Companies begin tweaking apps to control cyber threats during Black Friday sales

The growth of e-commerce during high demand dates, such as Christmas and Black Friday, also leads to an increase in the number of cyber attacks in Brazil.To ensure the stability and security of their e-commerce platforms, many companies are starting preparations to prevent their customers from facing problems during purchases.

This consists of reviewing security breaches, slowness and errors, which can generate attacks and fraud and affect both user experience and brand reputation.PwC study reveals that more than half of consumers (55%) would avoid buying from a company after a negative experience, and 8% would give up after a single unfavorable incident. 

“Investing in the quality and security of digital systems not only avoids financial and image losses, but also ensures a positive experience for users, strengthening brand trust and promoting success in high traffic” events, says Wagner Elias, CEO of Conviso, a company specializing in application security (AppSec).

According to the expert, recent cases such as the leak of Facebook data and the failures in the Latam/Multiplus system show the importance of a robust preparation at a time like this, given the increase in the number of attacks on the security of companies around the world. According to a report by the Consortium for Information & Software Quality (CISQ), from 2020, the number of failures in systems increases by about 15% per year. In addition, the Security Magazine revealed that software failures caused a loss of 2.4 trillion dollars in the United States in 2022 and a growth of 1.5 trillion dollars in technical lives.

Application Security

The work of protecting e-commerce software is carried out by what is called application security, a market that is expected to grow, all over the planet, reaching US$ 25 billion in 2029 (Mordor Intelligence).

It consists of having a comprehensive and detailed view of the vulnerabilities of a system and implementing defense mechanisms in advance. “In a comparative way, it works like this: when you are going to park your car, consider if the place is safe and if there are measures to be taken to protect the vehicle. Likewise, problems are anticipated and strategies are created to avoid” risks, compares Luiz Henrique Custodio, TechLead at Conviso.

For Custos, the ideal would be for companies to constantly review their platforms to identify and correct possible security breaches, creating a culture of security.

In addition, for large events, it is important for companies to invest in robust infrastructure and perform load testing to ensure their systems can handle access spikes.

Consumers Should Stay Attentive

Wagner Elias, CEO of Conviso, emphasizes that precaution is critical for both businesses and consumers. However, for consumers, this involves following safe practices when browsing and transacting online.“Always opt for secure payment methods, such as Google Pay, Apple Pay or credit cards, which offer legal protection in case of problems with the seller.”

He also underscores the importance of keeping smartphone and PC software up to date, as criminals often exploit security loopholes in outdated systems. “Avoid downloading apps and software from suspicious sources, and if you need to download a link, carefully check the information and ratings of the app. Elias” warns: “Watch offers that seem too good to be true; they can hide fraudulent intentions.”

Fraudulent websites often mimic known stores to steal personal and financial information. Elias suggests other tips: “Always check if the website URL starts with 2HTTPS’ and features a padlock icon in the address bar. Fake websites often lack these features. Also, be aware of grammatical and typing errors, and make sure that the website provides clear contact information such as email, phone, and physical address”.

Other common fraud strategies include phishing scams, where criminals try to obtain personal information through fake messages, and fake apps, which often contain malware. “To avoid these problems, download apps only from official stores such as the App Store and Play Store. Also be aware of pop-ups that offer fake antivirus downloads, as they can be used to steal sensitive data from”.