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Firetrust announces the launch of SiteHound to effectively combat spyware, fraud, scams, malware and other Internet borne threats at the browser level.
CHRISTCHURCH – NEW ZEALAND, October 6, 2005 – Firetrust Limited, provider of award-winning anti-spam and email security solutions, today announced the launch of SiteHound, a uniquely designed browser protection tool that provides protection for businesses and home users from Internet-based threats. SiteHound offers users protection by warning them when a website they are about to enter is a known scam, potentially downloads viruses or spyware on to their computer, has questionable content or anything a user would not consider reasonable.
SiteHound appears as a small tool bar within the users Internet Explorer window. It provides protection by displaying a warning only when a user is about to enter a site posing a likely threat. SiteHound never blocks a user from entering a website, it provides a warning and information about the threat so the user can make an informed decision about whether to enter the site. Similarly if a user thinks a website provides a potential threat they can report it which notifies the SiteHound community at large. SiteHound Administrators check all websites reported, so as to guarantee that only valid sites are blocked. This solution enables security conscious web users to work together to effectively combat spyware, fraud, scams and other Internet threats before they enter a user’s computer.
Recent statistics released indicate that Internet fraud has been steadily increasing and growing proportionally reflecting the rise of business done on the Internet. Despite the common use of antispam tools, personal firewalls, and antivirus software, Internet threats continue to invade and harm users around the globe These tools often only work after a PC or network has been infected and once the damage is done. Many thousands of people around the world fall victim to online scams and fraud daily with the consequences of Internet fraud ranging from annoyances, such as slowing bandwidth to debilitating causing loss of personal savings or identity theft.
Firetrust SiteHound provides an innovative way to protect users by identify the true details of the website they are dealing with. SiteHound’s features include:
Alerts - indicate whether the site contains any of the following – Fraudulent claims or scams; Offensive material; Security vulnerabilities; Spyware of Adware; Spam related material; Content deemed to be unsafe.
Specifically, SiteHound blocks these categories: Adult, Spyware, Spam Advertising, Phishing, Possible scam or fraud, Misleading or false advertising, Pharming, Rogue or suspect product, Adware, Malware or virus.
Site Information Button – shows the user on a world map where the website is located and who owns it.
Site Information Window – shows the user the site they are really visiting, which may not always be obvious with fraudulent sites.
Options Button – gives users the option to password protect access to sites, update the SiteHound database.
Report Button – allows users the ability to report suspicious or know malicious websites to the SiteHound team and therefore warn others as part of a global crime fighting community.
“Online fraud continues to be a growing problem as people are tricked into providing personal information including passwords, credit card and bank account details, ATM PINs and social security numbers,â€