Smash hit

The latest Internet Security Intelligence Briefing from internet services group VeriSign - who provide authorisation and checking infrastructure for much of the online marketplace - showed that consumers are still willing to leave personal data, like credit card information, online, despite recent scares over fraud and "phishing".

"The risk of online fraud is rising with increased transaction volume, making merchants cautious when processing online transactions," the briefing concluded.

Outside the world of online retail, security threats are also multiplying on other parts of the network, said the report.

"An increasing variety of devices are being targeted for attack. Bluetooth phones, webcams, printers and other networked hardware are all being used as platforms for various forms of malware.

"Organisations and home users need to consider these devices, as well as handhelds, game-systems, security-systems, and anything IP-enabled, as part of their normal security policy. User education and vigilant, preferably layered anti-virus protection are the strongest defences against such threats."

As well as threats from outside hackers and other nefarious bodies, there were also those from insiders to consider.

One organisation to share that lesson earlier this month was Bank of America.

Just days before its data tapes went missing, the group announced that it was bolstering its control over communications with its own departments and some of its more security-sensitive corporate clients.

The bank said it was taking on VerSign’s latest Unified Authentication system to help it verify the identity of key members of its team across the network using everything from encryption to tokens and smart cards.

This time round, executives made sure they steered well clear of anything like understatement.

"The financial services industry is moving quickly towards strong authentication," Rhonda MacLean, the corporate information security executive at Bank of America, said.

"So we’re delighted that VeriSign shares our belief in open standards, which are essential for us to meet our common goal of continually improving security—not only for our company, but across financial services and indeed across all industries."

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