The internet has changed the way we 
communicate and also the way we shop.
The UK leads the way in e-commerce with
online sales approaching £40 Billion last year.
Some people continue to worry about the security of their
personal information but online transactions are generally very secure
– as long as you make sure you take some simple basic precautions.
Here are 3 tips to help keep your Business information secure online:
1. Use a secure password
What’s your usual password? No, don’t post it or tell us,
that was supposed to be a rhetorical question! Passwords are
there for everybody’s safety but weak, easily guessed passwords
can be worse than none at all as they allow potential fraudsters
to bypass an important layer of security.
According to password management company SplashData,
the three most widely used passwords of 2013 were “123456,” “password”
and “12345678.” Avoid passwords like these at all costs and steer clear of things
like family members, pets and birthdays that can be cracked with a minumum
of research – sometimes simply by looking at your social media pages.
You should also try to avoid using the same password for multiple sites and purposes.
If one is hacked or cracked, it could compromise the others.
2. Look for SSL certification
Secure Sockets Layer or SSL is a protocol for enabling data encryption on the Internet. Essentially,
this prevents attackers from intercepting your payment details and other information when you
are making a transaction online. As a consumer you should look for the ‘http’ at the beginning
of the website address changing to ‘https’. A padlock symbol will also display and the presence
of some SSL certificates will also cause the address bar to turn green.
Vendors can instil a sense of trust in their customers by providing visible SSL protection.
Companies and other organisations with their own data transfer and access requirements
may require their own network security and it’s easy to purchase SSL for your gadgets
3. Use active antivirus protection and scan regularly
You should always make sure you have antivirus software active on your computer.
There’s a constant arms race between cyber-criminals and anti-virus programmers,
so make sure your version and database are updated regularly.
You should also scan your system regularly. Most antivirus programs allow you to schedule
regular scans but you should run one anyway if you suspect there is a problem
or your computer is behaving strangely.
The End.