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