When it comes to customer experience, ecommerce security may not be the first concern that comes to mind, but for B2B firms, a safe public-facing website is critical to sustaining solid customer relationships. Breaches in data can be severely damaging to a customer base, leading to a breakdown in trust and irreversible harm.
Here’s all you need to know about the cyber security procedures that will keep your company and your customers safe from cybercrime.
What is Ecommerce Security?
ecommerce security refers to a set of universally established rules that ensure a safe online shopping experience for both businesses selling their items online and customers who provide personal information to acquire their purchases.
There are a few distinct aspects of ecommerce security that you should become acquainted with when developing the protocols required within your own web business. Here are a few key examples:
- Authentication – This ensures that both the buyer and seller have verified identities and are who they claim to be.
- Privacy – This relates to the safeguarding of client data, particularly from unauthorized third parties.
- Integrity – This implies that this data will not be modified or altered in any way.
- Non-Repudiation –This is the legal principle that requires a transaction to be completed.
Watch Out For These Ecommerce Security Threats
Ecommerce threats occur when people use the internet for unfair purposes such as stealing, fraud, and security breaches. Ecommerce threats come in many forms. Some are unintentional, some are intentional, and some are the result of human error.
The most common cyber security threats include electronic payment systems, e-cash, data misuse, credit/debit card fraud, and so on. The most common cyber threats are:
1. Social Engineering
This refers to the use of deceit or manipulation to persuade someone to do something. For example, click a link in an email or blog, comment or reveal sensitive information.
Targets include customers (often posing as your brand) or staff, intending to gain access to systems.
2. DDoS Exploits
This Dedicated Denial of Service (DDoS) assaults deliver large amounts of traffic, slowing down and making an eCommerce website difficult to operate. Attackers employ these attacks to harm their reputations or to make money.
3. Credit Card Fraud
Ecommerce, payment, and financial fraud occur when any unfair practice is done to achieve economic or personal advantage during a transaction.
Credit card fraud is generally perpetrated with the use of stolen credit cards. Unauthorized transactions are made by cyber criminals through account takeover. False return and refund requests include a variety of schemes, such as returning stolen products for cash, beginning a return without returning an item, or lying to a credit card company to dispute a lawful transaction.
4. Phishing
Phishing attacks are intended to deceive users into disclosing sensitive information such as passwords, or to unintentionally download a virus or malware meant to penetrate systems or steal data.
Such assaults are commonly delivered by email, but they can also be delivered via text messages or phone calls.
5. E-Skimming
Inserting skimming code into ecommerce credit card processing sites to collect financial and personal data.
6. Malware
Malware is intended to assault a website to steal data or transmit spam from your domain, or provide lateral access to your data. A Trojan Horse is a type of malware that cheats users and is downloaded to a computer disguised as genuine software. Ransomware is a type of virus that is meant to steal, encrypt, and lock down data to extract money.
7. Injections into SQL Server
SQL injection is a code injection technique that inserts code into the SQL database to steal or erase data.
8. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
Fraudsters introduce malicious scripts into browser code and run them on the client side to harvest user data.
9. The Brute Force Attack
The Brute Force Attack is a type of automated attack that employs trial-and-error to guess probable passwords or passphrases to obtain access, primarily to admin panels but occasionally to consumer accounts.
What Are The Solutions For Ecommerce Security?
Online protection allows your clients to safeguard themselves against cyber-attacks and fraud. The stronger your security processes, the better your brand will be able to maintain its reputation and gain client confidence.
Ecommerce retailers with excellent security share some characteristics. They do not skimp on sturdy hardware, and they do not rely excessively on third-party software or plugins such as Adobe Flash.
Let’s further break down these features so that you do not face any security issues in ecommerce.
Change To HTTPS
If you utilize outdated HTTP protocols, you are vulnerable to attacks. We strongly advise using HTTPS, which displays the distinctive green lock symbol with the word “secured” next to the URL bar on your customer’s computer. HTTPS protocols safeguard not just the sensitive information that users provide, but also their user data.
Because HTTP protocols are mainly obsolete, most contemporary browsers display a notice advising the user not to proceed because the website is unsafe. Not only that, but certain browsers completely prevent the user from visiting the site.
