America Online Inc. is packaging new features to combat viruses, spam and spyware in response to growing online security threats.
Subscribers will be able to get the free tools through a software download, known as AOL 9.0 Security Edition and available beginning Thursday.
“More often than not when a member faces a performance issue with the computer, they think they just have a performance problem, but what they really have is a virus or spyware,” said Danny Krifcher, executive vice president for the AOL service.
The new package includes:
* Anti-virus software from McAfee Inc. with free, automated updates. Such protection through AOL previously cost $2.95 a month.
* Spyware protection. Before, AOL’s spyware scanner ran once a week. A new SpyZapper checks the computer’s memory every time you sign on to catch rogue programs.
* Junk mail controls. To control how much legitimate mail gets mistakenly trashed, the spam filter now offers high, medium and low settings. It also blocks unwanted instant messages.
* Pop-up blocker. It now blocks rich media ads that float across the Web page.
* Parental controls. Beginning in two weeks, parents will be able to limit with whom their kids can exchange instant messages.
To combat identity theft, AOL also partnered with the credit agency Experian to create a service in which subscribers are notified when their credit cards exceed a preset spending limit.
Cellphone can use Wi-Fi: Japan’s top mobile carrier has begun marketing a cellphone that can make Internet calls over Wi-Fi wireless networks in addition to regular ones.
The dual-network N900iL phone from NTT DoCoMo can switch back and forth as needed.
It uses third-generation, or 3G, technology, which relays data at faster speeds than most cell phones in use today. When users are inside their office building and within reach of a corporate Wi-Fi system, the phone also runs Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP.
Such combined-network phones are still rare. Nokia Corp., the world’s largest mobile phone maker, has said it is introducing such a handset next year.
Ebay alters policy in racist words: Ebay Inc. will allow listings that include racist words only if they are part of a book, movie or other product title.
Before, some sellers have used such words in describing other kinds of collectibles, such as old advertisements and ceramics, listed at eBay’s Black Americana categories.
Users who attempt to use the offending terms will see a pop-up notice informing them of the new policy. The changes came as part of an agreement with the National League of Cities, which last year adopted a resolution calling on eBay to eliminate racially derogatory terms from its listings.
EBay notes that racially derogatory terms are in the names of some books and CDs by black authors and artists, and the new policy preserves members’ ability “to trade in important historical and cultural items,” eBay spokesman Henry Gomez said.
From Herald news services
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