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Parental Control, Anti-Phishing Technology and More Ensures Users of All Ages are Protected while Online

Woburn, MA – July 23, 2012 –Kaspersky Lab, a leading developer of secure content and threat management solutions, has today announced Kaspersky Security for Mac, the Company’s new security suite that protects the Mac OS X environment. By using a combination real-time scanning, proactive detection and cloud-based global threat intelligence, Mac owners can remain confident that their children and person data are protected. Some key additions include Anti-Phishing Technology to guard against imposter websites, a Virtual Keyboard to defeat keyloggers and screen-capture malware, and advanced Parental Controls that ensure all computer users in the household are protected against cyber-traps and objectionable content.

“But Macs don’t need security software…”
The belief that OS X users are invulnerable to cybercrime has never been true, and the evidence continues to pile-up. As recently as March 2012, the Flashfake Trojan turned at least 700,000 Mac computers into zombie machines. The users hadn’t circumvented Apple’s security policies; commonly known as “jail-breaking” their machines…they were infected just by visiting a seemingly-harmless website serving up malicious software, or installing a software update that appeared to be legitimate. As Mac computers become more popular, they become a bigger target for cybercriminals trying to steal as much money as they can for the smallest amount of effort. Even if you’re not concerned about the threat to your own Mac computer, your unprotected machine can even be used to store and distribute Windows-based malware to your PC-using friends and colleagues.

Another misconception amongst some Mac users is non-Apple security software would slow down or otherwise harm the “experience” of owning a Mac. Kaspersky Security for Mac lets users enjoy the easy and sleek interface they’ve come to expect from their Macs, and provides the security industry’s best protection from all forms of cyber-threats. Kaspersky Security for Mac looks and behaves like a typical Mac OS application, follows the same installation process as any other OS X application, and is fully compatible with the latest operating system – Mountain Lion 10.8.

More Than Blocking Malware
It’s true that there are fewer malicious programs written for the Mac platform compared to the Windows platform. But that doesn’t mean OS X machines are built to be inherently more secure against malware, it means cybercriminals have been focused on attacking the platform with the most potential victims. As more people use Macs, the OS X market becomes a more lucrative target.

Some cybercriminals don’t even need to infect your computer in order to empty your wallet. Phishing attacks, for example, don’t extract your banking account passwords from your computer…they rely on cleverly forged websites that trick you into giving your own information away. When visiting unknown websites, Kaspersky Security for Mac will check it against our database of dangerous URLs, and scan the sight for any malicious behavior. If anything raises an alarm, users will be warned and steered-clear.

Kaspersky Security for Mac also includes a URL Advisor for safe web browsing. This tool alerts users to suspicious links or potentially dangerous websites using distinctive red and yellow markers next to suspicious links. For example, when scrolling through pages of search results, trusted websites will be marked with a green indictor onscreen, while suspicious or known-malicious links will be marked with yellow and red indicators accordingly. By clicking on these indicators, a user can examine the reputation of that website – based on the experiences of millions of Kaspersky Lab customers around the globe – and decide whether or not to open the link.

There are times – such as when logging into your bank, or providing your social security number to pay your taxes – when you want to be extra-careful with your private information. For moments like those, Kaspersky Security for Mac includes a Virtual Keyboard, an on-screen keyboard that uses mouse clicks to enter data instead of a physical keyboard. The Virtual Keyboard defeats malicious software that tracks everything you type, known as keyloggers, and also automatically disables any programs that would try to take a picture of the sensitive information on your screen.

Protection for the Whole Family
Preventing your children from accessing unsuitable content is an obvious function of any parental control or web-filtering program. But effective parental controls play a major part in online security as well. For example, children can inadvertently share information (home address, phone numbers, credit cards, etc.), or fall victim to scams that more sophisticated users would spot. Using Kaspersky Security for Mac, parents can deem certain information as “private,” and Kaspersky Lab’s Parental Control will automatically block this information from being shared on a website. Parents can also monitor and restrict communications on social networks, including Facebook and Twitter, to monitor for inappropriate connections or bullying.

To filter inappropriate content and encourage responsible computer habits, Kaspersky Lab’s Parental Control allows parents to block entire categories of websites, meaning any website known to be associated with “gambling,” “pornography,” “weapons,” and more, can be blocked with a single click, along with individual websites that parents specify. Kaspersky Security for Mac also allows parents to set time restrictions on computer usage, to ensure the computer is only used when they are around to supervise, or to prevent all-night gaming.

Pricing and availability:
Kaspersky Security for Mac
is available for purchase online and at retail outlets in the United States and Canada. A standard subscription to Kaspersky Security for Mac – 3-user licenses for a 1-year period – is $59.95. Kaspersky Security for Mac is also available through Kaspersky ONE Universal Security, which protects multiple consumer devices.

About Kaspersky Lab
Kaspersky Lab is the world’s largest privately held vendor of endpoint protection solutions. The company is ranked among the world’s top four vendors of security solutions for endpoint users*. Throughout its 15-year history Kaspersky Lab has remained an innovator in IT security and provides effective digital security solutions for consumers, SMBs and Enterprises. The company currently operates in almost 200 countries and territories across the globe, providing protection for over 300 million users worldwide. Learn more at www.kaspersky.com.

*The company was rated fourth in the IDC rating Worldwide Endpoint Security Revenue by Vendor, 2010. The rating was published in the IDC report Worldwide IT Security Products 2011-2015 Forecast and 2010 Vendor Shares – December 2011. The report ranked software vendors according to earnings from sales of endpoint security solutions in 2010.

For the latest in-depth information on security threat issues and trends, please visit http://www.securelist.com/. Follow @Securelist on Twitter. For the most up-to-date world security news, visit http://www.threatpost.com/.

New Kaspersky Security for Mac Defends OS X from Emerging Threats

New Kaspersky Security for Mac Defends OS X from Emerging Threats
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