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| Why Bloggers Need to Manage Cybersecurity Posted: 23 Dec 2021 03:08 AM PST Bloggers aren't immune to getting hacked; they're some of the easiest targets on the internet. Few bloggers secure their websites against cybercriminals even on a basic level. For instance, many fail to update their WordPress plugins, which can make hacking a breeze.
Bloggers need to take information security management seriously. The consequences of losing content in a cyberattack can be devastating. Videos, documents, contracts, and invoices are too important to lose. Even when you have a backup, you don't want sensitive information to end up in the wrong hands. Hackers want more than credit card data The devastation of getting hacked was something blogger Lori McNee never expected, yet it happened to her twice. She learned a valuable lesson the hard way: hackers want more than your bank account and personal information. After getting hacked, McNee wondered why anyone would hack her art blog. She soon learned that hackers don't just want credit card information from large corporations – they want server resources. Hackers generally hijack web servers to run phishing schemes. They don't want to use resources in their own name, so they break into other people's websites and use their server to automatically send our phishing and spear-phishing emails. The website owner doesn't usually know they've been hacked until their site gets shut down by the host after receiving complaints. Can you recover from a hack? Whether you're hit with ransomware, a data breach, or your resources are hijacked, you need a recovery plan. The best recovery plan involves keeping regular backups of your blog and your database so you can just reinstall if you get hit. Without a recovery plan, you'll struggle to piece your website back together. It's time-consuming and expensive to have your website professionally cleaned. It's much easier to just start over. A data breach can be costly Violating a data privacy law can result in massive fines. If you're found to be in violation of a data privacy law because of a data breach, you'll face even bigger fines. Some businesses have been fined anywhere from tens of thousands to millions of dollars. If you run a blog, you're bound by data privacy laws based on the type of data you collect and from whom. For example, if you collect data from UK residents, you're bound byGDPR regulations . If you collect protected health information (PHI) on behalf of a covered entity, you're bound by HIPAA regulations. Since there's no easy way to control who visits your website, it's wise to comply with GDPR requirements. When it comes to other data regulations, you might be more responsible than you think. For instance, if you're acting as a webhost and blogger for a small chiropractic office, hosting their website makes you a business associate responsible for following all HIPAA regulations. However, if you're not hosting their website, you're not a "covered entity," and HIPAA regulations don't apply to you. One keystroke logger and it's over Next to ransomware, another big cybersecurity threat bloggers face is keystroke loggers. If a hacker manages to install one of these on your device, they'll have full access to everything you type. This will include usernames and passwords for online banking, investment accounts, PayPal and Venmo accounts, and more. The best way to thwart keystroke loggers is to install reputable antivirus software. There are several popular options, but the top applications are Avast and Norton. If you collect data on your visitors, your reputation is at risk For bloggers who collect data from visitors, your reputation is at risk if you get hit by a cybersecurity attack that leads to a data breach. You probably don't need to worry much about downtime. Although visitors will be annoyed, they probably won't start trashing you on the internet if your website goes down. However, your visitors will be far less forgiving if their personal data ends up in the hands of hackers. Your visitors have the power to destroy your reputation should they decide to post comments about you online. They might even post reviews on sites like Trustpilot and Google My Business if you also run a business. Word of mouth is the most powerful form of advertising, but it works both ways and can help and hurt your reputation. It's time to prioritize cybersecurity Whether your blog is a hobby or your livelihood, it's time to prioritize cybersecurity. At minimum, keep your website software updated, install all patches as they're released, and encrypt any personal data you hold in your database. If you use WordPress, this security guide will help. If you run another content management platform, contact a cybersecurity professional to help you secure your blog. |
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| 7 Convincing Reasons To Accept Multiple Payment Methods Posted: 02 Dec 2021 03:58 AM PST Choosing a payment method that you're familiar with and comfortable with as a consumer will make you more likely to purchase from the store. For customers, it's all about convenience. If they can pay for their purchases easily and quickly, you'll have a higher chance of them completing their purchase. It's also important to note that the more payment methods you offer, the higher your revenue opportunities.
The internet made it possible for e-commerce stores to have their customers purchase or book online services and pay online by integrating plugins such as a WordPress booking plugin into their websites. If you're already selling online but accept only one or two payment methods, you may be losing a lot of potential business. Here are seven reasons why you should offer a more comprehensive array of payment options to your customers. Customer Retention Customer retention means keeping your current customers and convincing them to come back for more. If the experience of buying from you is so positive that they want to come back for more, they'll be your loyal customers. And, of course, people like to spend money with brands that make their shopping experiences easy and quick. Furthermore, technological advancements may change the way customers prefer to pay for their purchases. People who like to pay in cash might prefer online payments once exposed to the convenience of paying online. Others may also choose to pay using cryptocurrency to support global cryptocurrency adoption. For businesses to keep existing customers, they'll need to provide a payment method that'll match the trends in consumer preferences. Make it Easier For Customers To Purchase Online Have you ever experienced checkout issues with a website when you desperately needed to purchase something? It can be pretty annoying. The last thing you need is for customers to experience inconveniences that may lead them to close your website and go elsewhere. Offering a variety of payment methods will give your customers more options from which they can choose their preferred method of payment. For example, if you're selling clothes, offer online payments using popular credit cards to make it easier for your customers to buy from you. Make their online shopping easy, quick, and effortless. Offering Multiple Payment Methods Increases Customers' Trust Sometimes, seeing a well-known payment gateway on a store's website gives customers a sense of trust in the store. It makes the store look legitimate, safe, and trustworthy if they offer trusted payment gateways. Attract A Wider Audience If you offer too few payment options, you're missing out on the opportunity to attract other customers who also prefer those payment methods over others. Not everyone has a credit card or account on any online payment company. Some customers may choose to use a specific payment method to take advantage of price cuts or offers. So, if a store only accepts a couple of payment options, they're missing out on customers who may shop at other similar stores that accept more payment options. For business owners to take advantage of the majority, opening up more payment choices will ultimately help their business. Increase Your Capacity To Handle High-Volume Transactions Some payment methods may have lower limits for processing transactions. So, if a business only accepts one or two payment methods, there are restrictions on the number of transactions they can process. For example, some payment methods have maximum amounts per transaction, while others may set a maximum number of daily transactions that can be made using that payment method. If you're selling luxury products, chances are you may have a lot of customers making high-value purchases. With a transaction limit, you'll need to open up more payment methods for your business to handle a high volume of transactions. Reach International Customers Some payment methods may only be available in certain countries with the support of local banks or companies. Therefore, if you're selling products that can be delivered internationally, you'll need to offer a variety of payment methods that customers can use from different countries. Businesses must accept international currencies to make it easier for customers from different countries to pay. Personalize Your Business If you want to stand out in a saturated market, where your competitors also offer the same products and services as you do, you'll need to make it easier for customers to buy from you. Differentiate your business and create a personalized experience for every customer. Customers appreciate when they're respected and valued enough for a company to offer them the methods they prefer to pay. Final Words There are many reasons why businesses should offer more payment methods. The list goes on from creating a sense of trust in customers to making it easier to pay. The more payment methods you offer, the better your chances of reaching a wider audience. So don't limit your business by having just one or two payment methods. Instead, open up more payment options to gain more customers and increase your profits. |
