Top 10 Cybersecurity Features That Are A Must-Have In An Ecommerce Store

14 April 2021

Managing an eCommerce store is quite a task these days. Given the fact that cybercrimes are mounting, following cybersecurity best practices is paramount.

Back in 2020, cybercriminals cost $12 billion off the table to companies around the world.

When it happens, a cyberattack harms a company, directly and indirectly, affects its reputation in its potential customers’ eyes.

The losses that happen because of this can only be estimated, not counted.

A concrete solution is necessary for businesses to keep themselves protected at all times.

We have the solution to it but, before we discuss that, let us first understand why we need to safeguard our eCommerce store?

Significance of eCommerce Website Security in 2021-

In 2021, most businesses are working in the online framework. Their revenues heavily depend on their websites.

If they do not emphasize their website’s security, their customer base and reputation will get vulnerable.

As an eCommerce website owner, you need to comply with certain payment guidelines such as PCI/DSS (Payment Card Industry – Data Security Standard) to ensure smooth payment transactions.

Moreover, you need to install security protocols to secure your data integrity. They will not only protect your customer data from hackers but also keep the search engines satisfied.

Thus, security is essential for your eCommerce website.

10 cybersecurity features every eCommerce Website Must Have-

1: Employ the two-factor Authentication Method:

Does not matter how frustrating it may sound. As long as you are keeping your customer’s data secure, every security method is fine.

Employing 2-factor authentication may make your customers a bit agitated. They first enter the login credentials and then enter the OTP received on their number to decrease security breaches and hacks drastically.

So, employ the process and safeguard your customer accounts.

2: HTTPS Authentication is Must:

To obtain HTTPS authentication businesses need an SSL certificate to be installed on a website. Before installation, you need to buy an SSL certificate as they encrypt the data communication between the server and the client. It then passed over a secure network through cryptographic functions (symmetric & asymmetric) so that no cybercriminal can intercept the communication.

Out of all the SSL certificates, the EV SSL certificates require a user to undergo a unique validation process to verify his credibility through his name, ID, address, and more.

Thus, get an EV SSL to secure your Ecommerce website and obtain the highest validation level.

3: Secure Payment Gateway System by complying with PCI-DSS guidelines:

PCI-DSS or Payment Card Industry – Data Security Standard is a body that governs a website’s right to maintain an online payment transaction system.

If you are a website that sees over six million+ transactions every year, you must be a level 1 compliant but, if your transactions range from 20,000 per year, you are safe as a level 4 client of PCI-DSS.

The compliance helps you to secure your payment gateway system and allows you to use a third-party app to accept payments and make refunds on your behalf.

4: A VPN can act as a Night Watchman:

When you use public networks such as Wi-Fis to access the site, it is better to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to watch your back and restrict other connections to manipulate the ongoing connection between the server and the client.

Without a VPN, hackers can easily manipulate the payment transaction and hack credit and debit card details.

VPN will secure your customer’s payment transaction even on Wi-Fi and keep their sensitive data safe as houses.

5: Use reCAPTCHA to restrict malicious bots:

The reCAPTCHA method is extremely effective in keeping hackers at bay. ReCAPTCHA generates random questions to which a bot cannot answer.

There are plenty of malicious bots lurking around the internet in hopes of finding an ideal prey for cybercriminals.

When they get access to your account, malicious bots can steal information, leak it, or even bring your site down.

ReCAPTCHA adds an extensive layer of security that is impenetrable for a code or a bot.

It restricts bad guys’ entrance by protecting login pages, signup pages, contact form pages, form submission pages, payment gateway pages, etc.

6: Choose a reliable CMS platform:

Choosing the right CMS is important for businesses to determine whether an eCommerce website will stay safe.

Mediocre CMSs are a big risk to have. They might help you save a few bucks, but you will always be vulnerable to theft.

But, CMSs like WordPress and Joomla are renounced entities having customer bases in millions.

Moreover, they are regular in updating security patches and always stay a step ahead of the bad guys.

The only thing you need to do is keep them updated.

