In July 2018, a report from a prominent internet security firm provided a worrisome glimpse at the current threat levels affecting the world of e-commerce. According to Shape Security, 90 percent of login attempts to access e-commerce websites are carried out by malicious hackers. Only 3 percent of these attempts, which are conducted by means of a black hat technique known as credential stuffing, are successful, but this translates into billions of dollars lost each year to e-commerce hacking.
Credential stuffing essentially consists of login attempts made with username and password combinations obtained from data breaches. In recent years, spectacular network intrusions and data heists at Target, Yahoo and online dating sites have resulted in millions of stolen credentials that hackers use on e-commerce websites in the hopes that they can easily access those accounts. Credential stuffing is based on the poor security practice of using the same email and password combination across many sites.
Biometrics and password vaults are two security measures that e-commerce entrepreneurs can apply to avoid hackers breaching their online accounts. Thankfully, the Amazon Marketplace is known as a platform supported by a strong e-commerce security system; however, independent sellers face other risks.
ASIN Hijacking on the Amazon Marketplace
One of the reasons so many third-party sellers choose to do business on the Amazon Marketplace is because they do not have to worry about implementing their own e-commerce security system. If you want to avoid hackers in terms of keeping them away from customer and transaction data, Amazon is your best bet since you will not have to concern yourself with applying security patches or implementing payment card industry (PCI) standards.
Something that you do have to worry about on the Amazon Marketplace is your product listings as well as your reputation as a seller. The hackers you have to look out for are known as ASIN hijackers, and they include counterfeiters, dropshippers, scammers, and unauthorized sellers who will attempt to take control of the unique Amazon Standard Identification Numbers you generate for your products.
The Problem With ASIN Hijacking
In recent years, Amazon has taken a lot of flak for its “gray market” phenomenon, which is estimated to make up a third of total sales. The gray market refers to the collection of counterfeiters and rogue sellers who hijack ASINs for the purpose of scamming unsuspecting shoppers at the expense of independent sellers who are getting traction on the Amazon Marketplace.
ASIN hijacking usually starts with an unauthorized seller listing your products without asking for your approval. You may not worry about this if it seems that someone is trying to sell items they purchased from you on a “used, like new” basis. However, this may also be the first step in a series of black hat moves to “win the Buy Box” and hijack your product listings.
Using Automated E-commerce Security Against Hijackers
If you are a seller who has introduced 10 or more unique ASINs to Amazon, you need the peace of mind that automated e-commerce security can bring. Brandlox, a subscription service that continuously monitors your ASINs, will let you know whenever your product listings are being hijacked by rogue Amazon sellers.
With a Brandlox subscription, you no longer have to check your Amazon Seller Central dashboard obsessively several times a day. Brandlox will notify you as soon as your ASINs are compromised. Based on your subscription level, you will also have access to e-commerce security tools such as cease-and-desist letters as well as test purchases you can use against counterfeiters and unauthorized sellers.
Get in touch with a Brandlox e-commerce consultant today to learn more about the service and enjoy a free trial or call us at (866) 848-6072.
