVG (AU/NZ)’s local support team rate fake anti-virus software as the Top 4 scam issues currently facing Australian Internet users. With scammers persistently sending pop-ups to infected computers, unwary surfers are being alerted to non-existent viruses and directed to pay for ‘clean up services’ at cyber crime sites such as Security Shield, SystemFix or XP Anti Virus Pro.

McKinnon said: “Our best protection is to take the time to monitor what is happening in the ether and to secure all Internet enabled devices. We should all take individual responsibility for maintaining our systems and online gadgets with the most recent versions; installing the latest, always-on, automatically updating anti-virus and Internet security technologies; scheduling backups; and regularly changing passwords.”

McKinnon’s understanding of the current situation and emerging trends is supported by the quarterly “AVG Community Powered Threat Reports” that analyse input from AVG’s customers worldwide and provide insight, background and analysis of the developments in the global online security threat landscape. The most recent Report quantified the proliferation of QR code infections, stolen digital certificates bypassing security on mobile phones, and the persistence of rootkits. And, as mobile phone functionality converges with computers, cyber criminals are now targeting iPhones and Android devices with new malware.

The AVG Community Protection Network also focuses on building communities that help millions of online participants support each other on computer security issues and actively contributes to AVG’s research efforts.

Full Q4 Threat Report: AVG Community Powered Threat Report Q4 2011

*Inaugural Cyber Crime Symposium

Beware of QR Codes Delivering Malware, Stolen Digital Certificates and Rootkits on Mobile Devices

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:00:00 GMT

AVG Technologies unveils global Community Powered Threat Report – Q4-2011

MELBOURNE and AMSTERDAM, 27 January 2012 – AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG Internet and mobile security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, today announces the “AVG Community Powered Threat Report – Q4 2011”, providing insight, background and analysis on the trends and developments in the global online security threat landscape. Highlights in this quarter’s report are the risks of QR codes, stolen digital certificates bypassing security on mobile phones and the persistence of rootkits.

Cybercrime has come a long way since it was mostly a digital form of vandalism. It has developed into a criminal business operated for financial gain and is now worth billions. In this report AVG focuses on some of the most notable cybercrime developments in the last quarter.

QR* codes are becoming popular for mobile users to insert text and URLs into the mobile device without typing. Unfortunately they are also being discovered as an ideal way to distribute malware to unsuspecting victims. The user does not know what lurks behind the QR code until the malware is already installed and running. This report describes in detail the new technique already used by hackers and expected to gain momentum in 2012. Putting a malicious QR code sticker onto existing marketing material or replacing a website’s bona fide QR code with a malicious one could be enough to trick many unsuspecting people.

“In Q4 we clearly saw the convergence between computers and mobile phones applies to malware too. As phones become more like computers, so do the risks,” said Yuval Ben-Itzhak, Chief Technology Officer, AVG Technologies. “Many sophisticated tricks of the trade from computers are now being repurposed for phones. However, as phones are often tied into billing systems the gains can be far greater.”

2011 saw a surge in both Android users and Android malware samples. In December, Google removed another 22 malicious apps from the Android Market, making the total for 2011 pass the 100 mark. ¹ Cyber criminals have now clearly discovered phones as an interesting target. In another sign that mobile phones are becoming more like computers every day, the use of stolen certificates is now making its way to mobile devices. Digital certificates are often used to certify the identity of the author of an application. If a criminal can get their hands on the certificate belonging to a major software developer, their malware can circumvent security provisions and give users a false sense of security.

Rootkits have been one of the more serious threats to target operating systems in recent years. Rootkits evolved from commercial and financial use to cyber warfare with a very specific target (Stuxnet, Duqu ²). Currently we are witnessing the first phase of the rootkit evolution on mobile devices (CarrierIQ ³). They are ever evolving to be much more sophisticated with some interesting samples showing up every few months.

In this report we focus on one of the latest rootkits called ZeroAccess, a very sophisticated, very effective rootkit using advanced anti-forensic features. ZeroAccess is a kernel mode rootkit spying on users and is controlled from a remote server. Waiting for commands from the criminals behind it, the rootkit allows the criminals to use the infected machine when and how they wish.

Other key findings in the report:

The Blackhole toolkit is currently the most active threat on the web with a share of nearly 50% of all detected instances and over 80% of all toolkits.
Around a million malicious mobile events have been detected during this quarter.
The USA is still the largest source of spam, now followed by the UK. Compared to the previous quarter, the UK jumped from fourth to second place overtaking India and Brazil.
Brazil is not just a very active banking Trojan market ⁴, the report highlights Portuguese as the second most used language in spam messages.

Michael McKinnon, Security Advisor at AVG (AU/NZ) said “With threats such as ID theft, phishing attacks and Trojans, cyber criminals create an environment of increased risk that puts people off going online. At AVG we believe our role is to give people the tools and peace of mind to enjoy their online experience.”

About the report
The AVG Community Powered Threat Report is based on the Community Protection Network traffic and data, collected over a three-month period, followed by analysis by AVG. It provides an overview of web, mobile devices, Spam risks and threats. All statistics referenced are obtained from the AVG Community Protection Network.

The AVG Community Protection Network is an online neighborhood watch, helping everyone in the community to protect each other. Information about the latest threats is collected from customers who choose to participate in the product improvement program and shared with the community to make sure everyone receives the best possible protection.

AVG has focused on building communities that help millions of online participants support each other on computer security issues and actively contribute to AVG’s research efforts.

Full Q4 Threat Report: AVG Community Powered Threat Report Q4 2011.

1 https://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222595/Google_pulls_22_more_malicious_Android_apps_from_Market
2 https://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9185919/Is_Stuxnet_the_best_malware_ever
3 http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/dec/15/carrier-iq-faces-us-probe
4 http://www.circleid.com/posts/20111123_brazil_the_newest_up_and_comer

*About QR Codes
The QR codes are a specific, two dimensional, black on white square matrix barcode that are readable by devices such as smartphones. The encoded information, in text, URL or other data format, can be up to 7,089 characters as opposed to the 20 character limit of a standard barcode.

For the series of informative security tips, how-to and fact sheets see: www.avg.com.au/resources/security-tips/. For video tips from AVG (AU/NZ), see: www.youtube.com/user/avgaunz.

Keep in touch with AVG (AU/NZ)

For breaking news, follow AVG (AU/NZ) on Twitter at twitter.com/avgaunz
Join our Facebook community at www.facebook.com/avgaunz
For security trends, analysis, follow the AVG (AU/NZ) blog at resources.avg.com.au

AVG (AU/NZ) Presents Tips for Preparing the Family’s Online Devices for the New Academic Year

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Tips from AVG (AU/NZ) to protect home computers, school laptops and mobile devices.

MELBOURNE, 16 January 2012 — AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG Internet and mobile security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, knows that lists for ‘back to school’ have expanded beyond new shoes and exercise books. It now covers preparation of home computers, school laptops and mobile devices for the upcoming academic year.

Michael McKinnon, Security Advisor at AVG (AU/NZ), said: “Back to School presents an ideal opportunity to engage with your children about their online activities and to look at updating systems, software versions and the passwords on every device used by every family member.”

AVG Technologies’ recent instalment of its Digital Diaries revealed that only two-thirds of Australian and New Zealand parents know their kids’ passwords. McKinnon said: “While there is a fine line between what your children see as caring and snooping, it is vital that ground rules are established to ensure parents can take the necessary responsibility over their children’s online practices - for the safety of the whole family and essential communications equipment.”

AVG (AU/NZ) offers these tips for preparing your computers and devices for Back to School:

Cleaning up the home computer

During the holidays the home PC will have had a good workout by the kids, and probably their friends. It’s time to clean it up and remove anything that may be slowing it down.

Do a full anti-virus scan with AVG’s Internet Security 2012 to see if any nasties have been introduced to the household. Check that all computers are configured correctly to automatically perform at least one full scan every week.
Update, update, update. Most malicious software is designed to take advantage of poorly maintained computers. Mitigate your risks by keeping your applications and your Operating System up to date at all times.
Optimise your PC to peak performance with a product such as AVG’s PC Tuneup.

Protecting mobile devices

Mobile devices - iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets are easily lost or stolen. Mobile security solutions such as AVG’s Mobilation allow devices to be remotely wiped and even tracked using GPS location technology. Devices should also be secured with a PIN so they can’t be used without permission.
USB memory sticks are highly convenient for students to transport files but if lost or stolen, private data and assignments may end up in the wrong hands. Investing in a memory stick that allows you to put a lock/PIN or encrypt data to restrict access is worthwhile. Put all your sticks through regular anti-virus scans. Keep backups of all files to avoid getting caught by stick corruption. And, attach memory sticks to brightly coloured, individual lanyards, along with your kid’s name and school, so they are not so easy to misplace or forget.
Labelling or marking equipment. Many parents take great pride in labelling school clothing, lunchboxes and bags but often forget to label technical gadgets. Doing this can make returning misplaced items easier and avoid confusion when classmates arrive with identical looking devices.

Community awareness

Community awareness is vital. If you see something that isn't right, discuss it, bring awareness to it, and this way you will raise the online safety standards of your community as a whole.
Make yourself aware of the IT security and codes of practice used at your children’s schools and reinforce them at home.
Unfortunately, cyber bullying is a growing threat to the positives of online social networking. With new classmates and new relationships developing from the start of the school year, you and your children should be aware of the recommended tactics to combat any nasty behaviour.
Reputations can last a life time in cyberspace. With the combination of school antics and social media, a great narrative can form online that may not be well received by future employers, so students need to be made aware of the long lasting effects that may arise.

AVG (AU/NZ) announces $150,000 Donation to Help Fight Disease in APAC region

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:00:00 GMT

AVG (AU/NZ) becomes a National Community Partner of Australian Red Cross with a $150,000 donation to promote water and sanitation in the Asia Pacific region.

AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG Internet and mobile security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, has announced it has become a National Community Partner of Australian Red Cross with a donation of $150,000.

Money raised from AVG (AU/NZ)’s partnership will be used to support the Cribas Water Supply Project in East Timor. This project is one of many key Australian Red Cross water and sanitation programs in the Asia Pacific region where Red Cross works to deliver clean, safe drinking water and adequate sanitation programs for adults and children.

At least four million people die each year from diseases associated with the lack of access to safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene. Furthermore, dirty water and poor sanitation is the world’s second biggest killer of children.

AVG (AU/NZ) invests a large component of its marketing budget building grassroots awareness of issues related to the very real threats to online security by Internet viral attacks and the growing cost of personal identity theft. Whilst working to help make individuals and businesses across its community safe and secure from online infection, AVG (AU/NZ) sees an equally compelling need to help vulnerable people be safe from infection in the physical world.

AVG (AU/NZ)’s CEO Peter Cameron said: “We understand that with awareness and the right tools most online infection is preventable. So too can the successful fight against disease be expanded into our wider community.”

AVG (AU/NZ) is the only software vendor to become a partner of Australian Red Cross at this high National Community Partner level of commitment and the donation adds to the company’s well established portfolio of philanthropic work.

The impetus for this new partnership came from Peter Cameron’s personal travel experiences. Having witnessed the effects of poverty across our neighbouring region, Cameron determined to expand on his vision for online health to help people in need across the Asia Pacific.

Cameron’s investigation of the programs being conducted by Australian Red Cross convinced him of its accountability, transparency and effectiveness: “Australian Red Cross is a powerful partner for reputable businesses and for us there is also the obvious synergy in our joint drive to protect the vulnerable in our community.

“We are using the success of our business to make a difference in the world. The Red Cross sponsorship is our first major donation and we have a made a commitment to extend our philanthropic work from this significant start point,” Cameron said.

As Australia’s SMBs Use Social Networking as a Strategic Business Tool, They Must Defend Their Brand

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:00:00 GMT

Findings of AVG’s 2011 SMB Market Landscape Report reveal SMBs open to costly security breaches and information theft.

Australia’s small- and medium-size businesses are exploring the marketing opportunities provided by social networking sites (primarily Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn) in unprecedented numbers but too few are prepared for the associated risks to their security and reputations.

AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG Internet and mobile security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, warns of the glaring gap between the ready adoption of these new technologies without the corresponding adoption of higher level protection mechanisms to counter infiltration by cyber criminals or disgruntled employees.

Michael McKinnon, security advisor at AVG (AU/NZ), said: “While everyone may be talking about the wonders of social networking as the latest cost-effective tool to attract new customers, partners and staff, too few are completing the picture with robust security as part of their business strategy.”

An Officing Today study in July 2010 quantified the extent to which Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn have become mainstream business tools in Australia. It revealed that 43 percent of our small businesses have set up accounts with these sites and 26 percent had a specific budget allocation for social networking activities. By comparison, 35 percent of SMBs in the US market were moving to these new opportunities.

McKinnon said: “The potential for damage to business finances and reputations by hacking and malware attacks is increasing. All organisations must equate online security with corporate governance and brand protection.”

AVG’s SMB Market Landscape Report confirms how widely SMBs are using their social networking accounts. They are most frequently using them to engage with their customers (72 percent ) and to disseminate company and product information (67 percent). More than a quarter of respondents used these connections to research trends and gain consumer insights, with 25 percent using them for sales and 19 percent for customer support.

The Report’s findings highlighted that while SMBs are becoming aware of new ways in which their organisational security can be compromised, including theft of information and social engineering, the majority of respondents remained focussed on countering the more traditional e-mail and web based malware attacks.

And SMBs often only realised the true cost of an IT security breach after experiencing one along with the longer-term impacts such as a loss of sales and revenue opportunities, and the man hours required to react to it.

Protecting Facebook Pages and accounts:

· Take the initiative to be aware of the Privacy and Application settings inside Facebook, and understand how the various settings can be applied, especially around the permissions of third-party apps.

· Business Pages within Facebook have assigned Administrators, and these must be reviewed regularly to ensure that only trusted people are listed; ex-employees should be removed immediately.

· As all interactions within Facebook occur through a personal account, never provide your personal Facebook password to other colleagues under any circumstances; simply add them as Admins on Pages if required.

Protecting Twitter accounts:

· SMBs should be ensuring that the password they use for Twitter is on a need to know basis within the company, and it should be changed if this is not the case.

· Twitter provides the ability to revoke access to third-party applications, and this should be reviewed on a regular basis ensuring that only applications that are used are allowed.

· With as many as 1 in every 100 tweets containing potentially malicious links, ensuring that computers and mobile devices are protected with a link scanning technology such as AVG Link Scanner is vital to avoid link poisoning attacks.

The release in October of AVG’s Internet Security Business Edition 2012 strengthens its position as the champion of SMB security. This suite is the answer for today’s ‘Internet active’ SMBs. It addresses the potential impacts of cyber crime while being resource-light and affordable.

AVG SMB Market Landscape Report 2011

This annual report, commissioned by AVG and undertaken by GfK NOP, collated the online responses from 1,000 ICT managers in the USA and the UK during August 2011. Further reading: AVG SMB Market Landscape Report 2011 (16 pages, 1.4 Mb, PDF)

AVG (AU/NZ) has a comprehensive range of security tips on its web site at http://www.avg.com.au/resources/security-tips/. For video tips from AVG (AU/NZ), see http://www.youtube.com/user/avgaunz.

Online Safety for Your Children Over the Christmas Holidays

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:00:00 GMT

AVG (AU/NZ) offers advice to parents for online safety awareness

AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd apologises to Australia’s parents for bringing to their attention that the long summer school holidays are within sight. But the holidays mean your children will soon be spending vast amounts of time tracking their friends on Facebook and trawling the Internet for entertainment. So it’s timely to remind parents to update their online safety awareness.

