Honda Global Operations just confirmed that their network has been a victim of a cyber attack. This was first confirmed via a tweet by the Honda Automobile Customer Service on June 8, 2020.
The tweet reads,” At this time, Honda Customer Service and Honda Financial Services are experiencing technical difficulties and are unavailable. We are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding.”
In addition to this, a statement was released. This statement confirmed that the recent cyberattack on Honda’s global operations had a major effect on computer and email servers, so it is difficult to access internal systems.
Although the statement didn’t really dive into details, it confirmed that the attack was from an external source and was spreading throughout the Honda network.
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Honda Production Systems Affected Globally
Notably, the attack on Honda’s global operations affected production systems, not just in Japan but in other operating countries as well. Honda is renowned for producing cars, motorcycles, lawnmowers, generators, and more. With production systems affected, the output is bound to be slow.
So far, there have been activities aimed at minimizing these effects in other for production to return to normal.
According to cyber-security professionals, the cause of the cyberattack has been linked to ransomware with the idea that the hackers locked out some of Honda’s IT systems with data encryption techniques.
Morgan Wright, Sentinel One’s security advisor implied that the attacks resemble one in which the Ekans ransomware was used. This is a type of ransomware that is used to target industrial control system networks and, as such, has disrupted Honda’s manufacturing systems.
However, Honda confirms that there have been no data stolen and the effect has been quite minimal business-wise.
In the buzz of these events, it was revealed that production in the UK factory in Swindon has been put on hold including that in other regions like Italy, North America, and Turkey.
Honda Hit by Cyberattack: Frequently Asked Questions
The recent cyberattack on Honda has raised concerns about cybersecurity and its impact on major corporations. Here are some FAQs to address what happened and clear up some misconceptions:
Has Honda been hacked?
Yes, Honda confirmed that they were the victim of a cyberattack in June 2020. This attack affected their computer and email servers, disrupting internal systems and impacting production across various countries.
Why are modern power systems prone to cyber threats?
This question is more relevant to cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, like power grids. Honda, in this case, is a manufacturer of vehicles and other equipment. However, modern systems in any industry, including manufacturing, are increasingly reliant on computer networks and control systems, making them vulnerable to cyberattacks.
What is the first step in the cyber attack cycle?
The first step in the cyber attack cycle can vary, but it often involves reconnaissance. In this stage, attackers gather information about their target, such as vulnerabilities in their systems or network configurations.
Let’s focus on the Honda incident. What is the suspected cause of the attack?
Cybersecurity professionals suspect the attack involved ransomware. Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a victim’s data, making it inaccessible. Attackers then demand a ransom payment in exchange for a decryption key.
What about the impact on Honda production?
The attack did disrupt production systems globally. Honda took steps to minimize the effects, but production in factories located in the UK, Italy, North America, and Turkey was reportedly put on hold.
Note: This was initially published in June 2020 but has been updated for freshness and accuracy.
In this interview, we spoke with Matt Davey, COO of 1Password, to learn more about IT roles in remote working, cybersecurity protocols, and 1Password contribution for both SMBs and large enterprises.
On May 21st, the enterprise password manager (EPM) 1Password released fresh data that explores the under-celebrated role that IT has played in the massive shift to extended remote work (from 1% to 89% of U.S. office workers in just a matter of weeks).
Below is a quick preview of 1Password’s findings as it relates to security protocols, which were collected between April 15-23:
Big brother tactics aren’t needed — workers are following the rules: 63% of IT workers said they believe employees are following security protocols and requirements actually better when working from home.
Who’s more likely to relax the rules during COVID-19? 46% of SMB firms report relaxing some security protocols and requirements, compared to just 19% of large firms.
Here are Matt Davey’s responses to our questions.
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1. Question: What major role has IT played in the revolution of remote working?
Matt Davey: IT has led the charge to remote work, which frankly wouldn’t exist without IT. From replicating in-person conversations with Zoom to enabling rapid written communications with Slack to adding security protections accessible via the cloud, this wholesale transition to work from home wouldn’t have been possible even just a few years ago without strong IT personnel and technologies.
2. Question: Do you agree that employees take cybersecurity protocols at home seriously and even better than they do in the office? If yes, why is it so?
Matt Davey: I do, and our research very clearly backs it up. In our survey, 63% of IT workers said they believe employees are following security protocols and requirements better when working from home — and 58% of employees say they are following home security protocols better than they did while in the office.
We feared people would be more relaxed at home and be more likely to slip up, and we were pleasantly surprised to see that employees are taking on the mantle of security themselves.
3. Question: Given how long your company has been in business – about 14 years – how would you describe the progress of remote working from then till now? Have there been any major changes?
Matt Davey: At 1Password, we’ve been an almost entirely remote workforce for 14 years and have learned a lot along the way.
Keeping communication open and collaboration going can be one of the biggest challenges of working from home – loneliness can creep in, and teams can begin to feel siloed. The major changes for our teams have been the proliferation of fantastic digital collaboration tools like Slack, Basecamp, and Google Meet.
Setting expectations from the start has been crucial. The most important expectations to set are those around working hours, availability, and processes and priorities. Whatever the expectations, we communicate them clearly from the start and make sure that everyone fully understands the rules by which we’re now working.
Maintaining teams’ happiness and work-life balance is just as important as laying the structural groundwork for remote working. Difficulty unplugging is one of the top struggles of remote workers, so it’s crucial to encourage people to take proper breaks and time away from their desks – and actually mean it. There are also lots of ways workers can help themselves, like dedicating a space to work, thinking about how you use devices, dressing for work, sticking to a regular schedule, and getting up and moving.
We’re lucky to have the opportunity to meet, work (and then hang out with) folks from diverse backgrounds from all over the world. Yes, this happens while working together, but often, it’s the informal, unstructured chats that hold the most value to team wellbeing. We have happy hour video calls where colleagues can shoot the breeze with a beer, play online sessions of Settlers of Catan, and share endless Animal Crossing screenshots in our #topic-gaming chat in Slack.
When connections form naturally, they’re real and long-lasting. And teams that communicate well will work better together, be happier, and love their jobs. We’ve seen lower staff turnover and more engaged team members and found it easier to recruit new staff because of our company culture.
4. Question: Lots of online service providers have recorded an increase in service usage as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, are the statistics the same at your end?
Matt Davey: Online attacks are already on the rise, and new threats targeting remote teams will emerge. Smart businesses will develop robust processes to stay safe in the remote economy, and those processes will be woven into the fabric of day-to-day business.
We’ve provided businesses with a free six-month trial of 1Password to support companies during the pandemic. That’s helped us see strong service usage in the last few months.
5. Question: Do you think companies should embrace remote working as normal after the COVID-19 pandemic or it should be reversed? How would you weigh the possibility?
