Is Shopify Safe and Secure? 8 Tips To Boost Your Shopify Store’s Security

If you’re considering launching a Shopify store, you may have concerns about the trustworthiness and security of the platform. You might be wondering if Shopify is a reliable website and whether it can adequately safeguard both your customers’ information and your own data.

Shopify implements multiple security measures to ensure the protection of sensitive data. However, it’s important to note that, like any other customer relationship management (CRM) software, Shopify is not immune to potential data breaches.

To address your concerns comprehensively, this article provides detailed information about Shopify’s security measures. It explores the steps taken by Shopify to safeguard data and offers guidance on how you can enhance the safety, security, and compliance of your Shopify store.

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Shopify Data Breaches: Does the Firm Leak Customer Data?

Shopify is the platform behind approximately 4.1 million online stores and played a significant role in processing transactions valued at around $79.5 billion in 2021. With such a large user base and substantial transaction volume, it is imperative for Shopify to maintain the highest levels of data security and protection to ensure the safety of its merchants and their customers.

However, it is worth noting that Shopify has experienced data breaches in the past. In the following section, we will delve into the specific instances when these breaches occurred and examine the outcomes associated with them.

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Shopify Data Breach 2020

In 2020, Shopify experienced a data breach that led to the theft of personal information belonging to nearly 200 merchants. Shopify publicly acknowledged in a blog post that two employees from its internal support team had engaged in a scheme to illicitly acquire customer transactional records from specific merchants.

The exposed data included personally identifiable information such as email addresses, names, and addresses, as well as order details including the products and services purchased. It’s important to note that credit card details were not compromised in the breach.

Among the affected businesses was Kylie Cosmetics, the makeup and cosmetics store owned by Kylie Jenner.

Following the incident, Shopify took action by terminating the employment of the two employees involved. The company also cooperated with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in order to uncover additional details related to the case.

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California Man Accused of Stealing Shopify Data

A U.S. grand jury has charged Tassilo Heinrich, an 18-year-old resident of California, as the primary individual responsible for the Shopify data leak. Heinrich is currently awaiting trial on several charges, including allegations of collaborating with two Shopify customer support agents to unlawfully obtain data from his competitors and redirect business to his own store. Additionally, he is accused of selling the stolen data to other individuals involved in the conspiracy.

How Secure is Shopify Plus?

Shopify Plus, which caters to larger merchants and enterprise customers, offers enhanced security features tailored to meet the requirements of prominent brands using the platform. These upgraded security measures include:

• A dedicated security team that collaborates with Shopify merchants to address their specific concerns and ensure a safe environment.
• Strict adherence to PCI compliance standards for all Shopify Plus stores, ensuring the protection of sensitive payment card information.
• A guaranteed uptime of 99.99%, ensuring consistent accessibility and availability of the platform.
• Implementation of 256-bit SSL encryption for secure data transfer, maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of information during transmission.

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Is Shopify GDPR compliant?

Shopify aligns with the requirements of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The platform incorporates GDPR-compliant features that enable merchants to safeguard their customers’ data and demonstrate transparency in their data processing practices.

Nevertheless, Shopify emphasizes that achieving GDPR compliance goes beyond simply using their platform. Merchants bear the responsibility of implementing additional security measures to ensure compliance. Building a store on Shopify alone does not guarantee compliance; each individual store must establish its own security safeguards accordingly.

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Is Shopify Safe for Buyers and Sellers?

Certainly, Shopify is a secure and trustworthy platform for online purchases. With its extensive user base and facilitation of billions of dollars in transactions, it has established itself as a reliable and popular website.

To safeguard the security of its stores, Shopify employs five key measures:

1. All Shopify Stores Have an SSL Certificate Installed by Default

SSL certificates play a crucial role in ensuring the security of ecommerce. They provide encryption for the data exchanged between a web browser and an online store, effectively preventing hackers from intercepting and deciphering customers’ sensitive information, such as credit card details.

In addition, Shopify has its own PCI compliance service to identify vulnerabilities in websites hosted on its platform, guaranteeing a high level of security for your store. PCI, which stands for “Payment Card Industry,” refers to the standards set by the PCI Security Standards Council to protect credit card information.

Compliance with these standards is mandatory for businesses that handle credit card data. By default, all Shopify stores are PCI compliant, ensuring that your store meets the necessary security requirements.

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2. Shopify Is a Hosted Platform

This means that Shopify hosts your store’s files on its servers, distinguishing it from self-hosted platforms like WordPress, where you manage all your store’s files independently.

By hosting your store on Shopify’s servers, not only does it enhance security, but it also relieves you of the responsibility of maintaining and securing your own server. Shopify takes care of applying security patches and updates to all stores on its platform automatically.

3. Shopify Operates a Bug Bounty Program

Referred to as the Shopify Whitehat Reward program, this initiative incentivizes hackers to report any security vulnerabilities they discover in Shopify’s code. Running this program enables Shopify to swiftly identify and address any bugs or vulnerabilities that may exist, ensuring the safety of its stores.

