Sky has announced it will roll out its Sky Broadband Shield online security suite to everyone, allowing customers to control their home's internet and protect it against malware and phishing attacks.
When a customer who hasn't opted in or out to Sky Broadband Shield tries to access a page that is deemed unsuitable, they will be asked to set up Broadband Shield. If they don't make a decision, it will be automatically implemented.
Lyssa McGowan, Sky's brand director of communications products, said in a blog post: "We're all aware that cyberspace can present security risks, and that the internet isn't universally suitable for children.
"Just last week Ofcom released a study that found parents' awareness of potential online risks has risen since the first report in 2013. And at Sky, when it comes to online safety for all, we take our responsibility very seriously and we want what is best for our customers."
Sky Broadband Shield means parents can have peace of mind when their children are using the internet. For example, it will prevent children under the age of 13 accessing content deemed unsuitable for them, provided they've set up Watershed settings with age limits and time periods. These settings can be tweaked via My Sky at any time, or turned off if everyone in a household is old enough to access everything.
"We've come up with a user and family-friendly approach to online safety that we're starting to communicate to customers this week. We want to ensure no one misses the opportunity to benefit from better protection online," McGowan said.
"Sky's approach helps make it as easy as possible for customers to protect their households. We are encouraging them to use the flexibility within Sky Broadband Shield in order to make the right choice for their personal circumstances. And Sky Broadband Shield doesn't give us access to what you do online so your privacy will be protected," she finished.
