Symantec warns of risks in preparing end of financial year statements on
unsecured PCs
Symantec encourages online security with end of financial year promotion
SYDNEY --NSW - 11 June, 2003 -- Symantec, the world leader in Internet
security, is urging consumers and businesses to protect their financial data
against malicious Internet activity, as they prepare statements and tax
returns for the financial year.
With the Australian Tax Office (ATO) claiming a 100 per cent rise in the use
of its free electronic TaxPack in the last financial year1, the trend is
continuing for many consumers and businesses to prepare and submit their tax
details and records from the home or office PC. Even when lodging a tax
return over a secure connection, financial and personal information that
remains on a hard drive can be vulnerable to hackers unless a firewall is
installed.
One of the most dangerous aspects of filing taxes online is that users may
be preparing their financial statements on unsecured systems, virtually
giving hackers the ability to steal a person's identity and wreak havoc with
their credit record. Other risks to financial information stored on the PC
include key stroke logger programs which enable hackers to identify username
and password entries and thereby access a user's details.
"Consumers and businesses must be vigilant this financial year by
implementing Internet protection that guards their personal and financial
data against viruses and hackers," said Carolyn Hay, Symantec's Consumer
Sales and Marketing Manager for Australia and New Zealand. "Users should
protect their financial data by having comprehensive Internet security
products installed on their computer."
To encourage responsible protection from cyber threats this financial year,
Symantec has provided a list of top tips for lodging tax returns safely
online, and is offering a bonus six-month magazine subscription to customers
purchasing Norton SystemWorks 2003, Norton Internet Security 2003 or
Symantec pcAnywhere 2003 from their preferred software retailer until June
30, 2003. Customers can choose a subscription from one of the following
popular magazine titles: Money Magazine, Australian Women's Weekly,
Australian House and Garden and Australian PC User.
Symantec's Norton Internet Security 2003 combines antivirus, a firewall and
other tools to provide comprehensive protection against hackers, viruses and
privacy threats. Another key feature is Norton Privacy Control, which
prevents confidential information such as a user's bank details, credit card
or tax file numbers being sent accidentally over the web.
"Symantec encourages users to get the most out of the Internet to quickly
and efficiently submit their tax statements, but, like any transaction
conducted over the Internet, users must ensure they are safe before they
take advantage of the enormous convenience the Internet has to offer," said
Ms Hay.
Top Tips for Lodging Taxes Safely Online
Check the identity of who you are dealing with online
If you are thinking of filing your taxes over the Internet, make sure you
know the full identity of the company you are dealing with. In some
instances, companies may appear affiliated with authorities or registered
agents by using links, similar urls or keywords. This can lead to confusion
for the consumer.
Conduct business only with companies that promise secure servers
Make sure your tax preparation service keeps your information secure and
private. You want a company that promises a secure server with SSL
encryption technology to protect your personal information. SSL means
"Secure Sockets Layer" - and many browsers use this technology to encrypt
information during transmission of data.
Review their privacy statements
To be sure your online filing company will use your information only to file
your return, review their privacy policy. The privacy statement will give
you more information on ways the company promises to keep your data secure,
and/or it may ask you whether you want to receive marketing offers from
other branches of the company or their marketing partners.
Protect personal and financial information stored on your home computer
If you're working on your taxes at home, chances are you also have personal
and confidential records stored on your computer. This information may be
vulnerable to hackers or to viruses that make it easier for hackers to find
you.
Any computer that's connected to the Internet via dial-up or broadband is
susceptible to hacker attacks. Once your machine is penetrated, a hacker can
steal your private data, such as your financial records. Some viruses allow
your information to be transmitted without your permission. Others, such as
Trojan Horses, send out signals to hackers that your computer is open.
1 Australian Tax Office: October 2002
About Symantec
Symantec Corp. (NASDAQ: SYMC), the world leader in Internet security
technology, provides a broad range of content and network security software
and appliance solutions to individuals, enterprises and service providers.
The company is a leading provider of client, gateway and server security
solutions for virus protection, firewall and virtual private network,
vulnerability management, intrusion detection, Internet content and e-mail
filtering, remote management technologies and security services to
enterprises and service providers around the world. Symantec's Norton brand
of consumer security products is a leader in worldwide retail sales and
industry awards. Headquartered in Cupertino, Calif., Symantec has worldwide
operations in 36 countries. For more information, please visit
www.symantec.com.au
NOTE TO EDITORS: If you would like additional information on Symantec
Corporation and its products, please view the Symantec Press Centre at
http://www.symantec.com.au/region/au_nz/PressCenter/ on Symantec's Web site.
Symantec and the Symantec logo are trademarks or registered trademarks, in
the United States and certain other countries, of Symantec Corporation.
Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered
trademarks of the individual companies and are respectfully acknowledged.
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