Security and Cyber Threats: How to Protect Yourself

There are three major points of vulnerability in typical online transactions namely the client, the server and the Internet Communications Channel (Lindemann, 2017). At these points, online fraudsters and hackers can access company and client information and steal from them. The online fraudsters can also use third party websites to illegally access client credit card details. Companies need to help secure these points of vulnerabilities to prevent losses. There are several technological advances that can be made to protect a company against security and cyber threats. The companies can secure their internet communications processes using cryptography. Cryptography is a technological method of securing communication by using secret codes. Companies can also use cryptography to secure their websites against hacking, cyber vandalism and secure data against unwarranted access by malicious people (Lindemann, 2017). 

The online e-commerce companies can secure their communication channels as well as protect their networks, servers and their clients. Secure communication channels are not vulnerable to third party websites who may access data and critical information and, therefore, breach a company’s e-commerce system. It also helps guard their Wi-Fi and Virtual Private Network (VPN) against listening wire taps from other online fraudsters (Lindemann, 2017). To protect their networks, companies can use firewalls and secure proxy servers third parties have no access. This helps protect customer information and the data base from breaches that can cause major losses for the firm. Data bases can be secured by the SQL parameters to prevent SQL Injection and subsequent access of data by third parties. 

Finally, the servers and clients can be protected using secure Operating Systems and related active anti-virus software (Lindemann, 2017). There could be instances where a company’s e-commerce process faces breaches at the server level. The clients, thus, become vulnerable to third party exploitation as they try to access the companies’ web pages. 

Reference  

Lindemann, A. (2017, Jan 31). IS 231: Week 5 Lecture [Video file]. Retrieved July 28, 2017 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zefJVifrtVs