Broadband service providers should offer computer security services to subscribers if they want to stand out from their rivals, a technology expert has said.

According to Kimmo Alkio, president of F-Secure, introducing a paid-for security service would boost revenue and enable broadband providers to make their mark in an increasingly competitive market.

He told Vnunet.com: "ISPs can offer all this [security services] for a small incremental cost and use such services to differentiate themselves, which is difficult to do on access price alone. It is a no-brainer."

Mr Alkio reasons that the service would also attract new custom to the broadband provider since many people find setting up security for themselves an inconvenience.

"Unless they are techies, people do not want to be walking into a store, buying software and then setting it up and having to do it all again on an annual basis," he said.

F-Secure currently has partnerships with 150 broadband providers offering software as a service, Vnunet.com reports.