Shopping is one of the most popular uses for the internet. Increasingly, more people are using mobile devices to order a new outfit, shiny piece of tech or even the weekly shop, but how anxious are many shoppers about using their smartphone or tablet to part with their money? As it happens, there is still plenty of concern from consumers about this touchy subject.
Keeping sensitive information safe is a primary worry for many online shoppers. A steady stream of news stories relating to the theft of data from ecommerce sites has served to make already wary consumers even more so. A recent survey conducted among shoppers found that over four out of five people didn’t want to share their details with a third party. You can find the full survey here.
Under lock and key
Keeping information secure at all costs is one of the best ways to reassure nervous customers, but how can this be achieved? On the consumer’s side, this might involve using a secure password which will be hard for hackers to guess, while they could also ensure that they have some kind of anti-malware software installed on all their devices which allow for internet access.
However, it is the ecommerce site owners who should do most of the work. They need to offer some sort of guarantee that customers’ precious information is safe, no matter how regularly or sparingly they shop online. To do this, they may need to go to a trusted network security specialist who can help to tighten up their website.
Looking for vulnerabilities
One of the services that RandomStorm offers is looking for vulnerabilities in websites and networks. Spotting them and removing them as carefully as possible is the next step, while getting all the relevant security certificates will make it easier for online retailers and any other company with a presence on the internet to keep every visitor from being infected or having their key info stolen.
On top of all that, businesses are advised to keep all their security measures up to date with their help. This means installing regular updates, having all the latest certification and any other measures such as the implementation of a two-step login process. This is a good way of catching unsuspecting hackers out.
Andrew Mason, RandomStorm
Andrew Mason is the co-founder and technical director at RandomStorm. Andrew is committed to ensuring that the company develops innovative security solutions to their customers. He is a leading security expert and Cisco networking specialist, having attained the globally recognised CISSP and CCIE qualifications, awarded to only the top security professionals. Andrew is also a PCI SSC Qualified Security Assessor and is currently studying towards an MBA.
An active entrepreneur, Andrew has over 22 years industry experience across a range of sectors, including some of the major names in telecommunications, financial services, retailing and online gaming. Prior to the creation of RandomStorm he held a range of product development positions and has a proven track record of successfully creating and growing security businesses. Andrew is the author of several definitive books on Cisco products and security technologies.
About the Author
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