The cyber world that children inhabit continues to shift and evolve. The sites children are using today won’t be the ones they’re addicted to next week. AVG (AU/NZ) offers advice to help parents keep their children safe while enjoying their online holiday time.

Michael McKinnon, Security Advisor at AVG (AU/NZ), said: “Learn, protect, report – these headings don’t make for an interesting acronym but will encourage parents to be vigilant of their family’s online activities.”

Learn

Take an interest in the online safety instruction your child is receiving at school and reinforce those messages. You can’t always be watching over them so education as to the risks and self-awareness ideas for protection are vital.

Cybersmart is part of the Australian Government’s cybersafety program and provides activities, resources and practical advice to help kids, teens and parents safely enjoy the online world. It includes a page for parents with the latest ‘Tagged’ updates on subjects such as how to encourage young people to reflect on the real life consequences caused by cyber bullying, sexting.

ThinkUKnow is an Internet safety program delivering interactive training to parents, carers and teachers. Created by the UK Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre, ThinkUKnow Australia has been developed by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Microsoft Australia. Users will need to subscribe to the site to gain access to its tools and resources.

Stay Smart Online is a one stop shop providing information for Australian Internet users on the simple steps they can take to protect their personal and financial information online. The site has informative videos, quizzes and a free Alert Service that provides information on the latest threats and vulnerabilities.

Protect

The Internet is a place where kids will eventually learn how to responsibly connect with others, but it’s also a place to explore and learn. The problem with today’s most popular search engines is they can surprise the user with shocking images and other content that are unexpectedly associated with the search string.

Popular search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo provide easily configurable options that allow the blocking of most explicit images and results from appearing, or alternatively there are services like Kids.Net.Au providing kids with their own safe search experience.

Ensuring the home computer is protected with an Internet Security solution that includes link scanning technology, such as the AVG Link Scanner is another important tool to consider. When trouble is just a click away, AVG helps parents protect their kids by ensuring their Internet experiences are positive ones.

Before you turn on the TV or take your kids to the movies, the US site Common Sense Media helps parents determine what movies, games, websites, music and more might be the most appropriate for their impressionable young ones before they’re already exposed. The site also posts helpful suggestions for parents struggling with how much TV is too much TV and similar family issues.

Report

Always report any cyber bullying to your child’s school or the police. Never ignore it.

If you have found any material online that you believe is prohibited or inappropriate you can contact the Australian Communications and Media Authority. This site also has a range of online safety resources for parents and caregivers.

The Government’s SCAMwatch site provides a reporting facility to assist with the policing of cyber crime and alerting others to fraudulent Internet activity.

You and your children need to be alert to the potential dangers when enjoying the Internet and know what to do should anything untoward happen. That way your family can continue to benefit from the world of information and opportunity as safely as is possible.

Survey Reveals 75% of SMBs Do Not Understand Threats Posed by Reliance on Mobile Phones and Tablets

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 13:00:00 GMT

AVG’s 2011 SMB Market Landscape Report reveals SMBs open to costly security breaches and information theft.

AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG Internet and mobile security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, warns how important it is for small to medium sized businesses to understand the risks posed by their organisations’ growing reliance on mobile technologies.

AVG Technologies’ annual SMB Market Landscape Report, which tracks the security attitudes and practices of companies with up to 100 employees, has revealed that almost 75 percent of respondents did not realise the dangers of having outdated security regimes in place for the mobile devices they provide to staff, or those owned by employees and used at work.

Michael McKinnon, Security Advisor at AVG (AU/NZ), said: “New mobility technologies are providing tremendous opportunities for flexibility and efficiency but they also expose businesses to the very costly impacts of hacking and Internet malware.”

He stresses how vital it is to acknowledge that, despite their size, smartphones and tablets are powerful, Internet-connected mobile computers, with vital business and personal information being carried on them. And, because of their size, can be easily misplaced, lost or stolen. Combine this with a 273 percent* rise in mobile malware in the first half of 2011 and such devices are a growing security risk that SMBs must address quickly.

From the Report, one in ten of the organisations surveyed has deployed business applications on tablet devices, a threefold increase on figures from the 2010 survey. The fast-paced development of Android mobile technologies over the past year appears to have filtered down to SMB level, where almost one in ?ve companies are now using these devices.

Half the responding organisations give employees remote access to their networks, with the typical telecommuting worker spending one day a week away from their of?ce. Most popular locations for remote working are from home (71%), while on the move (47%) and from wireless hotspots (35%) which open businesses to the highest level of risk.

McKinnon strongly advises properly securing smartphones and tablet devices with purpose-designed security solutions, such as AVG’s Mobilation package for Android.

McKinnon says “Awareness of common features such as those available in AVG Mobilation that allow lost or stolen devices to be easily located or remotely wiped, is still not widely adopted, yet is vital for all SMBs to protect important data.”

And, anti-virus and Internet protection offered by AVG’s Internet Security Business Edition 2012 should be kept current for all computers and mobile devices that are brought in or taken home by staff, contractors, clients and visitors.

*According to a study conducted by G Data Security Labs,

AVG SMB Market Landscape Report 2011

Enjoy Your Online Christmas Shopping – But Be Careful What You Pay For

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:00:00 GMT

AVG (AU/NZ) Provides Top Five Tips for Staying Safe Online While Shopping for Bargains

With Christmas just around the corner, more and more Australians are turning to online shopping to pick up bargains.

Before shoppers kick off the holiday season, AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd reminds them to be smart and stay safe online so they can continue to enjoy their Internet experiences and great bargains.

Michael McKinnon, Security Advisor at AVG (AU/NZ), said: “The fastest and easiest way to score a great deal may be online – but shopping on your computer, tablet or smartphone also creates opportunities for cybercriminals to attack.

“Online holiday shopping is a prime time for hackers to re-route funds, steal personal information, and trick consumers into online scams. Before shoppers kick off the holiday season, we want to remind consumers to be smart and stay safe, and ensure their computers and mobile devices are properly protected with anti-virus software.”

While navigating the hundreds of websites to find the best deals for Christmas and then the New Year sales, AVG (AU/NZ) offers these five tips to protect against malware attacks and identity theft this holiday season:

1. Be a Scrooge to Public Wi-Fi: Anyone can download software that steals your information from public networks. Online gift shoppers should wait until they’re home or on a secure network and avoid public Wi-Fi networks when sharing financial or sensitive data.

2. Naughty or Nice? Check the URL Twice: Mobile devices come with super small screens that don’t show the full web address. Hackers may add to the end of URL addresses which will lead shoppers to corrupt sites. Consumers should check before they click. Whether on a computer or mobile phone, it’s important to make sure the URL begins with “https” before credit card information is entered. The “https” confirms the site is secure.

3. Unbelievable Deals: Beware of online ads promising free products or extremely large discounts. Consumers should download free link scanning software, which prevents online users from going to sites designed to steal financial and other personal information, before starting their holiday shopping.

4. Keep Kids Savvy: Most parents know they’re not the only ones on the family computer – kids are online too, surfing stores’ websites to create their holiday wish list. A recent study conducted on behalf of AVG found that the online activity of most 10-13 year old kids mirrors their parents’, long before they’re ready to handle the dangers. Free online safety tips about smart online use and safeguarding the family computer are available from AVG (AU/NZ) and Australian government sites such as Stay Smart Online.

5. ‘Tis the Season for Pickpockets: When shoppers venture out to the mall, they should keep the data on their mobile phones out of harm’s way. Security software exists for both computers and mobile phones that can help protect consumers from viruses, phishing scams and identity theft. Even pickpockets can be thwarted as owners can now remotely wipe personal data from any lost or stolen device.

“As you Ho, Ho, Ho through the peace and quiet of your online Christmas shopping, please be careful that the bargain you’ve just found doesn’t come with any unwanted extras. Think before you click,” McKinnon said.

For the series of informative security tips, how-to’s and fact sheets see:

www.avg.com.au/resources/security-tips/. For video tips from AVG (AU/NZ), see: www.youtube.com/user/avgaunz

11 Year Olds Have Adult Technology Skills but not the Maturity for Safe Internet Use

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:00:00 GMT

A global survey, including responses from 800 parents of 10-13 year olds in Australia and New Zealand, has revealed the disconnect between the technological abilities of the tween age group and the intellectual maturity necessary to make the right decisions in the many complex situations they face online.

To develop a better understanding of how our technology-centric society impacts the lives of today's youth, AVG Technologies, a leading provider of Internet and mobile security, has commissioned Digital Diaries, a series of studies that examines the technology habits of different age groups.

Digital Maturity, the fourth instalment of research from the series, examines how the average 10 to 13 year old is using the Internet. While tweens aren't managing stock portfolios or paying the mortgage online, their online activity closely mirrors that of an adult. Ten to 13 year olds are spending large amounts of time on social networks, connected mobile devices or engaged in online gaming.

The result: tweens are open to being led into complex social situations that require adult reasoning â€“ long before they are ready.

Michael McKinnon, Security Advisor at AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG Internet and mobile security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, said: "Children are online at such an early age that many have developed the technical maturity of adults by their tween years. However, they have not developed the equivalent intellectual or emotional maturity necessary to make the right decisions in the many complex situations they face online.

"It is important that parents understand the role technology plays in their children's lives to help their kids be as smart and safe as possible whenever they are connected," he advised.

Who Knows Best?
The Digital Maturity survey shows that globally only 8 percent of parents believe their 10 to 13 year old is better informed about the Internet than they are. Locally, this figure rises to 10 percent in New Zealand and 17 percent in Australia.

Fathers are much more likely to consider themselves Internet experts than Mums, with only 2 percent crediting their children with knowing more. In Australia, a quarter (23 percent) of mothers admit that their children know more about the Internet than they do.

Watching Over Them
According to global responses, just over half of all tweens have their own PC and a significant proportion of those use their PCs in their bedrooms - 36 percent in Australia and 44 percent in New Zealand which is in the middle of the range between 81 percent in Germany and 11 percent in the Czech Republic. This indicates there is often no consistent, real-time parental supervision in place.

Parents seem to be in the dark about what their kids are up to online. Only half (54 percent) of Australian and 6 in 10 (61 percent) New Zealand parents have gone into their kids' computers to monitor their activities. This compares with the US where 72 percent have done so.

And less than half (43 percent Australian and 48 percent New Zealand) of the parents have logged onto the social media profile of their 10-13 year old child. In both countries, Mums are more likely to check up on their kids than Dads.

While the survey suggests that a majority of parents surveyed (92 percent) feel they are savvier about the Internet than their children, there is room for much concern about their kids' online activities.

All Things Social
A staggering 58 percent of parents admit their 10 to 13 year olds have access to mainstream social networks, directly contravening the established minimum age restriction to join Facebook at 13 years.

For ten year olds in Australia and New Zealand the figures are 32 and 37 percent respectively but by the time they are 13, more than three-quarters are registered on the major social media sites via a PC and almost half (48 percent in Australia and 47 percent in New Zealand) via their mobile phones.

According to their parents, 1 in 5 (19 percent) Australian 13 year olds is spending more than an average of an hour a day on social networks.

Just Playing Around
Having a games console is now the norm for this age group: 28 percent of Australian and 21 percent of New Zealand tweens are even spending an average of more than an hour a day on them.

McKinnon said: "Adults often take for granted the decades of daily, hourly, minute-by-minute training we call upon every time we engage with other people. And not even we can navigate social situations without having to reconcile a host of complex issues, from simple etiquette to gross invasions of privacy, sexual inappropriateness and social bias.

"The Digital Maturity survey provides encouragement to parents to help tweens develop the skills to use online networks with confidence. Importantly, parents and tweens also need to speak up if they detect an issue."

McKinnon believes the dangerous gap between the age of digital maturity and the age children achieve adult levels of emotional and intellectual maturity is essentially a perfect storm for tweens: "The phenomenon creates a situation where teens are determining the rules of engagement and the result is an environment that is often devoid of basic social courtesies and ethics.

"Mutual respect for openness and privacy within a family is a fine line to be negotiated, be it in the real or cyber world. We know that to protect children throughout their lives, parents have to engage, set boundaries and help kids navigate both their physical and online societies," he said.

Other key findings of 10 to 13 year olds' online experiences are:

Cyber bullying is the highest, at 9 percent, in Australia and the US, which is above the all countries' average of one in 20 tweens having been victims.
Two-thirds of parents say they know their kids' passwords. In the US, this peaks at 78 percent.
Tweens in Italy (90 percent), Czech Republic (86 percent) and UK (83 percent) are the most prolific users of SMS, while France (61 percent) and Australia (62 percent) used the service the least.
Tweens in the UK (36 percent) are more likely to own a Smartphone than their US (28 percent) and French (16 percent) counterparts.
Italian (76 percent) and Spanish (72 percent) tweens are most likely to have their own personal computer, while New Zealanders (40 percent) and Canadians (53 percent) are the least likely to.

Halloween Zombies Are Everywhere – And May Soon be on the Device in Your Hands

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 13:00:00 GMT

Unprotected mobile devices are the target of the latest hacking activity: Internet-enabled Zombies

AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG Internet and mobile security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, is alerting mobile device users to update their security to protect against the latest cyber crime threat: mobile Zombies.

As Halloween revelers turn themselves into the familiar fantasy version of these creatures, smartphones and tablets across the planet are being fully equipped by remote cyber-criminals to take actions against key personal, commercial and governmental assets – long before they can be effectively tracked.

A Zombie is an Internet-enabled computing device that has been hacked to perform tasks under instructions from others. Most owners of zombie devices have no idea their system literally lies in wait to be called into a range of actions, such as:

Click fraud – waged against sites displaying pay-per-click advertising, essentially stealing from online retailers

Denial-of-service attacks – the orchestrated flooding of target internet addresses by a large number of computers to crash it and prevent access from legitimate users, often aiming to take down popular website

Debilitating spam – spammers avoid detection and pass bandwidth costs to device owners

Harvesting of personally identifiable information (identity theft)

Spreading and/or updating new malware

Sending SMS to premium numbers with high charges

Michael McKinnon, Security Advisor to AVG (AU/NZ), says: “We are expecting to see an increasing number of smartphones and tablets turned into Zombies. Many users are not aware that they need to protect their mobile devices with the same comprehensive anti-virus and Internet security as they do their PCs. Because there are so many owners who take zero mobile security precautions, they have inadvertently created a powerful medium for sophisticated attacks against key elements of our infrastructure. It’s not just the stuff of Halloween.”

In addition to installing security specific to mobile devices, such as AVG’s free Mobilation solution for Android smartphones and tablets, McKinnon advises users to run the latest ‘firmware’. Android users need to use the built-in software update feature in their settings menu, and iPhone users need to connect their phone to a computer running the latest iTunes software.

Mobile device owners should also be selective about which apps they install. For Android users this means only those available from the official Android Marketplace, and iPhone users should not use a 'jail broken' device which allows applications to be installed outside the Apple App Store.

Indications of a Zombie infection include any sudden or unusual changes in the behaviour of the device such as poor battery life, apps that are slow to respond, or new pop-up messages.

McKinnon says: “Unlike many of the current mobile security threats that favour having the phone use a premium SMS service which is clearly going to show up on the phone bill, most Zombie attacks can be much more subtle and very hard to detect.”

Installing a mobile security solution like Mobilation as a preventative measure provides the advantage of being alerted to the presence of any malicious apps before they have a chance to cause damage. If the installation is on a phone that is already infected by a Zombie, the user will be alerted to its presence. But McKinnon warns that there are cases where it will be necessary to wipe the phone completely to ensure a complete clean.

