E-commerce store security testing is an assessment procedure that seeks to find flaws and threats in an e-commerce application of an online shopping store. This kind of security testing for ecommerce websites is useful in ensuring that customer’s data is protected.
Whether it’s financial transactions are secure and that the e-commerce platform is accurate and reliable can be done through security testing.
The main objective of security testing as conducted by ecommerce testing services is to build the security of the platform against cyber threats. These can be capable of leading to security breaches such as data leaks, fraud and others.
The above service providers regularly conduct comprehensive assessment and it can greatly help e-commerce organizations to identify potential risks and develop necessary countermeasures.
Security measures guarantee that the customer’s data is safeguarded when they engage in the transaction processes, thus retaining the customers’ trust in the shopping experience.
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Major Security Vulnerabilities in E-Commerce
The threats of security risks to e-commerce companies are numerous and can be broad-based. The impacts are on various areas of the platforms provided by ecommerce web development services.
Here’s a List of the Security Vulnerabilities
These are commonly encountered in the field of e-commerce:
Credit Card Fraud
This happens when the credit card details have been stolen. Then the culprit makes unauthorized spending on the card or withdraws money.
Fraud Involving Counterfeit Refund and Return
Fraudsters take advantage of the return policy by returning items. One that they never bought or returning fake products for a refund.
Security Testing for ECommerce Websites: Phishing
This one involves tricking users into revealing sensitive information such as passwords or credit card numbers. It happens through bogus emails or websites that look authentic.
Infected Links
Any malicious link received through email or shared on social media platforms can lead to the installation of malware if clicked by the user.
DoS ∓ DDoS Attacks
DoS and DDoS attacks overwhelm websites with more traffic than the server can handle. Therefore, causing them to decelerate or shut down.
Security Testing for ECommerce Websites: Malware
Any kind of software created with the purpose of harming the computer, server, client, or the computer network.
SQL Injection (SQLi) and Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
The SQLi attack entails the integration of unwanted SQL queries in the input fields with the intention of changing the website’s database. XSS attacks are executed by inserting scripts into the web pages viewed by other users and then hijacking their browsers.
Remote Code Execution (RCE)
Such attacks enable an attacker to run arbitrary code on a victim’s computer without detection or consent.
Security Testing for ECommerce Websites: Credential Stuffing
Viruses that maliciously and automatically try to log into user accounts using stolen username-password pairs.
Man-In-The-Middle (MITM)
It targets the flow of data between two or more parties with the aim of compromising and gaining access to information that is being transmitted.
Electronic Skimming
This method, also known as e-skimming, aims to steal credit card details from e-commerce sites’ payment card processing pages.
Mitigating these vulnerabilities generally involves employing some active security preventive measures. As well as conducting security assessments, utilizing advanced security technologies, and periodically training staff on security measures.
Methods of Security Testing For E-commerce Websites
To protect the e-commerce platforms, valuable testing techniques can be used to identify security flaws before they are taken advantage of.
The main types of security testing for your eCommerce store are Vulnerability, Penetration, and Code Review tests.
Vulnerability Scanning For Security Testing for ECommerce Websites
Vulnerability Scanning is an active security assessment technique. It involves scanning e-commerce systems and other networks for common vulnerabilities and threats.
Methods:
- Signature-based
This method entails the analysis of pattern in data recognized in already identified hazardous code in the search for similar pattern in software or network.
- Pattern-based
It looks specifically at the behavior or code for signs that may suggest that it could be compromised.
- Behavior-based
This approach centers on pointing out any activity that seems to be out of the ordinary. Or extraordinary since it may be as a result of a security threat.
Tools:
- Vulnerability Scanners
These are specialized tools that ease the discovery of weaknesses that may be present in a network or system.
- Network Scanners
They evaluate networks and describe devices, services, and their settings and relations, advising about possible security issues.
- Web Application Scanners
These tools focus on analyzing web applications for areas susceptible to attack, such as SQL injection and XSS.
- Static Application Security Testing (SAST) Tools
SAST tools work on the source code of programs from the perspective of a static and passive state. They identify the weaknesses of programs without running them.
- Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) Tools
While SAST works in analyzing the source codes of a specific program or software, DAST tools, on the other hand, target the actual running application in the network. They do this via emulation of attacks in search of exploitable weaknesses.
Penetration Testing
Penetration Testing is a testing technique that is aimed at looking for possible exploits on your software system.
It is even more comprehensive than vulnerability scanning since it entails the emulation of hackers’ potential attacks.
Methods:
- Penetration Testers
Penetration testers, otherwise known as security professionals, are tasked with launching intended attacks in a system in order to establish loopholes.
- Red Team Exercises
Other real-scenario security testing for e-commerce websites involves having a team of penetration testers attempt to breach the security of an e-commerce system.
- Ethical Hacking
It is the process of breaking into a system with the consent of the owner but with an aim of emulating a real life hacker.
- Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT)
This process integrates vulnerability assessment and penetration testing to give a complete overview of a system’s security situation.
