M2

How Security Issues in E-Commerce Can Be Overcome 

Viruses:

Viruses are specific softwares that are designed only specifically to damage a computer. A virus can have a detrimental effect on a website that runs e-commerce, because the virus can spread from their site to existing customers which would not only anger them but force them to deter other potential customers from using your website. This means you will lose customers and money because of a lack of security on your site, however, you can prevent this from happening by making sure to download anti-virus software and keep it up to date.

Firewall:

Firewalls come as software and hardware. They are a security precaution that controls what can enter and exit a network, normally with more emphasis on what can enter a network and thats what poses the biggest threat. In terms of e-commerce, this is a necessary precaution as it prevents people from accessing a private network who aren't authorised, meaning customer's details will not be leaked. However, firewalls can slow down the speed of the server that your website is operating from, meaning that service may be slower which can either deter potential customers because do not like the waiting times, but could ensure customers that their details are being protected.

Security Socket Layer:

Security socket layer or SSL is a type of computer protocol that uses the internet to transfer private files/documents. SSL uses private and public keys to encrypt data via a cryptographic system. When browsing on a website that has a green coloured lock before the address then you know it is running SSL and is secure to use, popular sites including Google run SSL.

Hacking:

Hacking is where unwanted and unauthorised users gain access to a supposedly secure network. This unauthorised user or hacker can then change certain aspects of a website as if they were the user, these details could mean that customers could be giving their personal information to the wrong people/person. In the event of this happening, an e-commerce system would be forced to shut down, at least until the security issue has been dealt with. This means a substantial loss of money for the e-commerce business, pairing this with the already damaged reputation, could be detrimental to the business. The e-commerce business could prevent hackers by updating security software regularly and changing the access information, such as a password, often.

Identity Theft:

Usually the result of being hacked, identity theft involves hackers or anyone that has unauthorised access to the details of another person pretending to be that certain person. In the unlikely event that the website of a bank was to compromise a users details, the hacker would be able to pull all the money out of an account or transfer the money to a separate account. Again, this would not only affect the customer but the company that leaked the details, meaning they would lose money and potentially be out of business, The same precautions as hacking apply, to update security software regularly and change methods of access in the same manner.

Strong Passwords/Alternatives:

As previously mentioned passwords need to be updated regularly to avoid being hacked, as much as they need to be changed, there's no use in changing a password to one that is easy to guess. Strong passwords include random numbers and words that have no relation or affiliation to anyone related the user. Most e-commerce systems require certain aspects for a password to be acceptable, like having at least 1 capital letter and at least 1 number, they also provide a service which says how strong your password is to be in the unlikely event that someone should try to access your account. The alternatives to a password include face recognition, which scans the users face to see if it is a match with the owner of the account, finger prints, which work in the same way only using the finger and eye recognition, which makes the user look into a scanner to compare the scan with the owner. These are extra secure options but do have flaws, these include having to use the same facial expression when logging on, having to remove contact lenses and using the same finger to log on every time.

RSA Certificates:

An RSA certificate is another way that an e-commerce running website can assure it's customers that it is safe to use. To use RSA certificate, you must be using a private key to protect the user's information that is then given to the user so they can access their account.