“While detection is important, prevention is best,” McKinnon concludes.

Don’t Bet Your Personal Details on the Melbourne Cup

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:00:00 GMT

AVG (AU/NZ) keeps you safe with ten winning tips to avoid the pitfalls of online gambling.

Melbourne, 25 October 2011 — The Melbourne Cup is likely to see record betting activity this year, both on track and online. With growing numbers of gamblers now able to place bets 24/7 via the Internet, mobile phones or interactive televisions, AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG Internet and mobile security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, alerts punters to potential risks when betting online.

Selecting an online betting site should be done very carefully so as not to inadvertently send credit card and personal details to underworld operators. AVG (AU/NZ) is aware of too many instances where the personal details of online gamblers are being traded. At its most innocuous, these identity details are sold within the international online gambling industry and used to promote other gambling sites and services. At its most dangerous, organised crime syndicates use them to create new identities, card skimming and other fraudulent activities.

Michael McKinnon, security advisor to AVG (AU/NZ), says: “While you’re engrossed in the fun of the bet, don’t shut off your awareness to the threat of cyber crime.”

In a recent submission to the ‘Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform: Inquiry into the Prevalence of Interactive and Online Gambling in Australia’, Dr Sally Gainsbury from Southern Cross University and Professor Alex Blaszczynski of the University of Sydney quantify why there are growing issues.

The submission cites Global Betting and Gaming Consultants’ estimation that “Australians will spend $611 million on online sports betting in 2011, representing a 230 percent increase from 2006”. It identifies online sports betting as being particularly popular among young men. And large sums are expected to be spent on offshore sites that have fewer restrictions.

According to the submission, as of June 2011 “approximately 2,443 online gambling sites exist, 92 percent of which are available to Australians. Betting dominates this online market, accounting for approximately 41 percent. And there are 150 different payment methods offered by sites accepting bets from Australia, with new payment methods being developed for use on commercial sites such as Facebook and iTunes.”

McKinnon understands that the greater the amounts of money involved, the greater the attraction for organised cyber crime.

The current review of Australia’s regulations and the online gambling industry being undertaken by the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy is unlikely to be able to provide failsafe protections.

In 2010, the online gambling firm Betfair suffered a major cyber attack in the UK. It saw the theft of 3.1 million account names with encrypted security questions, 2.9 million user names and 90,000 account usernames with bank account details. While Betfair believed that, due to the levels of encryption, none of the data was usable, the incident highlights how online gambling is now well and truly within the sights of criminal enterprises.

The Australian Government’s SCAMwatch web site has warned in previous Spring racing seasons to be cautious of sports arbitrage schemes that involve placing bets with the intention of making a profit regardless of the result. It advises against “investing in expensive betting schemes and software packages which make false claims of guaranteed winnings.”

Ten Sure Bets to Protect Your Identity and Transactions

McKinnon advises protecting your privacy and safeguarding your personal information must be front of mind before you commit to any online betting or gambling site, or click through on an offer:

Reduce your levels of risk by using well-established sites with links to local organisations and which are regulated by Australian laws. Check out the fine print at the bottom of the home page and read the privacy and security information — a nuisance though that may be.
You can protect yourself further by opening a credit card or debit account which you use specifically for online transactions and keep separate from your other accounts.
Be wary of sign-on incentives, what you agree to and what you may be asked to click through to. Don’t sign-up if the site claims the profits are ‘tax free’, or requests payment via affiliated overseas companies “so you don’t have to pay GST”.
To identify the most trustworthy betting sites, ensure your online bookmaker uses a minimum 128-bit SSL encrypted security for all transactions and bets. Look for URLs which begin with https:// — the ‘s’ signifies security. A green Internet address bar indicates the site has this “extended validation SSL certificate” for safe processing of personal data as it is controlled by the authority that granted the certificate, not by the web site owner. This helps to stop the green bar being abused or used inappropriately for phishing and online fraud.
To protect your personal information and computer or mobile device, install and maintain up-to-date anti-virus and Internet security protection software. The latter should include enhanced firewall and identity protection software components.
In the new era of M-commerce, mobile devices have the full power of PCs. Last year’s Melbourne Cup saw the arrival of the first iPhone app for betting on the event — do you have security software operating on your phone, especially when using public Wi-Fi?
It is also vital to have a web scanning layer of protection that notifies you when a web page is malicious. The free AVG LinkScanner® software dynamically scans web pages in real-time, before they open in your browser, to ensure they are threat free and from genuine sites.
You also need to be aware of the risks to your children if they find themselves in an online gambling site. There are no proof of age restrictions online, all they need is access to your credit card.
Use a very strong password when creating an online betting or gambling account — at least 8 characters (longer is better), being a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters. Change the password at least once every 6 months. You don’t want some ’colourful online racing identity’ gaining access and using your account.
Do all of your online betting or gaming from a secure Internet connection. You should never use a public computer or a public, unsecured Wi-Fi network to do online transactions such as logging into online accounts, placing bets or making payments. Such sensitive online transactions should only happen when you’re using a secure connection on a properly secured PC or mobile device.

McKinnon concludes: “Let the adrenalin hit be from the fun of the bet, not the nasty realisation that you’ve signed yourself up to identity theft, scams or spam.”

Should you wish to report suspicious or unscrupulous behaviour by an online gambling site, you can report it to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

AVG unveils global Community Powered Threat Report - Q3-2011

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:00:00 GMT

Pickpocketing Digital Currency the new gold mine, criminals outsourcing money collecting to mobile operators and eavesdropping on Android

MELBOURNE and AMSTERDAM, 12 October 2011 - AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the Australian, New Zealand and South Pacific distributor of the award-winning AVG Internet and mobile security software, today released the "AVG Community Powered Threat Report - Q3 2011", providing insight, background and analysis on the trends and developments in the global online security threat landscape. Highlights in this quarter's report are the risks of digital wallets, using mobile phone operators to collect money and how an Android Trojan records your calls.

Last month, Keith Alexander, director of the US National Security Agency told attendees of the "Maneuvering in Cyberspace" conference that the global cost of cybercrime is estimated to be US$1 trillion. (1*)
Last week, the PCeU - the e-crime unit of the UK Metropolitan Police - reported to have prevented over £140 million-worth of cybercrime in the UK over the last six months alone. (2*)
A recent report by the Poneman Institute - a U.S. based information security policy research centre - states that over the past year, the median cost of cybercrime increased by 56 percent and now costs companies an average of US$6 million per year. (3*)

Stealing digital currency

Digital Currency has become very popular in a short time. Facebook Credits, Xbox Points, Zynga coins and Bitcoin now play a vital role in a multi-billion dollar global gaming economy. Far from being just of virtual value, many of these currencies are actively traded for real currency. This has not gone unnoticed by cyber criminals, now aiming to steal digital wallets from people's computers. In June a digital wallet containing close to US$500,000 was stolen when someone broke into the victim's computer and transferred most, but not all, of the money out of his wallet.

Outsourcing the hard part, collecting the money

In a bid to outsource the hassle and risks of collecting the money, cyber criminals are moving beyond credit cards details and are increasingly using mobile phone operators to do the collecting for them. A criminal might install a Trojan on to a victim's smartphone that sends premium SMS messages when the owner is asleep. They might use a Facebook scam to get hold of people's phone numbers and sign them up for an expensive monthly phone charge. A victim's mobile operator will process the charges and transfer the money to the criminal organisation, even if they reside on the other side of the world. If and when a victim notices the charge and the mobile operator is alerted to stop processing payments, considerable amounts may already have been stolen. If the amounts are small enough, many victims may not even notice for months.

Eavesdropping on Android

With Android taking almost 50% of the world's smartphone market share, it is no wonder that cyber criminals consider the platform an attractive target. Most Android malware focuses on making money from premium SMS. However, in July AVG investigated a Trojan that records a victim's phone conversation and SMS messages and sends them to the attacker's servers for analysis to identify potential confidential data. This clearly demonstrates the power of modern mobile operating systems but also the tremendous risks unprotected mobile users are open to.

Other key findings in the report:

Rogue AV Scanner is currently the most active threat on the web
Exploit Toolkits account for over 30% of all threat activity on malicious websites ('Fragus' is most popular, closely followed by 'Blackhole')
Angry Birds Rio Unlocker is the most popular malicious Android application
The USA is still the largest source of spam, followed by India and Brazil

"In Q3 we started to see a clear trend in cybercriminals shifting their focus to simplifying money collection," said Yuval Ben-Itzhak, Chief Technology Officer, AVG Technologies. "Well-organised criminal gangs are now letting mobile phone operators handle the money collecting part by focusing on mobile phones and setting victims up for charges that will appear on their phone bill some time later. Not only is it a lot easier, it also scales to tremendous volumes making money by stealing small amounts from very large groups of victims."

A recent report authored by the research agency The Future Laboratory (Cybercrime_Futures), reveals that while cyber criminals and malicious programs are becoming increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect, users are, alarmingly, becoming the weakest link as they are less vigilant about protecting their online devices. The combination of these two factors presents a potentially disastrous cybercrime scenario.

JR Smith, CEO of AVG Technologies, said "It's increasingly evident that each unprotected individual makes us all more vulnerable, so it's vital that as a global society we find ways to address this trend and ensure that we are protected together. We're securing people's digital life, or as we like to say: Providing Peace of Mind to the Connected World."

About the report

The AVG Community Powered Threat Report is based on the Community Protection Network traffic and data, collected over a three-month period, followed by analysis by AVG. It provides an overview of web, mobile devices, Spam risks and threats. All statistics referenced are obtained from the AVG Community Protection Network.

The AVG Community Protection Network is an online neighbourhood watch, helping everyone in the community to protect each other. Information about the latest threats is collected from customers who choose to participate in the product improvement program and shared with the community to make sure everyone receives the best possible protection.

AVG has focused on building communities that help millions of online participants support each other on computer security issues and actively contribute to AVG's research efforts.

Full Q3 Threat Report: AVG_Community_Powered_Threat_Report_Q3_2011 (33 pages, 3.5 Mb PDF).

1* http://www.computerworlduk.com/news/security/3303786/us-needs-to-be-prepared-for-a-big-cyber-attack/
2* http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/oct/02/cyber-crime-unit-met-police
3* http://www.ponemon.org/blog/post/second-cost-of-cyber-crime-study-is-released-today

Keep in touch with AVG (AU/NZ)

For breaking news, follow AVG (AU/NZ) on Twitter at twitter.com/avgaunz
Join our Facebook community at www.facebook.com/avgaunz
For security trends, analysis, follow the AVG (AU/NZ) blog at resources.avg.com.au

SMBs Are Adopting New Mobility Technologies But Not Preparing for Associated Risks

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:00:00 GMT

Findings of AVG's 2011 SMB Market Landscape Report reveals lack of understanding of the threats posed by business reliance on mobile phone and social networking use.

MELBOURNE, 4 October 2011 - AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG Internet and mobile security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, today announced the findings of this year's SMB Market Landscape Report. It revealed the glaring gap between the ready adoption of new technologies and the preparedness of small- and medium-size businesses for the associated heightened levels of risk to security.

This annual report, commissioned by AVG and undertaken by GfK NOP, tracks the security attitudes and practices of SMBs with up to 100 employees. The online survey conducted during August 2011 elicited responses from 1,000 ICT managers in the USA and the UK. AVG (AU/NZ) believes the results should alert their Australian counterparts to the global issues of cyber crime and business protection.

Lloyd Borrett, Security Evangelist at AVG (AU/NZ), said: "Businesses must equate online security with corporate governance and brand protection. New mobility technologies and social networking open businesses to opportunities for growth but also introduce the very nasty reality of security breaches and information theft."

Almost 75 per cent of respondents did not understand the risks posed to their businesses by their organisation's use of mobile phones. One in three had a profile on a social networking site without taking additional security precautions. The majority of respondents remained focussed on countering the more traditional e-mail and web based malware attacks.

The announcement this month of the latest release of AVG's robust protection for small- and medium-size businesses, AVG Internet Security Business Edition 2012, is the security software answer for today's 'Internet active' SMBs. It addresses the potential impacts of cyber crime while being resource-light and affordable.

Borrett strongly advises anti-virus and Internet protection be kept current for all computers and mobile devices that are brought in or taken home by staff, contractors, clients and visitors. He stresses the importance of properly securing smartphone and tablet devices.

Almost three quarters of SMBs surveyed did not agree that the use of smartphones in business represents a threat to IT security. Yet as Borrett points out, these devices are Internet-connected, highly mobile computers, with vital business and personal information being carried around on them. They can be easily misplaced, lost or stolen. Combine this with a 273% rise in mobile malware in the first half of 2011 and such devices are a growing security risk that SMBs must address quickly. This highlights why AVG has been a pioneer in introducing its AVG Mobilation security solutions for Android smartphones and tablets.

AVG SMB Market Landscape Report 2011

The AVG SMB Market Landscape Report 2011 revealed that:

SMBs have a more conservative attitude towards IT spending as a response to financial uncertainty. In spite of this there are some pockets where spend has risen against 2011. In the USA it's the smaller 1-5 employee business whose investment is up, while in the UK it is the medium portion (26-50 employees) of the SMB market spending more.
SMBs are embracing technologies to increase levels of mobility, though few are aware of the potential dangers associated with bringing data to more devices. One in ten SMBs are now using tablet devices, a threefold increase on 2010.
SMBs recognise the opportunity social networking offers to promote business and engage with customers, but do not take the proper additional precautions against specific social-media threats. SMBs are most frequently using social networks to engage with their customers, and to disseminate company and product information. However, more than a quarter claim to be using their social networking connections to research trends and gain consumer insights.
SMBs remain focused on traditional IT vulnerabilities like e-mail and web viruses without safeguarding against emerging IT security threats, such as information theft and social engineering. In 2010 large numbers of SMBs were considering moving their data into the cloud. However, one in six now have concerns about the safety of their data which is stored there.
SMBs are most concerned about losing access to files and replacing hardware, when security breaches are the costlier risk. SMBs that have already experienced such a breakdown are more likely to have seen the long-term impact, such as loss of sales and revenue opportunities and the man hours lost from reacting to a breach.

The AVG SMB Market Landscape Report showed that SMBs are remarkably consistent in terms of their requirements for security software. They want IT security software to:

Deliver the right level of protection
Not impact on business performance
Work in the background

"As the champions of SMB security, this is just what AVG's Business Edition 2012 products deliver," said Borrett. "They're designed exclusively with the small and medium business in mind. This is why AVG has considerably higher levels of satisfaction amongst small businesses compared to other major brands."

AVG Business Edition 2012 Availability and Pricing

The complete AVG 2012 family of SMB products (including AVG Internet Security Business Edition 2012 and AVG Anti-Virus Business Edition 2012) is available now at www.avg.com.au, as well as through a large network of independent software resellers throughout Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.

AVG Internet Security Business Edition 2012 and AVG Anti-Virus Business Edition 2012 are available in five-seat increment multi-packs with one and two year licence periods. Pricing for a one-year, five-seat license for AVG Internet Security Business Edition 2012 is A$317.20. A one-year, five-seat licence for AVG Anti-Virus Business Edition 2012 is A$199.99.

Paid AVG products come complete with free telephone support from the AVG (AU/NZ) support centre in Melbourne, backed up by free technical support by e-mail.

Further reading: AVG SMB Market Landscape Report 2011 (16 pages, 1.4 Mb, PDF)

AVG Internet Security Business Edition 2012 Unveiled

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:00:00 GMT

Designed for SMBs, new product delivers more and demands less

MELBOURNE and AMSTERDAM, 21 September 2011 - AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG Internet and mobile security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, today announced AVG Internet Security Business Edition 2012, a robust-protection, resource-friendly security product for today's small- and medium-size businesses. This new version is faster, lighter, easier to use and is available now.

