Security at E-Commerce:

> Information von ShopMotion.com by KMD-Design

> Diese Seite auf DEUTSCH

 
« Is it safe to buy and pay online? »
« Where is online shopping safe? »
« What do SSL, 128-bit-encryption and 3D-Secure mean? »
 

Online shopping is fast and convenient. But are online shops safe? Often you got several possibilities for payment:

Payment methods at e-commerce:

• Advanced payment: The customer pays the total amount by wire transfer into a bank account of the merchant. The ordered goods will be shipped after incoming payment. This is the safest method for the merchant but the customer must trust the shop and wait some days for the wire transfer to arrive.
• Cash on delivery: The merchant ships the order and the postman cashs the amount at the door. So the merchant knows that the customer pays. But the customer has to pay before he may check the content of the delivery. Therefore the trust into the merchant is almost as important than with advanced payment. The Swiss Post takes a fee of CHF 15.- for the cash on delivery service, so it may not be suitable for smaller orders.
• Invoice: The merchant ships the order and the customer has normally 30 days to pay by payment order. Convenient for the customer - risky for the merchant. Many shops sell only on account for national customers after a prevously paid order or run a credit check on new clients.
• Credit card: The customer authorizes the order by typing his credit card details in the form of an online processor who is automatically running a credit check on his card. The merchant can be sure that the card is covered. Normally the final amount will be settled when shipping the goods. Should the order not arrive the customer can cancel the payment with his bank within 30 days and the merchant has to proof that the package has been really shipped to the right address. Credit card payment is popular with merchants and clients and offers a fast method of payment and delivery but there apply a lot of fees that make this payment method only suitable for larger shops.

 
• ShopMotion supports a multitude of payment methods depending on total amount, customer nationality or creditworthiness.

Safety with online credit card payment:

• Encryption: When a customer enters his credit card details it must be cryptographically secured transmitted to the card issuer. If the card number would not be encrypted a network technician could find the number in a server log file and use it for his own shopping. The 128-bit encryption method is considered to be safe unless you are dealing with the CIA.
• A secure transaction can be recognized by a yellow key or lock symbol in the lower status bar of a web browser. However the MS Internet-Explorer does not show a lock symbol if the webpage has mixed content or layers. Reasonably customer data is encrypted while images like item photographs can be cleary transmitted. A missing lock symbol can also still mean that the shop is safe.
• Processing: Of what avail is it that a shop software uses an encryped transmission if it later sends the number in an unsecured e-mail to the merchant? Or if the merchant can print it on a delivery note and leave a copy on his desk. A secure processing of the data is as important as the transmission!
• Since 2005 Swiss online shops may no more store card numbers on their own database. The whole card processing is done at a licensed card processor and the merchants shop software only gets the result of the credit check and a reference number for later identification of the payment. The merchant will never know the card number itself.
• CVC2 / CVV2: This code is written on the back side of the credit card and used in some shops for an additional security check. A stolen card number and expiration date can not longer be used for a purchase.
• 3D-Secure: VISA and MasterCard offer with "Verified by VISA" and "MasterCard SecureCode" an additional security check with a submitted question that can only be answered by the legal card owner. The enquiry comes directly from the card processor and can not be monitored by the shop owner. A merchant using a contract for 3D-Secure will get a guaranty for all payments that there is no reversal debit.
• But life isn't as secure as the internet. Every waiter who takes your credit card to the kitchen can write down your number and use it for a shopping tour while you are still enjoying your espresso. So always check your card summary and never leave your card holders copy on the table!

 
• ShopMotion supports a secure transaction of all client data and provides all abouve mentioned security systems.

Choosing the right shop software:

Are you interested in opening an online shop or are you looking for a better tool to improve your efficiency and impress your clients? Then have a look at our newly developed Shop-Software:

Together with experienced online traders we developed a modular online shop software that grows with your business and that includes a wide variety of helpful functions to save your time: ShopMotion is a revolutionary Flash-Shop that presents your articles with full multimedia capacity in a custom-made design and an unbelievably fast and runny navigation.

Experience ShopMotion live as a customer in one of the demoshops or read more about functions, modules and prices (PDF) and the latest updates.