No matter what type of business you run, the last thing you need is to face a web attack or data breach. These events can cost your company big time, both in terms of lost business and a tarnished reputation. However, attacks on eCommerce sites can be especially troubling, as they often prevent you from making sales and can harm your bottom line.
Unfortunately, eCommerce websites are prone to web attacks due to the sensitive information their servers tend to store. This includes customer credit card data and other payment information. There are three types of attacks that are especially common on eCommerce sites: phishing attacks, DDoS attacks, and malware attacks. By understanding each type and how to prevent them, you can keep your customers’ sensitive data safe and protect your company’s reputation.
1. Phishing Attacks
A phishing attack occurs when a hacker creates an email address that appears to be from a legitimate contact, such as a colleague or service provider. From there, he or she sends out messages requesting sensitive information or containing malicious links or attachments. For example, an attacker may send their target an email asking him or her to reset their account password by clicking on a link. The unsuspecting user may click the link and be redirected to what looks like a legitimate website. Unfortunately, they won’t realize that when they’re resetting their password, they’re actually giving their login information to the hacker, who can then access the account, view payment information, and use it maliciously.
2. DDoS Attacks
Another common threat to eCommerce sites is the distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack, which occurs when a hacker floods your server with fake web traffic. If your server isn’t designed to handle large spikes in visitors, you could end up with slow page-loading times (which is frustrating for customers) or even website downtime that can cost your business thousands.
3. Malware
Hackers may target website admins and other managers who have access to your eCommerce site’s server administration panel and attempt to load malware on their computer systems or other devices. If successful, they’ll use the malware to infiltrate your server network and obtain your sensitive data. This can be incredibly dangerous for your business, as data loss or changes to your system could severely affect your revenue and tarnish your reputation within your industry.
Protecting Your eCommerce Site
The good news? There are steps you can take to protect your eCommerce site from these common security threats. From encrypting your data to utilizing an SSL certificate, a little protection goes a long way. Of course, you’ll always be best protected from web attacks when you use a dedicated server host for your eCommerce site. Dedicated servers offer the highest level of security and protection against DDoS attacks, malware, and more.
Contact ReliableSite today to explore our dedicated hosting plans or find out more about how we can protect you against eCommerce security threats.