AVG believes SMBs need more than a stripped-down version of enterprise security: they need software designed especially for them. In a nutshell, AVG Internet Security Business Edition 2012:

Delivers more - with respect to speed, protection, cost savings and time to focus on the day's tasks
Demands less - by way of smart scanning, fewer interruptions and ease of use that makes for a smaller footprint on users, administrators, PCs, servers and the overall budget
Minimises threats - via award-winning anti-virus and Internet security protection across multiple touch-points, from e-mail and the Web to emerging threats such as information theft, social engineering and the risks involved with using social media as a marketing tool
Reduces hassle - with an uncluttered management console

Lloyd Borrett, Security Evangelist at AVG (AU/NZ), said: "More than ever businesses need to be aware that the potential impact of cybercrime must not be underestimated. With our increased dependency on information technology, not protecting your business could mean the end of your business.

"After the 2008 financial crisis, the OECD began to re-examine today's potential 'global-shocks'. Alongside the expected threats: financial crises, pandemics and social unrest, the OECD also included 'cyber risks' for the first time. AVG's recent Cybercrime Futures report highlights the increasing risks we all face and provides a call to action for businesses to protect themselves."

Businesses must:

Equate online security with corporate governance and brand protection, and make it a boardroom issue. This is not just a technology debate.
Protect, and keep protection updated for all computers and mobile computing devices that are brought in or taken home by staff, contractors, clients and visitors.
Promote strong password management, with password and username combinations that are not easy to guess and which include a combination of letters and numbers.

AVG Business Edition products rated first in ease of use by Tolly Independent Testing Labs and AVG Anti-Virus Business Edition 2011 was awarded five stars in value for money by SC Magazine.

"AVG Internet Security Business Edition 2012 aims to be the simplest, most tailored security software for SMBs available," Borrett said. "For businesses looking for protection without impeding performance, AVG is the most compelling solution on the market. With enhanced ergonomics and cost savings, customers can essentially set and forget - with peace of mind that we will take care of the rest while they interact in the connected world."

In addition to security technology, AVG's information-packed Business Resource Centre provides customers with guidance to stay up to speed on the latest security trends. Security needs are rarely the same for every organisation. AVG helps SMBs select the protection that is right for their business via an easy-to-use online security audit tool. After a short questionnaire about their business, customers receive a detailed report containing hints and tips to better protect their data.

Availability and Pricing

AVG Internet Security Business Edition 2012 and AVG Anti-Virus Business Edition 2012 are available in five-seat increment multi-packs with one and two year licence periods. Pricing for a one-year, five-seat license for AVG Internet Security Business Edition 2012 is A$317.20 (NZ$334.79). A one-year, five-seat licence for AVG Anti-Virus Business Edition 2012 is A$199.99 (NZ$215.99).

Paid AVG products come complete with free telephone support from the AVG (AU/NZ) support centre in Melbourne, backed up by free technical support by e-mail.

Keep in touch with AVG (AU/NZ)

For breaking news, follow AVG (AU/NZ) on Twitter at twitter.com/avgaunz
Join our Facebook community at www.facebook.com/avgaunz
For security trends, analysis, follow the AVG (AU/NZ) blog at resources.avg.com.au

Don't give your identity away

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:00:00 GMT

AVG (AU/NZ)'s easy to follow tips for protecting your identity from cybercrime.

Melbourne, 20 September 2011 - You can save yourself hours of wasted time cancelling cards and chasing up your bank to reclaim stolen cash by being vigilant and following these simple steps from AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG Internet and mobile security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific.

Lloyd Borrett, Security Evangelist at AVG (AU/NZ), says: "People are giving away their personal information and opening themselves to identity fraud by failing to be alert to the ramifications of their online activities."

In today's digitally connected world, having your identity stolen is all too easy and the consequences of losing your identity are all too serious.

Identity fraud sees criminals clone your identity for monetary gain such as opening bank accounts in your name, redirecting your post to another address, or even securing a passport using your details.

So what can you do to prevent the fraudsters getting enough of your personal details to wreak havoc with your finances and your life? AVG (AU/NZ) has compiled a list of tips to help you keep the cyber criminals at bay.

Don't throw away anything that contains personal identification information - shred or rip up all bank statements, utility bills, application forms, chequebook stubs, card receipts and letters carrying personal details.
Be aware of phishing phone calls - where you're conned into giving away personal information over the phone - get a return phone number, check it is a legitimate organisation and call them back.
Be very alert online - phishing attacks are a growing problem. Don't respond to emails asking for personal information such as account details, usernames, passwords or credit card details.
Set strong passwords - When 20,000 Yahoo, AOL and Hotmail passwords were hacked into last year, it was found that the most popular password was '123456'. Cyber criminals have sophisticated hacking technology so it is vital to set long passwords with illogical combinations of letters, numbers and symbols. And change them regularly. Social networking sites can be an open conduit to your data. Always log out at the end of each session.
Monitor your credit status regularly - Then you'll be aware of who is doing credit searches on you and if any new accounts have been set up in your name.

Borrett says, "If you suspect fraudulent activity then act fast and contact your bank, credit card, store card merchandiser, utility and phone companies so they can monitor irregular activity. Other businesses such as Secure Sentinel offer loss assistance and identity theft detection services."

Keep in touch with AVG (AU/NZ)

For breaking news, follow AVG (AU/NZ) on Twitter at twitter.com/avgaunz
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For security trends, analysis, follow the AVG (AU/NZ) blog at resources.avg.com.au

Cybercrime risk a perfect storm brewing, warns AVG report

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:00:00 GMT

'Wetware' a crucial factor in increasingly dangerous cybercrime scenarios

MELBOURNE and AMSTERDAM, 16 September 2011 - AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG Internet and mobile security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, has released a new report commissioned by AVG Technologies which reveals how the explosion in size and complexity of global cybercrime, combined with the surprising complacency of younger users, is putting lives at risk.

The report, authored by the research agency The Future Laboratory, reveals that while cyber criminals and malicious programs are becoming increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect, users are, alarmingly, becoming less vigilant about protecting their online devices. The combination of these two factors presents a potentially disastrous cybercrime scenario.

Also highlighted in the report is the phenomenon of so-called 'wetware', in which the weak link in the security chain is not the technology but rather the human user. The growing risk stems not just from technology (software or hardware) but increasingly from human action (wetware).

Lloyd Borrett, Security Evangelist at AVG (AU/NZ), said, "If the weakest link in the Internet security chain is the person in front of the computer, security experts are now warning that the rise of social networks is leading to a rise in social engineering.

"Just as increased security provision by automotive manufacturers means that to steal a car today you have to steal the keys, with computer systems now capable of being comprehensively protected, the easiest way to get into a home or business computer is now through its owner."

A third of Europeans surveyed by AVG and Future Poll don't update their anti-virus protection. It seems that increasingly cyber criminals are focusing on deceiving the human rather than the machine, fooling the user into downloading and installing malicious software by posing as anti-virus providers or another trusted source. This means of entering a user's computer bypasses the normal security checks and makes the 'wetware' the weakest link.

The key findings of the report were as follows:

Cybercrime is on the increase as the tools and tactics which were previously used by hackers to cause disruption to machines and networks have been monetised by criminal gangs through bank fraud and ID theft.
Smartphones are no longer just phones, they are mini PCs, and consumers fail to realise that this makes them as vulnerable to cybercrime as a computer. Just 4 percent of French Internet and smartphone users are concerned about smartphone viruses. Money can be taken almost unnoticed through premium rate SMS fraud - a crime which consumers are unlikely to spot.
Consumers are aware of the need for anti-virus protection but nearly one in ten of those surveyed fail to keep their protection updated. Alarmingly, the 18-35 age group (often cited as the group which is most digitally aware) is particularly complacent about this.
Increasing integration of the Internet into physical systems makes us increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attack. The 'Internet of Things' will soon become part of our connected world, opening new opportunities for hackers to cause harm and havoc.

The author of the report, Dr Antonia Ward of The Future Laboratory, said of the findings, "It's clear that cyber criminals are getting more and more sophisticated, not only in their programming but also in their methods. The idea that they're moving from using weaknesses in the software to attacking the 'wetware' is a disturbing one, and demands that we respond by improving people's awareness of these rogue programs so that they aren't so easily deceived."

JR Smith, CEO of AVG Technologies, said "The potential impact of cybercrime must not be underestimated. After the 2008 financial crisis, the OECD began to re-examine today's potential 'global-shocks'. Alongside the threats you expect - financial crises, pandemics and social unrest - they also included 'cyber risks' for the first time. The British government alone has allocated £63m to fight cybercrime this year.

"It's increasingly evident that each unprotected individual makes us all vulnerable, so it's vital that as a global society we find ways to address this trend and ensure that we are protected together. We're securing people's digital life, or as we like to say: Providing Peace of Mind to the Connected World," he added.

According to the report, the Generation Y users, those who have grown up with an awareness of digital threats, are the most reckless about not protecting themselves. Almost half the UK's 18-35 year olds don't update their anti-virus software. If they continue to behave like this as they grow older and gain more wealth and responsibility, then we could witness a cybercrime disaster affecting not just personal users but also businesses and governments.

Five key threat scenarios identified in the report:

Car-hacking - Hackers could take control of your car's door locks, dashboard displays and even its brakes.
Jailhouse Rocked - Prisoners could be sprung from jail using only a USB stick.
Health Scare - Saboteurs could threaten the wellness technologies we depend on to keep us healthy.
Sniffers & Blackouts - Burglars could monitor your activities, then reprogram your home security systems from afar.
Grid-Jacking - Scammers and terrorists alike could find opportunities in hacking into the Smart Grid.

Full report: Cybercrime Futures (34 page, PDF)

About the report:
AVG Technologies commissioned The Future Laboratory to develop this white paper. In addition to the qualitative research, it contains quantitative research conducted by Future Poll. Future Poll is the research division of The Future Laboratory, one of Europe's foremost consumer research, trends, insight, forecasting and brand innovation consultancies. Via its online network, LS:N Global, it speaks to 300 clients in 14 lifestyle sectors on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

The survey, conducted online in August 2011, polled the opinions of 7,000 respondents aged 18+ living in the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia and the UK. Unless otherwise stated, all statistics in this report refer to this survey, and should be credited thereafter as 'Future Poll for AVG Technologies, 2011'.

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For security trends, analysis, follow the AVG (AU/NZ) blog at resources.avg.com.au

Online Forms: What You Can and Can't Enter Safely

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:00:00 GMT

AVG (AU/NZ) helps you recognise the trouble signs and avoid online fraud.

Melbourne, 13 September 2011 - In the digital world it is becoming much more difficult to know who to trust with access to the valuable information you store in digital form. Things are not always what they seem, and criminals from around the world are creating new and inventive ways to steal data from unsuspecting users. AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG Internet and mobile security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, provides a guide about what information you share and with whom you share it.

Lloyd Borrett, Security Evangelist at AVG (AU/NZ), says: "In the real world, we have a lifetime of experience to help us distinguish between who is trustworthy and who is not. This informed awareness is not yet at the forefront of our activities in the digital world. And it is leaving the door wide open for cyber criminals."

Online forms: deciding who to trust

AVG (AU/NZ) advises you to check the following before you hit the Submit button for an online form containing your personal information:

Make sure you know what company is operating the web site and whether it is legitimate.
Look for signs that indicate the site has been reviewed by independent site verification organisations, such as VeriSign.
Ensure the padlock symbol is visible in your browser status bar - this means the site is secure and using encrypted (https) communication so nobody can intercept and misuse your data.

Recognising the trouble signs

AVG (AU/NZ) also highlights the following indicators of trouble and warns you should be very careful about providing any information to a site where:

Your security software or web browser shows the page is dangerous.
You accessed the web page through a link in an e-mail message from someone or some company you don't know - this is spam and you should never be tempted to click through.
You accessed the web page through a link from a company you know but which contains text that tries to scare you into providing important private information such as passwords - this is known as phishing; never give away passwords or other sensitive information.
Your web browser warns you about certificate issues (e.g. not signed by a valid authority, a certificate meant for other URL address or expired). You should also always check that the URL in your browser status bar is correct for the company you believe you are visiting on the web. In particular, look out for these warning signs:
- The domain name is totally different from the company name or its area of activities.
- The domain name contains characters that can be easily mistaken for other characters (e.g. using a capital 'i' in place of a small 'L').
- The top-level domain name contains an unexpected country code - for example, you believe you are visiting a site in Australia, but the domain is cn (China) instead of au for Australia.

Deciding what kind of information is safe to provide

Borrett says: "By dividing your personal information into three levels of importance or privacy, it will be significantly easier for you to consider how to respond to requests for your details. Careful consideration will then become automatic: do you really want to give your data to this particular web site; and do they really need this kind of information?"

1. Top Secret

The Top Secret category covers all sensitive personal information that can easily be misused by a data snatcher or cyber criminal. If you provide this data, you must be completely sure that the web site is both secure and authorised.

Examples include: login names and passwords; credit/debit card numbers, expiration and 3-4 digit card verification codes; bank account numbers; passport number or other government identity information such as Medicare number or Centrelink details.

2. Risky

Information in this section is not as sensitive as the Top Secret data, and may already be in the public domain, but you should still be careful to whom you provide it, as it could readily be misused.

Examples include: e-mail and postal addresses; phone and fax numbers; personal photos; employer information; income and asset values; car licence plate/registration.

3. Safe

This category contains all information not attached to your name, so it can't be used to track you as an identifiable individual over the Internet.

Examples include: votes in Internet polls; opinions and blog comments; citizenship or nationality information; age, gender, job description.

Borrett concludes, "It's far better to err on the side of caution and spend an extra minute or so considering the safety aspects of the web site than to just blindly trusting your personal information to what could be a criminal web site."

Keep in touch with AVG (AU/NZ)

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For security trends, analysis, follow the AVG (AU/NZ) blog at resources.avg.com.au

AVG survey reveals Australian and New Zealand cities most at risk of online fraud and data loss

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:00:00 GMT

Christchurch most security savvy, Perth most at risk of being 'digitally duped'

Melbourne and Auckland, 7 September 2011 - Which Australian and New Zealands cities are most at risk of stolen identities, email security breaches, fraudulent credit card charges or lost personal data? Leading anti-virus and Internet security software distributor AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd today announced the results of a survey* of online and mobile consumer behaviour across the five major cities in each of Australia and New Zealand to uncover who is most likely to be 'digitally duped'.

AVG Technologies also conducted the survey in the US and UK and as a country, New Zealand had some of the lowest (best) scores across the survey.

Australia

In Australia, Perth topped the list, making it the most at-risk city based on responses to 10 questions. Brisbane was ranked second. The age-old Sydney-Melbourne rivalry is no closer to being solved following the survey, with both cities placed equal third. Adelaide ranked fifth to be the most security savvy city overall in the survey of 1251 people in Australia.

Perth:
It was not all bad news for Perth. It recorded the second best result for backing up, with only 24 per cent of people surveyed saying they don't backup their computer data, to be beaten only by Sydney (22 per cent). Adelaide fared worst in the backup stakes with one in three respondents (32 per cent) not backing up data at all.

Brisbane:
People in Brisbane had the loosest lips in the survey, with 28 per cent of respondents admitting they have shared a password with at least one other person, compared to 22 per cent of those in secret-keeping Adelaide.