Matt Davey: Ultimately, the successful businesses will be those best prepared for uncertainty – those that recognize that flexibility is a virtue – and now, perhaps, the only viable option. And right now flexibility means adopting remote work as the new default. We won’t bother to call it “remote” any more. It’ll just be what we call “work.”
1. Stuart Cooke from Evalian Cybersecurity Consultancy Firm
To secure and protect a website, you must limit the number of people you give access to. The more individuals have access to your website, the more likely their IP addresses are to be targeted by hackers.
Of course, for large organizations, it’s often necessary for a lot of people to log in to the back end of a website, and if that’s the case, then I would recommend being careful with the roles you grant.
Keep full admin access for the very few people who will require it regularly; for the rest, author, editor, or read-only access should suffice.
2. Dusan Stanar From VSS Monitoring
My most significant advice is to limit client access to the website. This means you determine how often a user can request a page over time. For example, maybe they can only access ten pages every 30 seconds.
This helps prevent automated hacking and scripts meant to hack your website, which requires them to be able to access your site thousands of times a minute. Doing so will drastically increase your security and reduce the risk of being hacked.
3. Jeff Neal, Owner of The Critter Depot
I am a big proponent of 2-factor authentication. Using two separate methods is a great way to force anyone to verify their identity. However, sim swapping has recently caused a lot of problems for people. This proves that 2FA is unsuitable if people rely on text messages or phone calls to verify their identity. Sim swapping is where a hacker successfully switches the target’s mobile number onto their device.
Then, when the hacker logs into their target account, the hacker will receive a text message or phone call with the secret code, allowing the hacker access to the target’s account. The best way to prevent this is to use a code generator app that changes the numbers every 30 seconds.
4. Saqib Ahmed Khan, Digital Marketer at PureVPN
The first and foremost necessity is to install an SSL certificate to secure and protect a website. Any website without HTTPS doesn’t encrypt data. Keep the plugins or any software for your website up to date because vulnerabilities are discovered from time to time.
Use two-factor authentication to provide specific data because the website administrator requires more security than a regular user. Store passwords in a hashed form, not plain text; if a data breach occurs, the passwords will still be secured.
Always validate inputs on your website because cross-site scripting and SQL injection attacks occur daily. Maintain timely backup mechanisms for your website because anything can happen in the real world.
5. Ashley Simmons, Webmaster at Avoid the Hack!
I recommend that all websites should force their HTTPS version at the server level:
HTTPS encrypts data sent to and from your web server(s)
Forcing HTTPS on the server level (for example, Apache) ensures that all versions served are secure
HTTPS helps protect against eavesdroppers
Without HTTPS, many browsers will encourage visitors not to interact with your site
Using HTTPS improves SEO (search engine optimization)
Forcing HTTPS at the server level means all visitors get directed to the secure version.
6. Per-Erik Eriksson, Author of VPNetic.com
Besides securing your website with proper hosting, firewalls, and anti-malware software, the best thing you can do for your website security are the following:
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication.
Use a strong password AND username.
Never click links in emails.
People often overlook these things because they will never slip up. Social engineering is the most common hacking method today, yet it rarely gets the attention it deserves.
7. Jessica Rose, CEO of Copper H2O
Since many of us work remotely and there is a greater chance of getting hacked due to less secure home office computers, ensuring your online systems are protected is more critical than ever.
Our #1 for businesses is to activate two-factor authentication on their website and related accounts. When started, no one can log into your website or accounts unless they know your password and the security code sent to your smartphone at the time of login. This method costs nothing and dramatically increases your website’s and business’s security.
8. Tom Winter Tech Recruitment Advisor & Co-Founder at DevSkiller
The strength of passwords is often neglected as an essential security factor. Sometimes, even experienced IT professionals will set weak passwords for admin accounts, exposing your entire website to outside attacks.
To prevent this from happening, insist on strong passwords for your admin panel and external users. If you have any logging option on your website, require all users to use different characters when creating a password. That way, you can secure and protect a website.
9. Hary Toledo, Strategic Partner at CenturyLink
Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, the weapon for cybercriminals targeting Internet-based business sites, can cause prolonged outages for services like eCommerce, online bill pay, or VoIP telephony. These attacks can be devastating if you rely on web-based transactions to generate even a tiny portion of your revenue.
When users access websites, their requests are routed to the corresponding servers as appropriate during legitimate web use. However, the infrastructure (servers, routers, firewalls, switches, and circuits) can only process a finite amount of traffic. When that limit is reached, additional requests cannot be processed.
In a DDoS attack, hackers overwhelm targeted servers with many requests from a host of separate computers, blocking legitimate server access. A DDoS attack can be so enormous that it completely overwhelms routers, network links or servers — rendering the location unavailable for all Internet use.
10. Artur Yolchyan, Expert Software Engineer & Owner of Coding Skills
To develop a secure website, you should measure 10 OWASP protection for your website. To successfully do it, you should use a mature web development library such as Spring Security to reduce the risk of your website being attacked.
I recommend using already existing and well-tested security frameworks to protect your website and hiring experts to configure these frameworks.
11. Greg Scott, Author and Cybersecurity Professional at Infrasupport Corporation
My Ukrainian friend, Ihor, offered to penetrate my website a few years ago, and I agreed. What could he possibly find? After all, I am a professional… Every time I get cocky, I learn a lesson in humility. It took him only a few minutes to find a directory I had neglected to lock down from directory listings. I was embarrassed and angry and considered not fixing it. And so I can identify with people faced with the same stress on a larger scale. But after feeling sorry for myself, I did my homework and fixed it. I’m grateful to Ihor for his work. Embarrassment is better than penetration.
12. Stacy Clements, Owner of Milepost 42
Keeping the software updated is one of the most essential actions to secure and protect a website. This is especially important if you’re running a CMS like WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal, as these systems depend on multiple software packages for functionality. However, any website runs on a web server, and it’s just as important (and often overlooked) to ensure the software on that server is updated.
Another crucial component of securing a website is protecting access to the site. Use the principle of least privilege to ensure access is restricted to the lowest possible level and enforce strong passwords and two-factor authentication.
13. James LePage, Founder & CEO of Isotropic Design
The most effective thing a WordPress website owner can do to secure their site is install a plugin called Wordfence. Wordfence is a free web application firewall and malware scanner. This tool blocks all IP addresses the company has maliciously by logging in to your WordPress website’s admin dashboard, preventing brute force attacks.
You can set up two-factor authentication and incorporate Google’s reCAPTCHA bot protection system. The tool will also periodically scan the files that make up your website for any malicious code. If it identifies any files that shouldn’t be there, it will automatically delete them.
As an agency, we use this WordPress plugin on all our websites. It’s a free tool, is automatically installed and configured, and is the most comprehensive security solution for WordPress websites.
