Updated AOL focuses on security

America Online on Thursday launched an updated version of its proprietary online service that includes more security features.

The AOL 9.0 Security Edition software includes McAfee VirusScan Online, AOL Spyware Protection, antispam control and a system to thwart instant-messaging spam (or "spim"), the company said. Additionally, the new software offers features that earlier versions did, including McAfee firewall protection, pop-up controls, parental controls and alerts for unauthorized bank and credit card activity.

AOL previously charged $2.95 a month for McAfee VirusScan, but decided to bundle it for free to attract customers looking for additional security. The new software can be downloaded from AOL's Web site.

Security Edition is free to subscribers of AOL's $23.90 dial-up access service and to its $14.95 "bring your own access" ("BYOA") version.

AOL has been making ongoing updates to its service in hopes of retaining existing members and attracting new ones. During the past two years, millions of AOL's dial-up subscribers have fled the service, defecting largely to phone and cable companies that provide faster broadband access.

AOL is pushing "bring your own access," a service that lets departing members keep their AOL experience for use on top of a broadband connection from another provider.

At the same time, the company is trying to migrate many of its exclusive features to the free Web. The idea is to increase AOL's exposure on the Web, which would let it tap into the resurgence in online advertising spending.

[ttul]

Congratulations to AOL for beefing up their anti spam

I notice that AOL recently bought Mailblocks -- which seems to be a good news from the perspective of offering a truly spam free mail option to those users for whom the extra effort makes sense.
I wonder if they've heard of MailChannels (http://www.mailchannels.com). It's a different approach, but it deals with the problem more effectively than whitelisting and doesn't have some of the drawbacks of C/R.

Commercial foreshadow future failure.

Have you guys seen the Netzero commercial when they say "free" this "free" that? Now they an't "free" anymore. The American Online new commercial look a lot like that one. It foreshadows AOL future darkness.

Beefing up or dumbing down ?

I am not very impressed with the AOL plan to " beef things up "
When AOL decides to finally do something about the "cracking" and " password stealing" that is without a doubt one of the most serious problems on aol.
Without warning or notice users are directed from the personal profile of a illicit "spammer" or person just making money pushing people to porn sites, credit card sites, or to buy drugs online. Lets face it .. AOL users are "new" most of the time to comptuers and to the internet. When AOL actually starts prosecuting these people for stealing other AOL member accounts, I will then be impressed.
Lastly, lets talk about the enormous security flaw in aol that allows any user while on a " master" account on aol to create a " spinoff " account with the same billing information without verifying ANY of the information. This is another RAMPID problem with aol. Hundreds and/or thousands of AOL accounts are comprimised daily.. and the people who are doing this ? No documented case is available that I can find to show AOL going after these people.
I am sure the response that would come from AOL would be, " we are looking into that " or " we have no way to track these people down" completely enrages me. AOL shows no care or respect for the people keeping them in business.
This is the end of my ranting .. if you have AOL the best advice I can give would be " secure id " your AOL account.

[Ubber geek]

problem with aol

http://www.analogstereo.com/isuzu_hombre_owners_manual.htm

Beefing up or dumbing down ?

I am not very impressed with the AOL plan to " beef things up "
When AOL decides to finally do something about the "cracking" and " password stealing" that is without a doubt one of the most serious problems on aol.
Without warning or notice users are directed from the personal profile of a illicit "spammer" or person just making money pushing people to porn sites, credit card sites, or to buy drugs online. Lets face it .. AOL users are "new" most of the time to computers and to the internet. When AOL actually starts prosecuting these people for stealing other AOL member accounts, I will then be impressed.
Lastly, lets talk about the enormous security flaw in aol that allows any user while on a " master" account on aol to create a " spinoff " account with the same billing information without verifying ANY of the information. This is another RAMPID problem with aol. Hundreds and/or thousands of AOL accounts are comprimised daily.. and the people who are doing this ? No documented case is available that I can find to show AOL going after these people.
I am sure the response that would come from AOL would be, " we are looking into that " or " we have no way to track these people down" completely enrages me. AOL shows no care or respect for the people keeping them in business.
This is the end of my ranting .. if you have AOL the best advice I can give would be " secure id " your AOL account.

[georgegliddy]

re: Beefing up...

I see you are a moron.

AOL has filed plenty of lawsuits for the type of issue you are referring to.

What is "RAMPID"? Does your ill-educated mind perhaps mean to conjure the word "rampant"?