Introducing: Andrew Ford

It’s Not A Con is proud to introduce its second new contributor, Andrew Ford, Norton’s Marketing Director for Northern Europe.

Since joining Norton in 2009, Andrew has used his marketing expertise to develop Norton’s consumer marketing strategy across multiple markets, lead the marketing team and mentor others. Andrew has worked in the in the consumer electronics industry since the late 80s so brings a wealth of experience to the blog.

As one of Norton’s internet safety advisors, Andrew regularly speaks to the media on the subject. He is passionate about the internet and ensuring customers get the best value from Norton’s products and are protected against the latest threats.

Andrew is particularly interested in mobile technology and the burgeoning threats from cybercrime in this space. In the coming weeks, Andrew will comment on social networks and how they are changing the way society views privacy, and how mobile devices are ushering in a new way of working, communicating and playing.

When not at work, Andrew enjoys spending time with his family, keeping active and travelling. He is interested in foreign  languages and uses any given opportunity to practice his French, German and Spanish.

September 29, 2011 | Filed Under Announcements | Leave a Comment 

Norton One

Today we can announce plans to deliver a personalised service that will protect consumers across multiple devices, Norton One™.

Norton One will give consumers the option to select a combination of solutions that work for them and take away the hassle and worry of securing and maintaining today’s connected household.

Norton One will be the industry’s first membership-based offering spanning PC, Mac and mobile security solutions.

Norton One will provide a different experience by providing a single membership that will protect each connected device an a household through one user interface.

You will be able to choose the technologies and devices that you have and need to protect properly. New devices can also be seamlessly added to the membership and quickly protected against online threats. Licenses can then be moved between devices or removed if you’re no longer using a device.

A diversified range of technologies and support will be offered, including security and performance with personalised services and premium support.

Today’s Internet-enabled household relies on multiple devices to communicate, work, shop and play. All these devices need protection against online threats, but protection today needs to provide more than just basic security and must cover the distinct needs of all the household’s connected devices.

Norton market research has found that consumers in the U.S. have an average of 4.5 devices in their household between desktop computers, laptops, tablets, mobile phones and more.

The future of consumer security involves protection across all devices and platforms. We continue to expand our business with our Norton Everywhere initiative, delivering multi-device security solutions that are focused on the individual and their information, wherever you go and regardless of the device you’re using.

Norton One is expected to be available in the first half of 2012.

September 13, 2011 | Filed Under Announcements, Customer service, Family Online Safety, Security | Leave a Comment 

Norton Cybercrime Report 2011

This morning we’re launching this year’s Norton Cybercrime Report, our annual look at online crime in the UK.

Our research has found out that Cybercrime is costing the UK on average £474 million a year. Based on the value victims surveyed placed on time lost due to their cybercrime experiences, an additional £619 million was lost.

Headline facts:

  • 19 people fall victim to cybercrime every minute in the UK
  • 51% of those in the UK have experienced cybercrime in their lifetime
  • Only 16% of victims report cybercrime to the police
  • On average British people spend around 4 days resolving cybercrime related issues
  • Global cybercrime in 24 countries cost £71 billion last year

The financial cost of cybercrime is hitting Brits in the pocket, but this year’s Norton Cybercrime Report has also found questionable online ethics among the general population.

The core danger for people in the UK still lies in organised cybercrime and the sort of security attacks we’ve become accustomed to seeing in the news.

But, our research raises some serious questions around privacy and the boundaries people are willing to cross in their own online dealings.

Do your experiences of cybercrime match with our report results?

Let us know by leaving a comment, or follow us on Twitter @norton_uk

September 7, 2011 | Filed Under Announcements, Security | Leave a Comment 

Putting a number on it – the Norton CyberCrime Index

One of the questions that I am asked regularly is this: ‘are they hackers winning or are we winning?’ A simple question, but it can be a long and involved answer. Well, now I should be able to answer it in a short and effective way. I can now tell you if Cybercrime is ‘up’ or ‘down’, much as I could if we were discussing the stock-market or the value of the pound versus the dollar. Today, we announced the Norton CyberCrime Index.