Melbourne:
Melbourne had the second best password confidentiality result in the survey, with just one in four respondents (25 per cent) saying they had shared a password with someone else, to be beaten only by Adelaide (23 per cent).

On the flip side, Melbourne had the second worst record for backing up, with 27 per cent of those surveyed admitting they did not back up their computer data. Only Adelaide had a lower backup rate (32 per cent), with Sydney scoring best (22 per cent).

Sydney:
The survey revealed more people in Sydney (78 per cent of respondents) backup their computer data than those in any other Australian city. Melbourne had the second lowest backup rate (73 per cent), with Adelaide the worst (68 per cent).

Adelaide:
People in Adelaide appear best at keeping secrets, with just 22 per cent of respondents having shared a password with someone else. Brisbane fared the worst, with 28 per cent admitting telling another person a password.

Despite being ranked Australia's lowest-risk city overall, Adelaide had the worst record when it comes to backing up computer data: one in three people surveyed (32 per cent) said they don't back up, compared to 22 per cent in Sydney.

Across the board, the survey showed many Australians are putting themselves at risk of identity theft, viruses and malware with poor PC security habits and a lack of comprehensive protection. Of those surveyed in the five Australian cities:

22 per cent have been the victim of a phishing scam
25 per cent have shared online passwords with at least one other person
12 per cent do not run an anti-virus scan at least monthly
73 per cent do not use an identity monitoring service or other form of identity protection service.

New Zealand

Of the 1100 consumers surveyed in New Zealand, 59 per cent used more than one password online; 54 per cent do not use a password on their mobile device and of those that do, another 87 per cent have not changed the password in the past year. Even more revealing, 74 per cent don't take active measures to backup their phone's data - many relying on their provider to restore their contacts should an accident occur.

Many consumers are also unknowingly putting themselves at risk of falling victim to identity thieves, viruses and malware with bad PC habits and a lack of comprehensive protection. Of the more than 1,100 New Zealanders surveyed online:

30% don't back up the data on their PC
39% admit to sharing online passwords with at least one other person
18% have been fooled by a phishing scam
75% don't use an identity monitoring service

The rankings of the five cities in New Zealand are (worst to best):

Auckland
Napier-Hastings Urban Area
Wellington
Hamilton Urban Area
Christchurch

While the threat is high for many in New Zealand, the report isn't all bad. AVG found 69 per cent use two or fewer credit/debit cards each month for online purchases and more than 66 per cent of Kiwis online are checking their online banking accounts at least once per week for errors. In addition to a high level of caution around personal finances online, 82 per cent also claim to have never been fooled by an email phishing scam within the past year.

Mobile Protection and Backups

The survey highlighted some poor mobile protection habits. While most of those questioned (77 per cent) use three or more passwords online, less than one in five (18 per cent) had changed the password on their mobile device in the past year.

The survey also revealed different attitudes to backing up computers and mobile devices. While 74 per cent of those surveyed back up their computer data using cloud or another service, little more than one in three (36 per cent) back up their mobile devices.

"As more data is stored on more devices - and more cyber criminals attempt to get their hands on it - consumers need to be vigilant about safeguarding their personal information," said Lloyd Borrett, Security Evangelist at AVG (AU/NZ).

"Consumers are getting better at recognising and addressing online threats, but it's vital to ensure all your bases are covered. Taking some security measures and overlooking others - such as backing up your PC and not your smartphone - is like locking your door and leaving the windows open. Comprehensive online protection means covering all Internet-enabled devices - smartphone, tablet and PC."

To help consumers protect themselves even more, AVG also unveiled AVG Internet Security 2012, a nimble, high-performance Internet security suite that answers consumers' calls for simplicity, dependability and freedom of choice. Based on its connection-acceleration technology, light footprint and scanning speeds, AVG is at the forefront of security innovation and provides first-class protection without hampering today's connected consumer.

"AVG is committed to helping consumers and businesses protect themselves and the things they care about the most," said Borrett. "Computers and devices have become an extension of every individual at work and at play - and the more we protect these machines, the more we protect ourselves."

In addition to installing a robust anti-virus program on all your online devices, AVG recommends the following simple steps to minimise the risk of fraudulent charges, identity theft and personal data loss:

Practice safe shopping - use one credit card with a low spending limit for all online purchases. Monitor this account regularly and flag any suspicious activity immediately to the bank or financial services provider.
Don't pass on passwords - change passwords regularly; use variations for each online account; and never share them with others.
Back up PCs and mobiles - back up data on all your computers with external hard drives or a cloud-based solution - and don't forget your mobile devices.
Protect data on the go - the more personal information shared via mobile devices, the more hackers will target these tools. AVG's free mobile security application, AVG Mobilation for Android smartphones and tablet computers not only adds protection from malware, it can remotely wipe the device if it is lost or stolen.
Don't take the bait - be wary of phishing scams. Never click on links in emails supposedly from banks or other financial institutions. Go directly to their URL and enter your login information from their web site home page.

Download AVG Internet Security 2012 and learn more about AVG's ecosystem of security and Internet lifestyle products at www.avg.com.au.

About the Survey
* AVG (AU/NZ) commissioned Research Now, a leading global online sampling and online data collection company, to survey some 1250 consumers in 5 Australian cities and some 1100 consumers in 5 New Zealand cities who own an Internet-connected device and have Internet-access at home between 5 August and 22 August 2011. Individuals in the United Kingdom and USA were also surveyed.

Keep in touch with AVG (AU/NZ)

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For security trends, analysis, follow the AVG (AU/NZ) blog at resources.avg.com.au

AVG Introduces Internet Security 2012

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:00:00 GMT

Increased protection, improved performance with enhanced ease of use - Providing peace of mind to the connected world

MELBOURNE and AMSTERDAM, 2 September 2011 - AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the Australian, New Zealand and South Pacific distributor of the award-winning AVG Internet and mobile security software, today announced the availability of AVG Internet Security 2012. With new protection technologies, computer performance enhancements and content download acceleration, AVG 2012 is lighter, faster and smaller than any previous AVG product.

"Ease of use, value and trust equal peace of mind," said Lloyd Borrett, Security Evangelist at AVG (AU/NZ). "AVG is more than just an anti-virus company. It's a secure, community-driven digital ecosystem dedicated to helping consumers protect themselves and the things they care about the most. Computers and devices have become an extension of every individual at work and at play. In today's world, we're not just securing machines. We're securing people's digital life, or as we like to say: Providing Peace of Mind to the Connected World."

In addition to AVG's multi-layered protection using signature-based anti-virus, heuristics and behaviour-based threats detection, AVG 2012 comes with the all-new AVG Accelerator and AVG Advisor features as well as additional protection technologies.

AVG Accelerator optimises file and video downloads on selected sites to minimise waiting time. Responding to users' request for a fast and smooth content download while online, AVG Accelerator enhances the user experience to provide peace of mind.

AVG Advisor constantly monitors the computer and proactively advises about available remedies and optimisation possibilities for various computer problems the user may have.

"AVG has 98 million active customers who are constantly helping us improve our products," said Yuval Ben-Itzhak, CTO of AVG Technologies. "We analysed their feedback and used it to develop new products that better serve their needs while connected online. We enhanced AVG Internet Security 2012 as a result of listening to our users who asked for peace of mind, better security against threats and an optimised computing performance."

Key footprint achievements of AVG Internet Security 2012 compared to AVG Internet Security 2011:

50% smaller download size and faster install time
45% reduction in disk space on average
20% less processes and memory usage
10% faster load time

Complementing this new product release, AVG Internet Security 2012 also includes the integrated security firewall and AVG LinkScanner, which provides users with peace of mind when browsing, shopping and banking. AVG Internet Security 2012 fully integrates with AVG's ecosystem of security and Internet lifestyle products and applications, and it is available for download at www.avg.com.au.

Ease of use

AVG's customers made it clear there is nothing more frustrating than software that slows them down or gets in their way. They want to be fully protected without even noticing that a virus security or Internet security product is installed. With AVG Internet Security 2012, AVG returns to its roots with a lean, mean solution that simply gets the job done. Users are protected, not hampered.

Value

AVG listens to its 98 million active users worldwide to help anticipate their needs, understand the complexity of their digital landscape and then simplify their security experience and supporting technology. AVG knows its customers need different products for different needs. Customers now have more than one computer in their homes: they also have different digital access points and are increasingly using their smartphones to access the Internet. AVG's product range allows consumers and small businesses to choose a security technology specific to their needs or devices. From Free to Internet Security, from Windows PC to Android mobile devices, there is an AVG product to protect people.

Trust

AVG 2012 reflects 20 years of trusted security experience. As the world of technology continues to change, AVG stands at the forefront of security innovation. AVG has 98 million active users, whose feedback has been imported into the design of AVG 2012. They are proof that AVG provides first class protection and they are AVG's partners in striving to improve with every new version. The company's mission is to be its customers' most trusted ally and advisor, enabling them to achieve their digital potential securely, safely and with no hassle. The AVG community also helps the company improve in two ways: firstly, they provide the threat information which helps AVG improve protection; secondly, they share what they would like to have in future products, which helps AVG improve its products, so that each year AVG continues to offer cutting edge technology to its customers.

Availability and Pricing

The complete AVG 2012 family of paid consumer products (including AVG Internet Security 2012 and AVG Anti-Virus 2012) is available now at www.avg.com.au, as well as through a large network of independent software resellers throughout Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.

Pricing for a one-year, one-seat licence for AVG Internet Security 2012 is A$69.99 (NZ$74.50). A one year, one-seat licence for AVG Anti-Virus 2012 is A$51.50 (NZ$53.99). Two year licence periods are also available, plus multi-packs of 2, 3, 5 or 10 seat licences.

Paid AVG products come complete with free telephone support from the AVG (AU/NZ) support centre in Melbourne, backed up by free technical support by e-mail.

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 2012, plus AVG LinkScanner for Windows or Mac, AVG MultiMi and AVG Mobilation Free are also available free from www.avgfree.com.au.

Keep in touch with AVG (AU/NZ)

For breaking news, follow AVG (AU/NZ) on Twitter at twitter.com/avgaunz
Join our Facebook community at www.facebook.com/avgaunz
For security trends, analysis, follow the AVG (AU/NZ) blog at resources.avg.com.au

Home-based workers open door to risky business

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:00:00 GMT

Time to address security as teleworkers' time comes, AVG (AU/NZ) warns

Melbourne, 30 August 2011 - Australian companies looking to reap productivity benefits by allowing employees to work from home are putting their business in jeopardy if they do not address the added security risks of an increasingly mobile workforce, leading anti-virus and Internet security software distributor AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd has warned.

In Australia, about one in four employees spends at least part of their working week on the job at home¹. While the rate has remained steady for six years², the rollout of the National Broadband Network (NBN) and rapid uptake of powerful mobile computers, tablets and smartphones is set to drive growth in the number of teleworkers and non-office based workers.

"The Department of Broadband Communications and the Digital Economy has said the NBN will make it easier for people to work from home. On the flip-side, it will also make it easier for company networks to be hacked and valuable information to be lost or stolen if businesses do not put the right protection measures in place for newly mobile workers," said Lloyd Borrett, Security Evangelist at AVG (AU/NZ).

Mobile devices and home-based connections can significantly boost employee productivity when used conscientiously. Teleworking can increase output, reduce sick days and lower costs, by allowing businesses to operate from smaller premises and help retain skilled staff by fostering trust and loyalty.

Home-based workers in a US survey³ said they would rather give up their favourite TV show (54%), an extra hour of sleep (48%), swear off a favourite food (40%) or take a pay cut (40%) than stop telecommuting.

Yet all the benefits of teleworking will be lost if fundamental security issues are not addressed. In the US survey, more than two-thirds of telecommuters said they didn't receive IT security training in preparation for home office work. One in three never backed up their data.

"An external data connection will always represent additional security risk, especially if mission-critical business data is being transmitted," Borrett said.

"The changing mobile worker landscape has created a constant need to define and measure the parameters within which these new worker types operate and implement back up and security measures that protect them.

"Mobile workers now exist in many forms. In addition to home-based employees, remote connections to company data may extend to field staff, partner companies sharing data links with the business, freelancers, consultants and contractors.

"These workers are very often mobile, semi-permanent, occasionally 'hot desking' or completely reliant upon an Internet connection to work with or for the company. They work on a range of potentially unsecured devices to connect in numerous ways including through email, Instant Messaging services and video conferencing services from Skype to Google+ to Facebook and Microsoft Live Messenger.

"This set-up poses a security risk and needs to form part of an IT security policy, no matter how basic, a company decides to follow," Borrett said.

Traditional desktop and network security solutions need to be coupled with mobile protection offerings such as AVG Mobilation security software for Android smartphones and tablet computers. It's built to ensure employees stay safe at home or on the move while connected back to the business, even using insecure Wi-Fi.

"Under a robust and up-to-date Internet security umbrella, companies of all sizes should be able to reap rewards by empowering their workforce with mobility and flexibility to work from home or other locations - while protecting their business information and networks," Borrett concluded.

To help SMBs address the policy, technology and process issues involved with securing their smartphones, tablets, workstations and/or servers, AVG has created a set of AVG Small Business Security Guides which provide simple but effective steps small business owners can take to secure their business. Also, for video tips from AVG (AU/NZ), see: www.youtube.com/user/avgaunz

1 The Sensis® Business Index - Teleworking, 2009.
2 The Australian Bureau of Statistics, Locations of Work, November 2005.
3 Staples Advantage survey, USA, May 2011.

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More Small Businesses Choose AVG for Online Protection and Complete Peace of Mind

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:00:00 GMT

AVG is the Internet security provider of choice for one in four small businesses worldwide

Melbourne, 12 August 2011 - AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG Internet and mobile security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, today announced that an independent study conducted with GFK shows that 25 percent of small businesses worldwide have selected AVG as the their trusted Internet security provider of choice.

AVG Business Edition products are designed exclusively to meet the needs of the most nimble of small and medium sized organisations. AVG products are high on protection, light on resources and easy to use at all times. AVG solutions were recently ranked No. 1 for ease-of-use by Tolly Independent Testing Labs. The products also earned the highest five-star honour in respect to value for the money by SC Magazine, and have achieved finalist standing for the prestigious Small Business Technology SMB Influencer awards.

Lloyd Borrett, Security Evangelist at AVG (AU/NZ), said, "AVG has considerably higher levels of satisfaction among small business users in comparison to other brands. This has been achieved by holding true to basic but important product philosophies that centre on providing everything that small entities need to protect their business, without bogging them down with everything they don't. This equates to incredible value, unrivalled efficiency and the utmost protection for businesses on the move. It's all about helping customers keep pace while providing them with complete peace of mind."

AVG is playing a prominent role in helping customers stay up to speed on the latest security trends and issues via its information-packed Business Resource Centre. In addition, because security needs are rarely the same for every organisation, AVG (AU/NZ) also helps small businesses select the customised protection that is right for their business via an easy-to-use AVG Online Security Audit. By taking two minutes to answer some questions about their business, people will receive a customised report containing hints and tips to better protect their business.

In light of recent security breaches at large, high-profile organisations around the world, many industry experts are reporting that SMBs are in a particularly vulnerable position as cyber criminals take aim for financial gain at a sector that is traditionally less up-to-date on their security protection. In addition, recent court rulings in the US show a critical shift in liability may be emerging for small businesses in respect to the financial industry's willingness to absorb the skyrocketing costs of identity theft and fraud via the World Wide Web. Small businesses can better protect themselves via the use of comprehensive Internet security and identity protection tools, such as those offered by AVG.

