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SSL for Your Online Store

E-commerce has taken off for one reason: it gives millions of people the opportunity to generate consistent streams of income online.  However, making money with E-commerce is virtually impossible when shoppers do not feel safe doing business on your website.  This is why it’s extremely important to make sure your site is secure and armed with SSL.

What is SSL?

Secure Sockets Layer or SSL, was introduced in 1994 and has been declared as the standard for securing E-commerce transactions.  SSL is a protocol that encrypts credit card numbers and other sensitive information by scrambling the data so it can not be accessed by eavesdroppers.  More than likely, you have visited a few sites protected with SSL encryption as it is typically indicated by a URL that starts with HTTPS opposed to HTTP and a padlock icon located on the top or bottom of the web page.  SSL works with a browser such as Firefox, encrypting the online transaction with 40-bit or 128-bit algorithms.  However, a browser can’t fully secure these transactions on its own so you must do your part as a business owner.

SSL Certificates

As the administrator of an E-commerce site, one of the most powerful security tools in your arsenal is an SSL certificate.  This mechanism lies on a secure server with the sole purpose of encrypting data and identifying you as the owner of a legitimate website.  The SSL certificate will tell potential customers who the certificate holder is along with the name of the CA (Certificate Authority) and the country it was issued in.

SSL certificates generally come with 40-bit or 128-bit encryption schemes.  Because the 40-bit variation has been proven as vulnerable, you should certainly invest all of your efforts in a 128-bit certificate.  While there are many ways to go about obtaining this level of encryption, VeriSign, a leading SSL certificate provider, reports that one needs a server-grade cryptography certificate in order to enjoy full 128-bit protection.

There are essentially two ways to get a valid SSL certificate: purchase one from a legitimate Certificate Authority or self-sign it yourself.  Though self-signing saves you the time and money of using a reputable vendor, it actually defeats the purpose of having such a mechanism in the first place.  While the data may be actually encrypted, a self-signed SSL certificate could also trigger a warning in the consumer’s browser, indicating that it isn’t recognized as legitimate.

Even though some people feel comfortable on certain sites and proceed anyway, several more click away as fast as they can.

It’s no secret that a website that establishes trust and security is more likely to profit than one that doesn’t.  Recent studies conducted by Verisign reveal that easily identifiable SSL certificates have a direct impact on increased internet sales.  The research found that fewer shopping carts are abandoned when consumers feel more comfortable with certificates that appear to be in good standings.

The internet is all about anonymity and if you can’t prove who you say you are, it will be hard to establish trust with your visitors.  With SSL encryption you can ensure integrity and the security of your online transactions.  As scams and other exploits are a common thing, SSL has become a tool you simply can’t do without.

Preventing Fraud on Your E-commerce Site

There are many opportunities for making money online.  However, fraud is one of the biggest problems facing the internet today and should be a major concern for anyone running an E-commerce site.  The fear of fraud is the main reason why consumers do not want to shop online.  If you cannot prove that your site is 100% secure and sensitive information is protected, potential customers will be very hesitant to shop with you.  Fortunately, there are number of preventive measures that can be taken to protect your E-commerce site against fraud.

Fraud Detection

A fraud detection service will help you ensure that the individual entering credit card information is actually the owner of the card.  While useful, this type service does not entirely eliminate the risk of fraud.  Here is how it works.

The fraud detection services asks the consumer to verify an address and compares it to what is one file with the credit card issuer.  If there is a match, the customer is allowed to proceed.  If not, they will be denied rights to make a purchase.  For the simple fact that numerous residential addresses can be found online, a determined fraudster may be able to bypass this mechanism.  This is still a good option as it will reduce the risks.

CCV Codes

The credit card verification code or CCV, is the three numbers found on the back of a credit card.  You need to make sure these numbers are required when someone shops on your site, calling for the owner to look at their card and then enter the information.  In order for someone to commit website fraud, they most possess the credit card numbers and the credit card as well.  By implementing this type of scheme on your site, you can reduce the risks of fraud significantly, mainly because credit card numbers are typically stolen rather than the actual card.  Indeed, a credit card can be stolen and used to purchase items online, though it’s less likely to occur because people usually notice that their card is missing and cancel it before any damage is done.

Website Design

While a fraud detection service can be very effective, this mechanism should always be paired with a flawless website design that limits the possibility of fraudulent activities.  Your E-commerce site should be designed with the latest versions of scripting languages and programs to fight off hackers and protect the integrity of your business.  You may have to shell out extra money to make sure fraud is not occurring, but it is well worth it in the long run.  Having a secure site will save you money and protect your customers, which is perhaps the most important aspect of online business.

If you are considering E-commerce, the best thing you can do is learn about the dangers of internet fraud before even creating your site.  Equipped with this knowledge, you will be able to find ways to protect yourself, the website and your customers from the sea of busy internet criminals.  Fraud occurs everyday online but neither you, nor your customers have to be a victim.