14. Rahul Gulati, Founder of GyanDevign Tech Services
This is a no-brainer, but people pay little attention to this. It is still a pity to find people having passwords like “987654321†or “admin12345â€. A WordPress user with a weak password is an open door for hackers. The lowest point on a website is your password; the stats are apparent. A Linux-based computer produces 350 billion guesses/second. So, there are a lot of chances for your password to be one of them.
Wordfence has to say that there have been six million attacks on WordPress websites in 16 hours. A strong password will keep you out of reach of such malicious threats. You can also see why WordPress emphasizes a stronger password as well.
Password strength meters are a simple add-on you can opt for. Just add the following line to your functions.php file.
wp_enqueue_script( ‘password-strength-meter’ )
Usually, the combination of 2FA is a username with a password or username with a HOTP. This OTP usually lasts for a minute, keeping the window very short.
The real advantage of 2FA is the integrated device to secure the WordPress website. Hackers cannot get through without the OTP, even when they get hold of your credentials,
15. Pushpraj Kumar, Business Analyst at iFour Technolab
You can add a security socket layer (SSL) to your website with HTTPS, a protocol that allows you to send secure communication over your computer network. You can shield your website against SQL injection.
Regularly watch your email transmission ports; you can also check your communication ports under email settings. Don’t allow highly suspicious file uploads. Invest more in website vulnerability scanners that will identify technical weaknesses on your website. Confidentiality refers to access control of information to ensure user authentications and access control components.
16. Samuel David, Founder of Smart Home Vault
For WordPress users (who represent about 20% of self-hosted websites globally), I’d recommend installing the Wordfence plugin. Wordfence plugin is a security plugin and has free and paid plans. Besides being an automated tool, Wordfence is straightforward hence ideal for users who aren’t tech-savvy.
Depending on settings, Wordfence will block an IP address for 4 hours after five failed attempts. For every failed attempt – and other issues detected (like plugins with security risks) – Wordfence will notify by email. Still talking about email alerts, I like that Wordfence is big on updates/news about the vulnerability and risks of Wordpress and Wordpress plugins. That way, users can act just in time.
17. Abdul Rehman, Cybersecurity Editor at VPNRanks
The one website security tip I’d like to give you is setting up a web application firewall like Sucuri on your website. A WAF is essential for your website security as it filters and blocks malicious and harmful traffic.
You can also block and allow specific types of traffic as you desire. It’s essential since it prevents harmful injections and hack attacks that can harm your site and the data it holds.
18. Bruce Sigrist, Web Developer + WordPress Specialist at Phase Three Goods
To secure and protect a website, be thorough and uncompromising.
On thoroughness… it’s easy to disregard crucial parts of website security because the jargon is new or the setup looks cumbersome. From 2-factor authentification to firewalls and IP-limited logins, these steps might seem overwhelming to non-specialists. Hackers and spambots are determined; every obstacle you throw at them will reduce the likelihood of a breach.
On being uncompromising… while searching for security improvements, you might find limitations in your site’s build or hosting environment. Don’t be afraid to switch hosts or frameworks if circumstances limit your site security.
19. Noman Nalkhande, Founder of WP Adventure
I take the utmost care to ensure no gaping loopholes for a security breach to occur. Since WordPress is hugely popular, some fantastic plugins are built primarily to serve this purpose.
Sucuri and WordFence are extremely popular and do a great job. Besides using a security plugin, I’d also advise keeping your WP themes and plugins up to date with the latest versions. Changing the default login URL from /wp-admin to something more unique using a plugin like ManageWP or adding a few lines of code directly in the .htaccess file is also wise.
20. Juan Pineda, Partner at Sofyma
Most attacks on business websites are happening because three aspects are disregarded: hosting security, website software maintenance, and password strength.
If possible, you should opt for a robust hosting platform that isolates the live environment from any server access. This guards against unauthorized updates that can result in compromise.
Independently of the hosting provider, it would be best to use strong passwords to access your server, control panel, or website management system.
Another essential aspect to consider is keeping your platform software updated. If you are not using a managed hosting provider, you should stay current with security releases for the operating system, SSL software, programming language, and database you use.
If you use a content management system or framework for your website, you should also keep it updated with the security releases published by the community.
21. Chris Love, Owner of Love2Dev
Using HTTPS for all communications is a no-brainer today. It was once complicated and expensive. Today, it takes about 30 seconds and is free.
A common mistake I see is improper use of identity for authentication. Many websites incorrectly use identity to block access to sensitive account data. Often, applications are brought to me. API APIs are not secured, and direct access to the database can be had with direct calls to the exposed API endpoints.
Another recommendation I am making more and more is using biometrics and passwordless authentication. Here, only verified tokens are made available to the application. The user’s device verifies the identity with facial recognition or fingerprint analysis. It is hard to crack, and storing a password hash is unnecessary.
22. Jessica Rhoades, Owner and Designer at Create IT Web Designs
Most people think that web security is just installing a WordPress plugin.
It is more than that. It is forming a plan around your website. First, do you take regular backups of your website and keep them off the webserver? Keeping a backup is critical to protecting your data.
Secondly, are you updating your plugins on a regular schedule? Vulnerabilities in plugins are constantly being discovered.
Lastly, do you have any subdomains, and are you updating and scanning those regularly?
An old test server on a subdomain that a customer forgot about was how one of my customers was hacked. The subdomain plugins were not updated for over two years and were hacked. Since they could get into the subdomain, it affected the main website. We quickly resolved the security with the subdomain, but the main website was down for about 6-8 hours.
23. Nir Kshetri, Professor at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro
Many strategies must be used to secure and protect a website, but I would emphasize two things. First, companies should practice extreme precautions and safeguards if they allow others to upload files through their websites to ensure that no malicious files are uploaded.
Moreover, if users upload too big files, they can bring the website down. An option to keep the website secure would be not to allow file upload.
However, this is not a practical strategy for many companies. Companies should allow uploads to support only one or a few file types. They can set up an email address and list on their Contact Us page to submit other file types. They should also limit the file size to avoid DDoS attacks and scan received files for viruses and malware.
Second, if the website stores passwords, it is critical to hash passwords and employ a more muscular hashing function (e.g., bcrypt) rather than a simple function (e.g., SHA1). In this way, even if hackers can penetrate a company’s network, it will make it difficult to steal passwords and use them for nefarious purposes.
24. Michael Miller, CEO of VPN Online
As a security evangelist, one tip I always preach is to update everything! Your first line of defence will always be your antivirus, operating system, hardware, and passwords. Make sure you religiously update them. As an added insurance, keep offsite backups. The easiest way to fix a problem is by restoring to a previous backup.
25. Nelson Sherwin, Manager of PEO Companies
Did you know your domain name is a target?: My one tip is to not forget about your domain name. It can be a massive attack target, so you must prioritize its security. A registrar with security as a primary focus is a great first move. It would be best to look into adding a domain lock and setting up multi-factor authentication for extra steps to ensure it is kept safe.
