新聞

Research Reveals 83 Percent of Singaporean Web Users Unable to Spot Phishing Scams

Green Address Bar Provides High Visibility Weapon in Fight Against Cyber Crime

SINGAPORE, 23rd September, 2009 - A YouGov survey* commissioned by VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN) has revealed that 83 percent of Web users in Singapore are at risk from online fraud because they can't identify the different forms of phishing currently happening online. The survey also revealed that Web users in the UK and USA are the most vulnerable, with 88 percent not recognizing phishing sites, followed by Australians at 86 percent. Singapore came in fourth place, followed by India with 76 percent, demonstrating that they are savvier in protecting their identities and personal details online.

The survey asked each respondent to identify which - of two Web site images presented side by side - was a fraudulent phishing site. The most frequently missed "tell tale" was the spelling on the site, with 83 per cent failing to spot the spelling mistakes that would have identified the phishing site. The other "tell tales" include:

  • No padlock symbol in the browser address bar - 51 percent duped
  • Request for additional account information - 28 percent duped
  • URL containing unspecified, numerical, domain name - 26 percent duped

Phishing scams and online fraud have created doubt and concern among online shoppers. To regain their trust, site owners need an easy, reliable way to show customers that their transactions are secure - and that they are who they say they are. Security vendors and Internet browsers have joined forces to establish the Extended Validation (EV) standard for SSL Certificates. With this technology, the browser and the certificate authority control the display, making it difficult for phishers and counterfeiters to hijack a brand and its customers.

"With nine out of ten people in Singapore vulnerable to phishing scams, it is crucial that a genuine site is easily and immediately identifiable," said Armando Dacal, director of Authentication, VeriSign Asia Pacific. "By adopting Extended Validation, an online shopper using a high-security browser can clearly see that the site they are on is genuine by the green address bar. For additional clarity, the name of the organization listed in the certificate as well as the certificate's security vendor such as VeriSign is also displayed."

Regional findings
The results showed Singaporeans aged 18 to 24 years are more likely to identify a phishing site and scored higher than those aged 35 years, who are 15 percent less likely to spot a phishing site. Singaporean men also fared better in spotting all phishing sites correctly, with women 12 percent less likely than men to identify a phishing site. This figure is on par with users in the UK, while both men and women Indian Web users are equally likely to identify an online scam.

Knowledge is key to fighting phishing and to this end VeriSign has compiled its Top five tips to distinguish a real site from a phishing site.

Consumers should check whether or not a site is genuine and is taking measures to protect their personal details by looking for the following:

  1. https:// The "s" in https:// means the site is encrypted, so the information you enter is secured. While some phishing sites do have a secured Web address, many do not. Therefore, site visitors should be on the lookout for missing security on sites that should have it.
  2. The padlock icon: To be meaningful this icon must appear in the actual browser interface and not inside the content of the page itself.
  3. Trust marks: Simple visual cues in the form of popular logos can show that a Web site is authenticated, secured, and from a company that is reputable.
  4. Check the Web address: Be suspicious of any site with an unknown domain that contains the name of a well known site in the latter part of the Web address.
  5. Green address bar: This signifies that this site has undergone extensive identity authentication so that you can be confident it is the site it claims to be.

關於VeriSign
VeriSign (NASDAQ: VRSN) 是全球備受信賴的網際網路基礎架構服務供應商。VeriSign以每天高達數十億次的頻率，透過相關技術協助世界各地的企業與消費者進行更安全的通訊與商務行動。關於VeriSign的更多訊息，歡迎瀏覽www.verisign.com.tw。

The online survey was commissioned by VeriSign and conducted by YouGov on the following countries and dates:

  • USA: 20-22 May, 2009; 1,015 respondents
  • Denmark: 20-25 May, 2009; 1,000 respondents
  • Sweden: 21-25 May, 2009; 1,000 respondents
  • Australia: 21-27 May, 2009; 1,000 respondents
  • Germany: 22-28 May, 2009; 1,001 respondents
  • India: 22 May-3 June, 2009; 1,002 respondents
  • UK: 18-22 June, 2009; 2,175 respondents
  • Singapore: 6-11 August, 2009; 1,000 respondents

Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause VeriSign's actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainty of future revenue and profitability and potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results due to such factors as the inability of VeriSign to successfully develop and market new products and services and customer acceptance of any new products or services, including VeriSign EV SSL solutions; the possibility that VeriSign's announced new services may not result in additional customers, profits or revenues; and increased competition and pricing pressures. More information about potential factors that could affect the company's business and financial results is included in VeriSign's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. VeriSign undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.

©2009 VeriSign, Inc. All rights reserved. VeriSign, the VeriSign logo, the Checkmark Circle, and other trademarks, service marks, and designs are registered or unregistered trademarks of VeriSign, Inc., and its subsidiaries in the United States and in foreign countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.