How To Secure Ecommerce Site From Cyber Attacks In 2024?
Because e-commerce sites handle payments and collect personal data, hackers find them to be attractive targets.
Recent years have seen a number of well-publicized data breaches; according to one report, malicious intent was detected in 29% of visits to e-commerce websites.
Security for e-commerce websites is undoubtedly a top priority for any platform or company.
A breach has the potential to destroy consumer trust and permanently harm a company’s reputation. Consumers anticipate that the company will handle security. Cybercrimes are becoming more frequent, and new threats to e-commerce security are emerging more frequently.
It is imperative to have security; it is not something to be desired.
- Why Security for E-Commerce Websites Is a High Priority
- Major Ecommerce Cyber Security Threats
- Watch Out for These Internal E-Commerce Security Risks
- Examples of Large Enterprise Companies’ Data Breach Incidents
- Ecommerce Website Security Best Practices
- Ecommerce Website Security Compliance
Why Security for E-Commerce Websites Is a High Priority
Large volumes of user data and online transactions are received and stored by e-commerce sites; this data is especially valuable to cybercriminals.
The 2020 Trustwave Global Security Report states that the retail industry was the one most frequently targeted by cyberattacks. It’s an ongoing struggle that changes constantly as new, more potent attack strategies are created.
The company has an obligation to maintain the website and its users’ safety and security. Proper security procedures follow from sound security practices.
Major Ecommerce Cyber Security Threats
These are still the most popular ways that hackers target e-commerce platforms, despite the fact that new techniques are emerging more frequently:
attacks using phishing.
Social engineering is phishing. Here, hackers get hold of a target’s personal data and utilize it to try and fool them into giving up sensitive data, like social security numbers or bank account details.
Attacks with malware and ransomware.
Ransomware and malware have existed since the internet’s dial-up modem days. Ransomware can completely lock you out of a system and prevent you from accessing it again until you pay a ransom. Malware can seriously harm systems.
SQL Injection.
A malicious query could be injected into the database where you store sensitive data, allowing the attacker to view or even edit the data.
XSS, or cross-site scripting.
Malicious code is inserted into a website through XSS, usually using JavaScript. This could have an effect on clients or site visitors, but it might not have an effect on the website itself.
E-skimming.
Hackers steal credit card numbers and other sensitive payment information from online shoppers through e-skimming. Usually, this is accomplished by inserting malicious code into point-of-sale (POS) systems or e-commerce websites in order to steal credit card information while customers make purchases.
Attacks known as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS).
When a website experiences a distributed denial of service (DDoS), it becomes unusable for users due to an overload of traffic from various sources. A DDoS attack involves using a big number of compromised devices to send a ton of traffic to a website.
using brute force.
Hackers use brute force attacks, in which they try every possible combination until they find the one that works, in an attempt to guess the user’s login password.
If the password is simple or weak, this method can work, but it takes a lot of time and computing power.
Watch Out for These Internal E-Commerce Security Risks
Not every security risk originates from the outside. Ecommerce businesses need to be mindful of the various internal threats that they may encounter, some of which are inadvertent.
Employee carelessness.
Regrettably, a lot of cybersecurity attacks are successful due to merely careless human behavior. Employees who disregard established security policies and procedures—such as sharing confidential information with unauthorized parties, using weak passwords, or clicking on dubious links or attachments—will experience this.
staff subversion.
Intentional sabotage lies at the other extreme of the negligence spectrum. Although it is impossible to completely prevent unhappy workers, you can lessen the harm by controlling access to sensitive information, enforcing strong password policies, and conducting frequent access reviews.
insiders from third parties.
This spreads employee sabotage to other parties that collaborate with your business. Attackers may encounter contractors, vendors, or even customers; as a result, their infection may spread to your systems.
Examples of Large Enterprise Companies’ Data Breach Incidents
Not only do small businesses with restricted resources suffer from data breaches. Even some of the most well-known brands in the world have suffered.
adidas.