26. Chase Higbee, Lead IT Strategist at Atlantic.Net
The key to website security is to minimize the attack surface of the website infrastructure and place controls over how network traffic reaches the website.
Exposing only the front-end web server(s) to the public Internet using a DMZ is critical in logically positioning application and database servers behind additional firewalls.
Protect the front end by proxying TLS traffic through a secured web gateway and create strict security policies to manage end-to-end traffic inside the perimeter network.
27. Jon Rasiko, Managing Director at DeepCode
Starts with the basics. Ensure you take the time to carefully configure your web server using cryptographic solid parameters, a necessity for many frameworks such as PCI-DSS or HIPAA.
Learn and implement web security headers like the Content-Security-Policy header to mitigate some of the top 10 OWASP security issues. Secure your cookies with the proper flags, such as ‘HttpOnly’ and ‘Secure’.
One last piece of advice: protect your code repositories by removing passwords and tokens and cleaning up non-essential files on your production web servers.
28. Kyle Hrzenak, President & CISO at Green Shield Security
Some of the best ways to secure a website are as follows.
SSL – An SSL is essential because it ensures data safety if you protect SSLv3 Poodle.
Use website penetration software such as Acunetix Web Vulnerability Scanner. Tools similar will provide errors currently on your website or web server and provide documents to fix those issues.
29. Alex Artamonov, Cybersecurity Specialist at Infinitely Virtual
If a website is hosted in a shared environment, back-end server security is the hosting company’s responsibility. Security lies with the owner if the server is hosted within a private environment.
Special attention must be paid to front-end and back-end code in both cases. Many interactive websites have opted to use both pre-written and custom JavaScript libraries. It’s essential to ensure the code doesn’t include unwanted functionality when using public libraries.
With a website hosted on a private server, additional vigilance – e.g., an effective patch management policy – is essential. Likewise, close any unused ports, turn off filtering of any remote management ports, use secure passwords, and run regular vulnerability tests.
30. Nicholas McBride, Cybersecurity Consultant at Ecuron
When securing a website, four basic steps will prevent most attacks.
First, check that all permissions are correctly set. One of the most common avenues of attack is via improperly set file permissions, allowing attackers to view sensitive files or upload their own.
Second, ensure that HTTPS is adequately enabled and strictly required for all domains and subdomains.
Third, configure DNS properly to prevent the possibility of DNS hijacking.
And finally, patch your server and operating system software promptly. These four steps will do the most to keep your website secure.
31. Lumena Mukherjee, Cybersecurity Consultant at SectigoStore
Website security is often assumed to be the responsibility of hosting providers. However, that’s not the case. Securing the site is the site owner’s responsibility. The tips below can get you started in the right direction:
Run regular vulnerability scans and perform manual web application security assessments to identify and fix security weaknesses before a breach.
Use an SSL/TLS certificate to encrypt the communication between client browsers and your webserver to guarantee that no data is transmitted in plaintext.
Back up your website automatically using a third-party platform regularly to minimize the impact of any issues.
32. Vladlen Shulepov, CEO at Riseapps
It’s true that to provide website security, there should be a strategy in place. First, data encryption is one of the most important ways to protect a site, so such a well-known measure as an SSL certificate must be used.
Any framework, cloud service, firewall, etc., used in the development process should be trustworthy and safe, and the same applies to servers. Multi-factor authorization is the most secure choice if there is a login option. If an intrusion occurs, a data breach protocol can help minimize the damage.
33. Joe Tuan, CEO of Topflightapps
Our WordPress site has been recently hacked multiple times. In response, we are applying Cloudflare rate limiting. It can help determine excessive requests for specific URLs or an entire domain.
On top of that, we took stock of all external plugins we installed on our site and removed those posing a threat: no longer updated and used.
34. Maxim Ivanov, CEO of Aimprosoft
Besides standard website security measures, such as reliable hosting, patching all applications on the webserver to the latest version, etc., use more enhanced precautions.
Firstly, choose a firewall to secure your servers and restrict access to all undesirable ports except those that should be available (e.g., 80 and 443).
Secondly, use WAF (web application firewall) to secure your app from outside attacks, such as SQL injections, XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) attacks, file inclusion, etc. Remember that there are special services, such as Cloudflare, that function like reverse proxy, provide WAF and DDoS mitigation, and take care of website security for you.
Finally, security audits of a web application code are conducted to minimize its vulnerability and configure fuzzing using a tool like Fail2ban.
35. Swapnil Bhalode, Co-founder and CTO of Tala Security
Client-side vulnerabilities are the web’s weakest link, resulting in data breaches at leading global brands – and the biggest GDPR OK to date (BA, $230m). Known as Magecart or credit card skimming, these attacks succeed because only 1% of website owners deploy security policies that protect the client side.
The best strategy to secure websites against these attacks is to deploy browser-native security controls such as CSP, SRI, and other advanced standards.
Developed by the world’s leading web experts, like Google and GitHub, they’re constantly refined with the latest web developments. They provide the most comprehensive, future-proof protection against client-side attacks.
36. Rob Shavell, CEO of Abine/DeleteMe
To secure and protect a website as much as possible, you must use strong passwords for your server and website admin area. In addition, if your site requires a sign-in, you should encourage your users to use best password practices to protect their data.
37. Laura Fuentes, Operator of Infinity Dish
Keep your software up to date. Outdated software may prevent a leak of information. Strong passwords. Enforce a firm password policy and have users change them regularly. Every 3-4 months at most. Do not use cookies to secure susceptible information. Hackers easily manipulate them. Hold web security training for your employees. It helps them understand the importance of security and the ability to spot vulnerabilities readily.
38. Heinrich Long, Privacy Expert at Restore Privacy
There are three leading protective technologies to consider when implementing a solid web security strategy to secure and protect a website.
First and foremost, you should invest in a tremendous cloud-based firewall; Norton is a great provider with a range of products to suit almost any website. The firewall protects your website by evaluating visitors and blocking potential hackers from gaining unauthorized access to your data.
Secondly, support this with an application-level firewall that explicitly protects your site from vulnerabilities created by apps or services linked to your site.
Finally, invest in technologies to support application hardening. Application hardening is a crucial aspect of your security strategy and is required to prevent hackers’ efforts to tamper with an app and compromise your site.
Bottom Line
There you have it! Thirty-eight ways to secure and protect a website!
According to Webarx Security, about 30000 new websites were hacked daily in 2019. The most popular CMS, WordPress, is reportedly the most hacked CMS in cyberspace.
Thankfully, the interviewees have provided helpful website security tips that you can apply to secure and protect your websites.
Note: This was initially published in July 2020, but has been updated for freshness and accuracy.
What are CATI telephone investigations? What is the CATI method? Read on to find out…
Every company needs to perform various analyses to see if it is doing well. The considerations are made above all on the level of customer satisfaction if they return to buy, or if they prefer to turn to competitors.