What You Need in E-commerce Hosting

E-commerce is a term that has become synonymous with online business as millions of people are opening up their own storefronts on the Internet.  As the web is now populated with more business sites, the demand for professional E-commerce solutions have emerged.  Thousands of web hosting companies are powering business owners with all the tools they need to succeed online.  Web hosts have made it possible for businesses across the globe to focus on the core of their operation while maintaining all the technical aspects in the background.  Some of the Internets biggest commercial names have taken advantage of powerful E-commerce hosting solutions including sites such as eBay and Amazon.com.

Aside from great features and marketing tools, your E-commerce site needs to be reliable and most importantly, secure.  This includes at least a 99% up time guarantee to ensure that your store will be available at all times along with support for security mechanisms that protect the integrity of your business.  Security is very essential as online shoppers are concerned about the protection of their credit card details.  With tight security and the backing of a reliable hosting service, you can assure secure transactions 24/7.

The E-commerce Checklist

The internet is a huge marketplace and offers great opportunities for small businesses and large enterprises alike.  If you are looking to benefit from the emergence of E-commerce and profit online, there are several things you need to look for in a provider:

Around the clock support: Some form of customer service and technical support should be available via phone or email.  It also wouldn’t be a bad ideal to find a host that offers support through live chat, support ticket system or online documentation.

Full automation: In order for your E-commerce venture to be a success, you need access to powerful tools that automate various critical tasks.  Keep your eye out for applications that display comprehensive charts of your website statistics along with an automated backup utility to restore your data in case something out of the ordinary should occur.  These tools can generally be found in a good control panel application.

Shopping cart software: This is one E-commerce feature you simply can’t do without.  A reliable program will allow customers to checkout and automatically calculate shipping costs and process the transaction for you.

Flexibility: A solid web host should be able to support your requirements as the business grows.  If your traffic load gets heavy, you need easy access to additional resources such as bandwidth and disk storage.

Add-on Support: Today’s internet is fierce with competition and the average website usually doesn’t cut.  You can make yourself stand out from competitors with support for various add-on software programs and server-side programming languages.

Security: As mentioned above, security is one of the most important elements of E-commerce hosting.  When searching for providers, look for features such as anti-virus protection, spam filters and other mechanisms to keep your business data secure.

By covering all the essentials your E-commerce business can get off to a good start, allowing you to build a strong presence on the web and achieve financial success as an online business owner.  While this is no easy task by any means, more average people are proving that it can be done.

The Wonderful of Mambo

If you are planning on creating a large, content-rich site, you just may need a CMS to make it a success.  One content management system that can take your website to a new level is an extensive software program called Mambo.  Perhaps you have heard of Mambo, maybe you haven’t.  One thing is for certain – you have definitely visited a website running on the Mambo platform.

Mambo – More than a dance

Mambo is a fully loaded CMS that allows you to create and administer powerful web-based applications and websites.  The software is very comprehensive and can be an invaluable development tool for beginners and veterans alike.  There are many things you can do with the Mambo CMS.  A recent survey conducted on the Mambo homepage revealed that its most common use is to create blogs and personal sites.  This is no surprise as blogs have exploded to become one of the fastest growing phenomenons on the web.  Other common uses include portals, online communities and e-commerce sites.

One of Mambo’s greatest attributes is that it doesn’t require you to have any knowledge of HTML coding to build or manage your site.  This software provides a user-friendly interface, offering a simple point-and-click feature that makes it simple enough for the most inexperienced webmaster to comprehend.  Instead of freehand coding your pages, Mambo does it automatically.  All you have to do is configure and manage your content from the intuitive Administrative Panel.  Despite its simplicity, Mambo is very capable and loaded with useful features.  You can instantly change the appearance of your site with a number of built-in templates, manage databases and even implement polls and surveys.  With this powerful system, you site can be as simple or sophisticated as you wish.

Another attribute to Mambo is the exceptional support that comes along with it.  This product is supported by a large group of developers who are constantly making upgrades to improve the software.  There is also an extensive community of users who offer self-help resources throughout the web.  Furthermore, if you are hosting your website with a provider that offers Mambo, they probably have a few articles or tutorials in their support section.

Due to is popularity, many web hosts now offer Mambo via control panel programs such as cPanel or Plesk.  Because its open-source software, you can also download this CMS from a number of popular download sites.  After downloading, all you have to do is make a few simple configurations and upload it to whatever server you have access to.  Keep in mind that your site must have the PHP language enabled and access to a MySQL database.  With a program such as Fantastico, installing Mambo is as easy as creating a directory, login credentials and clicking the installation tab.

As an open-source CMS, you have the freedom to use Mambo however you desire.  This means that you have access to the code and can apply modifications that suite your site best.  With this type of flexibility, there is virtually no limit to the success you can achieve on the web.