Ecommerce - Safe and Secure?

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