Westpac online customers get free security software

The new deal covers what is claimed to be an ‘all-in-one security suite featuring anti-spyware, anti-virus, firewall and spam protection’ as well as customer support.

It is now available to Westpac customers that register online .

It extends a previous agreement where PC Tools’ software was offered to customers in its bespoke pieces rather than as a complete security suite, according Rafal Potega, VP of Asia Pacific sales in the business unit at PC Tools.

Potega refused to be drawn on how many of Westpac’s customers had taken up the offer in the first year or how the licenses were being financed.

“It’s under NDA – I can’t disclose or comment on that,” said Potega.

“We were very happy with the uptake last year. It was very much within our expectations.”

Potega said that pursuing banking and finance sector customers was part of PC Tools’ business strategy in the Asia Pacific region.

It has already led to similar deals with NAB’s consumer and SME divisions ; however these offers are for discounted – rather than free – software, and are non-exclusive.

The bank provides similar discounts on ZoneAlarm security software.

NAB’s offer comes with a number of attached legal conditions, including that it ‘does not specifically recommend [PC Tools] over others in the marketplace’ and that ‘no security product is able to protect against all security threats and frauds’.

Westpac has been contacted by iTnews for comment on the extent to which it views the PC Tools suite as a security guarantee for its customers – particularly as the vendor is openly encouraging customers to switch over to their software.

“We encourage customers to uninstall any previous AV software [they have] as the PC Tools package incorporates an AV scanner in conjunction with anti-spam and a firewall,” a PC Tools spokesperson said in a separate statement.

According to a recent F-Secure report, NAB is the third most targeted Australian bank by trojans, while Westpac is ranked sixth.