The overriding consideration for your online shopping carts is security. This vital protection is a shield not only for your customers but for your own ecommerce business, and spending a few dollars today in insurance against hackers and fraudulent customers could save you $100s or $1000s down the road.
When you consider that shopping cart software handles the most vital and private of your customers’ information – name, address, email, credit card number – it’s easy to understand why many people refuse to shop on sites where their information is not securely protected. Your livelihood is just as much in jeopardy – financial records, fraudulent sales, corrupt data or viruses – from on line intruders.
Although the other bells and whistles of shopping cart programs may be helpful in terms of marketing, affordability, and accounting for your website, there is no substitute for good credit card security. That being said, you may want to reconsider before signing up for free shopping cart software, and realize that when it comes to encryption and protection you get what you pay for.
Almost any shopping cart program, free or otherwise, will offer some form of security, but it may be little more than window dressings. Moreover, when you rent or buy your shopping cart software you are guaranteed a certain level of customer service or technical support.
To ensure top-notch shopping cart security go with well-known or highly rated company names who have received positive reviews. If you’ve already contracted with a web host or are currently shopping around for one, see if they offer shopping cart software as part of a package deal which might get you a break in price.