With hackers' exploits gracing the front pages of newspapers all over the world, it's hardly surprising that many customers are nervous about giving their credit card numbers out over the Internet. In fact, overcoming buyer's reticence to give out personal information has been one of the major hurdles facing e-tailers, since credit cards certainly seem to be the most practical way of paying online.
So what's the reality of the situation? Are Web credit card shoppers really at risk of fraud? The answer is both yes and no. Theoretically, a hacker could break into an online retailer's site and steal a customer's credit card number.
But when you consider the number of cards fed through such a system in one day; the odds of a hacker stealing (and using) any given number are quite slim. If the truth be told, it's probably a lot riskier to pull out your credit card in a department store, a restaurant, or a gas station, where you are vulnerable to double-swiping, or even to one of the business employees just writing down your number.
Unfortunately, this doesn't relieve businesses of the need to set their customer's minds at ease. As much as online retailers are fighting to tighten their network security, they are also locked in a battle to win skittish buyers over to the merits of online retail. Whether or not your site is secure, earning your customers' confidence is essential. So how should you do it? Invest in a cutting-edge security system, or if you can't afford to license one yourself, go through an ASP. That's the easy part.
Then let your customers know. Make your new security system one of the key selling points of your site and your company ... because no matter how safe your network is, you're not going to make any sales unless your customers believe the site is safe.
