Blue Coat introduces free app to protect children and families on Android mobile devices

Blue Coat Systems, Inc., the technology leader in Web security and WAN optimization solutions, today announced the availability of K9™ Web Protection Browser for Android, extending Blue Coat’s initiative to provide safe Internet access on mobile devices. The new app protects individuals and families from malicious threats – including phishing and malware – from cyber criminals who are increasingly targeting mobile devices.

Available free of charge from the Google Play market, the app also provides real-time filtering of content that is not appropriate for young children, including pornography, hate/violence, illegal drugs and gambling. With this app and the previously released K9 Web Protection Browser for Apple iOS, Blue Coat is extending the same enterprise-class Web security that protects 85 percent of the FORTUNE Global 500 to mobile devices that comprise 67 percent of the smartphone market.

The adoption of mobile devices has skyrocketed over the last two years, giving users the ability to access the Internet anytime, anywhere. Unlike home computers, which generally have a variety of security protections in place, mobile devices typically lack even basic protections against Web-based threats or inappropriate content, putting children in particular at risk of exposure to malicious material.

“Mobile devices are quickly becoming a primary platform for Web access by nearly all age groups. The adoption of these mobile devices has moved faster than the security required to protect the users of those devices, creating a considerable challenge for parents who want to provide a consistently safe Web experience for their children,” said Jonathan Andresen, Director of Product Marketing, Blue Coat Systems Asia Pacific. “K9 Web Protection Browser for Android is the first solution to provide parents and individuals with protection they can rely on and also represents a significant step in our strategy to secure and manage Web access for any user in any location on any device.”

This lack of protection is particularly concerning given the risky behavior in which mobile users engage and quickly growing use of mobile Internet devices by young children. According to the Blue Coat 2012 Web Security Report, social networking is the second most popular activity on mobile devices and the fourth most popular entry point into malnets (malware networks), infrastructures embedded in the Internet that cybercriminals use to drive unsuspecting users to malware. Without the protection of a Web security solution, mobile users face greater exposure to malware that could steal personal information or co-opt their phone into a botnet.

As with Blue Coat’s K9 Web Protection software for PC and Mac computers and the K9 Web Protection Browser for iOS, the K9 Web Protection Browser for Android is backed by the company’s WebPulse™ collaborative defense, which provides users with proactive, “negative day” protection that blocks malware attacks before they launch. On a typical day, WebPulse blocks 3.3 million Web-based threats. Driven by Web requests from 75 million users worldwide, the WebPulse collaborative defense analyses and categorises new and evolving Web content in real time, giving parents the ability to immediately block new or previously undiscovered objectionable material. For example, on an average day, WebPulse identifies over 110,000 pages of new or previously uncategorised pornography and adult content.

With this app, the K9 Web Protection Browser becomes the default browser, replacing other browsers that lack the content controls and Web security required to keep children and families safe online. The app is also fully integrated with K9 SafeSearch to remove all malicious or inappropriate links in search engine results, phony advertising or social networking, and prevents navigation to sites known to be used for phishing or to download malicious software. K9 is provided at no cost to families and individuals as a community service.

The K9 Web Protection Browser for Android is available as a free download from Google Play, the online application marketplace: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bluecoat.k9.android.

For more information, or for the PC or Mac versions of K9 Web Protection, please go to: http://www.k9webprotection.com/ . The K9 Web Protection Browser for iOS is available for free from the Apple App Store.

About Blue Coat Systems

Blue Coat Systems is a leading provider of Web security and WAN optimization solutions. Blue Coat offers solutions that provide the visibility, acceleration and security required to optimize and secure the flow of information to any user, on any network, anywhere. This application intelligence enables enterprises to tightly align network investments with business requirements, speed decision making and secure business applications for long-term competitive advantage. Blue Coat also offers service provider solutions for managed security and WAN optimization, as well as carrier-grade caching solutions to save on bandwidth and enhancethe end-user Web experience. Blue Coat is a Thoma Bravo company. For additional information, please visit www.bluecoat.com.

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Blue Coat, WebPulse, K9 Web Protection and the Blue Coat logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Blue Coat Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.