Security Code Reviews
Security Code Reviews encompass an examination of an application’s source code to identify its security limitations.
They assist in identifying risks that may be unknown to automated methods or humans. These risks are as logical flaws or standard coding errors that could culminate in security cracks.
Strengthening Security Measures to Prevent Vulnerabilities
Due to the extreme sensitivity characteristic with e-commerce sites particularly with consumer data and financial aspects, there will always be need for counter measures to such courses and risks.
Ensuring security measures not only helps in the handling of risks which may happen but also enhances adherence to the guidelines that operates in the field, customers, and organizations’ values and policies.
Advanced Web Application Firewalls (WAFs)
WAFs are important for guarding various types of e-commerce sites from numerous attacks.
They may include SQL injection, XSS and file inclusion. Recent models of WAFs are built with features of monitoring. They can be set to identify and stop malicious traffic.
Through the analysis of HTTP traffic from the internet to the application, WAF prevents such potentially risky requests. Ones that can lead to such threats as CSRF or Broken Authentication.
Extended Web Application Firewalls (WAFs)
WAFs are very handy in protecting sites that provide services like e-commerce against threats that are typical of an SQL injection, cross site scripting (XSS), or File Inclusion.
Therefore, since WAFs filter out all HTTP traffic from the internet to the application, they are able to block potentially risky requests. Then they are able to exploit the problem.
Modern WAFs are programmable. This means that they can be set to receive new sets of rules and policies for protecting an e-commerce platform.
Security Testing for ECommerce Websites: Rigorous Input Validation
This is important in as much as the inputs provided by the users are clean and correct. As well as that they meet certain predefined conditions. This includes length validation and format validation.
It eliminates form injections and manipulations that are lethal to the data and the site’s functionality.
Sanitization promotes secure processing by preventing occurrences like XML External Entities (XXE) and preventing inputs from having scripts or anything unauthorized.
Secure Output Encoding
Output Encoding is needed to avoid recognizing output as a code that can be executed. This method also assists in combating XSS attacks.
Whereas the attackers are capable of inserting any script they wish into popular web pages viewed by other people.
With regard to encoding of outputs, e-commerce sites can encode any data delivered to the browser . It is in such a way that anything that is received by the browser is treated purely as data and not code, thereby improving site security.
Advanced Session Management for Security Testing for ECommerce Websites
Over the years, Session Management has been proven to be very useful in addressing several forms of hijacking attacks to user sessions.
There are several user data attributes which can and should be tuned with the goal of increasing the security of the e-commerce site. These include: session token, session timeout and user authentication state.
Other increments within session management are the developments of HTTP-only cookies that cannot be tampered with by JavaScript programs.
Security Testing for ECommerce Websites: Robust Access Control
The rights assignment is also very important to ensure that only users should have the required access to the data and required functions.
Also known as RBAC, this type of access control enables the definition of policies. Not only that but their implementation through the limitation of access based on roles.
Moreover, a better protection of the sensitive information can be achieved by using MFA, and checks of the access control on the regular basis.
Compliance with Standards and/or Laws
It is always beneficial for the e-commerce sites online to be in compliance with the set standards and regulations such as PCI DSS, GDPR, and CCPA.
This is why regulations such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) were developed.
These standards include provisions on how the data has to be guarded. As well as and the methods of accepting the payments.
Lastly, with the ways that the users’ data can be processed with the least amount of information disclosure while maintaining the greatest level of accuracy.
Speaking of compliance, it is an essential process not only to escape legal problems concerning an organization’s business but also to gain faith. As well as gain the confidence of the consumers in the certain platform or site.
Data security and Software SSL/TLS certificates
Encryption and Secure Sockets Layer or Transport Layer Security are proficient solutions for protecting data on the move. There is importance in encouraging the payment gateways to employ an impenetrable encryption layer to cover the data being transacted.
To improve the security of the connection between user’s IP address and URL of an e-commerce site, SSL/TLS certificates do play an important role. Therefore, their role is in avoiding eavesdropping and tampering of data.
Security Auditing and Compliance Certifications
Regular security auditing helps in identifying and addressing vulnerabilities in e-commerce platforms. Compliance certifications, such as ISO certifications, demonstrate a commitment to maintaining high security standards and adhering to best practices.
These audits and certifications provide reassurance to customers about the site’s security posture.
With these enhanced security features, e-commerce should be able to provide a safe e-shopping environment that will work well to fight the escalating cyber dangers.
Conclusion: Security Testing for ECommerce Websites & Why It’s Needed
Security testing for e-commerce websites is a dynamic and essential strategy that requires continuous adaptation to new threats. Through comprehensive testing and robust security practices, e-commerce businesses can protect themselves.
As well as to protect their customers from the vast array of cyber threats.
Lastly, this proactive approach is not just about securing business operations but also about preserving customer trust. It can fulfill regulatory requirements, which are crucial for the sustained success of online commerce.
She has 30+ years of experience in marketing/advertising with 12 years of experience in content marketing, social media, blogging, and SEO.
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