It is very important that your website is secure. You will have to protect customer data like credit card information and bank details among others. If your website is secure and gives prime importance to customer security, it would add to your market value and would attract more customers to your website. The following article gives in depth information of the methods you can use to keep you customer information safe from any type of hacking threat. This would not only help in attracting more customers, but would also help in establishing a relation based on trust and loyalty.
Using the SSL certificate
An SSL certificate is based on a server to browser technology. The SSL certificate is activated by installing it over the server and allowing the server to use SSL. There are certain things which the user may look for when he or she makes payments through your website which include the padlock and the presence of an ‘https://’ instead of the more frequently seen ‘’http://’, the extra ‘s’ here signifies secure. The padlock communicates to your customer that all the sensitive information like the bank details of the customer, shipping address, credit card details etc. reaches the server via an encrypted channel which is secure from hacking threats and hence protects the user information in the best possible way. This would mean that even if it is intercepted on the way by any stray user or malware, would not be read because of its encryption.
Put a secure site seal on the home page
A site seal is something which gives the person confidence about the security of the website. A security seal is a visual mark on your website which signifies that the site is secure and is free from any hacking threats. Apart from the padlock and the URL, the security seal acts as an additional assurance method for the customer. On clicking the seal, the user will get information about all the steps the website is taking in order to make it more secure.
Security is one feature which can help convert a casual visitor to a buyer. A casual visitor would gain confidence in the website by getting knowledge about the methods the site is implementing to protect sensitive user information.
Use SSL everywhere
Most websites use an SSL only for the page on which the customer makes the payment, however, it is a wiser option to use an SSL certificate for all pages where the user may submit any sort of information to make sure that not only bank or credit card details, but also other information like shipping address, telephone number etc. of the customer are safe.
Using an EV SSL
EV SSL stands for an extended validation SSL. An SSL displays a padlock and changes the website URL to ‘https://’. The EV SSL not only does what SSL does, it also displays a green signal at the top of the browser where the user enters the address of the website. Most e-commerce portals and social networking websites use an EV SSL to enhance security. This would also attract more customers if they are aware what the green bar stands for. The information regarding EV SSL and how to identify it can be added to the security seal and can be accessed by the customer whenever he or she clicks on the seal.
Have the softwares updated
Despite all the steps taken to improve the security of the website, new vulnerabilities are being exposed every day. There are methods being developed to counter all sorts of security arrangements. Technical security companies are also capable in devising new and improved security methods. It is also important that you keep on installing the updated versions so that no vulnerabilities of your website are ever exposed.
Effective password and access technology
You should have an effective password policy for the access of control panel, different tool and the FTP. This helps in attaching an added layer of security.
All the above mentioned steps if taken can make your website more secure and would help in gaining the trust of your customer.
When you are shopping or planning to purchase a new item you would be cautious of where you do shop. Is it logical for you to go and meet up with a man in some dark alleyway to purchase a pair of shoes? Or would you prefer to go to the local mall and buy it from a well-presented and trusted shoe store? It makes perfect marketing and psychological sense to have your online business to appear trustable. This trust in turn can improve the amount of sales you make online. It is easier to persuade people when you do have their trust. An online business can make itself more trustable and secure through the use of 
A question that is asked a lot amongst beginners in web design is “what is web hosting?” This term is a general term used to describe a place where your website can be accessed from. In order for your website to be viewed by the world it is necessary that it is being uploaded from a certain location, or in technicalities, a server. It is a fairly simple process of what goes on for your website to successfully be available online. Your website is made up of a series of files which contain coding from various languages in order for it to function. Consequently for a viewer to see the visual display of those coded files their browser would have to read that code. These files are not readily available on the viewer’s computer and have to be given from somewhere else. This is where web site hosting comes into the picture. A server will hold the web developers files. In turn, these files are uploaded from the server and downloaded into the viewer’s computer. Now that the viewer has the coded website files in his computer his or her browser is able to make a visual presentation from the coded files. Also images must be stored in the server so they can also be downloaded to the viewer’s computer. This allows the web surfer to see images on your website as well.