"I think a lot of small business owners view security as just one more hassle that keeps them from focusing on what matters most - running their business," said Borrett. "AVG's proposition is a fairly simple one but it is innately effective. Install the software and get back to work without fear. We won't slow you down and you don't have to give security a second thought - we'll handle the details. That's our mantra and we're pleased that it's earning praise from customers and industry luminaries alike."

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Don't say goodbye to your digital devices (and your business) at the airport

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 14:00:00 GMT

AVG (AU/NZ) gives tips to make sure your smartphone, tablet or laptop doesn't get lost in transit

Melbourne, 26 July 2011 - AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG anti-virus and Internet security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, observes that almost every business traveller now takes at least one mobile device to the airport. Not everyone still has them all when they reach their destination.

Smartphones, tablet computers and laptops are increasingly popular travelling companions - they're also among the items most commonly left behind on planes and in airports.

Travellers left more than 11,000 laptops, tablet PCs, smartphones and USB memory sticks at US airports in the past year, according to a recent survey¹. Another study² found more than 800,000 laptops were stolen or lost at airports in the US and Europe in 2008. Up to seven in every 10 laptops lost at airports worldwide are never reunited with their owner.

In Australia, the number of mobile phones reported lost or stolen has doubled in the past five years to 200,000 annually - that's 4000 a week, or one every three minutes.³

Up to 50 mobile phones a month - 600 a year - are lost and never reclaimed at Sydney Airport alone, where all lost property is bundled up each month and sent to be sold at an auction clearing house. Smartphones are now a high, fast growing, proportion of all mobile phones.

In the rush to disembark, business travellers leave behind lots of precious cargo - usually in the seatback pocket of the plane. Back in the terminal, most laptops are lost at security checkpoints, gates and lounges. Food courts, restrooms and baggage claim areas are other places devices and their owners tend to part ways.

"Business trips are meant to be productive. Losing a smartphone, laptop or tablet computer can turn that business opportunity into a frustrating, stressful and costly exercise that can cause you to lose more sleep than jet lag," Lloyd Borrett, Security Evangelist at AVG (AU/NZ), said.

"There's the inconvenience of filing reports and re-tracing steps and the cost of replacing the device, but perhaps the biggest cost is the loss of business and personal information.

A lost tablet, phone or laptop is a bitter pill to swallow

"Most mobile devices are packed with valuable, often confidential, potentially irreplaceable business and personal information including contacts, photos, videos, emails, meeting notes, presentations and calendars. That makes it vital for travellers, especially those carrying sensitive company information, to protect their device - and their business - from theft or loss in transit.

"Amazingly, while more than half (53%) of travellers said their laptops contained sensitive or confidential business information, two in every three (65%) said they did nothing to protect or secure it.²"

Losing a laptop, tablet or smartphone with unsecured business data on it could have devastating results in terms of fraud, identity theft, reputation damage and lost business - particularly for small to medium-sized organisations (SMBs) that may not have the same resources to rectify the problem after the event.

"The good news is there are steps smartphone, tablet and mobile computer owners can take to make sure they don't say bon voyage to their devices in transit - plus new ways to increase the chance of being reunited with your lost or stolen phone, tablet or laptop if it does go astray," Borrett said.

Tips to protect your digital devices

Look - Don't leave your smartphone, tablet or laptop unattended. Common sense, right? Yes, but more than 40% of British travellers said their laptop disappeared after asking fellow passengers to watch it for them!
Backup all your information regularly - your address book, calendar, phone numbers and anything else you don't want to lose. More than half the British passengers confessed their private data was not protected - and a similar number said the data on the laptop was their only copy2.
Lock - Use your mobile device's security features. Set a personal identification number (PIN) or password that must be entered before anyone can use it or access voice messages.
Label - Clearly label your device with a name and an alternative contact number. Phones and laptops often end up collecting dust in lost property boxes because there are no clear contact details. (A Good Samaritan won't be able to re-call your last dialled number to find you if your smartphone is PIN or password-protected.)
Record - your handset's IMEI number and keep it somewhere safe. Every mobile has a unique electronic 15-digit serial number. You can get your IMEI by dialing *#06#.
Block - Ask your network carrier to block your mobile phone handset if it is lost or stolen, using your IMEI number. You can unblock it if you get it back.
Get it back - install security software that helps you locate your device and retrieve or delete the information on it remotely.

All is not lost

Network carriers don't track lost or stolen phones, but new security software can do that - and more. AVG Mobilation is a free security solution that offers protection for Android smartphones and tablets.

As well as scanning, detecting and eliminating mobile nasties like viruses and malware, AVG Mobilation can help you track and locate a lost or stolen Android smartphone or tablet on Google Maps using GPS. It has PIN and password protection so no-one else can use your device.

You can use it to remotely lock your missing device, or send a message to the tablet or phone. You can even ring your missing device - even if the phone is on silent! To keep your private information private, a remote wipe feature lets you remove all your personal information from your lost smartphone or tablet.

And so you don't have to start from scratch, it backups all your contacts, call logs, bookmarks, messages and any apps you've installed, all to an SD card.

"With AVG Mobilation for Android, tablet and smartphone users have peace of mind knowing their valuable data and devices are protected and secure no matter where their travels take them," Borrett said.

To help SMBs address the policy, technology and process issues involved with securing their smartphones, tablets, workstations and/or servers, AVG has created the AVG Small Business Security Guide: Securing your start-up or small business, which provides some simple but effective steps small business owners can take to secure their business. Plus AVG's Business Resource Centre has a library of guides and tools that can help you protect your business from identity theft, data breaches, online banking break-ins and other computer crimes.

For the series of informative security tips, how-to's and fact sheets see: www.avg.com.au/resources/security-tips/. For video tips from AVG (AU/NZ), see: www.youtube.com/user/avgaunz

Keep in touch with AVG (AU/NZ)

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Join our Facebook community at www.facebook.com/avgaunz
For security trends, analysis, follow the AVG (AU/NZ) blog at resources.avg.com.au

References:
1. Credent Technologies survey, 2011.
2. Ponemon Institute study, 2008.
3. Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association.

Threats to SMBs Created by Staff Using Their Own, Unprotected Mobile Devices

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:00:00 GMT

Tablet PC and smartphone use in the workplace opens companies to cyber attack.

Melbourne, 19 July 2011 - AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG anti-virus and Internet security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, warns the BYOD 'Bring Your Own Device' to work phenomenon is catching SMBs off guard and exposing them to malware attacks and other cyber crime.

The trend, dubbed by analysts as the 'consumerisation of IT', has seen staff in rapidly growing numbers bringing their own mobile devices to work and using them for business purposes. AVG (AU/NZ) says companies of all sizes should be re-evaluating how they protect business-critical data and manage IT equipment use.

One of the major factors in this area is the meteoric rise in popularity of the tablet PC. The use of iPads, Blackberry Playbooks and all manner of Android-powered mobile devices is catching the comparatively slower moving business IT world off guard.

AVG (AU/NZ) warns that too few companies have policies governing how employees use tablets and smartphones. Workers are bringing these devices into the workplace and connecting them to the company's Wi-Fi network. This not only provides them with access to the Internet, but it also allows the workers to synchronise these devices with company computers. All of this is happening without any additional layers of security control being put in place to lock down their impact.

Lloyd Borrett, Security Evangelist at AVG (AU/NZ), said, "With tablet PCs and smartphones now starting to populate SMB offices and operations, we need to question whether workers are now replacing management and IT managers as the true IT decision makers."

Recent research by the Ponemon Institute on behalf of AVG Technologies has some telling indicators for the way IT is being managed. The research found that less than half (43 per cent) of consumers surveyed considered security features to be important when deciding which smartphone to purchase. Only 19 per cent have passwords and a meagre 10 per cent have both keypad locks and passwords.

The business IT security solution must then include anti-virus protection, such as AVG Mobilation for Android smartphones and tablets, to automate the protection of these devices and the business data that inevitably ends up on them. This cloud-based technology is simple to use, always up-to-date, plus light on device resources and battery life.

Borrett said: "If businesses work smart and use technologies like this, then they can keep even the newest and most unpredictable attacks in check."

To help SMBs address the policy, technology and process issues involved, AVG has created the AVG Small Business Security Guide which provides some simple but effective steps small business owners can take to secure their business. Plus AVG's Business Resource Centre has a library of guides and tools that can help you protect your business from identity theft, data breaches, online banking break-ins and other computer crimes.

For the series of informative security tips, how-to's and fact sheets see www.avg.com.au/resources/security-tips/. For video tips from AVG (AU/NZ), see www.youtube.com/user/avgaunz.

Keep in touch with AVG (AU/NZ)

For breaking news, follow AVG (AU/NZ) on Twitter at twitter.com/avgaunz
Join our Facebook community at www.facebook.com/avgaunz
For security trends, analysis, follow AVG (AU/NZ) blogs at resources.avg.com.au

What Security Impacts Do Mobile Devices Have On Your Business?

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 14:00:00 GMT

AVG (AU/NZ) says SMBs can no longer rely on the King Canute approach to iPhone and Android security.

Melbourne, 13 July 2011 - As a small business owner or employee, you and your fellow staff members are probably keen to get your hands on the latest smartphones, tablet PCs and portable laptop computers to help you with your daily routine in and out of the office.

Indeed, you probably already have one. The results of a Telstra online survey recently revealed that smartphone ownership has now reached 46 per cent of the mobile phone-owning population in Australia, and will reach 60 per cent by the end of 2011. Almost half of those surveyed (47 per cent) admitted to accessing the Internet from their smartphones during work hours, 13 per cent during business meetings.

Thus the King Canute approach to holding back the flood tide of mobile devices into your business is no longer possible. It's time to recognise the security threats posed by these devices and put in place the technology, procedures and policies to deal with them.

Does lots of power pose possible threats?

Such is the sophistication of today's mobile devices that they mirror their desktop computer equivalents in almost every sense. Smartphones today are packed with an immense amount of storage and computing power compared to even five years ago.

The famous quote, "With great power comes great responsibility", is true in this case too. Your employees' mobile devices are now as much a part of your IT resources as the server or database that you keep your client records on. This in itself means that the apps and files on employees' devices now start to form a solid element of business risk.

A recent survey carried out by the Ponemon Institute on behalf of AVG Technologies found that 55 percent of consumers are aware that they may be putting their employers' confidential business information at risk when using their smartphone for both business and personal use. The survey also found that 52 per cent of those who are aware of the risk say that it has happened. However, only 40 per cent are concerned about this!

Lloyd Borrett, Security Evangelist at AVG (AU/NZ), says, "The problem here is that not only can people easily lose or mislay these devices, but there is a lot of malicious web-based content out there specifically designed to attack mobile computing users. So all mobile devices need to be password protected and have security software on them."

This is not plug-and-play computing

While mobile devices can significantly boost employee productivity when used conscientiously, small business owners need to realise that this is not plug-and-play computing. They need to consider whether to allow employees to use mobile devices for both business and personal use. If they are going to be used for both purposes, employers should find out who is using what kind of equipment and what "apps" they are using and enforce company security policies to protect the business.

Borrett says, "We recommend business owners put together a policy document spelling out security requirements and permissible usage. To help, we have developed the AVG Online Security Audit which asks how employees use the company's and their own equipment - from computers and laptops to smartphones and USB sticks - and what policies are in place for the use of business and private hardware, plus access to social networking and other Internet usage."

AVG (AU/NZ) then emails the business a personalised audit report created from the information provided which identifies where the problems lie along with recommended actions.

The AVG Small Business Security Guide provides some simple but effective steps small business owners can take to secure their business. The Guide is an 11-page action template covering the establishment of policies and processes to secure workplace practices and deliver governance over technology use. Plus AVG's Business Resource Centre has a library of guides and tools that can help you protect your business from identity theft, data breaches, online banking break-ins and other computer crimes.

The vulnerability of mobile devices used in business is a very real threat. Laptops and tablets can be hacked over shared Wi-Fi networks in public places and smartphones can be subject to 'rooting' or 'jailbreaking', where the unit's security settings are disabled by a cyber-criminal seeking a host to embed malware.

AVG provides security software to protect both small businesses and individuals, including free AVG Mobilation software to protect Android-based smartphones and tablets. AVG Internet Security Business Edition protects laptops and notebooks on the move, especially when using Wi-Fi networks, plus the workstations and servers back in your office.

For the series of informative security tips, how-to's and fact sheets see www.avg.com.au/resources/security-tips/. For video tips from AVG (AU/NZ), see www.youtube.com/user/avgaunz.

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AVG (AU/NZ) Advises Farmers to Stay Safe Online

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:00:00 GMT

AVG (AU/NZ) spreads the Internet security message to rural families dependent on their home and small business computers for access to markets, education and entertainment services.

Melbourne, 8 July 2011 - As part of National Farm Safety Week (18 - 22 July 2011), AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG anti-virus and Internet security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, is making rural communities aware that farm and personal safety is an issue that now reaches beyond their paddocks and workshops and into their homes and business activities online.

Protecting the farm has expanded from concerns for physical safety when using tools and heavy machinery. It is also vital to protect business data as well as personal and financial identity when using computers, smart phones and other communication technologies on the farm.

Farmers, like owners of every sized enterprise, are now dependent on technology to not only run the accounts but to capture markets across Australia and all over the world using their own web sites and online sales.

"Cyber crime is increasingly sophisticated and organised," said Lloyd Borrett, Security Evangelist at AVG (AU/NZ). "Keeping your rural business and personal information safe means more than installing anti-virus or Internet security software alone; it's about understanding online threats."

Birchip Cropping Group, a community and farmer-controlled agricultural group in Victoria, uses AVG to protect its business. "AVG performs well, is very user-friendly and there is free technical support at hand if you need it. For a group that's not really IT savvy, we know we can get on with the job of helping local farmers, knowing AVG is looking after us," said Nathan Gustafson, Administrative Office at BCG.

AVG offers a number of resources designed to help keep businesses safe online. Visit www.avgatwork.com.au and take the quick and easy AVG Online Security Audit to receive a personalised IT security action plan. You can also download the 11 page AVG Small Business Security Guide, which is an action template covering the establishment of policies through to the documentation of processes to secure your farm business.

Borrett also recommends the Australian Government's Stay Smart Online web site for security tips (www.staysmartonline.gov.au/), and offers the following advice for safe use of computers, smart phones, tablets, e-readers and any other online device.

Install Internet security software to protect against identity theft, spyware, viruses and other malicious software. It can only be fully effective if it's always on, up to date, scans all of your files regularly and you renew your subscription before it expires. AVG has both free and paid Anti-Virus and Internet Security solutions for Windows, Mac, Linux and Android users.
Select automatic updates for your complete environment including its operating system, security software, utilities and other applications.
Use a strong password and change it at least twice a year. Invent illogical word, number and symbol combinations to create the strongest passwords and change them regularly. Always change from default passwords, such as 'password' or 'admin' and never tick the 'remember this password' box.
Think carefully before you click on links and attachments, particularly in emails and on social networking sites. Don't expose yourself to viruses, malicious software or scam web sites designed to steal your personal information. To check if a web site is safe, go to www.avgthreatlabs.com and enter the web site's URL for its safety rating. AVG LinkScanner for Windows and Mac PCs provides web protection wherever you go online by actively checking web pages in real time before they open. If it sees trouble ahead, it warns you.
Report or talk to someone about anything online that makes you uncomfortable. You can install the Government's free Cybersafety Help Button onto your desktop or task bar and have help just a click away - download it from dbcde.gov.au/helpbutton.
Know what your children and/or staff are doing online. Make sure they know how to stay safe and encourage them to report anything suspicious.

