New product offers secure and easy access for multiple passwords
Kaspersky Lab, a leading developer of Internet threat management solutions that protect against all forms of malicious software including viruses, spyware, hackers and spam, announces the release of Kaspersky Password Manager - a robust password storage solution that boosts the security level of all Kaspersky Anti-Virus/ Kaspersky Internet Security 2010 users.
Each day Internet users will encounter a large number of online services and programs that require authorisation. In order to access email, instant messaging services, online banking and shopping accounts or social networking sites, users are required to enter their credentials. A security-conscious user will create several usernames and passwords and attempt to recall the answers to a variety of secret questions that will help them recover login details if they lose or forget them. Many programs that can store your credentials, including web browsers, typically keep them in a non-protected format, exposing the data to malicious attacks.
Kaspersky Password Manager has been designed to specifically address this problem together with a number of related issues by ensuring the security of passwords used to access websites and Windows applications. Kaspersky Password Manager stores passwords, usernames and other confidential data in a dedicated database that is accessed via a master password. It can automatically recognise and fill in text fields in lengthy online forms and authorisation dialog windows in password-protected websites and programs. The product helps the user identify themselves to a website or a program with just one mouse click. All these functions and capabilities make the new product from Kaspersky Lab an important addition to the protection provided by Kaspersky Anti-Virus/Kaspersky Internet Security 2010.
“In light of the ever increasing risk of identity theft, we want to provide our users with an increased level of security for their logins and passwords,” says Simon Geach, Consumer Sales Director at Kaspersky Lab UK. “We are well aware that most users tend to only have a couple of passwords for a large number of resources, which is a particularly unsafe practice. To help improve this situation, we are giving them a powerful, user-friendly tool that reliably protects their digital ID.”
The standard authentication method in Kaspersky Password Manager requires the user to enter a master password to gain access to the protected database. This ensures that the user does not have to remember or keep notes of passwords to all the programs and online services they use, including those that are rarely used. All they have to remember is their master password and a secret key is generated based on the master password. The database and the master password are encrypted using strong algorithms contained in the encryption providers built into Windows operating systems. The only way to access the password database is by entering the master password.
An indicator in Kaspersky Password Manager clearly shows how strong the chosen password is. The user can use this to select a suitably strong database password. To safeguard against keyloggers, the user can use a virtual keyboard to enter the master password.
Other authentication methods include using a Bluetooth or USB device, such as a regular mobile phone, as a unique key to verify the user’s identity. This provides reliable protection, so user is spared the process of manually entering the master password.
Kaspersky Password Manager seamlessly integrates with other applications making it easy for the user to access the program. The product can either be accessed through the Taskbar or by pressing a button in Windows. Passwords stored in unprotected format in web browsers can be automatically imported to the solution’s protected storage area.
Kaspersky Password Manager is capable of generating strong passwords up to 99 characters long. This feature helps the user create long, complex and unique passwords and can be run from removable USB media on any PC without prior installation. The product also provides protection from phishing attacks, warning the user that it may not be safe to fill in online forms on suspicious websites.
As a further incentive, first-time buyers of the company’s products qualify for a generous discount: if they buy Kaspersky Password Manager at the same time as Kaspersky Internet Security 2010, they will receive a discount of almost 40%.
Kaspersky Password Manager can be downloaded from Kaspersky Lab’s website at http://www.kaspersky.com/downloads.
To find out more about computer threats visit: http://www.kaspersky.co.uk/threats
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