WATCH OUT FOR CYBER SCROOGE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.
TOP FIVE TIPS FOR SHOPPING ON THE WEB

For Release:
November 20, 2006

Press Contact:
Melissa Smolensky
512-241-2232
melissa.smolensky@porternovelli.com

One in every ten online adults could become a victim of online fraud this holiday season - The National Consumers League and National Cyber Security Alliance release 5 tips to help consumers shop safely online

WASHINGTON, D.C.— The holiday season is a busy time as people search for the perfect gifts for family and friends.  To beat the crowds and holiday shopping traffic, more and more consumers are turning to the Internet to do their shopping.  According to a recently released National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA)/Symantec Online Fraud Survey, which was conducted by Harris Interactive ® , about six in ten online adults (61%) shop online.  Additionally, thirty-seven percent of online adults have increased the number of online transactions they conduct compared to one year ago, increasing the likelihood they will do more holiday shopping online this season. 

While the Internet may help consumers shop faster and easier, it can also pose dangerous potential for consumers who aren't careful. In fact, one in ten online adults (10%) say they have been a victim of online fraud.   However, consumers can protect themselves from cyber criminals by using the right security technology and common sense. 

“Each year the number of people shopping online continues to increase, especially on the Monday after Thanksgiving, Cyber Monday,” said Ron Teixeira, Executive Director of the National Cyber Security Alliance.  “This year, in partnership with the National Consumers League (NCL), we want to remind consumers to take simple security steps to protect themselves so they can enjoy the holidays without cyber crime woes.”

In addition to securing their computers, consumers need to ensure that they’re dealing with reputable merchants. “Knowing who you’re dealing with and providing your financial information securely are very important when you’re shopping online,” said Susan Grant, Director of NCL’s National Fraud Information Center.

To help consumers protect themselves while shopping online, the NCL and NCSA offer new advice to ensure holiday shopping is a happy experience. 

• Don’t shop online while using an unencrypted or open wireless network.  Hackers and thieves can use your open/unencrypted or a store’s wireless network to break into your computer and capture your financial information.
• Secure your computer before shopping online.  Before connecting to the Internet or shopping online, take the following three core protections:   1) Install anti-virus and anti-spyware programs and keep them up to date; 2) Install a firewall; 3) Regularly update operating software.  
• Know who you’re dealing with. Before shopping online with an unknown e-store, check out the seller and be sure to get the name and physical address of the seller in case something goes wrong. If you’re buying gifts on an online auction site, check the track record of the seller before you bid. 
• Don’t give away your financial information to unsecured websites.  Make sure when providing payment information, the beginning of the Web site URL address changes from http to shttp or https, indicating that the purchase is encrypted or secured.
• Protect personal information with common sense and technology.  Be suspicious if someone unexpectedly asks for personal information. Identity thieves send out bogus emails about problems with consumers’ accounts to lure them into divulging personal information.  Consider using multi-factor authentication services when offered by online retailers as a way to secure your information.

Go to www.fraud.org and www.staysafeonline.org to find out more about how to safely shop online this holiday season.

About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America's pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. NCL operates the National Fraud Information Center/Internet Fraud Watch programs to collect reports from consumers about Internet and telemarketing fraud and to provide information to law enforcement agencies across the country. Each year NCL releases its top 10 Internet and telemarketing fraud scams report. For more information, visit www.fraud.org.

About The National Cyber Security Alliance

A not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) is a central clearinghouse for cyber security awareness and education for home users, small businesses, and the education community. A public-private partnership, NCSA sponsors include the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Trade Commission, and many private-sector corporations and organizations. For more information, and to review the top eight cyber security practices, visit www.staysafeonline.org.

About the Survey
This survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Symantec Corporation between October 9 and October 11, 2006 among 2,551 U.S. adults 18 years of age or older. Figures for region, age within gender, education, household income and race/ethnicity were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. The data were also weighted to be representative of the online population of U.S. adults on the basis of Internet usage (hours per week) and connection type.

With a pure probability sample of 2,551 adults one could say with a ninety-five percent probability that the overall results would have a sampling error of 3 percentage points. However that does not take other sources of error into account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

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