December 2009
BitDefender warns of risks associated with online shopping at work
Don’t let this holiday season be tarnished by identity theft; Shop online safely
Online shopping can put an employee’s identity and the company’s network at risk, warns BitDefender. Whilst most people are cautious about what links they click on and what sites they visit on their home computer, they are more inclined to take risks when it comes to shopping online from their work computers.
“What many employees might not realize is that while their employer’s network is secure, they are still at risk of encountering many e-threats as they purchase things online,” says BitDefender’s senior antispam researcher, Catalin Cosoi. When shopping online it is very important to ensure the sites being visited are legitimate. Otherwise, it is not going to be you celebrating this holiday season – it will be the cybercriminal behind the attack.”
BitDefender is offering employees a few tips to consider before shopping online this holiday season:
• Only visit known and trusted websites.
• Be wary of “great gift” or “special offer” emails from unknown email addresses. They are likely fake and should be avoided.
• Use credit cards instead of debit cards. Debit cards offer a lower liability in case you are the victim of fraud.
• Check for security seals (the lock on the bottom right hand corner) on all shopping sites.
• Make sure the connection to the website is an https. This doesn’t guarantee the site is safe, but in most cases they are safe.
• Consider alternative ways of payment such as cash upon delivery.
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About Bitdefender®
Bitdefender is the creator of one of the world's fastest and most effective lines of internationally certified internet security software.Since 2001, the company has been an industry pioneer, introducing and developing award-winning protection. Today, Bitdefender technology secures the digital experience of around 400 million home and corporate users across the globe.
Recently, the company has won a range of key independent recommendations in the US, UK and across Europe, including ConsumerSearch, Which?, Stiftung Warentest and Taenk. Bitdefender antivirus technology has also finished top in leading industry tests from both AV Test and AV-Comparatives. More information about Bitdefender's antivirus products is available from the company's security solutions press room. Additionally, Bitdefender publishes Malware City providing the latest updates on security threats and helping users stay informed in the everyday battle against malware.