Barclays first bank to offer complete free online security software to all its customers

Barclays has become the first UK bank to offer all its two million online banking customers free internet security software covering not only anti-virus software but also spyware, adware, firewalls, parental controls and spam filters.

The offer is available to all Barclays customers who sign up for its online banking. The software provided by leading internet security firm Kaspersky normally retails for £51 for an annual subscription, but Barclays will offer it completely free of charge with customers able to download it from its online banking website.

This follows on from Barclays becoming the first UK bank to roll out its two factor authentication system, PINsentry, in 2007 which protects customers against phishing attacks and fraudsters getting hold of customer security information. Over 1 million PINsentry readers have already been sent out to customers.

Sean Gilchrist, Director of Digital Banking for Barclays, said: “For the last two years we have offered customers free anti-virus software, but as internet fraudsters become more sophisticated it is important that customers protect their computers from all threats and not just viruses. Kaspersky has one of the best reputations in the business and together with PINsentry we believe Barclays online customers will have one of the best security packages of all online banks.”

Barclays has signed a two year agreement to provide the Kaspersky software which will be worth £102 to customers. Barclays will also allow customers to download the software on up to three personal computers for each licence so that customers can protect all the computers in the same household.

Barclays customers that are not banking online can register by going to Barclays.co.uk. Non-Barclays customers can gain access to the free software by opening a Barclays current account in branch or online.