DAS launches cyber security assistant for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa

DAS customers and the general public can ask their voice-activated Google Home or Amazon Echo device a range of questions regarding cyber security with the responses helping them to understand cyber risks, learn how to stay safe online, and know what to do if things go wrong.

The DAS Cyber Security action for Google Assistant, for example, is launched simply by saying: “OK Google, talk to DAS Cyber Security.”

Both the Google and Amazon assistants communicate using a question and answer structure, covering topics such as:

• ‘How do I stay safe online?’
• ‘How can I tell if a website is genuine?’
• ‘What can I do if I’ve been tricked into giving out my account details?’
• ‘How can cyber insurance help with cybercrime?’

The DAS Cyber Security Google Action or Alexa Skill is available to anyone who has a Google Home account or an Amazon Echo and will be free to download from both the Google and Amazon stores.

DAS will also be looking to work with its strategic business partners and brokers to create bespoke white-labelled versions of the new skill, enabling partners to promote their own proposition to their customers.

The launch of these cyber security assistants follows recent research from DAS – and HSB Engineering Insurance – that showed widespread confusion and misunderstanding concerning cyber security, with significant numbers of UK consumers failing to take even the most basic online precautions.

Released in May, the DAS Market Barometer: Cyber found that although 88% of consumers claim to be confident when dealing with cyber security, they appear to be in ‘cyber denial’ with regards to protecting themselves. Nearly a quarter are failing to take even basic – and well-known – precautions such as using anti-virus software (23%) or ‘strong’ passwords (24%).

This was supported by other statistics such as 34% not using different passwords on online accounts, 41% delaying before installing system updates, and, perhaps most surprisingly, 51% failing to regularly back-up their data.

The launch of the DAS Cyber Security Assistant is part of a wider programme of innovation that has been developed by DAS as a continuation of its award-winning 2017 Customer Understanding Project which analysed the trends and behaviours of thousands of brokers and consumers.

Earlier this year DAS became the world’s first legal expenses insurer to launch a legal expenses insurance skill for the Amazon Alexa, enabling customers to ask various questions regarding common legal issues such as disputes with neighbours, employment tribunals and redundancy.

Kevin Neal, Head of Strategy & Innovation, DAS UK Group, said: “Technology is changing how we work and play, with a wide range of digital platforms and ‘smart’ devices helping us to communicate, shop, interact, and share information in ever more dynamic ways.

“It’s a truly exciting landscape but one that introduces new and evolving threats that we need to be aware of; such as different types of malware or social engineering scams. It’s important for everyone to properly understand what these risks are, know how to avoid problems, and to be able to fix things quickly if they do happen.

“It’s fairly easy to get the basics right, but unfortunately most people aren’t doing so at the moment.”

James Henderson, Managing Director Insurance UK & Ireland, DAS UK Group, commented: ”The development and launch of these assistants follows on from the granular research we carried out in our ‘DAS Market Barometer: Cyber’, which highlighted potential issues for both small businesses and individual consumers with cyber awareness, understanding, and security.  

“The legal expenses insurance industry needs to work much harder to help brokers and consumers understand the value of its products. Therefore it is vital that we are at the forefront of technical innovations that will digitise our business and provide us with opportunities to reach potentially vast new audiences. As a company we have begun a process of constant innovation.”

When asked for comment, Google Assistant said: “Welcome to DAS Cyber Security, I can help you learn about cyber threats, give tips to help you stay safe online, and help you know what to do if things go wrong. Ask me a question, or say help for guidance.”