10 Cyber Security Tips to keep your e-commerce Store Safe

Cyber-attacks on e-commerce stores have been on the rise recently, with more and more e-commerce sites being hacked and losing their customer’s information to hackers looking to exploit their data.

As an owner or operator of an online store, you must take steps to protect your customers’ information from being stolen and safeguard your store from attacks by hackers. Here are ten tips that every online store owner needs to know about cyber security and keeping their shopify store safe from hackers.

Shopify Enhancement and Security Tips for your E-commerce Store

Protect Against Fraud

A robust built-in fraud detection system is available by Shopify that allows sellers to analyze the risk. Additionally, Shopify Plus merchants are offered additional options to assess the risk in depth.

This is a crucial step often under-appreciated; however, it is a vital backup plan in security-related emergencies. The owners of websites can look into other options, such as NS8, to enhance security and protect themselves from cyber-related mischief of any kind. It is a cutting-edge software that is popular on the market.

As cyber threats evolve, managing them with efficiency and affordability becomes paramount for e-commerce businesses. Incorporating managed cyber security services can simplify your security management, providing robust support to help prevent potential vulnerabilities and breaches in your operations. Addressing these concerns effectively not only secures your site but can safeguard customer trust as well. In cases where harmful misinformation or damaging posts affect your brand, it may also be necessary to remove negative content to protect your reputation and maintain customer confidence.

Take better control of your passwords

Passwords are the first line of shelter against hackers. That is why you should control your passwords better by making them long, and complicated, and often changing them.

Do not click on unknown links: Scammers often send out fake phishing emails that will try to get users’ information by clicking on a link that may contain malware or a virus that will infect their computers with viruses, spyware, or ransomware.

Checking the URL before clicking is always the best practice!

Install SSL Certificate

Another way to protect your site from cyber-attacks is by activating an SSL certificate. SSL (or Secure Sockets Layer) encrypts communications between a website and its visitors, making it difficult for criminals to intercept and manipulate data sent between them.

In fact, according to the National Cyber Security Alliance, 82% of consumers would refuse to give their personal information online if they knew the site was not using an SSL. Furthermore, Google has announced that websites without SSL may be penalized in search engine rankings.

Apply two-step authentication

Two-factor authentication is a safe way to login into the Shopify store. Always log in with your account into the Shopify admin account. It is extra security. The reason behind doing so is to enhance the security of your account as the third person cannot log in to an account if the person has your password. To enable Two-factor authentication, you need login credentials and login with a security code or use a mobile device.

Two-factor authentication depends upon an email address and password or one time-use code received via app or SMS.

Keep redundant backups

If a security breach does happen, you must have backups of your website for quick restoration. In the event of a breach, there will most likely be downtime, and your customers will be unable to access their accounts.

These backups are stored in an offline location and are not connected to the internet, so they cannot be accessed remotely. Also, make sure that the backup files are encrypted with a strong password or passphrase so no one else can access them if they get into your computer by other means.

Never store credit card data

Do not store credit card data. Even if you only store the last four digits, you expose yourself and your customers to security risks. There is no good reason for a business owner to store credit card information because it can be more easily stolen. The best way to protect your customer’s data is by not storing it in the first place!

Storing credit card and customer information exposes you to customers’ information, which can lead to high risk. In simple terms, do not store any credit card details.

You should seek Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard certification (PCI DSS). To obtain this status, your business has to pass an audit and bind to a range of standards. These include:

Securing your network through IT experts
Data of the cardholder is secured at every touchpoint, making sure that the data is not stored
Ensuring that you have a security management program in place
Determining the best measures to access control
Conducting routine checks and inspections of the network
In addition, you should maintain the information security policies

Set Up Customer Notification

The first thing you will want to do is set up a notification system for your customers. One of the best ways to send messages through Shopify is through email.

If payment is made directly to your banking account, Shopify automatically provides you an email.

You can switch these emails off or on within Your Shopify Payments settings then follow the steps below:

1. From your Shopify administrator, Go into the Settings tab and then Payments.
2. On the Shopify Payments section, Click to manage.
3. Click or uncheck Allow notifications in the Payout Details section in the Payout schedule section.
4. Then save.

Important Note: When messages include order details, addresses, or payout info, consider sending them via an encrypted email service to protect PII and reduce interception risk.

Set Access Limits

The following way you can protect your store is by limiting access with pam best practices. You can set up various levels of access to different parts of your store and assign a specific person or department as the owner of that area. It will minimize mistakes and help you determine who is responsible for changes, updates, and maintenance in that section.

Limit Login Attempts You should have a system where, after too many incorrect login attempts, the user gets locked out for a certain period of time, such as 24 hours or even permanently, if they continue trying without success. It will make it more complex and tricky for someone to break into your store with brute force attacks.

Set up alerts

Set up alerts on your Shopify store so you will be notified of something happening. It can include notifications when a person enters an incorrect password or if someone tries to log in from an unrecognized device. Web tracking can be a good way to detect suspicious activity. Alerts also can be set for:

Orders created but not processed
Orders were processed, but no payment was made
Unauthorized access attempts and successful login attempts.

It is important to remember that cyber security attacks are not only limited to hackers attempting to break into your store. Threats such as phishing fraud, where a scammer attempts to get access to your data through seemingly official communication like emails and texts, are still very prevalent online today.

Phishing frauds can be more convincing because they are usually targeted at individuals or small groups, meaning that the wording may seem more personalized than it would in a mass-emailed message that might go ignored.

Change Passwords Regularly

Passwords are the keys that unlock your digital life. If someone has access to your passwords, they can change them, access your accounts and personal information, delete or steal data, or spread malware. These are all things that you should avoid. That is why you need to change your passwords regularly. The general rule is that you should change them every three months.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity is a serious issue that all business owners should be aware of. It doesn’t matter if you’re starting or have been in business for years, cyber threats are an ever-present threat, and it’s important to know how best to prepare for them.

Fortunately, the cybersecurity industry is pushing the envelope to develop innovations that maximize security using various technologies, such as cloud-based security machines, machine learning, and Blockchain protocol.