Web Hosting Geeks' Blog » identity theft http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog Web Hosting Industry News, Latest Trends, and Analyses. Thu, 24 May 2012 11:11:11 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 The Importance of Email Securityhttp://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/the-importance-of-email-security/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/the-importance-of-email-security/#comments Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:27:41 +0000 Art http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=846 Sending information online has never been more dangerous, especially in today’s high tech society and economical situation. The internet is full of hackers and criminals that are looking to make a quick buck on the backs of other individuals. Those who conduct eCommerce, both buyers and sellers, are victimized by these malicious characters on a daily basis.

The primary cause of online bank fraud, identity theft and other criminal occurrences, is the insecure transmittal of data. For this reason there have been security protocols developed that dictate the limitations and procedures associated with sending and receiving important financial data online. Unfortunately, these protocols do not always work, however they do deter about 90% of hackers in most cases.

Email Security

These file transfer protocols usually apply to the checkout process, but many online business owners forget to take the same precautions with their email practices. A lot of sensitive information is sent via email, including addresses, phone numbers, names, and even financial data such as receipts, order confirmation numbers, and other details about confidential transactions. If a third-party were to get a hold of this information, the possibilities in which they could use such data are seemingly limitless. To keep your customers protected you need to make sure your email sending procedures are completely secured in all instances.

Email Encryption

Emails are secured with by using encryption services which scatter the data that is being sent, so that if it were to be intercepted during transmission, it would be useless to the interceptor. Once the information reaches the receiver, it is then decoded into it’s original legible state. The encryption is conducted via the use of mathematical formulas that scramble data automatically and then use a key to reassemble the data once it reaches it’s destination.

The Benefits of Secure Email

Using secure email practices not only protects your customer from real threats, it also gives them the confidence to deal with you even if there are no actual threats being posed. In online business., there are two factors that hold precedence over everything else – convenience and trust. If your customer’s cannot trust you then they will take their business somewhere else. To build trust you will need to employ a variety of security measures, however just employing these measures is not going to give your customers the confidence needed to deal with you on a regular basis. You need to make sure your site visitors know what precautions you are taken, in order for these precautions to have an effect on the end users confidence levels. Thus, making your customers aware of your email security precautions is critical towards the reputability of your online business, regardless of the industry or sub-industry you’re in.

Conclusion

Aside from building trust and confidence., you are also safeguarding the financial assets of you and your customers. Securing all forms of data transfer is absolutely imperative in eCommerce, as one lapse in security could be blamed on your business and result ion the loss of funds, and even loss of the entire business itself. There have been cases where online business owners have been sued for failing to take the proper security precautions. Securing all email transmission is one step towards a safer and more enjoyable eCommerce experience.

Related posts:

]]> http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/the-importance-of-email-security/feed/ 0 PHP and Common Web Hosting Security Issueshttp://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/php-and-common-web-hosting-security-issues/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/php-and-common-web-hosting-security-issues/#comments Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:12:12 +0000 Art http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=772 The most common security lapses online are usually the result of a faulty or lazy programmer that has left some sort of loophole somewhere. Most of the time, these web designers and developers have very little time to finish a project, placing security last on their last of priorities. For this reason many of the sub sequential errors are not discovered until they have resulted in serious security lapses for the end user or their network.

PHP

One particular programming language that is becoming increasingly popular amongst newer developers is PHP. PHP is perhaps the easiest programming language to use, and therefore often the most erroneously misused by inexperienced web programmers. PHP’s ease of use and minimal learning curve make it an optimal opportunity for any novice web developer to create software that is potentially insecure.

Insecure Web Applications

In the past hackers would infiltrate a network using any means possible, including using phishing techniques, identity theft, and any other method to compromise the security of a server or operating system. Now, the main focus has shifted to infiltrating the administrative interface of a website to gain access to online databases and server files.

The easiest way for most hackers to do this is to find a way in through one of many loopholes that exists in the site’s web applications. Web applications make the webmasters job easier and more convenient, however like many other tools that increase convenience, web applications come at a price.

Hiring Your Own Programmers

Since web applications have direct access to your site’s administrative functions, these web applications can be taken advantage of for nefarious purposes, and used to access your website’s control panel. This could prove to be disastrous, especially if you run an online business. For this reason it is best to avoid any new web applications that are built by unreliable sources. If you are planning on using a web application with a busy business website, you may want to hire a personal qualified developer to assist you in creating some custom web applications.

