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Is Shopify Safe? 4 Tips for Shopify Security & Best Practices

By October 26, 2023Blog8 min read

Shopify is a leading e-commerce platform that powers over 1.75 million businesses worldwide. It is a popular choice for merchants of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises. Shopify offers a wide range of features and tools to help merchants create and manage successful online stores.

One of the most important aspects of Shopify is “Shopify Security”. Shopify takes security issues very seriously and has implemented a number of measures to protect its merchants and their customers. 62% of consumers say they would not do business with a company that has experienced a data breach.

Cyberattacks on Shopify stores are becoming increasingly common. In fact, Shopify estimates that over 100,000 Shopify stores are hacked each year. This means that there is a 1 in 17 chance that your Shopify store will be hacked this year too. The average cost of a data breach is $3.92 million. 

So the question here is Shopify safe? Are the transactions we make on Shopify safe? Is our customers’ data safe? What are the factors that, if ignored, increase our chances of getting hacked? How can we upgrade our Shopify store?

These are all the questions that come to mind, and today we will find the answers to these questions.

Is Shopify safe and legit platform?

Yes, Shopify is a safe and legit platform. Shopify is a trusted partner of many of the world’s leading brands, including Nike, Adidas, and Tesla. Shopify has a proven track record of security and reliability.

However, it is important to note that no platform is 100% secure. There are always new security threats emerging. It is important for merchants to take their own security precautions to ensure that their stores are safe.

Shopify always works on its security and keeps trying to upgrade it. It keeps giving updates regularly. But some responsibility also falls to the merchants. They should adopt the recommended security measures so that any fraudulent activity can be protected.

If you do not prioritize security, your Shopify store could be at risk for a number of cyberattacks.These security breaches can result in

  1. Data theft
  2. Financial Loss
  3. Reputation Damage

What is Shopify security?

Shopify security is a set of measures that Shopify has implemented to protect its merchants and their customers from cyberattacks. These measures include:

Data encryption

Shopify encrypts all your customer data, including credit card information. This means that even if a hacker were to gain access to Shopify’s servers, they would not be able to read the customer data.

Firewall protection

Shopify uses a web application firewall (WAF) to protect its servers from unauthorized access.

Fraud detection

Shopify uses a variety of fraud detection tools to identify and prevent fraudulent transactions.

24/7 monitoring: Shopify’s security team monitors its systems 24/7 to identify and respond to security threats.

24/7 monitoring

Shopify’s security team monitors its systems 24/7 to identify and respond to security threats. They respond with preventive measures to mitigate these security issues. This might involve temporarily disabling affected services, investigating the nature and scope of the threat, and implementing immediate solutions to contain the impact

What are the Common Shopify security threats and how to avoid them?

There are a number of common Shopify security threats that merchants should be aware of. These threats include:

  1. Phishing attacks: Phishing attacks involve sending fraudulent emails or text messages that appear to be from Shopify in order to trick merchants into revealing their login credentials or other sensitive information. To avoid phishing attacks, merchants should always be suspicious of emails or text messages that ask for personal information. They should also verify the sender’s address before clicking on any links or opening any attachments.
  2. Malware attacks: Malware is malicious software that can be installed on a merchant’s computer or Shopify store without their knowledge. Once installed, malware can steal customer data, make fraudulent transactions, or even bring down a merchant’s store. To avoid malware attacks, merchants should keep their software up to date and use a strong antivirus program.
  3. Brute force attacks: Brute force attacks involve trying to guess a merchant’s password by repeatedly entering different combinations of characters. To avoid brute force attacks, merchants should use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication.

Fraud protection on Shopify

In this section, we will discuss the kinds of fraud that pose a threat to Shopify and how Shopify protects merchants from them. Shopify offers a number of fraud protection features to help merchants prevent fraudulent transactions. These features include:

  • Address Verification System (AVS): AVS verifies the billing address of a customer’s credit card to ensure that it matches the address on file with the credit card issuer.
  • Card Verification Value (CVV): CVV is a three- or four-digit code on the back of a credit card that helps to verify the authenticity of the card.
  • Fraud Analysis: Shopify’s fraud analysis team monitors transactions for suspicious activity and flags any potential fraudulent transactions for review.