The best market research is done through surveys or questionnaires that address the customer in person, asking them for an evaluation of a product or service, customer service, and much more.
In cybersecurity, market research is vital, and surveys are a valuable tool. This section explores the role of surveys in collecting data to assess customer satisfaction and preferences.
Surveys can be carried out in different ways; the most used are online surveys and telephone interviews recorded with CATI software, which involves entering the answers into an automated program.
The term “CATI” translates as: Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing and indicates a method that uses telephone interviews, in which the interviewer reads the interviewee’s questions and records the answers on specific software.
This survey method is considered very useful because it is not necessary to hire a specialized person; the employees of the marketing department can manage the questionnaires independently since the software is easy to use and there is no need to process the data.
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CATI Method: A Cybersecurity Perspective
Surveys can be carried out in different ways, one of which is through telephone interviews recorded with CATI software. This involves entering the answers into an automated program. This section delves into the CATI method and its relevance in cybersecurity.
The term “CATI” translates as: Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing and indicates a method that uses telephone interviews, in which the interviewer reads the interviewee’s questions and records the answers on specific software. In this subsection, we break down what CATI stands for and how it works.
How The CATI Method Works
The CATI method was born during the seventies in the United States and then spread all over the world. Telephone interviews are especially suitable for B2B targets, as they can be planned based on the availability of the interviewees.
This method was promoted to eliminate all factors that reduce the quality of data collected through traditional telephone interviews. Thanks to the use of CATI software, operations can be facilitated processes more fluidly and faster without having to invest too many resources.
It is, therefore, a good investment for any company that wants to do market research and involve different targets.
Putting this method into practice is very simple: a sample is extracted from the list of names to be interviewed, setting parameters to be followed during the extraction.
If you also want to include those who are not on the list, you can rely on the random generation of numbers, which are divided according to geographical areas.
Not all people appreciate receiving telephone interviews, so it is always best to ask for their consent. During the interview, the questionnaire can be read from the computer monitor to the interviewer, who will enter the answers quickly.
Although the online mode is most appreciated today for doing online questionnaires, telephone interviews can still work if they are used in the right way. A company can obtain several advantages using the CATI method:
Optimization of the timing of telephone interviews and data collection thanks to the use of specific software;
direct contact between interviewer and interviewee, there are no misunderstandings or incorrect answers since any doubts can be clarified immediately;
more efficient work performed in real-time, without having to involve other figures within the company;
saving money because there are no large operating costs;
customer evaluation that is reliable and useful for the growth of the company;
better response rate, especially in the B2B sector.
The Use Of The CATI Method In Customer Satisfaction
Before choosing the CATI method to conduct investigations, it is necessary to understand in which sector to use it. In fact, in some cases, it is not recommended, especially when the target is very young, while it is appreciated more in customer satisfaction.
Thanks to this method, it is possible to measure the degree of satisfaction with the products, services, and user experience.
The data that is extracted is very important because it helps the company to focus on customer loyalty, allowing the marketing team to create targeted strategies. A company should use CATI surveys if it wants to have an in-depth assessment of:
customer satisfaction with a particular product or service;
customer support and shopping experience;
launch of a new product/service;
market research on a particular niche;
what customers think of competitors;
problems on the website, in the shop, or in the purchase of products or services.
Interviewing customers directly allows you to get honest and valid answers. In this way, changes can be made in the company and meet customer requests, so as to make them happier and more satisfied.
The analysis of competitors should always be taken into account to analyze what their strengths and shortcomings are in order to be able to offer a better product, a lower price, and a more attentive service.
The main advantages of the CATI method are: the possibility of interviewing people who are difficult to reach by other means, being able to use professional tools for quality control, but also efficiency, speed, and minimal costs.
Thanks to this method of telephone interviews, companies can collect a lot of data, avoid errors through the use of professional software, and optimize times. Usually, the CATI method is used in large numbers, especially to make surveys that are repeated over time.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I will say that CATI is a valuable tool for cybersecurity organizations to collect accurate data and gain insights into customer satisfaction, competitive analysis, and user experience.
Its global adoption and versatility make it a promising solution for fortifying cyber defences and improving customer relationships.
In this exclusive interview, we spoke with Dan Fusco, CEO of InnerPC to learn more about their managed IT services, cybersecurity tips for remote working, and more about their company.
InnerPC is a managed IT services company based in New York that helps individuals and small businesses with computer installations, upgrades & repairs, networking, data recovery & transfer, virus & malware issues, and computer tutoring.
Here are Dan Fusco’s responses to our questions:
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1. Question: Your company has been operating for over ten years now; how has the journey been so far?
Dan Fusco: Starting a business is no easy feat. I remember when I first started. I had decided to fix laptops, but I had no idea how to get the word out that I was doing this. One day I was walking by the Saturday flea market on 79th street and saw that businesses had tents set up offering goods and services. The next week, I had a tent and was offering to fix laptops for $35.00. My schedule for fixing laptops got filled up fast!
As time went on, I would often look at the high-rise buildings, and I would ask myself, “How do I fix computers in those offices?”. Every day I would come up with different ideas about how to get in contact with the partners or C-level employees in order to show them how I could make their IT department run more efficiently. Today InnerPC is responsible for managing the IT departments for more than 30 businesses in those buildings.
I remember fixing a laptop for a very wealthy business owner when I first started out, and I asked him what his key to success was, and he asked, “Is making even one penny profit?”
2. Question: With the need to work from home due to the pandemic, has there been an increased need for managed IT services & support?
Dan Fusco: COVID-19 has had a huge impact on businesses. During the past 3 months, I have hosted webinar events for the Chamber of Commerce, NCCPAP, and LITS, on ideas of how to work remotely in a fast, secure way. Our clients are already set up to work remotely as we host their data in partnership with Microsoft and the Azure infrastructure. They have had zero downtime during this pandemic.
Conversely, there are a lot of businesses that are not set up to work remotely and did experience significant downtime. For these businesses, we are helping them create a roadmap for their IT department so they can work from anywhere in the world. There has been a huge amount of interest in working remotely and we are currently creating IT plans for many businesses.
3. Question: What is your advice to online businesses working remotely in terms of cybersecurity?
Dan Fusco: I often speak on Cyber Security at trade shows and for businesses. There are 5 key ingredients you need to work remotely securely:
1: Filter all emails before they get into your inbox.
2: Have an Anti-virus and firewall installed on your network
3: Back up your Data!!!! (Extremely important.)
4: Implement 2 Factor Authentication for logging into your network
5: Monitor and maintain patches and updates for desktops and servers
4. Question: Based on your experience in the industry, how important would you rate data backup & network documentation?
Dan Fusco: Wow, this is the question of the day. When I speak about backing up data, I often ask who in the group is backing up their data. Only about half the room raises their hands. I also have found that the people who are backing up data have no idea how it is being done. They don’t get reports on successful backups and they are not backing data up offsite.