The international shoe company has previously suffered greatly. 2018 saw a breach of the company’s US website, exposing customer contact information.
Mercari.
A Japanese e-commerce business called Mercari runs an online marketplace. The business revealed a significant data breach incident in 2021.
Goal.
One of the biggest data breaches in history happened to Target’s online store. A cyberattack that targeted millions of customers in 2013 took advantage of holes in the company’s payment gateway, giving hackers access to credit and debit card numbers, expiration dates, and CVV codes.
Ecommerce Website Security Best Practices
For security reasons, internet businesses never want to make headlines. At the very least, adhering to these best practices will significantly lower the likelihood of any security problems.
Make a policy about passwords for your business.
mandate complicated passwords with a minimum of eight characters that combine capital and lowercase characters, digits, and symbols. Both customers and staff should be required to do this.
Restrict who has access to sensitive information.
Only those users and systems that truly require access to sensitive data should have it. It’s preferable to have fewer access points.
Audit security flaws and carry out penetration tests on a regular basis.
To be as smart as a bot or hacker is to become as smart as they are. Regularly simulate attacks and make live attempts to compromise your own systems. This will reveal any vulnerabilities before they are exploited by others.
Make a security strategy before integrating third parties and adding plugins.
Make sure all of the third-party systems in your tech stack are current by taking stock of them. Determine each one’s level of security and make sure it satisfies your own requirements.
Verify adherence to PCI-DSS guidelines.
Any company that takes credit or debit card payments is required to abide by a set of security guidelines known as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS). Since PCI compliance is required, you should stay informed about any modifications to the standards.
Select a safe online storefront.
Every component of your store needs to be ready for the particular demands of online shopping. Your whole tech stack should adhere to the strictest security guidelines, including payments, data storage, and logistics.
Make use of an SSL certificate.
SSL certificates, which create a secure, encrypted connection between a web server and browser, are becoming more and more common in e-commerce.
The encryption technology guarantees that any data transmitted between the server and the browser stays private and cannot be intercepted or tampered with, while the SSL certificate authenticates the website.
two-way verification.
We are all accustomed to receiving a code via text message in order to access a system by this point. These days, 2FA is much more widespread and acts as an extra layer of identity verification and protection.
Update your software frequently.
It’s likely that the software in your tech stack will get patches and updates on a regular basis, adding even more security. Make sure that all software is updated as needed.
Provide best practices training to your contractors and staff.
Social engineering attacks are common, and it is the responsibility of the organization to teach and educate its employees on how to prevent them. Businesses frequently use fictitious emails to test staff members’ susceptibility to phishing attempts.
Create a plan for responding to incidents.
Even if you might try to prevent attacks altogether, business owners should always be ready for the worst. In the event of a breach, have a fully developed response plan that addresses identification, mitigation, and communication.
Ecommerce Website Security Compliance
Legal and industry standards are things that all e-commerce businesses must adhere to. While complying with these does not ensure a secure platform, it does help safeguard customer data.
PCI-DSS stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard.
PCI-DSS standards must be followed by any organization that handles credit card transactions. From storage through checkout, credit card information is protected by these guidelines.
Regulation on the General Data Protection (GDPR).
GDPR was implemented by the European Union in order to safeguard the personal data of all of its members. This also holds true for companies that are not based in the EU but still sell to Europeans.
Consumer Privacy Act of California (CCPA).
Though exclusive to the state of California, the CCPA is comparable to the GDPR. At the moment, it’s the most stringent requirement in the US.
Conclusion
In 2024, protecting your e-commerce website from cyberattacks will be crucial for business security. Our guide offers crucial tactics to guarantee a strong defense and efficiently protect consumer data.
If you’re looking for an e-commerce development company to help you with the creation of a mobile app, Appic Softwares is a great choice. We have a talented development team available to help you with any and all of your requirements.
Why then are you acting so cautiously?
