Online Auctions and Security

Everyday in the IT / Tech news we can hear about identity theft and online security are raising issues. As more and more businesses and transactions are going through the internet, hackers are always trying to get one step further. On the other side, online merchants need to assure their activities and data are safe

Online auctions sites are as much targeted as online merchants as communication and exchange of information is made on a regular basis between all members. How do you know you are bidding on a real item? That it will be really shipped to you? What about accepting bids in your online auctions from unknown buyers... are you gonna get paid?

Methods of protection

Regarding the security of data, SSL communications ensure that the data you are submitting to the server are encrypted. Nobody can intercept and decode these data. You have to make sure the online auction site displays a lock in the browser's taskbar; which means the encryption certificate (from companies such as Verisign, Thawte...) is valid. HackerSafe also provides a solution to secure the program itself and validate that no security breach can hurt the server and your private data.

You also need to trust the company itself. The investment in the design and user-friendliness of the navigation can tell you a lot about importance of the business. Good website, well maintained and always looking for improvements, without any errors make you feel safer when exchange data.

For community sites such as online auctions, you will need to trust other users you are dealing with. The trust between buyer and seller is the only point that will make a website successful or not. Oltiby.com has introduced a strict verified member program to make sure users are really who they claim they are.