7: Don’t install Unsolicited Extensions and Plugins:

Plugins and extensions are necessary to enhance your website’s reach. They allow you access to multiple tools and features on the internet.

But not all plugins are safe to install. These days due to rising cybercrimes, you must be aware of what you’re installing or adding.

Cybercriminals can engrave malicious codes in the plugins, and when a user installs it, they get access to his site.

Before installing any plugin, make sure that its source is known. Check for its review and ratings across the internet.

Also, check its performance reports and badges for further inquiry and self-satisfaction.

8: Site Security Audit:

Site security auditing does not interest a lot of merchants but it is essential for their survival.

Site security auditing includes checking whether the anti-virus is working appropriately and security protocols are repelling attacks or not.

As a merchant, you must initiate site auditing from time to time. It will help you prevent attacks, fix bugs and technical glitches.

If detected early, some security issues can be repelled; otherwise, they may harm the website if they stay for longer periods.

So, keep auditing your website at regular intervals of time.

9: Install a Firewall:

If you own a web application, the firewall can benefit you immensely.

Web Application Firewall or WAF protects the website or web app by analyzing the traffic between the application and the internet.

A firewall protects the user data, the application from XSS (cross-site scripting), SQL injection and cross-site request forgery, etc.

A firewall is the need of the hour to suffice the mounting cyberattacks and help sustain the business.

10: Create Data Backups:

In today’s tech world, data is more important than cash in your wallet. Cash can be earned by you again but data once lost cannot be retrieved in the same proportion.

For businesses, data is their lifeline. They thrive on data and channelize their operations accordingly.

Since it is immensely important, protecting it is quite a task for businesses as cybercriminals are always on the lookout for data.

The best way to protect your data is by creating a copy of it and save it on the cloud.

Cloud allows you to access your data anywhere at any time, making it extremely reliable.

To Conclude:

eCommerce is booming every day. New ways of marketing, selling, and attracting are getting invented to make life convenient for customers.

On the hind side, hackers also build new ways to capture as much data as possible.

They employ bots and bugs to do the dirty work. Bots can enter your website and steal customer data, whereas bugs can get attached to plugins and gain access once you install them.

Keeping track of what you are installing, where you are visiting, and who you are allowing access to is of paramount importance.

But everything can get simple if you follow these ten steps, as they will help you frame a robust website security system.

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Ariana Smith

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

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How VPN works on Windows and how you can benefit from it

