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Web and mobile security specialist AVG Technologies launched SMB BootCamp, a free, online mix of video clips and Web content divided into eight weekly themed installments, each with a short, multiple-choice questionnaire that must be completed correctly in order to qualify for the next stage. The eight themes are: analyze your business, understand the threat landscape, the threat withinemployees, hardware, cloud, mobile, social media and create your own security policy.
The successful completion of the final weeks questionnaire entitles small to midsize businesses (SMBs) to download the companys SMB BootCamp badge for use on their Websites and as part of their marketing campaigns, to demonstrate they have participated in the program. To take the free course, participants can register via a link on AVGs Website. After registering, candidates are sent an email link to begin the course when the first stage starts. Subsequent installments are issued to candidates on a weekly basis via email.
“The truth is, the vast majority of SMBs only truly understand the total devastation of IT a security breach can cause after theyve had one,” said Laurie McCabe, partner at market research firm SMB Group. “Even though they hear about the massive losses that other companies sufferin time, money, customers and brandtoo often they dont put IT security measures in place until theyve been hit themselves because they think they will be too expensive or complicated. Solutions such as AVGs SMB Bootcamp give small-business owners a simple and cost-effective way to proactively tackle and control security challenges.
Chris McManus, AVGs vice president of sales, said if as business owners, users take care to ensure their company follows AVG’s recommended security procedures at all times, they would want their customers to know how hard they are working to protect them. We think SMB BootCamp will appeal to small and medium businesses who want to show their customers that they take security seriously, he said. Because it is delivered in digestible, nontechnical bite-sized chunks, its a program that even the busiest people can complete without disrupting their day-to-day operations.
The company also launched its active Do Not Track feature to the mainstream Internet security marketplace. The application informs and offers consumers the choice to block tracking directly or turn it on and off as desired. New customers who purchase AVG’s 2012 product and current customers who update AVGs free and paid 2012 consumer security products with the new Service Pack will be automatically protected from sites and networks that invade their online privacy. At the same time, users can modify this default setting from within the user interface.
Another new Service Pack feature is WiFi Guard, which offers protection from unknown WiFi access points. For example, cyber-criminals can set up rogue WiFi access points using the name of a popular coffee shop chain, hotel or public WiFi provider, and then eavesdrop and breach consumer security. After installing AVGs 2012 Service Pack, a pop-up window automatically warns users if their device attempts to connect to a never-before-used public WiFi access point.
This new feature is all about putting control of online privacy in the consumers hands. At AVG, we help provide Internet users with peace of mind, and today, making users aware of issues with online privacy is a logical extension of our community-centric platform, said JR Smith, CEO of AVG. We believe all Internet users are entitled to know how their online data is collected and used, and they should have possible solutions available.