Consumer Awareness, SSL Digital Certificates Offer Protection Against Holiday Online Scams, Says Security Expert

PRESS RELEASE

DALLAS, Nov. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The holiday season presents the perfect opportunity for cybercriminals to steal consumers' information as shopping is increasingly conducted online. According to a 2011 study from comScore, dollars spent by online shoppers on Black Friday increased 26% last year and the total amount spent on online purchases during Cyber Monday increased 22%.

Entrust Inc., a global leader in securing online identities and information, provides consumers the tools necessary to protect their information when shopping online.

"Scammers and online phishers see one thing when it comes to the holidays -- more consumers sharing their information online to steal," said Entrust President and CEO Bill Conner. "As consumers have moved to using mobile devices and conducting transactions online, the number of breaches and hacks has increased. Malware that can infect your computer and take your credit card information is easily hidden in fake emails and pop-up ads. However, simple awareness can be one of the biggest obstacles to cybercriminals stealing your information."

Hackers are inventing new ways to infiltrate websites with the intention to do harm, such as taking credit card information and passwords. While stealing a password may not seem that harmful, consumers often use the same password for multiple sites, giving hackers the opportunity to log into a bank or credit card site. The following tips can help consumers guard against online threats.