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How To Improve Ecommerce Store Security in 2022?

Magical Mirror on the wall, is my eCommerce website safe? We wish life would be this simple. Unfortunately, it’s not! It takes more than a magical mirror to secure your eCommerce store. Today, keeping eCommerce store security is not exactly a walk in the park. But don’t worry. We got your back. We will be sharing some valuable tips that will help to arm your eCommerce store. So, are you ready to win this battle?

What Is eCommerce Security?

Insecure websites are vulnerable to cyberattacks. They hamper your business workflows and damage your reputation. Regaining customers’ trust becomes challenging. eCommerce security guidelines help you prevent data breaches and other cybercrimes. They aid your clients in conducting smooth and secure transactions, enhancing customers’ financial experiences.

Without proper security protocols in place, your business will suffer from data breaches, revenue losses, customer attrition, and financial frauds. And cybercriminals are just waiting to tear your business down. That’s why you should implement safety protocols to keep such security issues at bay.

Common eCommerce Security Issues

When you understand the root cause of problems, you deal with them in a better way. Let’s go through some common security troubles that companies face on a daily basis. 

SQL Injections

Structured Query Language is commonly used to access databases. But hackers use it to manipulate databases. Meaning — they can change records or completely remove them from your directories. Cyber attackers inject malicious code into your website to subvert its logic. They can also retrieve hidden data using the SQL injecting technique.

Cross-Site Scripting

Cross-site scripting is generally known as XSS. Hacker leverages XSS to compromise interactions between your website and clients. They insert malign codes into your application to redirect users to a malicious website, resulting in data loss.

DDoS Attacks

Distributed Denial of Service attack is the most annoying threat that companies go through. Cybercriminals flood your eCommerce store with illegitimate traffic. This slows down your website and makes it impossible for consistent clients to access it. 

Malware Infections

One of the most popular methods that hackers use to steal sensitive information is infecting your website with malware. It includes nasty things such as ransomware, spyware, viruses, worms, and more. Malware can extort money from your customers, show confidential files and disrupt the functioning of your eCommerce store.

Bots

There are good bots that help streamline operations; then are bad bots that spam your eCommerce stores. These bots basically steal inventory and pricing information from your website. Hackers use them to change your product prices, declining your sales and negatively affecting your revenue cycle. They usually use bot kits found on the dark web to plant viruses and perform nefarious tasks.

eCommerce Security Tips

Now that you have an idea about security threats, let’s see how you can defend your eCommerce store from such cyberattacks.

Leverage HTTPS

HTTPS uses SSL/TLS certification to protect your data from hackers. You can get your online store SSL certified. Some SSL vendors supply certification for an exceeding cost. You can opt for a Comodo Positive SSL Wildcard to secure multiple subdomains if you are running an ecommerce business. With SSL certification your information will be encrypted and unreadable by hackers. 

Never Store Credit Card Data

You should not collect private customer data unless it’s necessary. Storing clients’ credit card information puts their accounts at risk. Hackers can commit financial frauds and defraud your customers. The end results — losing clients’ loyalty and dealing with multiple lawsuits. You should use a third-party checkout tunnel to process payments to save your business from cybercriminals.

Safety Plugins: Your Knights in Shining Armor

Cyber attackers can crack your customers’ passwords. Such attacks can lower your authoritativeness in Google rankings. Safety plugins help you protect your online store from such brute force attacks. They also detect security threats to help you take prompt action.

Assist Your Customers in Protecting Themselves

You can’t expect customers to have in-depth knowledge about protection measures. You can encourage clients to include special characters in their passwords. You can also set two-factor authentication to keep clients’ accounts safe from hackers. Some businesses use OTPs to verify customers’ credentials.

Secure Your Admin Dashboard

Hackers gaining access to your admin dashboard can become your worst nightmare. Apart from stealing confidential files, they can lock you out of your online store. Businesses forget to change their admin login credentials. Their usernames and passwords are predictable — username: admin; password: 1234. You should set a strong user ID and access code to keep your website free from hackers.

Implement Multi-Layer Security

You should employ a multi-layer security system. Some of the identity verifications methods are as follows:

  • Two-Factor: Users need to acknowledge their login tries through a different device.
  • Two-Step: Customers need to enter an OTP received via phone, text or email.
  • Multi-Factor: It needs more than two factors of authentication.

Make Backups Your Best friends

It’s frustrating to discover that your online store has been hacked and your data was manipulated. In such cases, backups provide you with reliable information. You can restore your website to its original version and implement tight protection measures. It’s recommended to perform backups at least once a day. 

Maintain PCI Standards

You should regularly conduct PCI scans to detect issues before they arise. These scans help you close security gaps and protect your data from cyber attackers. Businesses accepting credit card transactions need to follow Payment Card Industry and Data Security Standards. 

Monitor Your E-Commerce Website

Just because you implemented tight security measures doesn’t mean cyber attackers cannot access your website. You should regularly check your website activity to detect unusual behaviors. You should also keep an eye on your downloads and integrations. Sometimes a malicious file can damage your eCommerce website.

Never Underestimate Your Security

You did everything to save your eCommerce store from cybercriminals. But what about your personal data? When hackers are unable to pursue your website, they try decrypting your personal information. And through your confidential files, they could invade your business secrets too. You should secure your private documents too.

Wrapping It Up

You need to follow critical protection measures to tighten your eCommerce website security. You can avoid cyberattacks and protect your and customers’ data with such security protocols. Make it a practice to run website audits to find and resolve unusual activity. Think twice before clicking suspicious links. And follow all the measures mentioned above to keep your website safe. Good luck securing your eCommerce store and attracting clients.