London, 15th June 2011 - Co-operative Financial Services (CFS) has launched a new free service that protects its customers against the threat of online attacks from fraudsters and cyber criminals. 

 The service called ‘Trusteer Rapport’ provides customers with additional protection for their personal information when they use their computer to access their bank account online.

 

Rapport will also warn customers of further risks such as phishing attacks; prevent Trojans from capturing their details and inhibit any interference with online communications.

 

 Whilst many people protect their PCs using Firewalls and Anti-Virus software, these solutions alone are often not enough. The sophistication of financial malware, such as Zeus and SpyEye, means individuals can often be unaware that their PC is infected and that confidential information, such as passwords and personal details, are at risk.

 

Tony Sellers, Financial Crime Management Business Leader at Co-operative Financial Services, said: “We continually review security to ensure our customers have the highest levels of protection against fraud and can safely conduct their banking online.

 

“The link up with Trusteer will help make internet banking even more secure and provide our customers additional peace of mind when banking online.”

 

Mickey Boodaei CEO of Trusteer added, “The Co-operative Bank (including smile) is a highly trusted financial institution, and providing the additional security to their customers which is simple to use but highly sophisticated, keeps them ahead of the cyber criminals.

 

“Rather than complicating the online banking process, we’ve designed Trusteer Rapport to work transparently so that customers won’t even realise they are blocking fraudsters out of their online sessions.

 

“Working together as a team - financial institutions, the general public and security professionals alike, we can help prevent criminals stealing money and credentials and effectively cut off the supply chain. That has to be applauded.”

 

Trusteer Rapport locks down the browser and creates a safe tunnel for communication between the customer and their financial institution, helping to prevent fraud.  

 

A light-weight security software that downloads onto the customer’s computer in minutes, Trusteer Rapport works in the background and does not require a change in user behaviour. The solution comes with a rich management application that enables financial institutions to effectively trigger alerts, view and analyse data as well as manage security. Rapport is used by more than 70 financial institutions and over 22 million customers.

 

It is available to download from www.co-operativebank.co.uk and www.smile.co.uk

 

ENDS

About The Co-operative Financial Services

The Co-operative Financial Services (CFS) is part of The Co-operative Group, which is the world’s largest consumer co-operative with around five million members, over £14 billion turnover, and core business interests in financial services, food, travel, pharmacy and funeral care.  The Co-operative Group has over 5,000 retail trading outlets.

 

Following the merger with Britannia Building Society on 1 August 2009 CFS is one of the largest and well diversified mutual businesses operating in both retail and corporate markets.

 

As part of The Co-operative Group, the new business is characterised by its unique ethical and member reward policies and very high levels of customer advocacy.

 

The combined CFS business has £70 billion in assets, 12,000 staff and eight million customers.  It has over 300 high street branches, 20 corporate banking centres and a major presence in Manchester, London, Leek, Bristol, Plymouth, Skelmersdale and Stockport. 

 

It is the only mutual organisation that enables its members to earn financial rewards for the products they hold, as well as giving them the opportunity to have a say in how the business is run.

 

 

About Trusteer

 

Trusteer is the world’s leading provider of Secure Web Access services. The company offers a range of services that detect, block and remove attacks launched directly against endpoints such as Man in the Browser, Man in the Middle and Phishing. Trusteer services are being used by leading financial organizations and enterprises in North America and Europe, and by tens of millions of their employees and customers to secure web access from mobile devices, tablets and computers to sensitive applications such as webmail, online payment, and online banking. HSBC, Santander, The Royal Bank of Scotland, SunTrust, Fifth Third, ING DIRECT, and BMO Financial Group are just a few of the companies using Trusteer’s technology. Trusteer is a privately held corporation led by former executives from RSA Security, Imperva, and Juniper. Follow us on www.Twitter.com/Trusteer. For more information about our services, please visit www.trusteer.com.