If you are a brand owner, you need to think about the safety of your business. It has a huge impact on your reputation and customer experience.
It doesn't matter where you sell your services or products. You can sell products on the marketplace, your website, or on one of the pages on social networks. It is important to ensure safety through monitoring, updates, and regular checks. In this article, we'll share a few security techniques that can help protect your business as well as your customers.
Choosing a Reliable Environment
- Check the security of your chosen platform. First of all, you need to make sure how safe the e-commerce site is. It must comply with all regulations and provide ways to protect your data. Each platform should provide default security controls. However, in addition to the established methods of protection, you must take care of one hundred percent safety. On the Internet, you can find a wide variety of plugins and tools that can help provide additional protection.
- Find a reliable server. The server on which all your data will be stored must have special protection. You need to be sure that those who provide it to you understand how to protect your data.
- Online selling hosts such as Shopify, Volusion, or BigCommerce have long established themselves as experienced and secure providers.
- The sale of goods on marketplaces or social networks involves a minimal level of protection. This is why you should create unique passwords for each site. Thus, you protect yourself and ensure the impossibility of leaking data about your customers.
Setting protection levels
The best way to protect yourself is to install filters that will protect your network on the Internet. Robust firewalls prevent DDoS attacks when some badly intentioned users try to breach your defenses and cause your site to collapse. At any time, you can run a scan that will help detect any intrusion attempts.
Load balancing and application traffic routing gateways only protect checkpoints, while firewall filters fully prevent an attack on your network. The parameters for each of these protection methods must be configured by a specialist. Thus, they will work correctly and fulfill their function, and not only create a veil of semblance of protection. An aggressive filter is the best defense, but there is a risk that it will suspend traffic to your site and restrict user actions.
Regular updates
Any updates to the sites on the network will help you even better secure your work in e-commerce. As soon as you are offered a new update with changes in technical parameters, install it immediately. You can also make it so that new updates are self-installed when they are released.
This applies not only to the sites where you trade. Any security tool needs to be updated, be it plugins or tools. Stay tuned for updates to documents and certificates that allow you to safely post information.
Data backup
For the safety of data, you must have a backup system configured. You should check them regularly to see if they are doing their job. They must be properly configured so that in case of an emergency you are left with nothing.
Most of the companies suffered precisely because their backups did not work properly and only a small part of the data was saved, which was not enough to get the website back. Check how your data is being saved. You must be sure that in the event of an attack, you can make a full recovery.
Limit bots' access to your data
There are special bots on the Internet that collect data to customize search results. However, not all bots legitimately perform their functions. You must restrict access to bots that can steal information from you.
You do a tremendous job of defining a pricing strategy or gathering information for your products. You create unique product images edited at www.retoucher.online and come up with non-standard product cards. This data is extremely important. There are bots that can inject malicious data into your system that will destroy everything that you have been working on for a long time.
You cannot completely block such bots. However, you can check all bots and find those that can harm you. To do this, you have to configure the number of requests. Find the optimal number of requests that the buyer fulfills. If this indicator is exceeded, then you will be able to detect bad bots.
In addition, set up a system that notifies you immediately if unauthorized activity occurs. Such a system can be installed on your smartphone and you will be able to learn about any actions in real-time.
Transaction protection
The main goal of the merchant is to protect user data regarding bank cards. Each buyer should be aware that when placing an order, his data will not be sold or stolen.
To do this, you must use encryption and certificates. If you are hiring contractors to handle these issues, make sure they do their job with diligence.
In addition, you must ensure the safety of your customer data. Your staff, bots, virtual assistants must fully protect any data about users.
You cannot store information about customers and their payment methods in large quantities. This amount of data is difficult to protect. If it is possible to work with payments through mobile devices, then this will provide additional protection, as well as provide more convenience for users.
You can never be completely sure that your site will always be safe. This is very reckless. In the event of a crisis, you should always have a plan of action to recover and protect your data. It is easier to act according to a prepared plan than to be confused in the event of an attack.
Conclusion
Working in e-commerce is not only about sales figures and big revenues. If you don't work on security, then you risk losing everything you own, as well as losing customers’ trust. Monitor regularly, check for updates and consult on how to improve the protection of your business.
Online Threat Alerts Security Tips
Pay the safest way
Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.
Guard your personal information
In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.
Be careful of the information you share
Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with
Know who you’re dealing with
Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.
Check your accounts
Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.
Don’t believe promises of easy money
If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.
Do not open email from people you don’t know
If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.
Think before you click
If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.
Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond
If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.
Be careful with links and new website addresses
Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.
Secure your personal information
Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.
Stay informed on the latest cyber threats
Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are critical to online security.
Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs
Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.
Update the operating systems on your electronic devices
Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.
What if You Got Scammed?
Stop Contact With The Scammer
Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.
Secure Your Finances
- Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
- Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
Check Your Computer
If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.
Change Your Account Passwords
Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.
Report The Scam
Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.
Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:
- Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
- Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
- Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.
How To Recognize a Phishing Scam
Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.
Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might
- say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
- claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
- say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
- include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
- want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
- say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
- offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real
About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)
Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.
By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.
With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.
Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.
Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).