“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. We have all heard this statement and on a fundamental level, we all know it's true. However, when it comes to protecting your print-on-demand store from potential hackers, the opposite of this proverb is true. It's always better to prepare for something beforehand to avoid losing money long term.

Thanks to innovative technologies, setting up an e-commerce store is not a tough nut to crack. However, we can't say the same about protecting your website from viruses and hackers. POD, the new e-commerce model, has a lot to offer but when there is a lot of money involved, sharks circle around. Don't be lazy and ignore security measures if you want to survive in the competitive e-commerce world. A single security breach can strain your reputation and destroy your business in the blink of an eye.

Before we talk about the security measures you must have in place to protect your POD website, it’s essential to know a bit more about hacking and other security threats.

How do POD platforms get hacked?  Let’s find out!

To protect your POD store from hackers, have you invested in cybersecurity measures? But this doesn't give you the guarantee that you will never come under a security attack. Hackers know how to target soft spots and steal your information. They exploit vulnerabilities to perform activities with malicious intent. Trust us; there is an endless list of hacking activities that can be done on a website. Some of these attacks include:

• SQL injection attack: In an SQL injection attack, hackers insert malicious SQL statements in the backend database. By doing so, hackers access information that may be too sensitive, like user names and passwords. They also modify data present in databases.

• Phishing: In this security attack, hackers disguise themselves then bait the users to enter login details to steal their data. They use a fake email, call or text messages, and counterfeit search engine listings.  Even some pop-ups can steal your details or install malware on your system.

• Cookie poisoning: Cookies are not that sugar-coated-in the e-commerce world. They are the small text files used by companies to recognize users when they repeatedly visit a website. In the cookie attack, hackers manipulate user session cookies, bypass website security and impersonate the user.

Now you understand what hacking is all about. So, what next? To protect your printed custom kids clothing online store, take the following security measures into account.

1. Be extremely selective when choosing a host: The first step to creating a strong security wall around your e-commerce store is to choose the right host. Select the one that is reliable and takes security measures seriously, that has up-to-date software and a system in place to prepare and protect you should you be the victim of an attack. As a website owner, ask them about ways to isolate an attack and how they will prevent a virus from spreading.

2. A strong password is a key: Always, and we say always, use strong passwords for the backend of your website. Avoid easy-to-guess passwords, like your birthday, anniversary or your name. According to experts, stay away from words that you can find in a dictionary. The longer the password, the more difficult it will be for hackers to break it and steal your information.

3. Two-factor authentication: At present, two-factor authentication has become a must for online store owners. According to a recent study, two-factor authentication prevents 96% of bulk phishing attempts. It adds a second layer of security to make your website more secure. There are several options for two-factor authentication. For instance, a bar code or code is generated and sent to your mobile phone. To access the store, you will have to use the secondary code. Since hackers will not have the secondary code, they can’t create havoc on your website.

4. Secured shopping carts: For processing payments online, ask customers for their financial information. If your website and payment gateway are not secure, you will face a backlash from customers. Gibberish text in the website's code can help hackers steal or store the client's sensitive information. If hackers gain illegal access to customer's data, you will be in big trouble. However, with the help of secured shopping carts, it will become an easy breeze and safe for your customers. With secured shopping carts, retailers comply with PCI standards. With the help of this software, you can encrypt and protect your data through multiple firewalls.

5. Encryption software: If you don’t have proper encryption software, it’s time to install it. You have to encrypt all the confidential information between the website and the browser. To keep the hackers away from your code and other sensitive information, you need encrypted algorithms. For instance, HTTPS is secure and guarantees adjudication between the server and the browser. In HTTPS, SSL protocols are used for performing the encryption. Also, regularly check the SSL certificates to avoid phishing fraud. For additional security, use HTTPS throughout your entire store.

6. Update your website: Do you know unpatched applications and extensions make your website an easy target for hackers? Hackers try to gain an advantage from the loopholes and use automated crawlers to look for sites with unpatched applications. To avoid any security attack, keep your website up-to-date and have the latest security patches installed. Educate employees in charge of storing client's confidential information to use proper security measures to avoid any security mishap.

In addition to the above security measures, you can also use strong firewalls; secure your social media platform and payment gateways. To gain loyal customers for your custom kids' clothing store, think beyond making profits. Be proactive to ensure your POD website is secure and provides a hassle-free shopping experience for customers