To begin, it’s important to discuss the concept of cybersecurity—which is nothing more than a practice to protect computers, servers, electronic systems, and networks against cybercriminal attacks.
Below, we will list some of the main branches of cybersecurity:
- Application security: seeks to keep software or devices that use that software free from threats; attacked software can provide access to private data, for example;
Information security: protects data integrity and privacy, whether when storing information or when it moves between devices; - Operational security: focuses on the processes and decisions for handling data and protecting files containing data – such as defining who has access to a specific configuration or database on your website;
- Disaster recovery: seeks to reverse problems after a cyber attack occurs;
People education: these are actions that focus on the people who will use the above systems; people are usually the weakest link in a system.
What is a cyber attack?
A cyber attack (or cyberattack) exploits a vulnerability or weakness in a system, device, or person, or a technology service, in order to access or damage confidential data.
To put it another way, neglecting to secure your e-commerce, such as by using a weak password or easily hackable systems, might raise the chance of burglary, just as forgetting to lock a store door at night.
Cyberattacks are typically carried out by people or organizations with personal, political, or criminal objectives (such stealing your money).
What are the objectives of a cyber attack?
Cyberattack perpetrators may have a number of objectives, including:
- data leak;
- application of scams;
- identity theft;
- extortion;
- Service interruption;
- compromising the reputation of companies;
- corporate espionage.
Cyber attack: learn about the main types
Don’t worry if the last list left you perplexed. It’s important to comprehend the primary categories of cyberattacks as addressing a danger begins with knowledge of it.
Malware
Malware means malicious software—one of the most common types of cyberthreats. Typically, it’s software created by a hacker to harm a person’s device (computer or cell phone), and can be spread via email, WhatsApp, or any other download. There are several types of malware, including:
- Virus: automatic replication program that spreads through computer and cell phone systems, infecting files and rendering them unusable;
- Trojan horses: Disguised as legitimate software (hence the name), Trojan horses trick users into installing them in order to collect private data;
- Spyware: software that spies on and records all of a person’s actions, allowing this data to fall into the hands of criminals – including banking or credit card information.
- Botnets: In this system, malware infects computers or cell phones to perform online tasks without people’s knowledge, creating a network for the propagation of cybercrimes.
Ransomware
Ransomware, derived from English “kidnapping software,” is a particular malware: once installed onto a device, it encrypts files and information, threatening to delete them forever. There is only one way to avoid this if a ransom is paid.
Phishing
Another common type of attack is phishing, where attackers mail a forged email purporting to be from a real company. The intention is to get people to click on a malicious link, either to install malware or to trick them into revealing personal details.
MITM (Man-in-the-Middle)
This is precisely the aim of this kind of attack: in it, a hacker tries to intercept conversation between two devices with the aim of stealing information. The attack is usually executed on insecure Wi-Fi networks, like those found in public areas without a password.
Denial of Service (DDoS) attack
If one visits a website, an individual makes a request for a “service” at the site one is visiting. In a denial of service attack, hackers will intend to make an enormous amount of requests, and the site’s system will fail. The premise here is to bring the site offline or shut it down from carrying out its primary activities—in the case of an online store, selling.
How to ensure e-commerce security against cyberattacks
If you’ve read the last few steps carefully, you’ve probably already imagined a series of security measures you can take to protect your online store from cyberattacks. Some of these tips can even be applied to your personal life. Among them, it’s worth mentioning:
- always update software and operating systems;
- use strong passwords or password managers;
- use antivirus software to detect threats in real time;
- do not open attached files or links from unknown emails;
- do not click on unknown links or unfamiliar websites;
- avoid using unsecured Wi-Fi networks in public places.
Other approaches, however, apply only to those who have a website to sell their products. These are the ones we discuss below.
Vulnerability identification
Reducing the likelihood of security defects happening is essential to guaranteeing your protection because cyberattacks usually take advantage of them.
You can use specialist tools that examine your store and detect security holes before a hack happens to find weaknesses on your website.
Maintaining security protocols and systems
Every day, new cyberattacks occur, and tech firms are always looking to thwart these attempts.
It is crucial to keep your tools updated because they are specifically designed to optimize them and fix bugs that hackers might exploit to steal your data.
Take care of the payment system and anti-fraud system
An e-commerce website’s payment system often collects customers’ most sensitive information, such as personal details, addresses, and credit cards. Therefore, it’s a prime target for criminals when planning cyberattacks.
Having a secure payment method that’s always up-to-date against major threats is a way to protect not only your money, but also your customers’ information.
One way to know if your payment system is good is to look for security certifications – one of the best known is PCI, an international seal that guarantees encrypted data when paying for any purchase.
Another important measure could be using an anti-fraud system powered by artificial intelligence. Capable of analyzing people’s purchasing behavior, the anti-fraud system can block suspicious activity in your online store by cross-referencing data such as geolocation, purchase history, and personal information.
Require strong passwords
Most cyberattacks start with a weak password. Let he who has never used a password such as “123456” or his mother’s name throw the first stone—information that can be easily guessed by cybercriminals, opening easy and fast breaches.
To avoid this occurring to your customers’ information, always demand strong passwords when signing up for your e-commerce website. One way to enforce this is by asking them to create a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
It’s a necessity that might slow down the process of registration, but it’s important to keep hackers and fraudsters out of your account. Besides, by taking care of your customers, you earn brownie points for your brand too.