| One of the most attractive aspects of | | | | percent secure or fool proof, today's rapid |
| ecommerce from a buyer's perspective is that | | | | advances in software and technology certainly |
| of convenience; total armchair shopping with | | | | seems to be heading in the right direction. |
| little or no stress involved and the majority | | | | |
| of online payment transactions processed | | | | Despite the occasional horror story about |
| quickly, efficiently and generally trouble | | | | Internet scams and deceptions, online |
| free. The phenomenal growth rate of online | | | | transactions generally remain quite safe, and |
| purchasing has seen website shopping carts | | | | with many credit card suppliers and major |
| become as familiar to buyers as their | | | | banks now offering to underwrite any |
| favourite pair of old slippers. | | | | financial losses suffered by a buyer as a |
| | | | result of online fraud, an enormous boost of |
| However, there is a universally recognised | | | | confidence has spread through the ecommerce |
| rule that for every pro there is usually a | | | | sector because of what businesses and buyers |
| con, and the world of ecommerce is not exempt | | | | now see as a win-win situation. However, it |
| from that rule. Any type of online process or | | | | shouldn't mean that the issue of online |
| system that is capable of taking payment via | | | | security has suddenly become a lower |
| credit card is open to abuse by the more | | | | priority, and both groups should be very |
| unscrupulous and devious elements that haunt | | | | careful of becoming complacent. |
| the Internet. It is also important to | | | | |
| remember that it's not only credit card | | | | Ecommerce is here to stay, and for many it's |
| transactions that are under threat. Hacking | | | | already second nature when it comes to |
| into programmes that hold personal | | | | shopping. Others may need some more |
| information such as bank account numbers, | | | | convincing that their money and personal |
| names and addresses etc, is another area that | | | | details will remain safe should they ever |
| has a vast income potential for those who | | | | decide to buy something online. It's a |
| would use the information illegally. | | | | reasonable and understandable fear, and |
| | | | because of the business world's ever growing |
| Ecommerce security is more a case of | | | | demand for shopping cart capabilities, it's |
| prevention rather than cure, and to this end | | | | perhaps the designers themselves that more |
| designers are constantly developing new and | | | | than most are aware that if their systems |
| innovative anti-intrusion solutions into | | | | instil user-confidence, ecommerce will |
| their ecommerce programmes. The use of highly | | | | continue to grow successfully and safely. |
| sophisticated encryption software and secure | | | | |
| servers are just a couple of the numerous | | | | This article is the property of the author |
| methods employed to keep the uninvited out. | | | | and may only be reproduced in its original |
| And although it's true to say that at present | | | | form. |
| no system can be guaranteed to be one hundred | | | | |