Authentium, the leading developer of system-level security toolkits and security software-as-as-service platforms, announced today the release of the Authentium VERO Secure Online Banking Solution software development kit.
The VERO toolkit enables financial service providers to choose from a range of security approaches, including session virtualization, secure browsing, secure messaging to the desktop, and in-line anti-malware scanning. The toolkit further automates the process of branding and distributing the VERO secure transaction and communication solution to customers, via both online and offline distribution channels.
"Financial institutions are the primary focus of hackers today," says John Sharp, CEO of Authentium. "Every transaction - from filling out an account application form to transferring funds between banks - is currently vulnerable to key-logging attacks or screen-capture. Phishing, pharming and VoIP caller ID spoofing attacks have disrupted communications between financial institutions and their customers almost beyond repair, and severely damaged the institutions' brands. We created VERO so banks could come to one place and solve all of these issues with a single, instantly-deployable, end-to-end solution."
Authentium VERO (Virtual Environment, Restricted Operations) has been in beta release for the past year. The general release of the VERO toolkit updates the secure VERO client solution, productized as VirtualATM, to include client-side virtualization, a virtual web browser, a secure communications module, secure network components, and support for VPN implementations.
Authentium recently tested the top 20 transaction-based web sites, using commercially-available keylogger and screen-capture applications configured to mimic the increasingly-sophisticated technologies developed and used by online criminals. The results showed that 100 percent of account information requested by banks as part of the account application process, including sensitive information such as social security numbers and date of birth, could be intercepted, either as text or screen shots. The same tests, with VERO invoked, proved to be 100 percent effective in blocking these attacks and securing user data.
"Tens of millions of consumers use the Internet every day to bank, manage finances, pay taxes, access credit records, and transact," said Corey O'Donnell, Authentium's Vice President of Marketing. "Our tests show that these activities put consumers at risk by exposing their personal data to criminals. We believe that VERO enables a new era of transaction and communication security. This is the easy-to-use, highly-effective solution that consumers have been waiting for."
Along with the release of its VERO transaction and communication security solution, Authentium offers financial service companies and their customers tips for avoiding identity and data theft online. Authentium recommends:
- Block or filter email from people you don't know.
- If an emailed offer sounds too good to be true, delete it.
- Don't open email attachments from people you don't know.
- Don't download video, audio, or other file types from people you don't know.
- Don't click on web site banners, pop-ups, or advertisements - ever.
- Keep your antivirus, antispyware and antiphishing software up to date.
- Run free virus and spyware scans from different vendors on your PC periodically.
- Never use an online form to report ID theft -especially if you suspect the attack may have been perpetrated as a result of spyware on your machine.
- Report the crime using a less-distributable method, such as a fax - then shred the document or store it in a locked, secure place after it has been submitted.
- Use personal information protection software, such as Authentium VERO.