"The theme for National Farm Safety Week 2011 is 'Safe Farming is Profitable'," Borrett said. "But unless farmers also think about the online safety of their business and family, they run the risk of their farm profits being delivered into the hands of organised cyber criminals."

For the series of informative security tips, how-to's and fact sheets see www.avg.com.au/resources/security-tips/. For video tips from AVG (AU/NZ), see www.youtube.com/user/avgaunz.

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AVG Enables Increased Secure Cloud Experience for Amazon EC2 Users

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:00:00 GMT

AVG first to offer Amazon EC2 AMIs globally - secured and preconfigured with FREE AVG Anti-virus

Melbourne and Amsterdam, 1 July 2011 - AVG Technologies, a leading provider of internet and mobile security, has announced free anti-virus technology for Amazon EC2 users. The preconfigured software bundled within an Amazon Machine Image (AMI) is now available on the Amazon Web Services Community AMIs list, free for everyone to download and use.

AVG's AMI consists of a hardened Debian Linux operating system with AVG's pre-configured anti-virus technology. Saving the time, effort and expertise needed to secure an OS and install a commercial Anti-virus product, the AVG technology can be launched, ready for use, as rapidly as any other instance on Amazon EC2. Peace of mind for business owners and website managers is what AVG is relentlessly striving for.

Many Amazon EC2 users are website owners and this technology is designed for those websites which enable user generated content to be submitted. AVG's malware protection focuses on cleaning submitted files from viruses. The service is also ideal for companies using EC2 to perform a wide range of online activities involving files storage, supplier or partner communications.

"For many businesses operating online, security is vital. Allowing users to upload content not only puts the site itself at risk from harmful files, it could also cause the site to become a distributor of malware itself, in turn infecting its own users," said Yuval Ben-Itzhak, Chief Technology Officer, AVG Technologies. "With our free Anti-Virus for EC2, server operators benefit from our Community-Powered-Protection at no cost."

"Amazon EC2 has proven to be a fantastic platform for an increasing number of businesses," said J.R. Smith, CEO, AVG Technologies. "Particularly for smaller businesses, having little capital expenditure and hassle by using cloud services means they can focus on growing their business. AVG is offering this free technology to give small businesses peace of mind about their security too."

This service, targeted at small and medium sized businesses, is part of AVG's SMB program. It aims to provide businesses with the tools and information to provide them with peace of mind about their security, making sure they are able to focus on driving their business forward.

The relevant AMIs are ready to deploy and can be found in the Amazon directory under:
us-east: ami-94758dfd
us-west: ami-7d4c1e38
eu-west: ami-7818290c

ap-southeast: ami-d0750d82
ap-northeast: ami-8e309a8f

For instructions on how to setup the EC2 environment and run AVG please download our user-guide from: http://www.avg.com/ww-en/download-file-guide-avl-ec2

For more information about AVG’s services for businesses, visit the AVG Business Resource Centre: www.avgatwork.com.au

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AVG (AU/NZ) Warns Crank Calls are not Limited to Traditional Phones

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:00:00 GMT

Skype Users: Beware of New Combined Voice and Text Attacks.

Melbourne, 1 July 2011 - AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG anti-virus and Internet security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, is warning of newly emerging social engineering attacks on users of the popular Skype phone and messaging service.

Local reports are increasing of Skype users being targeted by so-called 'vishing' (or voice phishing) attacks - a new variation of e-mail-based spear phishing. This new kind of attack is particularly insidious in that it combines both voice and text to try and dupe users into thinking they are receiving legitimate calls.

While online, users are receiving automated voice messages via Skype saying their PCs have been checked for viruses, that a 'fatal virus' was found and advising them to repair the problem with a lure which is actually to a malicious web site.

The aim of the cyber criminals is to get their victims to download malicious software disguised as security updates or rogue antivirus programs onto their computers. Or to scam users into providing personal information that can be used to break into their financial, social networking and other online accounts.

Lloyd Borrett, Security Evangelist at AVG (AU/NZ), advises: "While Skype works hard to prevent these kinds of attacks, users need to be vigilant. Although many users have learnt how to spot and resist suspect e-mails and Internet chat messages, we aren't conditioned to be as wary of phone calls.

"With land lines and mobile phone calls, all contact with unwanted callers can be cut simply by hanging up. But because Skype calls are placed over an Internet connection, once the digital connection is established, it can be used as an open conduit regardless of whether you're participating in an online call or not."

Borrett's advice is to hang up immediately on the Skype call, block the user and report the user for abuse. "By reporting abuse by the user, Skype's automated systems for blocking malicious users will be updated and you'll be helping to protect the greater Skype community.

"As a general rule, don't accept calls from sources you aren't familiar with. Certainly don't follow any instructions from unknown parties, just as you wouldn't click on or visit unknown URLs, or download attachments that seem suspicious."

As a preventative measure AVG (AU/NZ) suggests changing your Skype account settings as follows:

Open Skype and click on the 'Skype' tab to view the drop down menu
Click on the 'Privacy' option and the 'Skype - Options' panel should pop-up
The 'Privacy settings' tab should already be open, but if not click on it
Click on the 'Show advanced options' button
Under 'Allow calls from…' click on the 'People in my Contact list only' radio button
Under 'Automatically receive video and screen shots from…' click on the 'People in my Contact list only' or 'No one' radio buttons
Under 'Show that I have video to…' click on the 'People in my Contact list only' or 'No one' radio buttons
Click on the 'Calls' tab
Click on the 'Show advanced options' button
Under 'Allow calls from…' click on the 'People in my Contact list only' radio button
Make sure the 'Answer incoming calls automatically' check box is unchecked
Click on the 'IM & SMS' tab
Click on the 'Show advanced options' button
Under 'Allow IMs from…' click on the 'People in my Contact list only' radio button
Click on the 'Save' button at the bottom right of the panel

If you give out your Skype number frequently, or it is not otherwise practical to only accept calls from known contacts, ensure the 'Answer incoming calls automatically' option is not selected, as described above, to retain the option of denying calls from suspicious sources.

AVG (AU/NZ) has a comprehensive range of security tips on its web site at http://www.avg.com.au/resources/security-tips/. For video tips from AVG (AU/NZ), see http://www.youtube.com/user/avgaunz.

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AVG (AU/NZ) Commends Australian Government's Move to Expand Laws Relating to Cyber Crime

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 14:00:00 GMT

As more personal, business and government activities occur online, greater protection is required to secure data and identity.

Melbourne, 30 June 2011 - The Australian Government's newly introduced Cybercrime Legislation is a strong acknowledgement at the highest level of the need for a concerted global effort to reduce the impact of online crime, says AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG anti-virus and Internet security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific.

The legislation strengthens local cyber security laws and enhances Australia's ability to combat domestic and international cyber crime.

Lloyd Borrett, Security Evangelist at AVG (AU/NZ), said: "The Government's timely initiative will be a great influence on the awareness levels and changes to personal and business attitudes required in Australia regarding cyber security. We commend Attorney General Robert McClelland for taking action and devising a plan to help keep this country secure from online dangers.

"Unfortunately, people don't realise how prevalent and insidious viruses, Trojans, identity theft and scams are. McClelland cites the latest figures from Australia's Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) which, in the last six months alone, has alerted Australian businesses to more than 250,000 pieces of stolen information."

The Government's Cybercrime Legislation Amendment Bill 2011 makes three key changes to assist Australian Government agencies in their investigations into virus security and cyber crime:

It sets the framework to enable Australia's accession to the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime - the only binding international treaty on cyber crime - which provides greater access to information stored overseas
Carriers and ISPs can be requested to retain customer data
The scope of existing Commonwealth computer offences has been extended.

The Convention covers crimes committed via the Internet and other computer networks, dealing particularly with computer-related fraud, child pornography and violations of network security. To date, more than 40 nations have either signed or become a party to the Convention, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Japan and South Africa. 100 nations are also using the Convention as the basis to strengthen their legislation to combat the threat of cyber crime.

"Given the global scale of cyber crime it's vitally important that law enforcement agencies can cooperate easily across state and international boundaries in the pursuit of the bad guys," said Borrett. "Some of the recent cyber busts of cyber criminals overseas have been a direct result of information sharing by law enforcement agencies in many countries which is now possible because of the Convention on Cybercrime. It's fantastic that Australian law enforcement agencies will soon be able to take their place as a significant contributor towards these vital global efforts.

"With this recognition of the increasing impact of cyber crime, more people will be made aware of the need to subscribe to current, always-on Internet and virus security protection," Borrett concluded.

AVG (AU/NZ) Cautions: Beware of Malicious QR Codes

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:00:00 GMT

New matrix style barcodes can be used by cyber criminals to attack smartphone and tablet users.

Melbourne, 28 June 2011 - AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG anti-virus and Internet security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, has warned of the potential dangers to business and consumer users of smartphones and tablets being posed by their use of QR codes.

QR (Quick Response) codes, and similar mobile tagging formats, can be targeted and manipulated by cyber criminals to easily steer victims to malicious web sites in a new avenue to steal identities and commit fraud.

The matrix style, geometric barcodes can be seen in magazines, on billboards, street posters, buses and merchandise, and are providing highly convenient access to information, incentives and special deals.

But malicious QR codes can be easily generated and placed as stickers over the legitimate QR codes for both small and large-scale attacks on personal and financial identity. Printed flyers offering irresistible deals, but accessible only via a QR code, could easily be left in public places.

By such simple means, cyber criminals, skilled at using sophisticated attacks like spear phishing or other variants of social engineering, can then use their own malicious QR code to phish or pharm the unsuspecting smartphone user to a web page designed to look as though it is a legitimate advertiser. The cyber criminals will have their own web form with instructions on how to sign-up for a service or competition, or purchase some bargain. By completing the form victims provide them with private details and/or money.

Using other less subtle tricks, the bad guys can direct browser users to malicious web pages and install malware on their mobile device.

Lloyd Borrett, Security Evangelist of AVG (AU/NZ) has a very clear message for users of smartphones, or any other mobile computer device with in-built cameras: "You must think of your device as the being the powerful mobile computer it is. Take similar security precautions when out and about with your smartphone or tablet as you do when using a personal computer at home or work. Have always on, up-to-date security software installed on your device. And, always think through every action before you click on a bargain."

Tips for Quick Response Safety

Never implicitly trust any QR code. Be suspicious and alert when you go to use it.
Make sure you have security software installed on your mobile device. The vast majority of smartphone, tablet and e-reader users currently do not have any security software installed. Yet these devices can be even more susceptible to malicious attacks by cyber criminals. Free and paid security software solutions, like AVG Mobilation for Android, are available for most device platforms.
If QR code takes you to a web page which asks you to provide your user name, password, bank account details, and/or credit card details, then the person behind the web page is either a thief or an idiot! So don't provide those details to them.
If a QR code takes you to a web page where you need to login, then don't login. Instead, go directly to the web page by putting the correct URL into your browser address bar, or via some other trusted means. Doing this means you are much less likely to fall victim to a phishing scam.

"Our surveys show that the majority of people aren't even password protecting their smartphone and tablet devices," said Borrett. "Yet they need to be doing much more, including installing a good security solution like AVG Mobilation for Android. Then they will have protection in place that will check apps and web site content for malware should they be tricked into using a malicious QR code."

About QR Codes

The QR codes are a specific, two dimensional, black on white square matrix barcode that are readable by devices such as smartphones. The encoded information, in text, URL or other data format, can be up to 7,089 characters as opposed to the 20 character limit of a standard barcode.

Although initially used for tracking parts in vehicle manufacturing by Toyota subsidiary Denso-Wave, QR codes are now used in a much broader context, including both commercial tracking applications and convenience-oriented applications aimed at mobile phone users - termed mobile tagging.

QR codes can be used to display text to the user, to add a vCard contact to the user's device, to open a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI), or to compose an email or text message. Users can also generate and print their own QR codes for others to scan and use by visiting one of several free QR code generating sites.

Users with a camera phone equipped with the correct reader application can scan the image of the QR code to display text, contact information, connect to a wireless network, or open a web page in the smartphone's browser. This act of linking from physical world objects is termed hardlinking or object hyperlinking.

"Please be warned that QR codes aren't the only mobile tagging code format in use," Borrett added. "There are a number of other proprietary and non-proprietary, optically readable codes around. For most of them the same security concerns and safety warnings apply. So please play it safe when using all of them."

QR code for the URL of Borrett's web page http://www.avg.com.au/security-evangelist/. Note that the white border is part of the encoding.

AVG (AU/NZ) has a comprehensive range of security tips on its web site at http://www.avg.com.au/resources/security-tips/. For video tips from AVG (AU/NZ), see http://www.youtube.com/user/avgaunz.

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Avoid these nasty QR codes. Take a look at the full suite of Virus Protection products provided by AVG.

AVG (AU/NZ) Warns of New Tax Return Scams

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:00:00 GMT

Don't fall for e-mails or phone calls offering quick tax refunds or asking to confirm your taxation details.

Melbourne, 22 June 2011 - AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG anti-virus and Internet security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, is alerting Australians to the threat to personal identity of the latest scams being created for the tax return season starting on 1 July.

With 2.4 million individuals, or nearly 20 percent of tax payers, using the Australian Tax Office's E-tax electronic tax return service, cyber criminals have discovered a vast new audience for their activities. While the filing of tax returns directly via the E-tax service is secure, other communications are opening Australians to risk.

AVG (AU/NZ) is seeing that, just as paper tax filings can be subject to mischief, Australians are now falling prey to fraudulent e-mails, texts and phone calls purporting to be from tax officials. A new spear phishing e-mail pretending to be from the ATO and offering a quick refund is already in circulation.

"Today, electronic communication is the norm, but it's important not to let your guard down," Lloyd Borrett, Security Evangelist at AVG (AU/NZ), warns. "In upcoming months, when the prospect of tax refunds is on everyone's mind, be alert to e-mails and phone calls about money owed to you by the ATO or the need to recalculate your tax."

While the ATO uses e-mails and SMS for service alerts, it will never request the confirmation, update or disclosure of confidential personal details.

Borrett said: "Think about all the information included in your tax return - your tax file number, details of investments, retirement accounts, employment, property you own, even your children's childcare. In the hands of cyber criminals, your identity and more could be at risk."

AVG (AU/NZ) offers the following tips for individuals filing their returns online. To stay protected and keep personal data exactly where it should be - between you and the ATO:

Always open your E-tax filing directly from the ATO's site www.ato.gov.au, never click through from an e-mail invitation.
Always use a secure and trusted Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection - While you could file your taxes using your smartphone or laptop from the neighbourhood coffee shop or the airport, simply don't. File from home or the office where you have a firewall in place and Internet security installed.
Update your computer's anti-virus software - New online threats are discovered every day. The first line of defence against these attacks is an up-to-date anti-virus program on your computer or smartphone. Before you start compiling your documentation, run an update on your PC and phone's security software to ensure you're fully protected, or download free protection from trusted sites such as www.avgfree.com.au
E-mail over fax - If you're compiling information with your tax agent or family members from multiple locations, think twice before faxing sensitive materials. E-mail is far more secure, especially if sent and received via a secure Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection and a computer with up-to-date antivirus software. Also ensure you delete those files from your e-mail server once you've filed your return.
If you receive suspect communication from "the ATO", do not click on any links in an e-mail or answer phone questions. You can report unsolicited e-mails claiming to be from the Australian Tax Office by forwarding the entire email to ReportEmailFraud@ato.gov.au. Keep an eye on the ATO's security page and the Government's Stay Smart Online Alert Service for the latest tax related scams.