Backing up data both onsite and offsite is crucial for protecting your company against lost data and ransomware. Ransomware is a virus that encrypts your data, this virus can put you out of business. If you back up your data, you can easily recover those encrypted files.
Documentation is a key point in resolving issues in a timely manner. We document everything from usernames to IP addresses for firewalls. It helps technicians get access to crucial data to be able to troubleshoot and fix issues right away.
5. Question: InnerPC offers efficient service delivery to clients; what measures do you take to ensure that you meet up with this?
Dan Fusco: Standard operation procedures are the key to creating an IT department that runs smoothly. We have a unique way of managing data in which there is 99.9% uptime.
To keep these systems running smoothly, we have a huddle meeting with all our technicians every morning to discuss any IT issues people are having and then come up with different ways of resolving those issues. We also are part of a network of 1000 other IT professionals, so we have access to a huge amount of knowledge.
Our clients are particularly happy that we answer the phone. This sounds simple, but how many times do you call a company and you are on hold for 2 hours? We respond to phone calls in 5 minutes and most resolutions are finished in 15 minutes.
6. Question: What have been your significant achievement(s) in 2020 so far?
Dan Fusco: I am happy to say that our partnership with Microsoft is our biggest achievement. We work with consultants from Microsoft every day.
Together, we discuss both the technical aspects of Office 365 and customer relations. This partnership is the key for us to be able to manage large companies with 500 employees.
Note: This was initially published in July 2020, but has been updated for freshness and accuracy.
Here is an infographic on the cybersecurity trends to be known from 2020 to 2030.
With the number of cyber incidents on the rise, there is a pressing need to be on top of IT security more than ever.
This infographic looks at the new innovations and emerging technologies in 2020 that are helping organisations strengthen their cybersecurity practices.
The past decade witnessed a dramatic surge in cyber threats, and the years 2020 to 2030 are likely to see this trend continue with even more sophisticated and multifaceted attacks. Staying ahead of the curve requires understanding the key cybersecurity trends.
Here are some to watch:
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Essential Trends In Cybersecurity To Know Right Now
1. Deepfakes and Disinformation
Malicious actors will increasingly leverage deepfakes, synthetic AI-generated media, to manipulate public opinion, disrupt trust in institutions, and launch targeted scams. Detecting and mitigating these deepfakes will pose a significant challenge.
2. Convergence of IT and OT
As Operational Technology (OT) systems controlling critical infrastructure, like power grids and transportation, become more interconnected with Information Technology (IT), the attack surface will expand significantly. Securing these converged systems will be crucial.
RaaS models, where pre-built ransomware and attack tools are offered for rent, make cyberattacks more accessible to less skilled individuals and criminal organizations. Expect more frequent and devastating ransomware attacks.
4. AI-powered Attacks and Defense
Both attackers and defenders will increasingly leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to automate tasks, analyze data, and predict vulnerabilities and attack patterns. The “arms race” between offensive and defensive AI will intensify.
5. Quantum Computing and Cryptography
The emergence of quantum computers could break current encryption standards, potentially rendering much of our online security obsolete. Quantum-resistant cryptography is being developed, but the transition will be complex and time-consuming.
6. Supply Chain Attacks
Targeting vulnerabilities in third-party vendors and software suppliers will become a common tactic to gain access to larger organizations. Building a secure software supply chain will be critical for mitigating these risks.
As biometric authentication becomes more prevalent, attackers will develop techniques to exploit these systems, like forging fingerprints or using deepfakes to bypass facial recognition. Multi-factor authentication and continuous security improvements will be necessary.
8. Increased Regulation and Privacy Concerns
Governments worldwide are likely to implement stricter data privacy regulations to protect individuals. Organizations must adapt their practices to comply with these regulations while maintaining security effectiveness.
The demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals will continue to outpace the supply, making it even more challenging for organizations to find and retain qualified talent. Upskilling and reskilling existing employees will be crucial.
10. Focus on Proactive Risk Management
Organizations must move from reactive cybersecurity measures to proactive risk management strategies, continuously identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them.
What are the biggest cybersecurity threats of 2024?
Supply Chain Attacks: These attacks target third-party vendors and partners to gain access to a target organization’s systems. Since many businesses rely on a complex web of suppliers, a single compromised vendor can create a significant security risk.
Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS): This model makes it easier for even individuals with limited technical expertise to launch ransomware attacks. RaaS attackers can purchase or rent ransomware tools and infrastructure from cybercriminal marketplaces.
Phishing Attacks: Phishing attacks continue to be a major threat, and cybercriminals are constantly developing new techniques to trick users into revealing sensitive information or clicking on malicious links. Be extra cautious of phishing attempts through SMS, text messages, or social media.
Cloud Security Challenges: As more businesses move their data and applications to the cloud, cloud security becomes an increasingly important concern. Security misconfigurations, insecure APIs, and unauthorized access to cloud storage are some challenges organizations face.
What are some emerging cybersecurity technologies that can help mitigate these threats?
Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA): ZTA is a security model that eliminates the concept of implicit trust on a network. It assumes that no user or device is inherently trustworthy and requires continuous verification throughout a session.
Extended Detection and Response (XDR): XDR goes beyond traditional endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions by collecting data from various sources, including network devices, cloud workloads, and user activity. This allows for more comprehensive threat detection and investigation.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML): AI and ML are being used to develop more sophisticated security solutions to detect and respond to cyber threats in real time. These technologies can help to automate security tasks and identify patterns that might be missed by human analysts.
Biometric Authentication: Biometric authentication, such as fingerprint scanning or facial recognition, is becoming increasingly popular to add more security to user authentication.
How can businesses stay ahead of the cybersecurity curve?
Regular Security Assessments: Businesses should conduct regular security assessments to identify system and application vulnerabilities.
Employee Training: Educate employees about cybersecurity best practices, such as identifying phishing attacks and creating strong passwords.
Software Updates: Keep all software applications and operating systems updated with the latest security patches.
Incident Response Plan: Develop a plan for responding to a cyberattack, including data breach notification procedures.
Security Awareness Programs: Implement ongoing security awareness programs to inform employees about the latest cyber threats.
What steps can individuals take to protect themselves from cyber threats?
Use Strong Passwords and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Create strong, unique passwords for all your online accounts and enable MFA whenever possible.
Be Wary of Phishing Attempts: Don’t click on suspicious links or attachments in emails, and be cautious of unsolicited messages.
Beware of Social Engineering Scams: Social engineering scams attempt to trick you into revealing sensitive information or taking actions that could compromise your security.
Keep Software Updated: Keep your operating system, web browser, and other software applications updated with the latest security patches.
Be Cautious on Public Wi-Fi: Avoid accessing sensitive information or financial accounts when using public Wi-Fi networks. Consider using a VPN for added security.
Take Your Knowledge To The Next Level
These are key trends shaping the cybersecurity landscape in the coming decade.
