According to Cyveillance, this move is the direct result of business users moving over to using their smartphones to surf the internet.

An example of this, the firm notes, is the recent spate of reports that highlights attacks against the Google Android platform.

"In that vein, today we bring you images from the world of illegal online pharmacies. These organisations put lives at risk by offering prescription medications without a prescription, or worse, by sending fake medications that can cause great harm", says the firm's IT security blog.

Perhaps worse, the company adds, consumers credit [and debit] card numbers are sometimes stolen when they make purchases from these sites.

Comparing a traditional online pharma site with a mobile engineered one, Cyveillance asserts that the type is small, not easy to read, and navigation is difficult.

"The images below were screenshots taken on an iPhone, and you can see how the presentation is different than a regular website tailored specifically for increased usability on a mobile device: larger font, less clutter – in short, they attempt to make it as easy as possible to make a purchase from this website", notes the company.

"You can see that they have even gone to the trouble of incorporating a .mobi internet domain for the site to reinforce the mobile computing experience. It would be praiseworthy if it were not so recklessly endangering consumer safety", the privately-owned research firm adds.

Cyveillance goes on to say that, whilst most illegal online pharmacies will claim to offer a safe shopping experience, most do not encrypt your credit card information when the purchase is made.

"Here, offerings like 'Cialis Professional' are made available for purchase. Unfortunately the maker of Cialis, Eli Lilly, has never offered such a drug. Only the maker of this counterfeit drug knows what the patient is really putting in his body if this is taken", says the company's security blog.

"It is our hope that consumers will remember examples like this site and recall that as technology advances, enterprising cyber criminals will likely have already considered ways to take advantage of the new landscape in ways that can seriously jeopardise your health and financial well-being. Always stop, think, connect", the firm concludes.