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Scottrade Announces Total Online Protection for Scottrade Customers


WEBWIRE

Security Package Features VeriSign and Free McAfee Software



(ST. LOUIS, MO –Scottrade, Inc., a leading online brokerage company, is announcing today a total online protection package that will make trading online with Scottrade more secure than ever. Scottrade will offer total online protection through a combination of leading third-party security solutions and customer education that will create even safer Web and trading experiences for Scottrade’s customers.



As part of Total Online Protection Security:

§ Scottrade is now offering McAfee’s VirusScan® Plus, an all-in-one firewall, anti-phishing, anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and McAfee SiteAdvisor to all of its customers at no charge. With McAfee SiteAdvisor’s safety rankings, Scottrade customers can avoid unsafe Web sites. Scottrade is the first financial services firm to offer free security software for its customers’ personal computers.

§ Customers will be provided with information on important security matters through Scottrade’s new online Security Center at www.scottrade.com/security. The Security Center contains information about online security, including articles, tips and checklists on protecting personal information online. For existing customers, this information is also available within the Trading Web Site after they have logged into their accounts. Customers will also find the instructions and link to download McAfee’s software.

§ Scottrade has partnered with VeriSign to offer customers the VeriSign Identity Protection (VIP) Fraud Detection Service, a comprehensive approach to securing business transactions on the Internet that will help protect Scottrade’s customers, Web site and network. Available later this year, the service will assist Scottrade in monitoring online login activity for suspicious transactions and later requiring additional user authentication when necessary.



“Customers are focused on online security but they don’t always know how to protect themselves, which is why we partnered with McAfee and VeriSign to provide total online protection,” said Rodger Riney, president and CEO of Scottrade. “We’re thrilled to offer McAfee’s software to protect account holders not just when investing, but when shopping online, accessing their bank accounts and online payment systems, and other activities that require personal information.”



Scottrade customers can now log in to their accounts and download up to three licenses of McAfee’s VirusScan® Plus, which retails for $59.99, free of charge for one year, from Scottrade’s new Security Center. The software is available to all Scottrade customers regardless of their account size or trading frequency. After installing the McAfee software, Scottrade customers will receive free updates for a year, after which time users can purchase an annual subscription to McAfee at a special reduced rate. Anyone not currently a Scottrade account holder can also take advantage of this offer by opening an account with only $500.



“Scottrade account holders will be able to log on with an extra layer of confidence knowing that the VeriSign VIP Fraud Detection Service provides an invisible means of thwarting suspicious online activities by monitoring behavior patterns,” said Fran Rosch, vice president, VeriSign Authentication Services. “When the service goes live, customers will immediately benefit by having a safer and more secure Web experience.”



“The security threats out there have changed. Where most malicious activities on the Internet used to be about the challenge, now—predominantly—they are for the profit,” said Grant Bourzikas, Scottrade’s Director of Information Security and Business Continuity. “Where hackers would once target hardened data centers, they now seek out softer targets, like consumers’ home computers.”



Though there are many threats online, Bourzikas said that consumers who take sensible precautions, which include installing multiple security products on their PCs and keeping them current, should feel a significant level of confidence about managing finances online.



Scottrade’s top five tips for online safety:



1. Install firewall and other protection software on your computer.

“Using software like the McAfee suite we are offering our account holders is the single most important step people can take to protect their information online,” Bourzikas said.



2. Understand e-mail security and phishing and never log in to your account after following a link from an e-mail. Remember to also change your passwords regularly.

“Most legitimate financial institutions will never ask you to log in through a link in an e-mail. If you do think the e-mail is legitimate, go to your Web browser and type in the address that you always use to login to your account,” Bourzikas said.



3. Make sure the Web site is secure and has a “padlock symbol” in your browser before logging on.

According to Bourzikas, “If you have any questions about a site—if something just doesn’t look right—click on the padlock symbol in your browser to make sure that it is signed by the same company you think owns the site.”



4. Monitor your account activity.

“Actively review statements and confirmations for all of your financial accounts,” Bourzikas said. “It’s also a good idea to sign up for an alert service or at least review your credit report every so often to make sure that no one is using your personal financial information without your knowledge.”



5. Secure your home computer and wireless connection.

“Keep your operating systems up to date by regularly downloading security updates and patches,” Bourzikas said. “It is also a good idea to disable file sharing on your computer and keep backups of all of your files. Simply unplugging your Internet connection every night can also reduce the risk of an attack.”



For more on Internet security, visit Scottrade’s Security Center at www.scottrade.com/security.



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