"With layers of protection, including a secure network, protected computer or mobile device and cautious use of e-mail and third-party web sites, filing online can be safe and efficient for everyone," Borrett said.

E-tax Essentials from the ATO site are at: www.ato.gov.au/content/39979.htm, while information about ATO specific scams is at: www.ato.gov.au/onlineservices/content.aspx?doc=/content/62347.htm&mnu=41675&mfp=001/002

AVG (AU/NZ) has a comprehensive range of security tips on its web site at http://www.avg.com.au/resources/security-tips/. For video tips from AVG (AU/NZ), see http://www.youtube.com/user/avgaunz.

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AVG unveils global Community Powered Threat Report - Q2-2011

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:00:00 GMT

'Trusted malware' on the rise, SpyEye causing havoc for businesses and Mac users latest targets for cyber attacks

Melbourne, 21 June, 2011 - AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG Internet and mobile security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, has announced the release of AVG Technologies' "AVG Community Powered Threat Report - Q2 2011", providing insight, background and analysis on the trends and developments in the global threat landscape.

'Trusted malware'

The report unearths how 'trusted malware' is continuing to grow at an alarming rate. In Q2, AVG's Threat Labs have seen an increase in the number of stolen digital certificates used to sign malware, before being distributed by hackers. A significant increase of over 300% was identified at the start of 2011 compared to the whole of 2010. The practice of trusting signed files is rapidly losing its strength.

Mac attack

As Macs continue to rise in popularity, they are increasingly becoming the latest victims of cyber crime, the report reveals. With the platform reaching crucial market share levels, it is starting to appear on the radar of cyber criminals. While it may be a new target platform, cyber criminals are using tried and tested social engineering techniques to attack Mac OS users.

Mobile malware

Increasingly, cyber crooks are using mobile malware to monetise using premium SMS and fake apps. Monetising techniques via mobile are much easier to operate than those in use on PCs. By spamming users to download apps or simply posting them on download stores or markets, the software distribution is easy and scalable.

An eye on SpyEye

The report provides insight into the most prevalent malware targeting online banking in the past few years - SpyEye. The rise in SpyEye means that users of Internet banking need to be extra vigilant, especially as victims of cyber attacks are increasingly considered to be accountable.

A recent court ruling in the US concluded that it was in fact the victim's responsibility to protect their account credentials, rather than the bank - namely via the use of Internet security and identity protection tools.

In the first half of 2011 the AVG Threat Labs investigated the operation of 702 Command and Control servers (C&C). The research results match the geo location of the servers as well as the popularity of the various malware versions in use by each C&C. The US holds the lead in Command and Control servers with 30% of the market share, followed by Ukraine with 22%.

Brazil

The United States still remains the dominant source of spam with English as the main language used in spam messages, followed by the UK with Brazil only just coming third. However, Brazil is rapidly closing that gap and is on course to overtake the UK, likely in the next quarter.

World Wild Web

"In Q2 cyber criminals have clearly been shifting their focus to new markets, with a clear goal on increasing revenue from their operations," said Yuval Ben-Itzhak, Chief Technology Officer, AVG Technologies.

"The World Wide Web might as well be re-branded as the World Wild Web. Our research indicates that hundreds of live servers operating all around the world are active 24/7 to steal users' credentials for online banking and other private assets. As attack techniques of hackers continue to get more advanced, users need to take action. Security products, with multi-layers of protection, are a must have to protect against the potentially damaging threats that lurk on the web. The user's computer platform is becoming irrelevant for these cyber criminals - Windows, Android, Mac and iOS are all targeted now."

Other key findings include:

11.3% of malware are using external hardware devices (e.g. flash drives) as a distribution method (AutoRun)
Blackhole remains the most prevalent exploit toolkit in the wild, accounting for 75.83% of toolkits
Exploit Toolkits are responsible for 37% of all threat activity
32.9% of Spam messages originated from the USA followed by the United Kingdom with 3.9%

About the report

The AVG report is based on the Community Protection Network traffic and data followed by research from AVG, over a three-month period. It provides an overview of web, mobile devices, spam risks and threats.

The statistics referenced are obtained from the AVG Community Protection Network, which is an online neighbourhood watch, helping everyone in the community to protect each other. Information about the latest threats is collected from customers who choose to participate in the product improvement program and shared with the community to make sure everyone receives the best possible protection.

With more than 110 million users using AVG's various solutions, AVG provides powerful community protection. Each new user who chooses to participate increases the security level of the community as a whole.

AVG is focused on building communities that help multiple-millions of online participants support each other on computer security issues and actively contribute to AVG's research efforts.

Full Threat Report: http://www.avg.com.au/files/media/avg_threat_report_2011-q2.pdf

Interview with Yuval Ben-Itzhak, Chief Technology Officer, AVG Technologies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5c4pKDLRTU

AVG (AU/NZ) has a comprehensive range of security tips on its web site at http://www.avg.com.au/resources/security-tips/. For video tips from AVG (AU/NZ), see http://www.youtube.com/user/avgaunz.

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Study Finds 60% of Australian Primary Schoolers Are Talking to Friends Online

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:00:00 GMT

In a new study of 6-9 year olds' online activities, AVG, one of the world's largest providers of consumer security software, reveals the urgent need for parents to teach cyber safety.

Melbourne and Amsterdam, 2 June 2011 - AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG anti-virus and Internet security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, has released the latest AVG Digital Diary which tracked early childhood technology usage trends over the course of the last year.

Lloyd Borrett, Security Evangelist of AVG (AU/NZ) said: "The data in the latest wave of AVG's research is compelling. It clearly shows that we have to start talking to our children about online safety before we hand them an internet-enabled device.

"We're probably all guilty of handing on a mobile phone or computer to our child with the only hint of concern being for the device itself. That needs to change. We must approach our children's first exposures to technology like we do other risky activities and instil a culture of safety. We wouldn't teach our children to ride a bike without a helmet, or ride in a car without a seat belt.

"Likewise parents need appropriate tools for teaching young children about the risks of the Internet and to put them on a path that will seed a lifetime of good practices," Borrett said.

Approximately half of the 6-9 year old children surveyed are regularly talking to their friends online and using social networks. Yet 58 per cent of their parents admit they are not well-informed about their children's online social networks.

The Digital Playground, the third stage of AVG's year-long Digital Diaries research program, further delves into the increasingly digitally-literate group of 6-to-9-year olds and their parents in Australia, New Zealand, the northern hemisphere and Japan to find that:

Australian children average 3.9 hours online each week, which is more than the worldwide average of 3.5 hours per week.
A staggering 60 per cent of Australian 6-to-9-year-olds use some kind of kids' social network such as Club Penguin, Moshi Monsters or WebKinz.
Australian children are the highest users of email at 28 per cent, against the one in five global average use.
Forty-four per cent of Australian 6 to 9-year-olds talk to their friends on the Internet. On balance, parents of children that do talk to friends via the Internet feel that this has a positive impact on their social skills.
Despite being under age, 12 per cent of Australian 6 to 9-year-olds are on Facebook, according to their parents. While this figure does not mean they have profiles, they are still using the functionality.
Cyber bullying, what their parents considered objectionable or aggressive online behaviour, has been experienced by 13 per cent of Australian children surveyed.
Across those surveyed, almost one in six 6-to-9-year-olds and one in five 8-to-9-year olds have experienced cyber bullying. The problem gets worse as the kids get older.
Gratifyingly only 2 per cent of parents admit they do not know what they're children are doing online, but 58 per cent are still not fully-informed nor understand their children's online social networks.
62 per cent of Australian households have parental controls or safety programs in place on their family computers, which is above the global average of 56 per cent. This indicates there are still too many un-supervised online activities.

There is an added benefit to focusing on young children. By inculcating the right behaviours from the beginning, Borrett believes the next generation of young users could be instrumental in battling Internet crime.

"When we instituted car seat and seat belt laws, we may have 'regulated' adults but in the process we created a generation of children that grew up with the mindset that seat belts were simply a routine part of riding in a car," Borrett said. "I think we can do the same thing with Internet safety and very quickly drive a cultural shift that ultimately will begin to close the doors on cyber crime."

Australian digital playground infographic: (Adode PDF, 2.4 Mb) http://www.avg.com.au/files/media/avg_digital_playground_AU.pdf

AVG (AU/NZ) has a comprehensive range of security tips on its web site at http://www.avg.com.au/resources/security-tips/. For video tips from AVG (AU/NZ), see http://www.youtube.com/user/avgaunz.

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Prevent your kid’s safety online with AVG Antispyware and Antispam software.

AVG (AU/NZ) Supports National Cyber Security Awareness Week 2011

Sun, 29 May 2011 14:00:00 GMT

AVG provides the help you need to protect yourself online

Melbourne, 30 May 2011 - AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG anti-virus and Internet security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, today announced its support of the Federal Government's fifth annual National Cyber Security Awareness Week 2011. The week aims to help Australians understand cyber security risks and educate home and small business users on the simple steps they can take to protect their personal and financial information online.

Cyber security and education has become a critical issue. AVG (AU/NZ) will support National Cyber Security Awareness Week 2011 by participating in various events in Melbourne and Canberra. This includes collaborating with government and industry experts at a workshop on emerging cyber security safety challenges and how to address them.

AVG's sales and support staff will also be giving a series of short presentations on Stand O25 at CeBIT 2011, Sydney Exhibition Centre, hourly from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm on Tuesday 31 May to Thursday 2 June 2011.

Lloyd Borrett, Security Evangelist at AVG (AU/NZ) said: "AVG's award-winning Anti-Virus and Internet Security software products help to protect the active Internet users of millions Windows, Mac and Linux PCs, plus Android mobile devices, across Australia and New Zealand, from global cyber criminals.

"Cyber crime is increasingly sophisticated and organised, but complex and poorly understood. It's under-reported because victims are often embarrassed and confused."

AVG (AU/NZ) sees that ignorance of the risks and nature of cyber crime is posing the greatest threat to Internet users. 80 percent of cyber crime attacks are easily preventable, if users understand what to do.

"We work to protect the public using advanced technologies," Borrett continued. "But by participating in National Cyber Security Awareness Week we can also continue our efforts to help people understand how the bad guys have bought age-old fraudulent human and social engineering exploits into the online world."

Borrett looks at the Stay Smart Online top tips and offers the following further advice to secure yourself online at home, work or on your mobile phone.

Install Internet security software to protect against identity theft, social networks, spyware, viruses and other malicious software. It can only be fully effective if it's always on, up to date, scans all of your files regularly and you renew your subscription before it expires. AVG has both free and paid Anti-Virus and Internet Security solutions for Windows, Mac, Linux and Android users.
Select automatic updates for your complete environment including its operating system, security software, utilities and other applications.
Think carefully before you click on links and attachments particularly in emails and on social networking sites. Don't expose yourself to viruses, malicious software or scam web sites designed to steal your personal information. To check if a web site is safe, go to www.avgthreatlabs.com and enter the web site's URL for its safety rating. AVG LinkScanner for Windows and Mac PCs provides web protection wherever you go online by actively checking web pages in real time before they open. If it sees trouble ahead, it warns you.
Regularly adjust your privacy settings on social networking sites. You're not the customer of the social networking web sites, you're the contributor of often sensitive information. So make sure you properly manage what is shared and with whom it's shared.
Report or talk to someone about anything online that makes you uncomfortable. You can install the Government's Cybersafety Help Button onto your desktop or task bar and have help just a click away. The Cybersafety Help Button is a free application and you can download it from dbcde.gov.au/helpbutton.
Stop and think before you share any photos, personal or financial information. If you are asked to provide such sensitive information, the request is probably from a thief, or an idiot! So play it safe: simply don't provide the information.
Use a strong password and change it at least twice a year. Invent illogical word, number and symbol combinations to create the strongest passwords and change them regularly. Always change from default passwords, such as 'password' or 'admin' and never tick the 'remember this password' box.
Know what your children and/or staff are doing online. Make sure they know how to stay safe and encourage them to report anything suspicious.

You can find excellent information about how to use the Internet safely on the government Stay Smart Online web site at www.staysmartonline.gov.au. You can also sign up for the plain language, free Cyber Security Alert Service that keeps you informed of new threats as they happen.

If your focus is on keeping your business safe online, then visit www.avgatwork.com.au and take the AVG online Security Audit to receive a personalised IT security action plan. You can also download a Small Business Security Guide to help you secure your start-up or small business.

AVG will continue its well received series of informative security tips, how-to's and factsheets (www.avg.com.au/resources/security-tips/) which are a rich resource of material to help families and business stay safe online. For video tips from AVG (AU/NZ), see www.youtube.com/user/avgaunz.

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The Answer to Cyber Crime - See AVG (AU/NZ) At CeBIT

Thu, 26 May 2011 14:00:00 GMT

At Home, At Work, or On the Go, AVG (AU/NZ) has the answers to security solutions at CeBIT Australia 2011

Melbourne, 27 May 2011 - AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the distributor of the award-winning AVG anti-virus and Internet security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, will again be shining the spotlight on personal and small business security at the upcoming CeBIT Australia 2011 exhibition, the most influential event of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region.

Make a beeline for Stand O25 to talk to AVG (AU/NZ)'s sales and support team members who will be on hand to provide business and technical tips to ensure companies have the required policies and procedures in place to protect their businesses. They will also be demonstrating the award-winning 'AVG at Work' range of business security solutions for SMB, government, education and enterprise networks. Special free AVG Business trials will be available from the Stand.

The recent release of AVG Technologies' "AVG Community Powered Threat Report - Q1 2011", which provides current trends in the world of online threats, revealed an explosive increase in malicious campaigns that exploited smartphones and tablets, predominantly those that are Android based.

Sam Hendry, General Manager of AVG (AU/NZ): "The use of these open, constantly connected, mobile devices pose a great risk to personal protection. Users tend to shrug off mobile security solutions and carelessly broadcast financial, account and other personal data, such as their exact location, while on the go. Come and talk to us at CeBIT about security that is specific to the mobile environment."

For both home consumers and businesses, the online risks remain high. Cyber criminals continue to use innovative and sustained practices to steal your money, identity and resources. The bad guys are moving their activities into social networking sites with Facebook threats increasing three-fold in Q1 2011. Come and learn how AVG's protection keeps you and your business safe on social networks.

AVG has security solutions for the Windows, Mac, Linux and Android platforms. With recent malicious malware attacks against the Mac having been successful, Mac users should come and learn how AVG can keep them safe online.

From 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. each day, the AVG (AU/NZ) team will be covering a wide range of consumer and business security topics, including:

Consumer: Protecting Yourself at Home, Getting Started; Preventing Infections on Your PC; Removal of Infections; and An Introduction to AVG PC Tuneup.
Business: Deploying AVG for SMBs Centrally; The AVG Toolkit for Business; Optimising AVG for Server Platforms; Managing Risk and Threat Notifications; and Tailoring AVG to Your Environment.

Lloyd Borrett, Security Evangelist for AVG (AU/NZ) will be providing Six Simple Tips to Protect Yourself Online at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 31 May 2011. A complete list of presentation topics and times can be seen online at http://resources.avg.com.au/security_risks/avg-at-cebit-2011/.

For prospective and existing resellers, Corporate Sales Director Michael Dowling will present on AVG (AU/NZ)'s innovative channel program which is proving to be highly profitable for active members of its network.

CeBIT Australia Exhibition runs from 31 May to 2 June 2011 at the Sydney Exhibition Centre.

AVG (AU/NZ) has a comprehensive range of security tips on its web site at http://www.avg.com.au/resources/security-tips/. For video tips from AVG (AU/NZ), see http://www.youtube.com/user/avgaunz.

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