The Norton Cybercrime Index consists of one number that updates daily indicating today’s threat level. The number is based on an algorithm that calculates data from three sources. The primary source is the Symantec Global Intelligence Network, one of the industry’s most comprehensive sources of intelligence about online threats, which monitors more than 130 million servers worldwide to keep track of new threats and attacks. In addition, consumer risk management firm ID Analytics, and DataLossDB, a research project from the Open Security Foundation, provide data about identity fraud and data loss, respectively.

In addition we can give more contextual information about the nature and type of cyber threats that are active on a daily basis. Much as all of us benefit from watching the weather, allowing us to be ready for the day, the Norton CyberCrime Index will allow people to be informed and prepared to meet the daily challenge of cybercrime. As is often said: knowledge is power.

February 16, 2011 | Filed Under Announcements, Security | Leave a Comment 

Norton Everywhere – new products

This week saw some noteworthy updates to the ‘Norton Everywhere’ vision. This follows on from the initial announcement made in May, 2010. We really have started the work on positioning Norton in a ‘post-PC’ context. We have announced the availability of Norton Mobile Security (NMS) v1.5. With this release, for the Android OS, we have added in remote ‘locate’ in addition to ‘wipe’ and ‘lock’.  With regards to the anti-malware capabilities of the product, we have now added in the ability to scan the SD card for malware and rogue apps. Furthermore, for those first generation of Android tablets out there, e.g. Galaxy Tab etc, NMS 1.5 has been optimized to render in these larger resolution and screens. You can still download and install the NMS BETA from the Android Market - but only if you are quick!

With any new hardware platform, or OS,  people start to look for utilities to help them manage and navigate this new experience. Android is no different. So, we have just posted a BETA of Norton Mobile Utilities (NMU). This is a kind of ‘back to future’ moment for us.  We built a business and company on this, back in the day courtesy of Peter Norton. NMU offers a selection of useful utilities that will help you install and manage the apps on your device. Additionally, it has as really nice ‘dashboard’ showing you the status of your device and how it is being used. You can track your data/voice plan and be alerted when you are approaching your monthly limit etc.

In the next few days we also intend to put into BETA, Norton DNS v1.5. We have had an excellent reaction to the Norton DNS service. The new BETA will allow users of the service to classify the web sites and therefore content, that can be accessed. This comes in addition to the security overlay that Norton provides in checking web sites for malware hosting or anti-phishing. In effect, a user of the service can then establish a ‘household’  policy for the device, or for that matter, the router that is used in their home to connect to the internet.  I am aware that many parents are concerned to ensure that irrespective of what device their kids are using to connect to the internet (PC, game-console, tablet etc), that they can manage what sites and content they have access to.

So, Norton Everywhere, continue to roll and build momentum. More to come…..

February 10, 2011 | Filed Under Announcements, Security | Leave a Comment 

And they are off! The 2011 collection of security products

It is that time of year again – the time for the new security suite products to make their way onto the market. We have just launched Norton Antivirus 2011 and Norton Internet Security 2011. The requirement for strong, multi-layered security products has never been more necessary. With the release of the Norton Cybercrime Report: Human Impact, we highlight that 60% of people report that they have been a victim of cybercrime. My take on this is that people need to take security seriously. That starts with them using the best available security products to reduce their risk profile whilst online.

The clear and present danger is with consumers being misled into installing malware onto their computers. Basically, helping do the cyber criminals job for them, through a whole panoply of scams. The Fake AV scams have become particularly bothersome. Our Reputation based security technology, as deployed in Norton 2010, is really starting to make a significant difference in helping defend against the downloading of files with bad reputations, or no reputation. With Norton 2011, we have now extend the reach of our reputation technology within the product. If you are using any of the popular web browsers, IM and email clients and file sharing clients, Norton Download Insight  is working right beside you, to stop the bad and suspicious files making their way onto your system. Lots of customers told us that they loved the performance information we provided them with Norton 2010. They said they wanted more of it and would like to see it brought to their attention as they went about using their PCs. Well, that is exactly what we have done with System Insight 2, as featured in this year’s product.

