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What is Website Security and it’s importance?
It is very important to keep your website protected from malicious attacks and hackers by considering various factors, adding strong passwords, monitoring your website daily, keeping everything up to date, and using website security tools to keep your website more protected from SQL injections or cross-site scripting.
If you only created a website and didn’t focus on its security in the first place, then there are chances that your website might get into the hands of hackers and several security threats a website can face.
Frauds in Online Purchasing
The online consumer spending was a recorded one at $ 65.1 billion in 2004. The tendency is growing due to convenience and increased overall spending on products through the internet. However, the options that a person has on the Internet to become a scam victim are also growing.
According to a report of “The Internet National Fraud Center Watch,” the average loss by a fraud victim for the first six months of 2005 only was $2,579. This is compared to the $895 average for all of 2004 and means that the subscription price has been going down but still not that cheap. General merchandise (goods never received or misrepresented) was recorded at 30% of Internet fraud complaints while auction (goods never received or misrepresented) was at 44%.
While most of e-commerce Websites are legitimate and have done everything right to protect your money, it’s always wise to be careful as there are many kinds of frauds that scammers are into. If you are making an online purchase must consider or follow these easy steps:
Steps To Be Followed
- This should only be made using only one credit card preferably one with a very small credit limit. Avoid using (ATM or debit card)
- Do not make decisions when sellers are trying to lure you in their sale. According the “Internet National Fraud Information Center Watch“, 22% increase in contact through e-mail was recorded in 2004; The other contacts used by the Internet con artists Although the offer is probably genuine, spammers like to use this technique to circumvent legitimate sites that offer protection for consumer’s Internet purchases.
- Do not make decisions when sellers are trying to lure you in their sale. According the “Internet National Fraud Information Center Watch“, 22% increase in contact through e-mail was recorded in 2004; The other contacts used by the Internet con artists Although the offer is probably genuine, spammers like to use this technique to circumvent legitimate sites that offer protection for consumer’s Internet purchases.
- When shopping online, use certified sites that present their physical address and phone to make purchase and order online in case of complications.
- Have a look at the Privacy Policy of the website. Certain website may actually retain the option to sell/give your information to another person. Scan the document to see if they let you exercise an ‘opt-out’ freedom from receiving special offers by third parties or permission to share your individual information.
- The easiest way is to look at the bottom of the Web browser’s window for a lock symbol. And do not enter your personal data if the site address does not have an “https” at the beginning (this is evidence that the site uses a secure server).
- Choose only verified sellers. Look into the list to confirm whether the vendor is registered with a third party which includes Better Business Bureau, VeriSign or Guardian eCommerce. These third party sites increases the chances that online consumers will be protected when they are shopping or carrying out e-commerce transactions.
- Make sure that the date that you posted is sensible. If you have not had dealings with the vendor of the products, you may never come across any Website that will tell you that your consignment will be delivered in 20 or more days, or states the shipment will be delayed 20 or more days. 7-10 days delivery dates are typical.
- Ensure that every online transaction is documented, and documentation kept safely. Generate a printed copy of the transaction and place it in a file with a possibility of future use.
- If you were to pay for a product but did not get what you expected and the vendor does not answer your messages or phone calls then contact your state’s Department of Consumer Affairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What are some basic website security measures to take?
– Always use strong and unique passwords of different combinations.
– Encrypt your data by using SSL certificates.
– Use the web application firewall tool, which blocks malicious attacks and SQL injections.
– Put 2FA (2-factor authentication).
– Use plugins for websites that bring security features along with them.
– Use malware scanners that catch malware from your website.
– Backup your data regularly for protection.
Q2. How do I check my website security?
Open your website in a browser, and SiteLock will scan it externally and show a message if it is up-to-date and safe to use.
Q3. Does HTTPS mean a website is safe?
HTTPS stands for “Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure.” It is a medium that transfers data to a web browser and website, and the data is encrypted to increase the security of this data. But it does not bring the assurance that the website will not get any malicious attacks and other security threats.
Conclusion
It is crucial to check your website on a regular basis and all the activities happening on it to get notice if something fishy is happening. Always use website security tools that can keep the website safe from malicious attacks and other threats. Keep strong passwords with additional 2FA (2-factor authentication). Whenever you purchase from an online store, use a reliable and verified seller who is not a scammer; check if the seller is protected or not from where you are purchasing; and never share your credit card information openly on online platforms.
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