Samui Design Ezine

The Security of your website should not be overlooked, especially if you collect personal data. If your site is secure, it will inspire trust in your users and encourage them to use your site and/or order online. If it is not, you will lose visitors and Google may ban you.

Obviously, this is even more important if you are collecting credit card information. In this case, make sure that you either:

• Use a reputable organisation such as WorldPay or PayPal (to name but a few) and that you indicate this clearly in your website so as to inspire confidence in your users. 
  
• Have a valid SSL certificate – which is indicated by a little padlock in the border of their browser and confirms that the data that is being submitted through the site is secure.

Security is also about how hacker proof the software used on your website is? I am sure that you have all heard about hackers exploiting vulnerabilities in leading software manufacturers’ products such as Microsoft. This applies to the software used to make your website more interactive as well.

For example, a hacker could break into your website to upload a malware, that could then give the owner of the malware access to your clients’ contact details, or wipe off your website and all its content entirely. At minimum, they will replace your homepage with their own indicating clearly to all your visitors that your website has been hacked! If malware is installed on your website, you may end up being banned by Google and/or your web hosting company.

This may sound very alarming, but there are some very simple checks that your web development company should do to ensure that your website is secure and to avoid these problems.

If you would like to find out more, please contact us on estelle.morris@samui.co.uk or Tel: 01865 823153.