Internet Security By Jamileh Shokeh

Recently, computers and internet has become the spirit of life. No one can facilitate his or her affairs efficiently and professionally without using internet. We also started making deals via the internet. But we shouldn’t forget the security view because internet is insecure channel for exchanging information.

By increasing the numbers of online businesses and the entry of e-commerce, the security issue has become a necessity to be taken into account for the success of the business. Many consumers refrain from making deals online because they fear from stealing their information such as their credit or debit card numbers, login details and payable details. This adversely affects online businesses and leads to falling back. To overcome these obstacles many protection systems have been developed such as SSL (Secure Socket Layer), TLS (Transport Layer Security) and others. These are cryptographic protocols uses two keys to encrypt data (public and private keys) that provide communication security over the internet. According to Johnny Papa “SSL is the security method used to transmit sensitive information like credit card numbers and online banking data over the Internet. SSL is the technology used to encrypt and decrypt messages sent between the browser and server. By encrypting the data, you protect messages from being read while they are transferred across the Internet. SSL encrypts a message from the browser, and then sends it to the server. When the message is received by the server, SSL decrypts it and verifies that it came from the correct sender (a process known as authentication).” (Microsoft 2011). The encryption of data, prevent “bad guys” from stealing information for malicious intent. The URL requires SSL connection start with https instead of http and there is a padlock icon at the page of the website or in the address bar (QuinStreet Inc 2011).  There are vendors provide certificates for such systems one of these is VeriSign. It provides SSL certificate since 1995 and it still interested in the needs of consumers for secure websites in order to make transaction online (Symantec Corporation 2011). By having SSL certificate you and your customers will benefit from it. Your Customers feel safe; trust you and your website. When they see secure icons on the website they know that they can make transaction without anxiety or fear. They have the willingness to communicate and exchange information because you provide them with private communication feature (Donkey Internet Ltd 2010). As online business that is success depend on electronic transactions and e-commerce. Now you can secure your website and protect your business. This in fact is protection for your customers and keeps them loyal for you! Moreover, the visitors will favor your website over other competitors and you will have a competitive advantage among others. People will know you as a reputable and safe online business.

As a conclusion, consumers constantly are seeking for secure online transactions. So for each business wants to spread online and have success e-commerce should secure its website and the information transmission between the client and the server.

References:

1. Microsoft 2011. Available from: <http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc301946.aspx>. [ April 2001]
2. QuinStreet Inc 2011. Available from: < (http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Internet/2005/ssl.asp>. [1 Sept 2010]
3. Symantec Corporation 2011. Available from: <http://www.verisign.com/ssl/>.

   4.Donkey Internet Ltd 2010. Available from: <http://sslguide.org/ssl-articles/benefits-of-ssl>.