Talktalk launches free Homesafe security tool for customers

Talktalk has launched a network-level broadband security service for its customers.

The internet service provider (ISP) said its Homesafe system, which is free to its customers, provides security through its servers rather than on an individual computer. The company said this means it will also protect all devices connected to a home broadband connection; including smartphones and games consoles.

The security system scans web pages for malicious software and provides parental controls options.

Tristia Clarke, Talktalk's commercial director, said: "Our customers tell us that they couldn't imagine living without the internet now, especially given how much their children rely on it for school work and social reasons, but they still worry about the innate risks the internet brings with it. In particular they're concerned about what sort of things their children could stumble across when they're surfing online.

"This is especially important now that children are regularly using devices such as phones, and not just the main family PC, to access the internet. Our research found that 33 per cent of children aged 12-17 years old use their mobile phones to surf social-networking sites and 29 per cent use it to instant message when at home."

Homesafe is unusual for consumer online protection because it is run on Talktalk's central servers; sitting between the web and individual home connections rather than on a home PC.

The software scans every site the user visits and blocks any where it finds malicious software; including individual ads on a site that may be infected.

However, the company said there is no privacy risk to users as any details that could identify the account holder are not recorded; and it has provided the Information Commissioner's Office with proof that the technology doesn't breach privacy laws.

The Kidsafe and Homework Time parental controls can be set to block sites that parents don't want their children to visit or ‘ban' them for a specific time period. Talktalk said the controls are flexible and allow parents to set various levels of protection.

Whether the system will be robust and flexible enough to cope with zero-day threats has to be seen, but the company said people can still run PC-based security software alongside Homesafe.

"When it comes to keeping PC security software, Homesafe is designed to do everything required to keep our customers free from viruses and other malware and, because it's network-based, won't slow down your machine like PC-based software will, but we realise some customers may still want extra protection." said the ISP.