Watch out for credit card hackers this Christmas

The festive period could be a busy time for online hackers, one expert has suggested.

Consumers need to watch out for credit card hackers, but especially over the Christmas period.

This is according to Pure Hacking, which aims to help organisations protect their information assets.

The company noted the amount of online shopping taking place is increasing, but this has led to a rise in risks associated with debit and Aussie credit card security.

Rob McAdam, chief executive officer at the organisation, pointed out the mid-sized retailers are one section that is becoming more and more affected by security breaches involving credit cards.

He said: "We are typically finding larger retailers that rely on reputable payment gateways and who have made data security a priority are no longer the main targets for fraud."

But earlier this year, Adam Courtenay, writing for the Age, revealed banks and credit unions are all signed up to the Electronic Funds Transfer Code, which is designed to ensure customer security when using ATMs.

By Joe Letts