Windows is one of the most widely used operating systems in the world. It is estimated that there are more than a billion Windows users worldwide. This extensive usage means that the amount of data available on Windows systems is enormous making them a target for hacks and other kinds of cyberattacks. A recent article published by Forbes reveals that unsigned firmware in laptop cameras, network interface cards, Wi-Fi adapters, and USB hubs puts millions of Windows users at risk of data theft and ransomware attacks. These threats and vulnerabilities make the use of a VPN for Windows imperative. Here’s how a VPN for Windows works and how people can benefit from it: How a VPN for Windows works A VPN for Windows 10 works by plugging the source of all hacks. The user's IP address, while they are connected to the internet, is what leads cybercriminals to their position and allows them to initiate attacks. VPNs masks this IP address to minimize the ability of any cyber attacker to track and infect the system. The service will effectively eliminate any chances of malware or other bugs being able to reach the system software or hardware. Did you know that Windows 10, the latest version of the operating system comes with its VPN client too? Windows acknowledges the prevalent threat from cybercrime and provides users with the option to enable data security from within the system. This VPN client can serve as a great complimentary service to a comprehensive VPN but it limits functionality because you can only connect to specific servers and this restricts internet access to a great extent. The benefits of a VPN for Windows There are several benefits of a VPN and these go beyond just allowing internet freedom without any restrictions. The main features that a VPN offers revolve around providing elaborate cybersecurity. Cybercriminals and their tactics are constantly evolving and this trend is expected to continue for several years. Here are some of the advantages that a VPN brings when it comes to providing protection against a variety of threats. Comprehensive cybersecurity VPNs offer a wide range of options to protect Windows systems against malicious elements online. These include secure servers spread across the globe and state-of-the-art AES encryption services which makes it hard for hackers to steal data emerging from the system. Most leading VPNs have over the top features like public Wi-Fi security, secure DNS, dedicated IPs, internet kill switches, DDoS protection and a lot more besides. All these features are effective in protecting a Windows system against cybercrime threats. Advanced encryption protocols Encryption is a vital pillar of cybersecurity and the more elaborate it is the better. Highly rated VPNs make sure that they provide additional encryption protocols for users to support themselves and the protection of their online presence effectively. These advanced protocols can be added on top of the standard features so that the overall strength of encryption can be increased. Some security steps to help you protect your data online It is important to note that a VPN alone can’t provide complete cybersecurity. The biggest loophole at times in the protective guard is the user themselves. There are tools and measures that are imperative to be taken in order to ensure that the threat is minimized to a level where it becomes insignificant. Here are some of the most effective tips in this regard: Use antivirus A VPN is good at detecting threats that may be incoming but users need something that can deal with elements that have already made their way into the system. This is where a good antivirus comes into play. It screens the device on a regular basis to make sure that no harmful malware is hiding inside the device because viruses have the ability to sit in a device for a long period of time and the user only gets to know about them after it’s too late. Update all software regularly Software that is out of date is much more vulnerable to cyberattacks because the development team has stopped working on protecting it. This means that if your software is not updated you are a greater risk of hacks and other attacks as compared to when your applications are up to date. Install a secure browser like Tor Tor is one of the browsers that hide user IP addresses as default. The IP originally is public but when you use a browser like Tor, it is masked, to begin with. Tor is not a complete of an alternative of a VPN though because the latter provides a lot of extraordinary features whereas the browser is just a basic service that is not adequate on its own. Always keep strong passwords Many of us shy away from strong passwords because they are hard to remember especially since there are so many of them. This is one of the biggest mistakes to make. There are several secure password managers out there which can hold all passwords, auto-fill them when necessary and take the burden of remembering them off your shoulders. Stay vigilant Vigilance is one of the most crucial factors because scams like phishing, man-in-the-middle or other similar ones have nothing to do with VPN. Protecting from these all comes down to being aware and careful of the existence of these threats. Conclusion While a VPN has become a necessary tool to have these days, it is more important to have knowledge about the threats and being vigilant to protect against them. Recommend Post: 8 VPN Facts – You Should Know About Top 7 Torrent Applications with VPN Support Five Tips to Make Sure Your Security Software Is Actually Secure

Protecting Your Business From Retail Theft

As any retail business owner can tell you, it can be a tough industry to work in, especially when the issue of retail theft comes to light. Some small business owners lose a substantial amount of money each year through shoplifting, employee theft, and even through simple administrative errors that go unnoticed. If you want to ensure that your business is a success from the start, take these steps to reduce the chances of any form of theft occurring on your premises. Set up a state of the art surveillance system: One ancient camera in the corner may not do much to deter experienced shoplifters. If you want to make it clear to any would-be thieves that you’re serious about catching them in the act, you need the functioning, high-quality CCTV cameras that can keep an eye on every area of your retail store. They should offer crystal clear visuals so you have a sharp image of everything that goes on in your store from every angle, as well as round-the-clock monitoring to ensure that any after-hours theft is caught as easily as it would be in broad daylight. Educate your employees: Employees that understand how you monitor theft will be less likely to commit the crime themselves. A surprisingly large percentage of in-store losses occur through in-house employee theft, so it’s crucial that you ensure that your employees understand that if they attempt to steal from your business, they will be caught and the authorities swiftly notified. In many cases, simply calling regular staff meetings in which the management makes it clear how seriously they’re taking the issue will be enough of a deterrent. You can also attempt to pre-emptively avoid the problem altogether by hiring employees with clear criminal records and positive references from past employers. Use tags and signs as deterrents: Many shoplifters act on impulse rather than coming in with a premeditated plan to make off with your products without paying. This means that intimidating deterrents like signs and tags can play a significant role in reducing losses within your business. The signs you display should accurately describe the prosecution process a shoplifter would undergo if caught stealing in your store. These should be placed in prominent areas of your store so everyone can see them as they pass through. Security tags vary in price depending on their sophistication, so you should choose the tags you use depending on the value of your products and the vulnerability of your business to crime. You can target particular products for tagging by evaluating which items are most frequently shoplifted or offer the highest resale value if you don’t want to tag the entire store. Get security professionals on board: Uniformed security guards are utilized around the world both as a deterrent to shoplifters and as a way to catch and detain those caught in the act. If your store is struggling with frequent and substantial losses due to either shoplifting or employee theft, then getting a professional security company involved could make a major difference. Choose a company with a strong track record and plenty of experience, with guards that have passed stringent background checks, and consider mixing in plainclothes security officers who may able to spot a shoplifter in a more subtle way. Read More : 5 Tips to Safeguard Your Home From Intruders. Why Should You Consider Security Doors for Your House?