Bonus Resource You Might be Interested In

9 Best Content Protector Apps for Shopify to use in 2023/24

Is Shopify safe to buy and sell?

So the question arises, is Shopify safe platform to buy and sell products online? Shopify has robust security system to protect its merchants and their customers. Shopify is PCI compliant, which means that it meets the security standards set by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council, which is a top security layer.

How safe is Shopify Plus?

Shopify Plus is Shopify’s enterprise e-commerce platform. It offers all of the features and security of Shopify, plus additional features and support for high-volume businesses. Shopify Plus is also PCI compliant.

How Can I Boost My Shopify Store’s Security?

There are a number of things that merchants can do to add security to shopify stores. 

  1. Use strong passwords: Passwords should be strong and at least 12 characters long. Include a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols so that it can’t be stolen.
  2. Enable two-factor authentication: Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your Shopify account by requiring you to enter a code from your phone or on your registered email in addition to your password when logging in.

To enable 2-factor authentication on Shopify, 

  1. go to Settings
  2. then Account
  3. Then select Security
  4. Under two-factor authentication, click Turn on two-step.

You can also choose to receive your 2-factor authentication code via SMS, email, or a third-party authentication app such as Google Authenticator or Authy.

  1. Keep your software up to date: Shopify regularly releases software updates to patch security vulnerabilities. Merchants should install these updates as soon as they are available. Recent updates launched in August 2023.
  2. Use a web application firewall (WAF): A WAF can help protect your Shopify store from common web attacks.
  3. Install a security app: There are a number of Shopify apps available on Shopify App Store that can help improve the security of your store. These apps can help to protect you from phishing attacks, malware attacks, and other security threats.

Security tips and Best Practices for Shopify

Here are some more best practices to keep your Shopify store safe and secure. Follow these tips to protect your online shop from potential threats and ensure a safe shopping experience foupdates werecustomers.

  1. Be careful about what apps you install: Only install apps from trusted developers. The Shopify Plus Partner Directory is a list of trusted partners approved by Shopify. They meet strict standards for good quality and customer service
  2. Review your permissions regularly: Make sure that only the apps that need them have permission to access your data.
  3. Monitor your store’s activity: Keep an eye on your store’s activity logs for any suspicious activity.
  4. Back up your data regularly. Back up your store’s data regularly so that you can restore it in the event of a security breach or other

How to use Shopify security features SSL/TLS encryption

What is SSL/TLS encryption?

SSL/TLS encryption (Secure Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security encryption) is a cryptographic protocol that provides communications security over a computer network. It is used to protect data in transit between two applications, such as a web browser and a web server

.

SSL/TLS encryption is enabled by default on all Shopify stores. You can check the status of your SSL/TLS certificate by going to Settings > Store Details > SSL.

How to enable SSL/TLS encryption for your store 

To enable SSL/TLS encryption for a custom domain, you will need to purchase an SSL/TLS certificate from a third-party provider. Once you have purchased your SSL/TLS certificate, you can install it on Shopify by following these steps:

  • Go to Settings > Store Details > SSL.
  • Click Manage Custom Domains.
  • Click Add Domain.
  • Enter your custom domain and click Add.
  • Click Install SSL certificate.
  • Select the SSL/TLS certificate that you purchased from your third-party provider.
  • Click Install.

Shopify Security FAQs

Can my Shopify store be hacked?

Yes, any website can be hacked, but Shopify has a number of security measures in place to protect its merchants and their customers.

How to protect my Shopify store?

There are a number of things that you can do to protect your Shopify store, such as using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and keeping your software up to date. You can also install a security app to help you protect your store from common security threats.

Conclusion

Is Shopify Safe? Yes, Shopify is trustworthy to buy and sell products online. Shopify has a number of security measures in place to protect its merchants and their customers. However, it is important for merchants to take their own security precautions to ensure that their stores are safe.