EmailNews
Retail sales increase highlights need for payment security
In nearly every regard, recent signs of a recovering economy have been received as good news. In February, retail sales rose 4.7 percent compared to the previous year, a United States Department of Commerce report found. Furthermore, a recent study conducted by eMarketer found that ecommerce sales topped $1 trillion for the first time in 2012. Those are encouraging figures, however it reinforces the need for security measures to protect sensitive customer information from cybercriminals.
Increasing retail sales along with a customer migration away from physical stores to digital shops has created a massive market for data thieves. The amount of personal information - including credit card numbers - being transmitted across ecommerce sites is a tantalizing prospect for cybercriminals. According to a report conducted by Javelin Strategy & Research, credit card identity fraud rose by 87 percent in 2011 alone.
With instances of stolen credit card information on the rise, it is essential that those operating online businesses take the necessary precautions to protect their customers' sensitive data as it traverses the internet. Accounting Web contributor Rob Bertke offered a number of suggestions for improving credit card security over the internet, including implementing end-to-end encryption. Although sensitive information should always be encrypted when stored on a hard drive, this technique is just as important when data is being transferred between two parties. Using an SSL certificate, businesses can ensure that their customers' credit card information has a comprehensive layer of security between it and would-be hackers. With the rate of cybercrime on the rise, companies need to take every available opportunity to improve their defenses.
Credit card numbers will continue to be a tantalizing target for cyberthieves. Protect your customers' sensitive information by getting an SSL certificate today.
corporate office
Thawte
The Gateway
Century Lane
Century City, 7441
Cape Town
South Africa
Postal Address:
P O Box 15986
Panorama 7500
Cape Town
South Africa
Call: +27 21 819 2200
Fax: +27 21 819 2950