5 Common Online Threats Targeting E-Commerce Businesses
With the current digital technology, many businesses are now shifting online. If you’re planning to build your e-commerce site or you’ve recently launched your online store, it’s best to make yourself aware of the common online threats targeting businesses today.
Of course, people who own a conventional store will most likely install surveillance cameras, alarms, or even hire security officers to make sure the customers and the company itself are in a safe environment.
E-Commerce Threats You May Encounter
With that said, e-commerce business owners should treat their company the same way. As an entrepreneur, you must consider your online security a priority. And to ensure you’ll be able to cover all your bases, take a look at some of the persisting threats confronting e-commerce businesses:
- Phishing
New online store owners may not know the danger phishing may pose to their company as it’s one of the primary tactics cybercriminals employ to hack e-commerce websites. In detail, phishing is a technique in which a hacker forwards an email from a company or contact you recognize and tries to persuade you to disclose your login information.
For instance, some cybercriminals can build a phishing webpage that appears similar to your business or billing login page. These thieves will send you an email informing you of an error in the system and request you to sign in and settle the problem. Many people assume the message is valid, so they provide the information required, allowing the hackers to take note of the details and apply them to the actual website.
With many businesses shifting online, plenty of retail and e-commerce websites are becoming targets of phishing attacks. To fully understand this online threat, you can read this article by Hostens.
- Financial Scams
Due to the advancements in technology, criminals are likewise becoming cunning. In the past, thieves steal account information and bank cards. However, with many e-commerce sites, emerging cybercriminals are also executing activities such as fake returns and credit card frauds.
Fake returns are transactions wherein a person files a wrongful refund or return. For example, an individual buys a product online, uses it for a time, and then files for a refund so that person can obtain their cashback. On the other hand, criminals commit credit card fraud when they buy products or avail services online using stolen credit card details.
- Malware
Likewise, there are cases when cybercriminals target the device of the primary individual with high-level access to a particular website they want to penetrate. Some also track and target the specific server hosting the retail site. To get into the system, hackers employ malware.
In particular, malicious software, commonly referred to as malware, is a program that attacks a device’s system and disrupts its regular function. A few examples of malware are ransomware, trojan, spyware, worms, and adware.
With malware, cybercriminals can access an e-commerce site and divert its web traffic or steal information from the system. Also, the harmful software can collect debit or credit card details, crash the device’s system, or infect the website with a virus. As a result, the business may lose a significant amount of its profits.
- Brute Force
Besides applying high-technology tools, some hackers impose brute force to break your password and penetrate your website. They access your webpage and attempt a myriad of combinations to get your e-commerce website’s password. Thus, see to it that you adopt complicated and strong passwords challenging to figure out. Moreover, it’s best to change your login passwords regularly.
- Bots
Lastly, if you’re not familiar with bots, they’re software applications crawling the internet and assisting your site rank in Search Engine Result Pages (SERP). They’re likewise known as web crawlers. Some hackers use bots to track inventory as well as cost details of e-commerce sites. They apply this method to obtain the brand’s best-selling product or modify the rates of the online shop. Consequently, due to the breach, it’ll result in retail and income drop.
Final Thoughts
No doubt, online threats targeting e-commerce businesses aren’t matters companies should ignore. To be successful online, companies must consider the subject to be an urgent issue, so their customers can engage with a safe and seamless shopping experience.
Consider adopting a reliable security system to safeguard your company and clients from fraudulent activities and cyberattacks. Implementing a robust security method will likewise ensure your company will obtain the trust of your customers and strengthen your reputation. If you’re not sure which technology suits your business, you may reach out to experts who can help protect your e-commerce site.