4. Shopify Utilizes Risk Analysis Tools to Detect Fraudulent Orders

Fraudulent orders can cause significant harm to ecommerce businesses. Shopify employs its own integrated risk analysis tools to protect users from such orders. These tools utilize a combination of machine learning and human expertise to flag potentially fraudulent orders. They are continuously updated and improved to stay ahead of hackers. If an order appears suspicious, Shopify automatically cancels it after verifying the billing address, card information, and checking against a list of known fraudsters.

While Shopify’s security features are robust, it is prudent to take additional safety measures on your end.

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5. Shopify Channels All Traffic through TLS Certificates

Transport Layer Security (TLS) certificates enhance network security between the client and the server, ensuring a secure connection during the transmission of encrypted messages. It helps Shopify avoid malicious imposters during transmission, ensuring hosting on a secure medium.

TLS certificates are particularly beneficial for stores handling credit transactions. When purchasing a new domain on Shopify or connecting a third-party domain to the platform, an automatic TLS certificate is issued, further enhancing security.

8 Steps To Boost Your Shopify Store’s Security and Data Privacy

Shopify incorporates various security measures, but we recommend taking additional steps to safeguard your brand’s reputation and demonstrate your commitment to customer privacy. Here are some extra security measures that can greatly contribute to protecting your Shopify store:

1. Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your Shopify account by requiring additional verification when logging in. This ensures that only authorized individuals gain access. Verification can be done through methods like SMS, phone calls, emails, or trusted devices. To activate two-factor authentication, follow these steps:

• Access your Shopify account.
• Go to “Manage Account” and select “Security.”
• Click on “Turn on two-step” under “Two-step authentication.”
• Choose your preferred delivery method and click “Send authentication code.”
• Enter the received code under “Authentication code.”
• Enter your password and click “Enable.”

2. Prioritize Admin Security

If you have a team managing your store, it’s crucial to control permission access levels. Create separate accounts for each team member to easily manage and restrict access as needed. This practice helps safeguard against potential malicious activity and data breaches. Consider granting certain accounts access to the Shopify admin while limiting access to sensitive customer information. This way, your staff can fulfill orders and handle customer interactions without unrestricted access to customer data.

3. Utilize Fraud Protection

Shopify’s Protect feature offers protection against fraudulent chargebacks. When enabled, each order is marked as “protected” or “unprotected.” Protected orders require a fee, and Shopify guarantees their non-fraudulent status. In the event of fraud, Shopify will reimburse the amount paid for the order. However, this feature is currently available only to users in the United States.

4. Create Strong Passwords

Employing strong passwords is crucial for maintaining the security of your Shopify account. Use a combination of lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and special characters to create a robust password. If it’s challenging to remember complex passwords, consider using a password management tool to securely store and manage your passwords.

5. Install Enzuzo for Cookie Managers, GDPR Compliance & More

Enzuzo is a useful tool that allows you to implement customized legal policies, cookie consent banners, and data request workflows. It aids in complying with GDPR regulations by notifying customers with a cookie banner and automatically staying up to date with any law changes, alleviating concerns about unexpected compliance issues.

Install Enzuzo’s Free Shopify Privacy Policy Generator

6. Utilize Privacy Apps

The following apps can enhance the security of your Shopify site:

• Rewind Backups: Enables on-demand backups for various elements like orders, blogs, pages, themes, and more. It also automatically saves product changes.
• Locksmith: Allows you to control access to collections or products based on links, tags, passcodes, or actions. It offers features like hiding products by country and provides a free 15-day trial.
• McAfee SECURE: Allows Shopify Plus sellers to display the McAfee SECURE logo on their orders. It provides information about SSL certificate status, Shopper Identity Protection, and malware detection.
• Age Check: Displays an age verification prompt for stores selling adult content, ensuring only appropriate users can access the store. It seamlessly integrates with various themes and supports a discreet verification process.
• Cozy AntiTheft: Protects images and content from theft by disabling shortcuts and preventing visitors from right-clicking content.

7. Offer Encrypted and Secure Payment Options

Shopify supports several secure payment options to protect against theft and fraud, including:

• PayPal
• Amazon Pay
• Apple Pay
• Google Pay

You can also consider adding alternative payment methods like cryptocurrency, although it’s important to note the volatility associated with cryptocurrencies. Cash on delivery (COD) is considered a safe payment option, but be cautious of the risk of customers refusing to pay upon delivery. Additionally, it’s worth considering Shopify’s transaction fees, which vary based on the payment method.

8. Enable SSL Settings

Shopify provides default SSL certificates for all stores, ensuring secure and threat-free traffic. While traffic is commonly directed through HTTP, Shopify ensures it is directed through HTTPS for enhanced security. This allows Shopify to monitor and detect any malicious attempts to breach the system by tracking IP addresses.

Wrap Up: Can I Trust Shopify?

In conclusion, Shopify is a trusted platform for building your business, with a strong reputation in the ecommerce industry. However, it’s important to implement additional security measures to further protect your customers and enhance their experience.