Online security is a huge issue for businesses of all sizes.
One of the most common threats to online security is web skimming attacks.
In this blog post, we will discuss what web skimming attacks are, how they work, and how you can protect your website from them.
What is Web Skimming?
Web skimming, also known as card skimming or Magecart, is a type of cyberattack that targets online stores and e-commerce websites.
In a web skimming attack, malicious code is injected into a website’s checkout page in order to steal credit card and other sensitive information from customers who enter it into the site.
Web skimming attacks are becoming increasingly common, as they are relatively easy for attackers to carry out and can be very difficult for businesses to detect and defend against.
How Does Web Skimming Work?
When a customer enters their credit card information into an online checkout page that has been compromised by web skimming code, the information is immediately sent to the attacker instead of the legitimate website.
The attacker can then use the stolen credit card information to make fraudulent purchases, or sell it on the black market.
Web skimming attacks can be very difficult to detect, as the code that is injected into a website is often very well hidden.
Additionally, web skimming attacks can happen on any website, regardless of size or industry.
How to Protect Your Website from Web Skimming Attacks
There are a few steps you can take to protect your website from web skimming attacks:
Secure Checkout Page
The best way to protect your website from web skimming attacks is to ensure that your checkout page is secure.
There are a few different ways to do this:
- Use a payment gateway that offers fraud protection, such as PayPal or Stripe.
- Install an SSL certificate on your website. This will encrypt all information that is sent between your website and your customers’ browsers.
- Use a web application firewall (WAF). A WAF will scan incoming traffic to your website and block any requests that contain malicious code.
This will ensure that your customers’ credit card information is encrypted and protected from web skimming attacks.
Keep Your Software Up-To-Date
Another way to protect your website from web skimming attacks is to keep all of your software up-to-date.
This includes your content management system (CMS), eCommerce platform, plugins, and themes.
Outdated software is one of the most common ways that hackers gain access to websites. By keeping your software up-to-date, you can close any security holes that might be exploited by web skimming attacks.
Two-Factor Authentication
Additionally, you should regularly update your password and use two-factor authentication (if available) to further secure your website. Two-factor authentication is an additional layer of security that requires a user to confirm their identity using two different factors.
For example, a common two-factor authentication method is to require a user to enter both their password and a code that is sent to their phone.
This makes it much more difficult for hackers to gain access to your website, even if they have your password.
By following these steps, you can protect your website from web skimming attacks and keep your customer’s credit card information safe.
To conclude, web skimming attacks are becoming increasingly common, but there are steps you can take to protect your website.
If you run an online store or eCommerce website, it’s important to take steps to secure your checkout page and keep your software up-to-date. Additionally, using two-factor authentication can further protect your website from these types of attacks. By taking these precautions, you can help keep your customer’s credit card information safe from web skimming attacks.
