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11/19/2004
America Online Launches AOL 9.0 Security EditionAmerica Online, Inc. |
America Online, Inc., the world's leading interactive services company, today announced the launch of AOL 9.0 Security Edition, the latest version of the AOL software that provides a comprehensive suite of safety and security features to make it easier for consumers and their families to stay safer online.
Building on AOL 9.0 Optimized, AOL 9.0 Security Edition is the first version of America Online to focus specifically on safety and security and is especially beneficial for people who use a basic high-speed Internet connection. It offers online consumers a convenient and easy-to-use package of essential safety and security protections, among them:
- McAfee VirusScan Online, a leading virus-protection program that automatically updates when the user is online, protecting the whole computer from known viruses, trojans, and worms. AOL is the only online service to offer world-class virus protection as part of basic membership;
- AOL Spyware Protection with an added SpyZapper feature that automatically targets the most disruptive forms of spyware and other programs that may interfere with members' online experience;
- Simplified Spam Control tools and new SpIM (instant message spam) protection to make it even easier for members to keep their e-mail box and instant messages free of spam;
- McAfee Personal Firewall Express to help guard members with high-speed connections against hackers and unauthorized intruders by building a barrier around their computer;
- Pop-up controls that automatically protect from Web pop-up ads;
- Money Alerts to notify consumers of unauthorized bank account or credit card activity; and
- Award-winning, comprehensive Parental Controls to help protect members' families as they use the Internet, with an array of features, including new Teens Search and available soon, a new IM Safety List feature that lets parents approve who can contact their kids via instant messages.
AOL 9.0 Security Edition is available now at no additional charge to members using the dial-up and AOL for Broadband services at AOL Keyword: Upgrade or by visiting http://www.aol.com.
As part of its multi-faceted "Commitments to Members" marketing campaign, America Online will promote AOL 9.0 Security Edition through online promotions, television advertising, and will make the newest version available to consumers online and soon through CDs distributed in a wide range of retail stores and other outlets.
"First among our commitments to our members and the online community is that 'AOL will always help our members feel safer and more secure,' " said Jon Miller, Chairman and CEO, America Online, Inc. "One example of how we're making the commitment real is that we're giving our members advanced virus protection software at no additional charge. And we're making it easier to stay safer online by giving AOL members the essential safety and security protections they need - anti-virus and anti-spyware coverage, controls for pop-ups, spam and spIM, a broadband firewall, parental controls and safety alerts - in one package with AOL 9.0 Security Edition."
Improved Protection Against Growing Online Threats
As news headlines have made clear, unwanted spam, spIM, worms, scams, viruses, and spyware are growing threats to consumers and their families as they use the Internet. But protecting a computer from these threats can be complicated and expensive. To keep a home computer more secure, a typical online user would have to buy and configure multiple software programs, including anti-virus protection, anti-spyware software, a firewall, spam blocking software, pop-up controls, and parental controls. Then the user would have to make sure all of them are kept updated and current.
As a result, many family computers aren't as secure as they should be. According to an in-home study of typical dial-up and broadband computer users conducted in October 2004 by AOL and the National Cyber Security Alliance, most computer users think they are safe but lack basic protections against viruses, spyware, hackers, and other online threats. Nearly two-thirds of consumers (63%) have been the victim of a virus infection in the past, and nearly one in five (19%) has an active virus on their computer. The study also found that more than two-thirds of online users (67%) did not have current virus protection software. Yet at the same time, most keep sensitive personal and financial information on their computers.
With AOL 9.0 Security Edition, America Online helps consolidate the confusing tangle of safety and security programs into a single convenient package designed to give consumers the protective features they need without additional cost. Important features are always on and automatically updated to provide AOL members broad protection whether or not they are online.
Mr. Miller continued: "Safety and security have never been mere buzzwords here. They are, quite simply, the foundation of the America Online service and mission, and essential to improving our members' peace of mind. The Internet is a wonderful place, filled with endless possibilities - but our work won't finish until all our members get everything they want out of it, and less of what they don't want."
Highlights of safety and security features provided with AOL 9.0 Security Edition include:
- McAfee VirusScan Online offers comprehensive, PC-based protection against infection from peer-to-peer file sharing, Web site downloads, infected CD-ROMs and disks, multimedia files, and more. And because it is always on and automatically updated, McAfee VirusScan Online provides America Online members broad protection, both on and offline, from known viruses, trojans, and worms. Members will get instructions how to activate VirusScan after installing AOL 9.0 Security Edition.
