| Whenever someone takes out their credit card, | | | | everything you possibly can to protect their payment |
| accesses your website and pays for goods, they are | | | | information whenever they make a purchase with you. |
| opening themselves up to the possibility of fraud. But | | | | It can certainly help to advise every customer of the |
| of course, that is a very over simplified statement | | | | things they should be aware of when making a |
| regarding this problem. | | | | purchase. Simple things like looking for that padlock |
| There is a lot that the customer can and should do to | | | | symbol, and making sure the right address is there. |
| make sure their details are kept safe. A good example | | | | They should also check they haven't been re-routed to |
| is making sure they are paying through a secure site | | | | an address that is ever so slightly different, for |
| and that the address bar still contains the right address. | | | | example. These things might seem obvious to many |
| However there is a big onus on the company taking | | | | people but to others they aren't. Encouraging |
| the payment to ensure that everything is kept safe | | | | customers to take a pro-active role in protecting their |
| too. | | | | payment information does help with the bigger picture |
| The truth is that it doesn't take hackers very long to | | | | of making your website as secure as possible. |
| run up purchases on a credit card once they have all | | | | Think about the potential degree of fallout you would |
| the details related to it. And of course, there is all the | | | | experience if your business did suffer an instance of |
| information related to the customer as well which | | | | stolen or compromised payment information. It is clear |
| needs to be protected. This means that all websites | | | | that investing in internet security consultants to regularly |
| have an even greater responsibility to their customers | | | | go over your business is one of the best investments |
| and visitors to keep their details as safe as possible. | | | | you could make. This will make sure it is as secure as |
| Computer internet security is arguably the most | | | | it can possibly be. |
| important part of any online business. It isn't just the | | | | Unfortunately there are still plenty of businesses who |
| initial fallout from payment information being | | | | think it would never happen to them. They don't take |
| compromised that is damaging, either. It is undoubtedly | | | | the risks to payment information seriously enough to |
| the damage to the level of trust held with that | | | | protect everyone who does business with them. |
| company that can have the biggest effect over time. | | | | Don't be one of those businesses. Educate your staff |
| This is why we must work to ensure the level of risk | | | | on this topic, get the experts in to help and make sure |
| associated with any payments made through a | | | | your customers know what they can do to stay safe. |
| website is as low as possible. It isn't just about security | | | | It's a fact that hackers make use of payment details |
| - it is about fostering a good long term relationship with | | | | every day, but there are ways that you can stay off |
| your clients. This will reassure them you are doing | | | | their radar. |