There are changes to the main UI as well. A Norton customer can now access Norton Online Family, Norton Online Backup and Norton SafeWeb from the main UI of NAV and NIS. We have also included a threat-map to allow our customers a view of what is happening out there: a gentle reminder to our customers that cybercrime is ever present.

Another noteworthy development with the launch of Norton 2011 is the introduction of Norton Safe Web for Facebook. It’s free. It’s effective. And it makes your experience on Facebook safer. The Norton Safe Web for Facebook application scans your news feeds and identifies URLs containing security risks such as phishing sites, malicious downloads and links to unsafe external sites. There is also another free tool that we are releasing with Norton 2011, Norton Power Eraser. It is a malware clean-up tool that goes after those deep-rooted infections and will  help get a machine back-up and running.

Norton 2011 is now going to be extensively reviewed and tested. The initial results are great. Dennis Labs have tested the efficacy of Norton 2011 , together with other leading security products and Norton 2011 came out at the top of the pile. Just this very morning CNET reviewed NIS 2011 and awarded it a 5 out of 5 rating.

If you are an existing NAV or NIS customer, with a valid subscription, you can upgrade yourself to the new 2011 products, via the Norton Update Center. Enjoy!

September 21, 2010 | Filed Under Announcements, Security | Leave a Comment 

A window into the true impact of Cybercrime: are you the two-out-of three or the one-out-of three?

Today we have released a report that shines a light onto the true impact and cost of cybercrime. It is staggering that, based on a worldwide survey, that we at Norton commissioned, two-thirds of people (65%) admitted that they had fallen victim to cybercrime. For the UK, the figure was, just slightly better, at 59%.

Not unsurprisingly, people are getting really annoyed (51% of respondents) and angry (58%) about the impact of cybercrime. However, they blame themselves for being attacked and only 3% of people do not think that it will happen to them.

Despite the emotional burden and the universal threat, and incidents of cybercrime, people are not changing their behaviours – with only 51% of adults saying they would change their behaviour if they became a victim. Fewer than half (44%) reported crime to the police. The point here is that if we as individuals and as a society keep this quiet then we help the criminals stay under the radar.

So what it the cost of cybercrime? Well, in the UK, the cost to resolve cybercrime comes to an average of £103 and about 25-days. This is the down-stream impact and as you can see it is not insubstantial.

The moral compass for some us is leading us into problems. Nearly half of respondents think it is legal to download a single music track, album or movie without paying. But we, in the security community know that downloading files, from sites of dubious authenticity, is a well worn and effective infection vector. The advice really needs to be, ‘there is no such thing as a free music track/album/video’!

Look, the best defence against cybercrime, and the best way to protect yourself, is to surf the internet with up-to-date, comprehensive security software.

You can access the full Norton Cybercrime Report: The Human Impact here.

September 8, 2010 | Filed Under Announcements, Security | Leave a Comment 

Google goes out and ‘kills’ some rogue apps

V3 are reporting that Google has remotely removed two suspect Android apps from user’s handsets. I think to my knowledge this is the first public sighting of the Google ‘kill switch’. This functionality allows them or a Network operator to either kill and remove applications that they do want running on a smartphone.

It appears from reports, that the apps in question were written by security researchers.  They were not intended to be used maliciously. However, Google viewed them as intentionally ‘misrepresenting themselves’ and stepped in. I talking with press and partners in recent weeks, on all things Android and security, I have made the point that the Android marketplace owes its current incarnation to the premise of implicit trust. This incident shows how trust can and is being broken. It will be reassuring to some to see Google step in here, being seen to remove the apps from the marketplace and also from the handsets themselves. However, it does show up a latent risk.

June 25, 2010 | Filed Under Announcements, Security | Leave a Comment 

No security software – no surfing!

The Government in Australia is in active discussions to make it mandatory that you have to have internet security software in place to use the internet. In addition, they are also looking at additional resources that would allow them to crack down on cyber-criminals.

Now, I am sure that it will come as no surprise that I actively endorse the ambition here. Many of you would expect nothing less of me – putting to one side the self-interest angle here for sales Norton software. One of the biggest issues and challenges that we face at Symantec, and the industry as a whole, is to keep consumers and users engaged in the issue of internet safety. For many of them, they simply cannot be bothered and hope for the best. For others, they seem overwhelmed by the never ending stream of new attacks and scams.  

