PC Tools responds to the Federal Budget

Sydney 10th May 2007 - Leading Australian owned security vendor, PC Tools™, today responded to the Federal Government's Budget announcement to provide 9 million wage earners with pre-approved electronic tax returns, cautioning tax payers to protect their PCs with adequate computer security software.

"The malware research team at PC Tools have observed a sharp increase in stealth mode malware - concealed blended threats which specifically target the sorts of information taxpayers provide in an online tax return" said Michael Greene, Vice President of Product Strategy, PC Tools "and it does so without the informed consent of the user"

The new pre-approved electronic tax return, to be introduced in the next financial year, will automatically include information such as salary, income, dividends, welfare payments, Medicare details and higher education loans as well as information provided by an employer, federal departments such as Centrelink and Medicare and well as private health insurers for example.

"While the Federal Government's initiative will certainly ease tax lodgements, we are warning taxpayers to ensure their PC's have up-to-date and quality anti-virus and anti-spyware software ensuring their personal information is protected" said Greene.

PC Tools has recently completed a deal with online giant Google, allowing consumers to download a free Spyware Doctor Starter Edition from Google's free software collection. This lighter version of PC Tools flagship product Spyware Doctor is designed to detect and remove spyware from your computer.

"We want to ensure that people continue to take full advantage of the internet and its ability to simplify many of life's more mundane, but nonetheless important tasks such as filing tax returns and raising awareness of the associated risks is the key" said Greene.

ABOUT PC TOOLS™

PC Tools is a global software leader with a cache of security and utility products, including the multi award-winning Spyware Doctor™. PC Tools is an industry leader in real-time anti-spyware and has a number of key patents pending.

The PC Tools Malware Research Center monitors trends and emerging spyware issues and provides security solutions for the consumer and enterprise marketplace. The company is headquartered in Sydney, with offices in San Francisco, London, Dublin, Melbourne, and Kiev. PC Tools has a global network of distributors, resellers, and retailers.

For more information contact

Alisha Benson
Public Relations Executive
PC Tools Pty Ltd
D. +61 3 9691 3505 T. +61 3 9691 3500 +61 419 138 266 E. abenson@pctools.com

Lauren Young
Cosway Australia Pty Ltd
Ph: +61 2 9929 8344 or +61 410 541 562
Email: laureny@coswaypr.com.au