SafeOnline is meant to complement consumer security systems like antivirus software, Prevx said. It guards against phishing scams by preventing consumers from entering sensitive information to any but a set of approved websites. It also combats the hijacking of online banking sessions by preventing users from being redirected to pages not explicitly authorized by a website's owner.
"We feel we have a duty to ensure people know how to stay safe when servicing their credit card and savings accounts online," Stuart McKeggie, Sainsbury's Finance's head of credit cards, said in a press release Wednesday. "Maintaining the trust and confidence of our customers is critical, so providing the best possible security we can, at no extra charge, is very important to us."
Sainsbury's Finance is a joint venture of the supermarket chain J. Sainsbury PLC and Lloyds Banking Group.
Mel Morris, Prevx's chief executive, said that banks can expand security efforts beyond their own websites. "To truly combat online fraud, PCs must be protected on all websites at all times," he said.
