How to Secure WooCommerce Checkout Process [09 Effective Tips]

The WooCommerce checkout page is highly vulnerable to cyberattacks like MITM, cross-site scripting, SQL injection, and more.

As a merchant, you are responsible for protecting your customers from such deadly attacks. To do so, you must have a secure WooCommerce checkout process. You might wonder why and how that is so.

That’s exactly what we will explore in this article, along with nine actionable tips to help you protect your checkout page from all such cyberattacks.

Ready? Let’s jump right in!

Why Is WooCommerce Security Necessary?

As a merchant, securing your customer data should be your priority, especially nowadays, when online fraud is reaching new heights. Juniper Research found eCommerce fraud saw a massive increase of 16% from $41 billion in 2022 to $48 billion in 2023. This chart is expected to rise up to $107 billion by 2029, which translates to a 141% increase in the coming six years.

With so much fraud around the corner, it is necessary for a merchant to do everything they can to protect the sensitive data of valuable customers. 

The best way to protect your customer data is to have a secure WooCommerce checkout process because an unsafe checkout page can allow hackers to perform multiple cyberattacks, such as 

• Man-in-the-Middle (MITM.) It enables hackers to position themselves between the two communicating parties (the user and the server) and eavesdrop on or alter the incoming information. 
• Cross-Site Scripting (XSS.) It refers to when attackers inject JavaScript into the checkout page or other site areas to redirect customers to phishing pages or steal their sensitive information. Learn how to prevent WordPress XSS attacks.
• SQL Injection. Attackers insert malicious SQL queries to extract or manipulate data from the database, which can expose customer information and order details. Learn how to prevent WordPress SQL injection attacks.
• Card Frauds or Carding Attacks. These occur when hackers use bots to test stolen credit card numbers on the checkout page to see if they’re valid, leading to potential chargeback fines that the merchant will have to bear.

Implement a Secure WooCommerce Checkout Process: 09 Tips

These attacks can be deadly, but not if you incorporate the incoming nine tips that will enhance your login security and protect your WooCommerce from cyber threats.

#1: Install Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certificate

SSL encrypts information between the user and the server, making it unreadable to hackers. This security protocol sits between your browser and web server and encrypts sensitive information such as credit card details.

The benefits of an SSL certificate extend beyond just encryption. SSL also encourages user trust, especially when browsers clearly show a padlock icon indicating the encryption and security of the data. In contrast, search engines also discourage users from purchasing something from a website that uses HTTP instead of HTTPS.

Usually, hosting plans come with free SSL. However, if your plan does not have it, you can buy one from any service provider like Namecheap, Hostinger, etc. Alternatively, you can get one for free using a free service like Zero SSL, but that comes with the hassle of renewing your domain every 60 or 90 days. Unless you use a third-party service that does that for you every time it expires.

#2: Regularly Update WooCommerce and Plugins

Outdated plugins, WooCommerce, or WordPress versions can harm your checkout process’s health. Therefore, you should regularly update your software.

Manually checking for updates can be a significant addition to the workload, especially if you manage a massive store with a massive number of plugins, pages, etc. In such a case, you can take advantage of WordPress’s auto-update feature that automatically updates your plugins and themes to the latest version as soon as the update is available.

Moreover, it’s also worth noting that plugins and themes you don’t even use can also become a gateway for cyber attackers. Thus, you should also carefully look for unnecessary plugins and themes and eliminate them. 

#3: Require Strong Passwords for Customer Accounts

Brute force attacks use trial and error to crack a user’s sensitive information. There are multiple kinds of brute force attacks, including credential stuffing that uses credentials from previous data breaches in an attempt to find accounts with the same credentials on a different server. 

These password-guessing attacks can be highly efficient, but only for users who use weak or extremely weak passwords. A few examples of such passwords include “password,” “admin,” “123456,” etc.

According to a study by NordVPN, hackers can crack these passwords in less than a second. 

Thus, requiring your customers to create strong passwords while creating accounts can decrease checkout frauds because hackers can gain unauthorized access to user accounts and purchase from their saved account information. 

#4: Use Secure Payment Gateways

A payment gateway is a service merchant uses to accept credit or debit card purchases securely. Choosing the right payment gateway ensures your checkout page’s security. Therefore, always look for the following signs when choosing a payment gateway:

• Always check the supported currencies. Sometimes, the gateway might not support your preferred currency.
• The time it takes to complete a transaction.
• Payment methods you would like to offer.
• Accepted payment methods in the countries you sell to.
• Strong encryption policy.

