Trend Micro has previously offered a trial-run of its "Total Web Security Service" to PlayStation 3 users, designed to stave off the potential of cyber crime activity on Sony's console platforms.  Now the web security solutions provider confirms its console web security features will be reorganized into two distinct services for both PS3 and PSP owners: Trend Micro Web Security and Trend Micro Kids' Safety.  While PSP owners can access both of these services for a free trial run, PS3 owners will be stuck with subscription fees.

Trend Micro Web Security retains the bulk of the actual web security services, and is intended to prevent the fraudulent acquisition of account information or passwords when accessing websites through th PS3 or PSP.  Connection to malicious websites (as classified by Trend Micro's cloud-client security infrastructure) is essentially blocked.  Also in the business of blocking websites is Trend Micro Kids' Safety, though here the deciding criteria rests in the site content.  Assuming that editing the parental contols in your console wasn't enough for you to keep your kids safe from game content not intended for their age-range, the Kids' Safety service looks to keep their internet experience equally clean.  The service prevents access to websites classified as belonging to a rather interesting range of categories: "Adult/Sex, Cults/The Occult, Gambling, Crime, Illegal Drugs, Alcohol/Tobacco, Sex Education, Weapons/Military and Violence/Discrimination, etc."  So if you suspect your kids are accessing info on the Esoteric Order of Dagon through their PS3 or PSP browsers behind your back, Kids' Safety could come in handy.

Both services have been made available as a free trial to PSP owners since they were made compatible with system software update v.5.50, first released by Sony on April 21st.  The trial period ends later this July, after which any pricing details will be revealed.  PS3 owners will already know what the services will cost them: a paid subscription of $19.99 USD for an individual service, or $34.99 USD if purchased together.  The services require PS3 system software ver. 2.70, and will go live starting May 11, 2009.  Users who subscribe for the PS3 version of the services between May 11th, 2009 through August 31st, 2009 can receive a 30 percent discount.