New GoExplore.net Portal Encourages Internet Users to Safely Explore the Full Potential of the Web

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, 28 April, 2014: Increasing internet penetration, wider usage of mobile internet and fast and cheaper broadband connections have in recent years contributed to a significant growth in the number of internet users in the Middle East. While services such as social media, search engines, news, online banking and e-commerce attract a significant number of these users, there remains an extremely large portion of the internet that is yet to be explored. ESET, the global leader in proactive digital protection, believes certain factors need to be addressed before users in the region gain the confidence to look beyond the most commonly known websites.

In a recently conducted survey of internet users in the US and the United Kingdom, the IT security company found that websites asking for too much information (32.38%), the fear of malware (29.03%) and the inability to find useful content (9.25%) were perceived as major hurdles to expanding usage of the internet.

To address this, ESET today launched GoExplore.net, a new internet initiative which curates the best of the web’s content and encourages people to explore the web safely. With the World Wide Web reaching its 25th birthday this year, ESET's aim is to create an easy-to-use-web portal for everyone who wants to explore the online universe, upload interesting content and contribute to collating content for their fellow web surfers.

GoExplore.net will offer exclusive interviews with high-profile internet heroes, how-to's, infographics and videos, as well as surveys and poll results.

“In keeping with our mission to help people enjoy safer technology, ESET is now encouraging internet users in the Middle East to go beyond Google, Facebook, Twitter and the mere handful of websites they are accustomed to visiting. There is a plethora of fantastic content on the web that can educate, inform, entertain and connect people in ways they never imagined,” said Elham Alizadeh, Channel Marketing Manager at ESET Middle East.

“We realized that worries about online safety and simply not knowing where to find the right content are the main factors inhibiting users from expanding their usage of the internet. So we have greatly simplified this task which will inspire them to step outside of their comfort zone on the web. We believe that this will bring about a revolution in how the internet is perceived and utilized across the Middle East,” she said.