Organizations and individuals can better protect themselves in the increasingly complex digital world by staying informed and adapting to these evolving threats.
Staying across these trends has a personal and professional impact, so you’re maintaining a high-level approach to protecting your data and cybersecurity best practices.
Remember, cybersecurity is an ongoing journey, not a one-time fix, and requires constant vigilance and adaptation.
Here, we will show you all you should know when choosing digital signage software.
Last year, we saw a significant increase in the number of digital signage software options available.
To help you choose between them and figure out which one is best for your business, we’ve compiled this list to highlight a few benefits that come with using digital signage software.
The first benefit is that digital signage software helps to improve communication. With the ability to quickly and easily update messages, you can ensure that your contacts are always up-to-date and relevant.
Secondly, digital signage software makes it easy to manage content. For example, you can create playlists of videos, images, and text for your displays, making it simple to keep your screens looking fresh and engaging.
Thirdly, using digital signage software can help you save time and money. Rather than printing out multiple versions of documents or advertisements, you can send them electronically to be displayed on your screens. Additionally, by reducing the need for printed materials, you’ll be helping the environment!
Fourthly, digital signage software gives you the ability to monitor your ads. With analytics reports, you can measure how often each ad is viewed and decide which ones should be shown more frequently.
1. Digital signage software helps improve customer service by providing an easy way to ask questions or place orders: they can use a mobile device or computer to access content on one of your screens!
The possibilities are endless with this option – don’t limit yourself just because we haven’t thought up all potential uses yet.
2. Digital signage software makes it easier for everyone in your company (from executives down) to reach their audiences through dynamic multimedia displays that update automatically and engage viewers at every turn.
Rather than passively consuming information, viewers are prompted to interact with your signage and learn more about what you have to offer.
When choosing digital signage software, there are a few factors to consider. The following tips will help you choose the right software for your needs.
Few Tips To Consider When Choosing Digital Signage Software
First, decide what type of content you want to display. For example, some software can only manage text-based content, while others can also handle videos and photos.
Second, think about how often you’ll need to update the content. If you plan on changing it frequently, you’ll need software that’s easy to use and navigate. Otherwise, you may end up wasting time trying to figure out how to use the software every time you want to make a change.
Third, consider the size of your organization and how many people need access to the software. For example, some programs can be accessed by multiple users on a network, while others are designed for solo use.
Finally, choose the features you need most. For example, some programs allow you to add branding and logos to your content display. Other options include QR code integration or social media sharing buttons that can help increase engagement with viewers of your digital signage.
What Is Digital Signage Software?
Digital signage software is a tool that enables you to create, manage, and display multimedia content on digital signs and screens.
It simplifies the process of using these displays for informational or promotional purposes in various public and commercial settings.
Here’s a breakdown of its key features:
Content Management
Create content like text, images, videos, and interactive elements using built-in tools or drag-and-drop interfaces.
Schedule content to display at specific times or based on triggers (e.g., sensor data, weather updates).
Manage multiple displays and create playlists for different locations or purposes.
Device Management
Remotely control and configure connected digital signs.
Monitor their performance and troubleshoot any issues.
Update software and content wirelessly across your network.
Analytics and Reporting
Track content performance and audience engagement data.
Gain insights into how viewers interact with your displays.
Measure the effectiveness of your messaging and campaigns.
Popular Digital Signage Software Options
Screenly: User-friendly and affordable, good for beginners.
Xibo: Scalable and feature-rich, suitable for enterprise use.
BrightSign: Powerful and reliable, ideal for complex deployments.
Mvix: Cloud-based and versatile, great for multi-location businesses.
Nsign: Feature-packed and customizable, excellent for interactive displays.
Choosing the right digital signage software depends on your specific needs and budget. Consider factors like desired features, ease of use, scalability, and integration capabilities.
Many popular software options feature user-friendly interfaces with drag-and-drop functionality, making them accessible even for those with limited technical experience. Some platforms even offer pre-designed templates and content libraries to further simplify the process.
How much does digital signage software cost?
Pricing varies depending on features, functionality, and the number of licenses needed. Basic cloud-based options can start at around $20 per month, while enterprise-grade solutions with advanced features may cost hundreds of dollars per license. Consider free trials or demos to explore different options before committing.
What hardware do I need to use digital signage software?
The hardware requirements will depend on the capabilities of your chosen software and the size and resolution of your displays. You’ll typically need commercial-grade displays, media players to connect the displays to the network, and cables. Some software might offer cloud-based rendering, eliminating the need for local media players.
Is digital signage software secure?
Security is crucial, especially when displaying sensitive information. Look for software that offers features like user authentication, access control, and content encryption to ensure your data and displays are protected. Additionally, choose a reputable vendor with a commitment to data security and software updates.
How can I measure the success of my digital signage?
Most digital signage software offers built-in analytics tools to track content performance and audience engagement. You can monitor metrics like impressions, clicks, dwell time, and heatmaps to understand how viewers interact with your displays and adjust your strategy accordingly.
In conclusion, using digital signage software can help you improve your business. By cutting down on waste, providing customer service that’s second to none, and reaching audiences engagingly through dynamic multimedia displays, this solution is a win for everyone involved!
Red Dog Casino is a young project on the American market but it has already managed to achieve good results so in a short time it might enter the top of the reliable gambling platforms.
The casino makes interest for newcomers, high rollers and bonus hunters, offering conditions that are really favorable.
You will enjoy certified content from leading providers, prompt withdrawals to credit cards and e-wallets, user-friendly interface with an original design and English language support.
In reviews, customers note the generous bonuses from Red Dog Casino so it is worth learning about the bonus program of the casino to take advantage of the best offers of the season.
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No Deposit Bonus to Each Player
The administration of the online casino is confident in the quality of software and a high level of service and it offers you to test the conditions without investing. For this purpose, an additional promo has been developed to allow newcomers to receive a no deposit bonus. You just need to meet several requirements:
Complete the registration
Confirm your email
After a performance of these simple actions the system will automatically give you 40$. You can spend money on any game, except the Live section, but it is forbidden to exceed the maximum bet of $10.
Withdrawal of the no deposit bonus becomes available only after the x50 wagering is fulfilled. There is no limit on the maximum amount of bonus money in the rules so it is allowed to withdraw the bonus and all winnings received from it.
Welcome Deposit Bonus
After testing the service and conditions thanks to the no deposit bonus, you can safely top up your account and start playing for real money. Online casino will increase your starting deposit by 225%, and moreover, you can get the welcome bonus 5 times.
It is allowed to withdraw the money given only after you wager it 30 times, you also can spend the money in slots, poker, baccarat, blackjack and lotteries. Get bonuses at online casinos Red Dog can be found on the official site https://slotsandcasinos.org/casino-red-dog-bonuses/.