The Australian debate strikes at the heart of this; ensuring that people take adequate precautions to try and protect themselves and the community at large. This is an interesting and very important point. If I take all the time and attention to keep myself safe online, whilst my virtual neighbours do not, then, to borrow a phrase, ‘it is a plague on both of our houses’. If we want to proactively take the fight to the bad guys, then everyone needs to step up. In security, you are only as strong as the weakest link in the chain. Having people use the internet who are not protected and not taking even basic precautions is worrisome and effects all of us.

There are many questions that I have as a result of the discussion in Australia.  I will be interested to see how they are addressed. What actually will constitute ‘internet security software’? What will the role and the responsibility of the ISP be ensuring that a user is using security software and what will enforcement of this look and feel like. I am sure it is going to be interesting.

June 25, 2010 | Filed Under Announcements, Security | Leave a Comment 

Norton Everywhere!

We have annouced ‘Norton Everywhere’. The reality today, is that a consumer, is no longer restricted to surfing the internet simply from a PC or Mac. There are a myriad of devices that now allow consumers to connect and surf the internet. Our job is to protect people, whenever, wherever, they are online; to give them the confidence to use and benefit from the internet. Norton Everywhere repositions the core mission of the Norton brand, to expand beyond our current roots in the PC and Mac; to embrace all of those consumer devices that connect to and use the internet. That is a big mission: so we are starting work right away. We have announced three separate, yet connected, strategies under the umbrella of ‘Norton Everywhere’.

Norton Mobile sees us deepen and broaden our security for smartphone devices. We have just put into Beta, Norton Smartphone Security for Android. It has a really cool SMS enabled remote lock and wipe function. This provides physical security for your Android smartphone. Should you lose, or, have your phone stolen, in a matter of seconds you can wipe all the sensitive and personal information from the smartphone. It has a lot of other neat security functions built into it. You can download it from the Android marketplace, or, from our new Norton mobile web site, www.m.norton.com. This web site is optimised to work with mobile browsers. It is an important initiative in its own right. Providing information and videos on how to protect yourself online from a mobile, offering Beta, free and trialware versions of all our mobile products. From the site you can also download Norton Connect. This is a mobile app for the iPhone, iPad and Android, that allows Norton 360 and NOBU customers to access their online backups. We have also placed Norton Connect into the Apple appstore and the Android marketplace.

So, the mobile strategy moves Norton beyond the traditional PC: but we are not stopping there. There are many devices that will allow you to surf the internet. A great example of this are games consoles, and what about the latest and coolest gadget in town, the iPad. These devices can and will benefit from having some basic element of security in place, when they are out there ‘surfing the ‘net’. We have figured out a way of doing that for them. It is called Norton DNS. We have established our own Domain Name Service (DNS). This is analogous to the ‘switchboard’ of the internet, interpreting and connecting the URLs we type, into numeric IP addresses that power the internet. The service is up and operational. If you surf to www.nortondns.com you can find out more about it and how to start to use it. We are in the process of creating software that you can install onto your PC or Android device, that will automatically configure Norton DNS for you.

Finally, there are many other devices that will be connected to the internet. You will not surf the ‘net from them, rather, they will use the it to provide that service or utility to you as a consumer e.g. smart electricity meter, smart fridge, digital ‘photo frame, internet enabled TV etc. All of these devices are valuable, as such, they could ultimately come under attack or exploitation. That is where Norton Embedded Devices steps in. There are technologies, approaches and capabilities, that we have built to secure, support, update and backup PCs. We believe that these can and should be used by consumer manufacturers building and implementing the new generation of ‘smart’ internet enabled devices. We have partnered and invested in a company called Mocana. They are experts in building and deploying security solutions for embedded devices. We believe, that the combination of Symantec and Mocana, will provide the basis to, truly, allow us to enable ‘Norton Everywhere’.

Expect great things from ‘Norton Everywhere’.

June 10, 2010 | Filed Under Announcements, Security | Leave a Comment 

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