MAM
AOL releases new Spyware protection to improve net security
MUMBAI: Internet service provider America Online has launched AOL Spyware Protection 2.0 (Asp 2.0). This is a multi-level package of spyware protection that includes four different scans – minute-to-minute, every 15 minutes, daily, and weekly.
Asp 2.0, powered by eTrust PestPatrol® Anti-Spyware technology from Computer Associates International provides one of the most comprehensive protection packages available and finds more than 28,000 known types of spyware, adware, keystroke loggers and trojan horses.
AOL Access business president Joe Redling said, “Spyware programmes are the snakes of the Internet. They creep silently onto a user’s computer and wrap themselves around everything on the machine, choking the computer and poisoning the online experience. Spyware and adware can cover your screen with unwanted pop-ups, steal your connection, change your preferences, slow your computer, redirect your Web navigation and searches, and even steal your personal information. AOL wants to protect its members from dangerous and damaging software. ASP 2.0 offers a powerful tool to help members keep their machines safe and clean.”
Provided to AOL members at no additional charge, ASP 2.0 helps users find and disable a wide range of security threats, nuisance software and Web tracking programs. ASP 2.0 offers four levels of protection against surveillance and advertising software:
Every approximately 60 seconds: An automatic memory scan looks for roughly 15,000 types of spyware and adware that may be running silently in memory (less often on slower computers);
Every 15 minutes: The AOL SpyZapper feature scans in less than a second for any new programs that have been downloaded or attempted to reinstall themselves;
Every day: Automatic “Quick Scan” takes just a few seconds to check for more than 28,000 known types of spyware and adware;
Every week: A “full drive scan” performs a thorough review of the user’s entire hard drive for all 28,000 known variants. Automatic updates help protect users against new threats as they emerge.
To further augment this protection, AOL and CA will launch updated versions later this year and early next year. The updates will feature an “always on” active shielding that blocks infections before they occur, neighborhood watch reporting, and a Web-based spyware encyclopedia that includes an elaborate description and discussion of detected programmes.
Brands
Airtel, Jio, Vi quietly raise tariffs with tweaks ahead of major hike
Airtel, Jio and Vi test subscriber response with subtle plan changes
NEW DELHI: India’s top telecom operators, including Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea, are quietly reworking their prepaid plans in what appears to be a calculated run-up to a broader tariff hike expected later this year.
Rather than announcing headline-grabbing price increases, the operators are opting for subtle tweaks that are less likely to trigger immediate consumer backlash. Industry observers describe this as a “testing the waters” approach, where small changes help gauge subscriber sensitivity while gradually improving revenues.
Among the most visible moves is plan pruning. Airtel has discontinued its popular Rs 799 pack, widely seen as a high-value offering, while nudging up the price of its Rs 859 plan to Rs 899. The changes may seem marginal, but across millions of users, they translate into meaningful revenue gains.
Reliance Jio, on its part, has taken a sharper route by slashing the validity of its Rs 195 plan from 90 days to just 30 days. The price remains unchanged, but the value per day has dropped steeply, effectively raising costs for consumers without altering headline tariffs.
Meanwhile, Vodafone Idea is restructuring its “NonStopHero” packs, limiting unlimited data benefits to night hours in several circles. The move trims usage flexibility while keeping plan positioning largely intact.
Another common tactic is bundling. Operators are increasingly pairing plans with OTT subscriptions such as streaming services, framing price adjustments as value additions even when the core offering remains largely unchanged.
The broader goal behind these moves is to lift ARPU (Average Revenue Per User), a key profitability metric in the telecom business. Airtel is targeting an ARPU of around Rs 300, up from roughly Rs 250, while Jio is under pressure to demonstrate stronger revenue growth ahead of a potential IPO. For Vodafone Idea, the urgency is more immediate as it seeks higher cash flows to fund 5G expansion and manage outstanding dues.
Industry estimates suggest that these incremental changes are a precursor to a larger, industry-wide tariff hike of 15 to 20 per cent, likely towards the end of 2026. The delay in announcing a full-scale increase is partly due to macroeconomic concerns, including inflation and volatile fuel prices, which could dampen consumer sentiment.
The push to monetise 5G is also gathering pace. After investing more than Rs 3 lakh crore in next-generation networks, operators are expected to gradually phase out free 5G data and reposition it as a premium service.
For consumers, the impact is already visible in small but steady increases in monthly bills. For telcos, however, this is a carefully choreographed build-up, easing users into higher spending before the bigger pricing reset arrives.
