eCommerce has always been the hot spot for security attacks. With millions of users’ availability of payment and personal information, eStores are nothing less than a treasure hunt for hackers. However, this makes maintaining data safety a challenging task for merchants and their chosen eCommerce development companies.
Larger companies have tools like privileged access management but smaller companies don’t always understand how to protect their business from data loss. This is why topics like eCommerce security are important.
Mostly, having poor eCommerce security can subject your store to several negative experiences. These can eventually affect the user’s experience with your eStore and can lead to a poor brand image. Poor security can cause issues such as:
- Customer Data Loss
- Loss of transactions and payments
- Loss of access due to unethical alteration in passwords
So getting defensive in your eCommerce security practices is a must to ensure your store runs smoothly. If you are wondering how you can do that without letting all the online info mess with your sanity, stay tuned! With this article, we will look into security issues and hacks that can aid you to address those. By the end, you will be able to step up your high-end security defenses with the help of an eCommerce website development company for your eStore.
Factors Affecting your eStore Security
Maintaining eCommerce security is a constant war between black hat hackers and your security defenses. To win it, start with “Know thy enemy“!! In terms of eCommerce security, it means understanding factors affecting your store’s security. Below is a detailed list of all the factors that can posses a threat to your eStore’s security defenses:
Phishing
Phishing involves direct interaction with users and convincing them to share personal information. Often, such contact would involve emails, phone calls, and texts creating a sense of urgency in users for prompt action.
Phishing attacks don’t directly affect your brand image. However, when someone does it under your brand name, it can negatively affect user interactions. To avoid the consequences of Phishing, putting disclaimers for similar incidents beforehand is a must. It also helps your users in staying aware and avoids unnecessary losses.
Malware
Malware is basically a pesky bug that when enters your backend can alter its functionality. Often the presence of malware or ransomware manifests as increased downtime and user data becoming inaccessible. You can easily break free of such issues by creating a regular backup and filtering suspicious emails and links.
SQL Injections
SQL injections are malicious queries injected along with the Payload. Such injections can give attackers access to your store’s database and user information which can further cause data security issues.
To avoid SQL injections you must ensure that your database stores data in an encrypted format. This will prevent your data from becoming visible to attackers.
Cross-Site Scripting
This involves attaching a piece of malicious Javascript code to your webpage. This malicious code then pushes users to download malware and share their personal information. Cross-site scripting does not affect your brand directly. However, it can eventually result in an unpleasant user experience and poor brand image.
E-Skimming
During E-Skimming hackers can enter the checkout page and steal your user’s credit card details. This when combined with phishing attempts can easily help hackers in stealing money.
Top ECommerce Security Hacks for Creating a Safer eStore
From the discussion above, we can conclude that consistently improving the eStore security is the key to success. With the help of an eCommerce development company, merchants can avoid a plethora of attacks by setting up store security. Yet, to ensure its success it is crucial for merchants to first create a list of these strategies before applying.
This will ensure the efficient application of security practices throughout your eStores. Below is a detailed list of some of the crucial security hacks that can help you strengthen your online defenses:
Implementing Strong Security and Password
One of the easiest ways to hack into eStore data is via easy to guess and short passwords. Although merchants often overlook these factors. In the long run, such leniency can bring security issues for their eStore. To ensure that your users are creating strong passwords you can enforce the following practices:
- Creating passwords longer than 8 characters
- Setting validation fields that mandate the use of upper case letters, numbers, and characters.
- Introduce a Password manager in your eStore for secure password recovery and account authentication.
Device Protection
Securing the devices you use to manage your eStore is a great way to deflect third-party attacks. For this, you can install anti-theft software, firewall, and antivirus software on your office devices.
This software can detect and troubleshoot any cyberattack within milliseconds. Hence, they can act as a great defense in times of third-party attacks and detect unusual activities with ease.
Implement Step-wise Authentication
Proper authentication during the login and sign-up can also help you prevent unauthorized access. As it ensures that the user only has access to their accounts. For this, you can easily implement two-step authentication. In this, apart from user name and password they also have to share their OTP. This OTP goes to the user’s mobile device and hence ensures their identity.
Regular Third-Party App Review
Regular review of your third-party app updates is another great way to strengthen your store’s defense. As updated apps come with improved security which can’t be hacked into easily.
Further, running outdated apps make it easier for attackers to hack into your store’s backend. As such applications do not have support from their backend development team.
To Wrap Up
Security is one of the essential pillars for maintaining eCommerce store stability. Further, with poor security, it can become easier for hackers to break into your store. This not only affects your store’s information but can also impact your brand’s image and user interaction.
To avoid facing such devasting outcomes of poor security practices, proper store maintenance and adapting to security standards is crucial. This includes implementing steps such as strong security password, regular backup, periodic store updates. They will help you integrate the latest security standards and deflect any ransomware from your store’s backend.
So, adapt to these above-mentioned security hacks today to ensure your store’s overall safety and heighten the user’s experience for consistent growth and you will be able to step up your high-security defenses with the help of an eCommerce development company.