Parts of a Gun: All You Need to Know About the Components of Your Firearm

Anyone who owns a gun understands that they aren't simply weapons, they are amazing creations of engineering and design. Whether you are a recreational shooter, a hunter, or simply out of a need for personal protection, there is a lot more to know about a gun besides simply learning to aim and shoot. The more you understand about your gun, the better you will be able to care for it and operate it. Let's take a look at the parts of a gun so that you can become a more informed marksman. Parts of a Gun: All You Need to Know About the Components of Your Firearms: If you own a firearm, you'll know how to shoot. But do you know how your gun actually works? We take a closer look at all the parts of a gun and what they do. The Grip: Quite simply, the grip is the part of the gun that the shooter holds onto. It's held with the dominant hand, though both hands are typically used to properly steady the gun for aiming. Grips are constructed from a variety of materials, such as rubber, wood, or the same material used for the rest of the gun. The Trigger: This is the small lever used to engage the firing mechanism of the gun. The majority of modern guns generally use a Double-Action trigger which causes the hammer-striker to cock and release in a single action. The trigger is a curved piece of metal designed to rest comfortably against the index finger. It can be set to various degrees of sensitivity so that the trigger will respond to a specific amount of pressure applied from the finger before firing. The apex trigger has long been regarded as one of the best ones in the industry. It is not only safe and efficient but does not add any extra weight to the overall gun. Not only does it result in lesser trigger travel time, but also delivers a far smoother trigger experience. The Trigger Guard: The trigger guard is basically a metal ring designed to protect the exposed part of the trigger. Its purpose is to protect the trigger from getting bumped or snagged, causing the gun to fire inadvertently. The Barrel: This is what you might call the "business end" of the gun. A barrel is made from heavy-duty hardened material that can withstand the tremendous forces involved in discharging and propelling a bullet. On handguns, the barrel is short. Whereas on rifles the barrel is much longer, which enables greater accuracy when shooting over a long distance. The internal wall of the barrel is "rifled" which means it's designed to impart a rotation on the exiting projectile, intended to provide improved accuracy. The Muzzle: If the barrel is the business end of the gun, the muzzle is the business end of the gun. Because this is the last part of the gun that a bullet touches as it exists. Many people fit their muzzles with accessories such as noise suppressors or silencers. For those interested in the latest advancements in firearm accessories, exploring the 2023 linear muzzle compensators can provide insights into modern options for enhancing shooting performance. The Hammer: On a handgun, the hammer is the part of a gun that strikes the cartridge primer or firing pin. This detonates the primer which discharges around from the gun. The Cylinder: This is one of the parts of a revolver, designed specifically to hold each bullet in a separate chamber. Then as each round discharges, the cylinder rotates, bringing each chamber into alignment with the barrel so that the bulletin that chamber is ready for discharge. The Forward and Rear Sights: The forward sight on a firearm is a slight protrusion on the barrel of the gun intended to align with a rear sight for the purpose of aiming. The shooter aims at the target by aligning the front sight in the grooves of the rear sight so that the muzzle of the gun aims directly at the target. These are typically small metal protrusions that in no way impact the actual mechanics of the firearm. Plenty of upgrades and accessories are available on the market, such as laser sights that improve the shooter's accuracy. The Slide: The slide on a handgun is a part of the assembly that houses the upper section of the firearm. It's typically constructed of a material that can withstand the forces involved during the firing of the gun. With most guns, it's designed with a ribbed pattern for improved grip and is manually pulled back to load the gun. Then as each round discharges, the slide automatically recoils and is the part of the firing mechanism that facilitates the transfer of a fresh round from the magazine into the firing chamber. The Slide Lock: This is the part of the gun designed for the simple