Security Solution Adds Sales Tool

Commerce Media has revealed that its mobile-based online authentication and data protection product, Celo, now incorporates a new feature that enables online retailers to send a promotional text message at the same time as a one-time password for secure access to e-commerce websites.
Using the feature, e-retailers can include a targeted multimedia or text-only message when customers request a security password. This could link to a special offer, competition, product announcement or download. It can also form part of a retailers loyalty programme or other mobile offering involving interactive services.
Celo is a two-factor authentication (2FA) solution built around a users mobile phone. 2FA is a system of strong authentication based on something a user knows – such as a password, code or phrase – and something they possess which is hard to counterfeit and which provides additional proof of identification.
Celo delivers a single-use, randomly-generated password via text message for customers to use when logging on to make a purchase or transfer sensitive/personal data. By providing an additional level of security over and above traditional systems based solely on a username and static password, which Copmmerce Media notes are easily overcome. it can help counter the increasing risk of online fraud via phishing, trojans and man-in-the-middle attacks.
This is an innovative combination of effective security to combat payment fraud with the facility to reach consumers with relevant and timely marketing messages, says Commerce Media Managing Director, Michael Robertson. The advantage of this new feature is that users receive a promotional text message at a time when they are not only expecting useful information from an e-retailer but are also in a position to act on it straight away – just before logging on to the retailers website.
Commerce Media launched Celo in 2008 as a cost-effective, easy-to-deploy method to secure e-commerce sites and the transfer of data. Celo can also be used to protect access to financial data held on back-office retail systems, helping merchants to comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).