Related posts:

]]> http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/php-and-common-web-hosting-security-issues/feed/ 1 Website Security – 4 Ways to Secure Your Websitehttp://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/website-security-%e2%80%93-4-ways-to-secure-your-website/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/website-security-%e2%80%93-4-ways-to-secure-your-website/#comments Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:37:37 +0000 Art http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=744 One of the biggest priorities when running an online business is website security. Having a secure website will cause your customers to trust your business, thereby boosting sales and increasing your return on investments. The online community is teeming with malicious hackers that are willing to do whatever it takes to penetrate your site’s security and compromise the delicate financial information of your clients. You should have the same fervor when attempting to deter these careless intruders. Most customers will not shop at an online store that is not secure, therefore creating a secure environment is essential in the world of online business. The following 4 tips will help make your website a safer place for your customers to shop.

Strong Administrative Passwords

Protecting your website means protecting the administrative interface. Once a hacker gains access to your site’s administrative interface, they can gain control of your entire online business in a few short steps. Once they’ve access the administrative control panel, hackers can do anything from defacing your website, to committing identity theft or fraud in the name of your business. To prevent hackers from easily gaining access to your website, you’ll want to use strong passwords that are mix of letters and numbers. These alphanumeric password should be at least 10 characters in length. Try to avoid using any commonly used words or names. Also try not to use dates that are significant in your life, as a hacker may be able to access this information.

Firewalls

Firewalls filter information that is transferred to and from your website. By configuring a secure firewall, you’ll be preventing all unauthorized access to your website. Setting an industry standard firewall at the highest possible security preference is one of the best ways you can deter hackers with ease. Remember that simply having a firewall is not enough to keep you site safe. The firewall must be configured properly.

Antivirus

Make sure you use only the best antivirus programs. If your computer contracts a virus, the hacker that distributed this virus could gain access to sensitive information on your computer. Some viruses will install hacking utilities known as KeyLoggers, which record the data inputted from your computer’s keyboard. This means that everything you type is recorded and then sent to the hacker, including your system and website passwords.   It is imperative that you ensure that your antivirus program is regularly updated to the latest definitions. This will help you to protect your computer from hackers who attack your system in efforts of gaining control or information. Simply having an antivirus program installed is not enough. New viruses are created everyday, so it is important to keep your Antivirus program updated regularly.

Security Testing

Once you have all of the above security measures in place, you’ll want to test the security of your website routinely. Try to use a security analyzing tool regularly. These tools will usually find any existing security lapses and assist you in correcting them. Remember that in order to have good website security, these security measures must be practiced regularly.

Related posts:

]]> http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/website-security-%e2%80%93-4-ways-to-secure-your-website/feed/ 1 Server Options for E-commerce Hostinghttp://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/server-options-for-e-commerce-hosting/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/server-options-for-e-commerce-hosting/#comments Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:10:31 +0000 Art http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=534 There is a lot that must be taken into account when evaluating e-commerce web hosting solutions for your small business.  Among several key factors, reliability needs to be considered as well as security to make sure you web transactions and customer data are protected from hackers and criminals looking to commit identify theft.  It is important to know that there are many options available to you in regard to the type of service.  Two of the most common approaches involve running your small business on a shared or dedicated server.  Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, which we will discuss in this article.

Reasons to Opt for Shared Hosting

Shared hosting offers numerous benefits and several of them extend into the e-commerce sector.  For one, it is very affordable as you can easily find a feature-loaded plan for under $10 per month.  In addition to that, you typically receive all the tools and services you need to get your online storefront up and running.  This includes shopping cart programs, web analytic tools and support for SSL certificates to secure your business transactions.  However, while shared hosting can provide you with a relatively secure platform, it can never assure the level of protection and reliability that can be obtained from a dedicated server.

The Dedicated Advantage

Though an advanced and often more complex hosting solution, a dedicated server is not exclusively geared towards larger companies.  In fact, it can deliver the same benefits to small businesses and entrepreneurs looking to establish and grow their presence on the web.  Leasing a dedicated server will cost you more than a shared hosting plan, but it can also guarantee you better overall security and reliability, both of which are vital for anyone who wants to be make sure there business is always available.  For many companies, their website serves as the revenue generator that keeps the business going.  If these are your plans, you need to make it a priority to invest in a solution that ensures your site can be accessed at all times and provides the secure environment your customers need to feel safe.

Capacity and Complexity

When leasing a dedicated server for your small business, you are assured a guaranteed allotment of essential resources such as disk space, RAM and bandwidth.  These features alone can give you a website that performs exceptionally better than it would in the shared hosting environment.  However, you should keep in mind that dedicated hosting is one of the most complex types of web hosting you can sign on for.  Unless you opt for a managed service, you will be responsible ensuring and monitoring security, performing configurations and backups, installing software and general maintenance of the server.

There are quite a few small businesses that can thrive with a shared hosting platform and several others that cannot.  Making a choice is difficult and the final decision will depend on various factors, including your budget, level of expertise and the requirements of your business.  Most importantly, it will boil down to the overall quality of the host providing you with service.

Related posts:

]]> http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/server-options-for-e-commerce-hosting/feed/ 0