Moreover, you have two choices when choosing a payment gateway:

• Hosted Gateway: Third parties host these gateways. Customers will have to leave your WooCommerce store to complete a purchase for these gateways, which can lower your conversion rates. However, it largely depends on the service provider’s reputation because some users will be more comfortable using reputable services like PayPal. The provider is responsible for PCI compliance and other legal requirements.
• Integrated Gateway: These are self-hosted, and users will not have to leave your WooCommerce store to complete a purchase. An example is WooCommerce Payments. Since the payment process is convenient and easy, it can entice users to pay, increasing conversion rates. However, you will have to bear legal responsibilities and fines.

There is no right or wrong choice; it all depends on your business needs. Research and choose the one you think will be the best and the most secure for your customers.

#5: Monitor for Suspicious Activity and Orders

Having complete control over your WooCommerce activity minimizes errors and helps with the early detection of potential threats.

Therefore, you should download a plugin that offers complete activity details of how visitors and customers use your eCommerce store. Most security plugins offer activity logs, such as Password Protected, which offers a detailed activity log that clearly lists all the failed or successful attempts on your website.

Moreover, the plugin also offers blocking IP addresses, allowing you to block IP addresses that seem suspicious.

Regularly monitoring your WooCommerce orders will also help reduce spam and fake orders, streamlining the secure WooCommerce checkout process. While monitoring your order, look for orders that are atypical to those you usually get. For example, getting massive bulk orders on times when you barely get sales.

#6: Implement Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for Admins

We already discussed the dangers of hackers performing password guessing attacks, gaining unauthorized access, and performing several cyberattacks. This is not only for users; admin accounts can also get hacked. 

Thus, implementing two-factor authentication can prevent such instances. Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, requires the user to authenticate their login attempt with a second factor of verification. This second verification factor is usually through the admin’s email or phone, which is very difficult for hackers to access. 

This can protect one even if the password is leaked or hacked. Trapping hackers even if they crack your password.

To protect admin accounts, you can try All-in-One Login. This WordPress plugin offers multiple features (including multi-factor authentication or 2FA) to protect the WordPress admin page.

#7: Limit Login Attempts

Limit login attempts is a feature that automatically blocks users after a set number of incorrect attempts. You can configure it to block an IP address after three wrong attempts for 60 minutes. That will prevent the user from making another login attempt for 60 minutes.

This provides optimal security from automated brute-force attacks. Cybercriminals use automated bots that can try millions of password variations in seconds. This feature helps stop such attacks by restricting them from trying further after three incorrect attempts. 

You can limit login attempts in Password Protected. Navigate to the plugin’s settings >> Security >> Attempt Limitation. Set your number of attempts and lockdown time. 

#8: Enable Automatic Backups

This one doesn’t directly help with the secure WooCommerce checkout process, but it does help if something goes wrong.

Let’s establish one random unfortunate day your WooCommerce caught malware. Now, if you have a backup of, let’s say, a day prior to the malware attack, you can load that backup, and your store would be as clean as if it had never caught any malware. 

However, manual backups can be a hurdle, especially for individuals managing everything within a business. To reduce your workload, you can enable automatic backups. Several backup plugins (free and paid) allow you to automate the backup process.

Once again, there is no right or wrong choice here. You should go with one that is sufficient for your business needs.

#9: Use a Strong Web Application Firewall (WAF)

Lastly, use a strong web application firewall (WAF.) It restricts cyberattacks like SQL injections by monitoring and preventing the theft of customer data such as credit card details and personal information.

Additionally, it inspects incoming requests to block scripts injected into WooCommerce checkout fields, protecting users from malware and phishing attacks.

By identifying and blocking IPs that exhibit suspicious behavior, WAFs can also prevent brute-force attempts.

Not to mention, the custom rule implication enables you to set custom rules, such as blocking certain countries or IP ranges or flagging specific behaviors.

In a nutshell, WAF protects the store from multiple kinds of cyberattacks. Moreover, it ensures a multi-layered defense mechanism, greatly reducing the risk of breaches, improving customer trust, and safeguarding your WooCommerce checkout process.

To Sum It Up

To have a secure WooCommerce checkout process, you must install a secure socket layer (SSL) and regularly update your WooCommerce versions and other necessary software because newer versions come with security patches that can help tackle known vulnerabilities. 

Moreover, you should choose a reputable, secure, and secure payment gateway. Also, you should regularly monitor for any suspicious activity. 

Additionally, implement limit login attempts, 2FA, and other features that could enhance your account security, and do not forget to use a firewall. 

To password protect individual pages or categories on your WooCommerce store, try Password Protected!

Frequently Asked Question