Red Dog Casino offers additional promos for visitors who often bet on the site. You can enjoy generous reloads weekly and there are three types of them. For a deposit of $30-74, you will be given additional 120%, a deposit of $75-149 is awarded with 135%, while the maximum bonus of 160% is given to players who make a deposit of $150 or more.
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Seasonal Free Spins for a Minimum Deposit
Red Dog online casino regularly gives out free spins for different slots, and this season you can receive FS for the new Desert Raider slot by Realtime Gaming.
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What Bonuses Does Red Dog Casino Offer Its Gamblers?
Red Dog Casino offers a variety of bonuses and promotions for new and existing gamblers. Here’s a breakdown of some of their offerings, but it’s important to note that bonuses and terms can change, so it’s always best to check their website for the latest information:
New Player Welcome Bonuses
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General Terms to Consider
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Review the terms and conditions: Before claiming any bonus, carefully read and understand the terms and conditions associated with it.
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For the latest and most accurate information on Red Dog Casino’s bonuses and promotions, it’s always best to visit their official website.
This post will show you how APIs help to improve your customers’ experience, including 5 things business owners should know.
APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are becoming increasingly popular in the business world today. They’re simply everywhere, functional without you even knowing they’re in use. Most apps we use today use APIs for a faster and less complicated experience.
APIs make platforms like Uber, Maps, Weather apps, PayPal, and even Facebook, work efficiently. Anytime you share content with friends or family using any social media, you’ve done so with the help of APIs.
APIs in business are invaluable. You can use them for various reasons, including improving your product for your customers and opening more avenues for revenue inflow.
Find out how you can use APIs to make your consumers happier.
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Your Customers’ Experience
In today’s world, consumers are looking for a faster and more streamlined way of doing things. The faster you can provide your service the better. With so many competitors on the market, a business that is lagging in providing quality services will get left behind.
There are five key things every consumer wants today. This is especially important to note as you work towards using APIs to improve their experience.
Consumers want functionality. They want your product or service to provide the functions it claims it would.
Consumers want speed. They’re busy, and a reduction in the amount of time they take to do business with you is at the top of their needs.
Consumers want convenience. They want the ease of finding out about your products and services from their phones and personal computers and want to be able to pay for services from the comfort of their homes.
Consumers want consistency and reliability. They want to know that you can provide great service for them every time they choose to do business with you.
Consumers want an awesome mobile experience. They want to be able to access your services or products from their mobile phones as easily as they would from a computer.
How APIs Help Improve Your Consumers
If you’re considering including APIs into your website or product, here are five ways they enhance your consumer’s experience.
1. They Provide Your Customers with Useful Data
APIs help to deliver relevant data to your consumers right on your app or website. You can provide data from a common source on your platform using APIs, so your customers no longer have to leave your site to source for this data.
For example, if you own a travel-related platform, a weather API, like this one here, can provide useful information about the weather on your platform. A calendar API enables customers to have access to real-time availability which makes bookings easier.
Travelers, companies booking trips for employees, families going on vacation, logistics companies, and many more site users will find this information useful in making quick decisions about their travel plans.
It saves the time they spend leaving your site to search for this information and improves your site’s functionality in general.
2. They Help to Improve Website Load Time
APIs take away the need to create new programs that make your website run more efficiently. Instead, you can integrate already existing programs through APIs, so your website is not laden with programs that make it load slowly.
With APIs in place, your consumers enjoy a faster and more seamless experience on your website and still enjoy the best of functions because APIs help to streamline and automate internal processes.
It transfers data instantly, eliminating the need for slowness in your website.
3. They Provide More Avenues for Payments
With APIs, you can offer your clients various platforms to pay for your services. There are now so manyplatforms for payments that most people prefer to use.
You can easily integrate these platforms into your product or website with APIs, opening your business up to many more prospective customers. When customers know they have a variety of payment options to make their purchase seamless, they’ll be more eager to do business with you.
With APIs, you can gather enough relevant data about your customers to give them a highly personalized experience. Use the data to learn about their online behaviors, shopping preferences, and use it to your advantage through your digital marketing strategies.
APIs can also help you build more accurate data about your consumers. Through APIs, you can confirm the accuracy of your consumer’s data and create a detailed profile of them based on this.
5. They Can Help Secure Your Site
You can make your product and website more secure with authentication APIs. Many consumers consider security when they interact with any website. If your website does not have the basic, necessary security protocols in place, it could be a red flag for them.
Integrating an authentication API into your site can help to prevent security breaches. It provides consumers with a 2-step authentication procedure that helps them feel safer when doing business with you.
How APIs Help Improve Your Consumers: Frequently Asked Questions
How can using APIs benefit consumers?
APIs offer a variety of benefits to consumers, making their digital experiences smoother, more efficient, and more convenient. Here are some examples:
Enhanced Functionality: APIs allow developers to integrate features from various services into new applications. This can provide consumers with a wider range of functionality within a single app.
Imagine a travel booking app that uses APIs to integrate flight options, hotel reservations, and car rentals, all in one place.
Improved User Experience: APIs can streamline processes and eliminate the need to switch between different apps or websites. This creates a more seamless and user-friendly experience.
For instance, a food delivery app might use an API to connect with a payment gateway, allowing users to pay for their orders directly within the app without needing to enter their card details on a separate website.
Personalized Services: APIs can be used to personalize experiences based on user data and preferences. This can lead to more relevant recommendations, targeted advertising, and a more tailored user experience.
Imagine a music streaming service that uses an API to recommend new songs based on your listening history and favorite artists.
Greater Choice and Innovation: APIs foster innovation by allowing developers to create new applications and services that leverage existing functionality from other platforms. This gives consumers more choices and access to cutting-edge features.
Many fitness trackers use APIs to connect with health apps, allowing users to track their workouts and manage their overall health data in one place.
While this FAQ focuses on consumer benefits, it’s worth mentioning that APIs can also significantly benefit businesses. They can:
Improve operational efficiency
Facilitate data exchange with partners
Create new revenue streams through data monetization (with user consent)
Enhance customer engagement
What is the API used by customers?
Consumers typically don’t directly interact with APIs themselves. They interact with the applications and services that leverage APIs to provide functionality. For instance, you wouldn’t use a social media platform’s API directly, but you would benefit from the API integration that allows you to share content from that platform on another app.
What does an API consumer do?
An API consumer is any application or service that utilizes an API to access data or functionality from another platform. This can include mobile apps, web applications, and even other software programs.
What are the main benefits of using REST APIs?
REST (Representational State Transfer) APIs are a popular type of API known for their:
Simplicity: REST APIs are relatively easy to understand and integrate compared to other types of APIs.
Flexibility: They can be used to perform various operations like retrieving data, creating new data, or updating existing data.
Scalability: REST APIs can handle a large volume of requests efficiently.
By understanding how APIs work, you can appreciate the invisible forces that power many of the digital tools and services that have become an essential part of our everyday lives.
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