| Identity fraud or online credit card fraud is not a myth. | | | | web application. |
| Ensuring that your e-commerce website is secure | | | | Authentication is done by the utilization of username |
| gives your customers the assurance that the | | | | and passwords. This is to ensure that the user is who |
| information they pass to your website are safe and | | | | he claims to be. |
| secure. | | | | Encryption of data is vital to enhance the security and |
| Here are 3 main reasons why you need a secure | | | | privacy of customers and subscribers. Data encryption |
| e-commerce website: | | | | has been described as the scrambling of data into |
| | | | unintelligible characters using passwords. The |
| 1. Confidentiality. Information retrieved from your buyers | | | | encrypted file is restored to its previous state by using |
| should only be available to authorized parties. As a | | | | the correct password or key. Websites can be |
| website owner, you are responsible for the protection | | | | secured with the use of SSL (Secure Socket layer) |
| of information passed to your site. Confidential | | | | certificates. When your web page is secured with a |
| information should be isolated from external access | | | | digital certificate, your URL (Uniform Resource Locator) |
| and totally separated from the public. | | | | will start with HTTPS (Hypertext Transmission |
| 2. Availability. While ensuring the security of data and | | | | Protocol with Secure Server) rather than the normal |
| resources; authorized users must have uninterrupted | | | | HTTP (Hypertext Transmission Protocol). A padlock |
| access to the system. | | | | icon is normally displayed at the lower right hand |
| 3. Data Integrity. The integrity of data must be | | | | corner of the web browser. |
| preserved. This means that data must remain the | | | | Auditing involves records of operation. This includes log |
| same from the sender to the receiver and devoid of | | | | analysis and evaluation. |
| corruption. It is essential you back up data regularly in | | | | In summary, e-commerce websites should be secured |
| case of data corruption or server damage. | | | | in order to maintain confidentiality of customer |
| Characteristics of a Secure Website | | | | information, ensure availability of resources to |
| - Authentication | | | | authorized users and maintain data integrity. When |
| - Authorisation | | | | your website is secure, you gain customer trust. The |
| - Encryption | | | | main characteristics of a secure websites are |
| - Auditing | | | | authentication, authorization, encryption and auditing. |
| Authorization is needed in order to identify the user, | | | | Online buyers may look for security signs on your |
| and the data they can access. This is usually done by | | | | website before they submit sensitive information. |
| restricting access to data or by programs within the | | | | |