As the UK's first bank to provide its Internet customers with free anti-virus software, the Halifax is now supporting a new police initiative to provide the public with a survival guide to online financial transactions.
The guide, which will be available from January, is believed to be the first of its kind issued by any police force in the country and is being produced in conjunction with West Yorkshire Police. Around 150,000 copies are to be distributed free across Yorkshire, Humberside and North Lincolnshire.
Included in the new booklet is information on how customers can protect themselves from fraud, hints and tips on what to look for before doing a transaction on the Internet, as well as a glossary of commonly used Web terms.
Since the Halifax started offering its online customers free anti-virus software for their home PC, almost 20,000 customers have requested a copy of the CD Rom or have downloaded the software from the Halifax Online Web site states the bank.
David Walkden, general manager Halifax Online, comments: "Many people will be getting PCs for Christmas and this booklet will provide them with helpful security advice, before they go online."