Another advantage of switching to HTTPS is a higher rating on Google’s search page, as Google uses HTTPS as a ranking element. Before you make the transfer, you must first obtain an SSL certificate from your hosting provider. Having an up-to-date SSL certificate and HTTPS protocol has become the norm, therefore you must get both if you want to receive significant traffic.
Use Multi-Layer Security
A great way to strengthen your ecommerce security is to use multiple layers of security.
Content Delivery Network (CDN
One common method of ensuring protection from cyber attacks is use of a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to protect your website from DDoS attacks and malicious inbound traffic. This is accomplished by using machine learning to separate malicious traffic from ordinary traffic.
Two-Factor Authentication
To ensure you’re even further protected, you can increase security by using two-factor authentication. Two-factor authentication necessitates a regular username and password combination as well as an additional code supplied to the user through email or SMS to their provided phone number. This assures that even if the user’s login and password are compromised, only the user may access the service.
Utilize Firewalls
Another great ecommerce strategy is to restrict traffic entering and exiting your site, providing selective permeability and allowing only trustworthy traffic to pass through. They also guard against cyber dangers like SQL injections and cross-site scripting.
Stay Up To Date
The need to upgrade WordPress core, security tools, and plugins regularly might be stressful; nevertheless, install security updates and patches as soon as they are released since hackers can use bots to detect which websites use outdated software. As a result, obsolete software poses a significant risk.
Antivirus and Malware Protection Software
Hackers can use credit card information stolen from anywhere in the world to place orders. An antivirus or anti-fraud program might assist you in dealing with this severe ecommerce issue.
These employ advanced algorithms to detect unlawful transactions, allowing you to take appropriate action. They give a fraud risk score that can assist merchants in determining if a particular transaction is real.
Watch Out For Suspicious Behavior
It may seem overly simple, but the truth is, one of the best ways to avoid cyber-attacks is to keep an eye out for any odd activity. This can save you a lot of time and money since you can potentially discover a fraudulent transaction before it happens.
You can use special monitoring software that watches activities in real time and alerts you to any suspicious transactions. For example, a fraudster may use various cards to place repeated orders, or orders in which the person using the card is not the cardholder.
Choose A Reliable Ecommerce Platform
It’s important to select a secure ecommerce platform that is routinely updated and provides top-tier security. Ecommerce platform technologies protect you from typical dangers and give timely updates. Some popular options are PrestaShop, Magento, and WooCommerce.
Backup Your Information
Data loss as a result of hardware failure or cyber-attacks is not uncommon. If you don’t regularly back up your data, you run the risk of losing your data forever. It’s always wise to have a backup server with your most essential information placed in a secure location.
To avoid having to manually back up regularly, use an automated backup service. This way, even if you neglect to back up your data manually, it will be done automatically. Another alternative is to choose a managed ecommerce web hosting provider that automatically makes backups for you.
Protect Your Servers And Control Panels
Most ecommerce systems provide default passwords that are absurdly simple to guess. And if you don’t update them, you’re opening yourself up to avoidable hacks. Use difficult passwords and usernames that you update regularly.
You may take it a step further and have the panel inform you when an unfamiliar IP tries to log in. These simple steps can greatly enhance the security of your online space.
Author bio: Julius McGee, the founder of Nerd Alert, helped thousands of people with their daily Technology needs. Nerd Alert provides personalized tech help for computer setup or repairs, wireless networking, home network setup, and more.
Protect Yourself By Partnering With An Expert
When it comes to cybersecurity, you can’t be too careful. You should also be mindful of how to defend yourself and prepare for these ecommerce hazards.
In today’s high-tech and globally connected world, there’s little room for error. A significant failure can cost you or your company dearly.
Fortunately, you don’t have to handle these challenges on your own. A savvy ecommerce professional understands that in many cases, they’re better off delegating highly specialized and technical concerns like cybersecurity to experts in the field like the team at Stefanini.
The team at Stefanini provides the strongest possible security offering by combining leading expertise with the very latest solutions. With a global ecosystem of world-class partners, Stefanini sets the bar for innovation, enabling clients across the world to build robust cyber resilience.
Don’t allow yourself to be victimized: invest in your future and protect yourself, your customers, and the ecommerce company you’ve built with Stefanini.
To learn more, contact Stefanini’s expert cybersecurity team here.