- New AOL Spyware Protection with SpyZapper feature - Unwanted spyware, adware and other programs that are downloaded without members' knowledge can slow the performance of their PCs, as well as capture and send out private information to people who could potentially steal their identities. To help protect members from spyware or adware, AOL Spyware Protection scans their computers to help identify and disable these programs. AOL Spyware Protection is regularly updated to help protect members on an ongoing basis, and members can have it run once a week or schedule it to run more often. A new SpyZapper feature works alongside AOL Spyware Protection to automatically target the most disruptive forms of spyware and other programs that may cause connection problems, performance issues, and security risks or otherwise interfere with a member's AOL online experience. The SpyZapper feature scans the computer and helps members decide whether they want to block the programs it identifies.
- Simpler Spam Controls with new "high," "medium" or "low" spam filtering settings work with America Online's advanced, adaptive spam filters to automatically send unwanted mail into a member's Spam Folder.
- New "SpIM" Protection is provided by a "Report IM Spam" button on IM windows that lets members instantly report and block unwanted instant messages from unknown senders.
- New "Money Alerts" can help members track unauthorized activity on registered credit cards and bank accounts by notifying them whenever transactions exceeding their custom pre-set spending limits are made. Alerts are delivered to their computer via "Certified AOL e-mail."
- Web Pop-up Controls can block intrusive pop-up ads, including animated pop-ups that "float" across the computer screen.
- McAfee Personal Firewall Express helps members with high-speed connections guard against hackers and unauthorized intruders by building a barrier around their computer. With this downloadable software, members can help block access to sensitive files, financial records and personal data. The firewall can be downloaded at AOL Keyword: Firewall Express.
- New "Clear My Footprints" feature lets members erase in one click certain "online footprints," such as saved cookies and browser cache.
- Enhanced Computer Check-up tool can help detect and correct a range of common computer problems to keep members' computers running at their best. To help ensure their PC continues to run at optimum performance, members can set up an automatic notification to run the tool on a regular basis, and will have an option to run it while offline.
- AOL's Award-Winning Parental Controls provide children and teens with a safer and age-appropriate online experience. In addition to customizable features for parents like an online timer, Web Unlock, AOL Guardian and Internet Access Controls, enhancements include a new Teens Search feature to help shield young teens from inappropriate content as they search the Internet for school and personal interests. And, available soon, a new IM Safety List feature lets parents approve who can contact their kids via instant messages.
- New AOL Security Alerts can help keep members up-to-date on possible threats to their personal information and online security via e-mail, instant message, cell phone or wireless PDA.*
- AOL Safety & Security Center provides access to all of AOL's latest security tools and features in one convenient place. A built-in "Safety Status" feature displays which features and protections are enabled or when they were last run.
In addition to these protections, America Online's technology works behind the scenes to continually help protect members' online safety and security. This includes: server-side spam filters; automatic scanning and blocking of virus attachments from incoming and outgoing e-mail and embedded jpeg images; targeted blocking of virus links in instant messages and IM rate limiting to help protect against spIM; automatic identification and securing of accounts with unusual and unauthorized activity; and monitoring and blocking of password cracking efforts.
For another layer of security, America Online recently launched the AOL PassCode, a new premium service that offers members a second level of AOL account protection through the use of a keychain-sized device that generates and displays a unique six-digit numeric code every 60 seconds. To access their account, AOL members using PassCode must enter their normal account password and the current code on the PassCode device.
Other Enhancements with 9.0 Security Edition
In addition to its safety and security suite, AOL 9.0 Security Edition also delivers a more streamlined online experience that will help members get online and to their favorite features faster. For bilingual households, this version provides the ability to set English or Spanish language preferences for each individual Screen Name so that members can easily choose between the AOL service in English or the AOL Latino service in Spanish. America Online is the first and only national Internet Service Provider to offer this level of integrated functionality for a bilingual experience.
Additional enhancements include:
- AOL Fast Start to launch the America Online application faster;
- New "My Routine" personalization feature that can automatically add a member's frequently-visited sites to their Favorite Places list; and
- Preferred dial-up number recommendations that automatically suggest the closest access numbers to a member's location; for members who use high-speed Internet connections, AOL will detect their broadband connection, eliminating extra set-up steps.
To allow more members to enjoy many of the updated AOL features, AOL 9.0 Security Edition also automatically configures itself to give members the best AOL experience possible for their computer's specific memory capability, including for computers with less than 128 MB of RAM.
Over the past months, America Online has also introduced a convenient new version of the AOL.COM Web site for members' to access AOL Mail and other services while away from home; the new easy-to-use inStore online shopping destination with Pinpoint Shopping search; the new AOL Optimized PC complete home computer system; enhanced versions of AOL Search and the You've Got Pictures digital picture service; and a new version of the popular AOL Call Alert online call-waiting premium service that gives members the option to answer incoming calls while online.
Availability
The newest AOL 9.0 Security Edition software is available now and can be downloaded by visiting AOL Keyword: Upgrade or by going to http://www.aol.com. Members and other consumers can order a free CD-ROM with the newest software at AOL Keyword: Upgrade, http://www.aol.com or by calling 1-877-265-8008.
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