task of locking the slide in the rearward position. When the final round in a magazine successfully discharges from a semi-automatic weapon, the slide lock engages and holds the slide in the open position in order to alert the shooter that the weapon is now empty. The Magazine: The magazine is a metal cartridge that holds the bullets prior to loading them into the firing chamber. It is manually ejected from the gun, reloaded with bullets, then snapped back into the assembly so that a fresh round can be chambered. Magazine cartridges come in a number of sizes, are able to hold up to several hundred rounds at one time, and can be single or double stacked. The Magazine Well: This is the part of the gun that accepts the magazine cartridge. The magazine well is usually designed with grooves that direct the magazine into a place where it can be engaged by the slide and firing mechanism. The Magazine Spring and Release Button: This magazine cartridge spring is a simple pressure spring intended to move rounds toward the firing action. The more rounds loaded into a magazine at one time, the greater the pressure exerted upon the spring. The release button is used to detach the magazine from the grip so that it can be reloaded, or replaced by another magazine that is already loaded. The Ejection Port: This is the part of the gun designed to eject a spent shell casing. The ejection port is a cutout located along the middle section of the slide that can also help the shooter to inspect the condition of the firing chamber. When the gun jams, the shooter can open the slide in order to look inside and see what the problem is. Sometimes the empty casing simply doesn't eject properly, or an unfired round might get jammed as it's loaded into the firing chamber. The Tang: The tang is a structure designed to assist the shooter in managing the recoil of the firearm. It also helps to protect the hand of the shooter from the slide assembly when it moves quickly backward and forward during the firing action. The Take-Down Lever: This lever is designed to manage the field-stripping of the firearm. The process of field-stripping is important for breaking the firearm down into its individual components for repair or cleaning. Breaking down the weapon on a regular basis is necessary both for proper maintenance as well as for when a part of the firing mechanism has failed and needs to be serviced. For anyone interested in repairing or modifying their own firearms, be sure to check out Strike Industries. The Chamber: The chamber is a portion of the barrel where the cartridge is stored prior to being fired. Each cartridge is chambered one at a time, fired, then ejected prior to the next round being chambered. The Accessories Rail: The accessories rail on a firearm allows the shooter to add on various tactical accessories. These include such devices as flashlights and laser sights. The Breech: The breech is located near the midsection of the gun. This is the part on the vast majority of firearms where the ammunition is loaded. Breech-loaded guns have become the norm in the current market, whereas in the old days' many shotguns, rifles and pistols were typically loaded through the muzzle. The Safety: Safety is one of the most important parts of any gun. This simple mechanism can easily make the difference in preventing a terrible accident. Sometimes the safety is a sliding component on the firearm, and sometimes it's a button. And it's usually located near the trigger where it can be easily reached and engaged. Safety is so important because it blocks the trigger mechanism, thus the gun cannot discharge until the safety disengages. Keep in mind that not every model of the gun has safety. So when looking to buy one for personal or home defensive, we strongly encourage you to look for a model with safety to reduce the chances of accidents occurring. The Importance of Understanding the Anatomy of Your Gun: The simple truth is that guns are complicated mechanisms. They can be dangerous in the wrong hands, yet can save lives in the hands of a trained and knowledgeable user. The more you learn about the parts of a gun, the better you will be able to care for your firearm and operate it safely and effectively. So be an informed marksman and have fun out there! Click here to learn about how gun and security gear has advanced through the years. Read Also: What Is An Airsoft Gun? How Gun And Security Gear Advanced Through The Years

Top 10 Cybersecurity Features That Are A Must-Have In An Ecommerce Store

Significance of eCommerce Website Security in 2021-

10 cybersecurity features every eCommerce Website Must Have-