How to Ensure the Security of an E-commerce Store? Check the 5 Principles
Hacking attacks, malware, theft of sensitive customer data or non-compliance with data protection regulations – these are just some of the dangers that lurk for e-shop owners and their customers. Fortunately, it is possible to protect against them. We show you what safeguards are important in the eCommerce industry.
Cyber security and the eCommerce industry
Customers of online stores are exposed to various threats, including:
phishing – a cyber attack technique that attempts to deceive internet users into revealing their confidential information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or personal data. Attackers impersonate trusted institutions like banks, online stores, social media platforms, or email service providers, and send users emails or direct them to fake websites that appear genuine.
malware attacks – a type of cyber attack where malicious software (malware) is used to infect computer systems or mobile devices for the purpose of stealing sensitive information, spying, or data destruction.
identity theft – cybercriminals may attempt to steal customers' personal data from online stores, such as their name, address, ID number, phone number, or email address.
But what do the statistics say? According to a study conducted by NortonLifeLock in 2021, 63% of consumers worldwide experienced at least one cybersecurity incident in the past year. The most commonly reported incidents were phishing (28%), malware attacks (26%), and data privacy breaches (24%).
This study shows that digital security issues are increasingly important for consumers and that cyber threats are prevalent. Therefore, e-commerce stores should invest in protective measures to safeguard their customers from attacks and security breaches.
Ensuring the security of customers is also crucial for maintaining a good brand reputation, building customer loyalty, and ultimately achieving sales success.
In the further part of the article, we discuss key issues regarding e-shop security, such as: server security, SSL certificate, software updates, customer data protection or integration with secure payment systems.
What should you know about server security?
Your store's customer data is stored on the server. If you use hosting, this information is taken care of by an external company. Your task, therefore, is to choose a trusted brand that keeps its finger on the pulse and does not hesitate to react in case of server trouble.
Cyber criminals have specialized in catching bugs that provide a gateway to data theft, so it is extremely important to react immediately, in case errors occur.
If, on the other hand, you have decided to have your own server, you need to remember to back up, i.e. back up your data regularly, as it ensures that you can quickly restore your data in case of failure. Information should be stored in a digital safe. Access to the server should be limited to authorized persons only.
Not sure which solution – cloud, dedicated servers or shared hosting – will work best for you? Contact us and we will be happy to suggest the optimal solution for your e-store.
Why should you care about regular software updates?
Recent studies show that about 60% of cyber-attacks on e-shops are due to a lack of software updates. In addition, research by Symantec found that in 2019, 43% of attacks on small and medium-sized businesses (including e-shops) were the result of a software vulnerability that could be easily patched through regular updates. In contrast, research by Imperva found that 98% of attacks on websites are based on exploiting software vulnerabilities that could have been addressed through updates.
It is worth mentioning that regular software updates have a positive impact not only on cyber security, but also on its positioning in search engines. Search engines, such as Google, prefer sites that are regularly updated. This improves the site's visibility in search results, and thus can attract more customers.
Regular updates should also apply to operating systems, applications and any plug-ins or modules that are used on the site. That's why it's a good idea to have technical support that deals with updates on an ongoing basis and ensures the security of your website.
As the ClawRock team, we understand very well that our clients care about continuous development and improvement of their business operations. That's why we make it our goal to not only accompany them during the implementation stage of the website, but also to actively support them in the update process.
Monitoring activities and making improvements is one of the key and passionate parts of our work.
Most of the clients who have approached us in recent years with the problem of their online store being hacked neglected updates for a long time. One of the main problems was a non-updated online store engine.
This problem is common because any potential attacker has access to open source eCommerce engine documentation. This is where you can find information on the fixes made in subsequent versions. If a store owner fails to make corrections (updates) in time, he exposes himself to potential threats, such as malware, which can be withheld from the server.
It should be noted, however, that not all updates fix critical vulnerabilities. ClawRock's team is tasked with analyzing the changes and recommending the optimal time to perform the update. Thanks to our analysis, customers do not have to interrupt their work every time a new version of the systems they use is released.
SSL certificate to guard the security
An SSL certificate is a standard data encryption protocol that protects data transmitted between a server and a web browser. With an SSL certificate, data is encrypted during transmission, preventing unauthorized access to that information.
An SSL certificate provides security and privacy when browsing the web and protects users from data theft, such as:
- login,
- passwords,
- financial data (for example, payment card number),
- name, surname, home address,
The SSL certificate also allows the use of the HTTPS protocol, which means that the website is authentic and has not been replaced by third parties. This allows you to be sure that you are using a secure connection and that the information you have provided is safe.
Remember to integrate with secure payment systems
A secure and well-known payment system is essential if you want to inspire trust in your customers and enhance the convenience of transactions. With user comfort in mind, we have created the Przelewy 24 module. What sets it apart?
Przelewy24 maintains both technical and operational security measures that help ensure the protection and confidentiality of customer data. The P24 integration is based on the PCI-DSS certificate, meaning that all transactions are protected at the highest banking level.
It's also worth mentioning that this module enables merchants to accept various online payment methods, including BLIK, credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, mobile payments, and many others. Learn more about it here.
Protecting customer data as a priority
Another way to protect customer data is by optimizing the process of creating accounts and logging in. It's important to educate consumers on establishing strong passwords for their accounts. This can be achieved through various methods, such as:
- Labeling passwords as "strong" or "weak",
- Requiring the use of uppercase and lowercase letters, special characters, and numbers,
Implementing Invisible reCAPTCHA for login security. This system utilizes advanced algorithms that analyze user behavior on the website, including mouse movements, interactions with page elements, and browsing time. Based on this information, the system evaluates whether the user is a human or a bot. If invisible reCAPTCHA determines that the user is a genuine person, the login process continues without a visible CAPTCHA verifier. Otherwise, the user will be prompted to complete an additional verification task, such as clicking on the appropriate field or solving a simple quiz,
Implementing two-factor authentication (2FA). To log in, customers must provide both a password and a code received via SMS or email. It's worth noting that 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) is one of the security measures that can be implemented on the administrator's panel.
Additionally, the online store should have a well-crafted privacy policy that informs customers about how their data is processed and complies with GDPR principles.
At ClawRock, we employ internal procedures aimed at protecting against data leaks from local, development, and staging environments. All databases in these environments undergo anonymization processes, which provide protection against unauthorized data disclosure and eliminate the risk of accidentally sending emails to customers during the testing of new features. These actions allow us to ensure data security and maintain the confidentiality of information during our internal processes.
We will help you secure your eCommerce platform
Are you unsure if your eCommerce website is adequately secured? The ClawRock team can conduct an audit for you. Our focus is on identifying common security breaches and providing recommendations on what steps you should take to enhance the security of your infrastructure and code to reach a safer level. Contact us to learn more.
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