Not only is the number of cyberattacks increasing, but the cost of each breach is also on the rise: According to a recent report (IBM, 2021), the rapid adoption of remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the increase in data breaches. This is alarming, given that it is projected that over 80 million people will work remotely by the year 2026 (Tanzi, 2021).

Organizations need a comprehensive cybersecurity plan that includes defense against web application attacks. This article discusses some of the most common types of application security threats, how organizations can defend against them.

SQL Injection

One of the most common web application attacks is SQL injection : a type of attack that takes place when a web application does not validate values provided by a web form, cookie, input parameter, or another source before forwarding them to SQL queries on a database server. This allows attackers to insert malicious code by manipulating the input variables. Hackers can then use that code to extract data from a database or execute malicious commands on the server.

There are several ways to defend against SQL injection attacks, but one of the most reliable is to use a web application firewall (WAF) to detect and block malicious SQL code. Input validation can also be used to check for invalid or malformed input data, and parameterized queries can be used rather than dynamic queries to prevent attackers from executing commands on the database.

Cross-Site Scripting

Another common attack vector is cross-site scripting (XSS). XSS attacks occur when an attacker takes advantage of vulnerabilities in a web application to inject malicious code that enables them to access a target end user’s data. The code can be embedded in a script tag, iframe, or hyperlink. These attacks are typically launched using a client-side script and can occur whenever a web application uses input data from a user without validation or encryption.

There are several ways to protect against XSS attacks, including using a WAF to identify and block malicious code and input validation to identify unsafe or invalid input data. A content security policy can also be used to prevent attackers from injecting code into a webpage.

Cross-Site Request Forgery

Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) allows an attacker to execute unauthorized requests on behalf of another user (OWASP Foundation, 2021). This can be done by embedding the target’s session ID in a malicious payload.

There are several ways to protect against CSRF attacks. The first is to use a WAF to detect and block unauthorized requests. A second approach to defending against CSRF attacks is to use authentication tokens: unique identifiers used to verify the legitimacy of a request.

Insecure Direct Object References

Insecure direct object references (IDOR) are another common web application vulnerability (OWASP Foundation, 2020). IDOR-based attacks occur when a malicious hacker accesses sensitive data by manipulating the URLs used to reference objects in an application.

There are several ways to protect against IDOR and associated attacks. One technique is to use input validation to check that input values are safe and valid. Additionally, obfuscation techniques like URL rewriting and encoding can make it more difficult for attackers to exploit vulnerable URLs.

We offer a complete cyber security solution included in our virtual team package. Contact us for more information.

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There are more chances for hackers to break into a WordPress website than a basic static HTML website. Unfortunately, many companies think about their site’s security as an afterthought.

And by the time they realize there’s a security issue, it’s already too late. All the hard work they put into building a site can be thrown out the window by spammers, viruses, hack attempts, and more.

Website Security

Today, we’re going to share 13 of the best WordPress security plugins you can use to protect your site. This list includes:

1. Sucuri
2. iThemes Security
3. Wordfence Security
4. All in One WP Security & Firewall
5. Anti-Malware Security

With any of these WordPress security tools, you can rest assured that your website and client data will be safe from viruses, hackers, and other online threats.

But before we dive into the list, let’s get clear on whether you need a security plugin for WordPress in the first place.

Do you need a WordPress Security Plugin?

Far too many people make the mistake of assuming hackers only target big companies. They think hackers only go for retail giants with databases of customer information like names, email addresses, and credit card details.

The truth is that hackers target everyone, including small eCommerce companies doing low-volume transactions.

So if you’re a WordPress user with an online store, you likely need a security plugin no matter what stage of business you are in.

From those just starting out to those who’ve spent years building trust with their target audience, these plugins can make or break your online success.

Still skeptical about the importance of security for your small eCommerce site? Consider the following statistics:

• 43% of cyber attacks are directed at small businesses.
• Less than 15% of small businesses surveyed admit they’re equipped to overcome the damage caused by data breaches and other cyber attacks.
• A whopping 60% of small companies go out of business six months after experiencing a cyber attack.
• 

You can optimize conversion rates and grow your email list all you want, but if you don’t secure your eCommerce site, you risk losing your business.

Now, let’s dive into our top security plugins list.

The Best WordPress Security Plugins in 2023

The good news is that securing WordPress sites has never been easier, thanks to a growing list of security plugins that help safeguard your website within minutes.

We also offer a complete WordPress Security service for anyone with a WordPress Website.

The post Best WordPress Security Solution in 2023 appeared first on Website Admin.

Different websites need different things out of their payment gateway. Some want extra services. Others value having the cheapest price above all else. Whatever your needs or budget, the perfect option for you is waiting below.

Before reviewing each available platform in detail, here is a list of payment gateway providers in South Africa with the transactions fees for each of them.

As you see, for card payments, transaction fees range from 2.9% to 3.5% per transaction. For EFT payments, the range is 1.5% to 2.5%. Some platforms also have added benefits that can be interesting for your business. For instance, some payment gateways offer loans based on your transaction history with the platform.

None of the options below involves a monthly fee. In all cases, you only pay for the successful payments processed by the gateway.

Best Payments Gateway in South Africa

Now let’s review in more detail the best payment gateways available in South Africa.

PayFast

Payfast started in 2007 with the vision to help online merchants grow their business. Today, Payfast powers more than 80,000 merchants in South Africa.

Payfast is one of the easiest payment gateways to start with. You can set up an account in a few minutes. Then, after you submit your documentation, accounts are usually approved in a couple of days. One of the main advantages of Payfast is that they offer many different payment methods. It includes credit and cheque cards, as well as instant EFTs with most of the main South African banks (FNB, Capitec, Absa, Standard Bank, Nedbank…). They also integrate with Zapper and SnapScan, as well as Mobicred, Scode, and Masterpass. This gives a lot of options through one single supplier. Payfast also offers cash advance solutions, based on your transaction history with the platform.

Payfast only charges a fee for each successful transaction. The Payfast transaction fee for payments done with credit and cheque cards is 3.2% + R2.0 per transaction. Instant EFTs incur a 2% fee, with a minimum of R2.0. For the other payment methods, the fees are between 3.5% and 5.5%. Payfast does not charge any monthly fee to use their service, but there is an R8.7 fee for each payout to your bank account. The fee structure is clearly displayed on the site and is negotiable when you reach a certain revenue. You do not need a merchant account to use Payfast.

Payfast integrates with 80+ shopping carts, including Portmoni, WooCommerce, and Shopify. You can find the full list on their site.

Overall, Payfast has the advantage of being easy to set up and offers a wide range of payment options. However, the fees are not the cheapest and they charge a fee to withdraw your money to your bank account.

Pros:

• Very easy to get started
• High number of payment methods available

Cons:

• Not the cheapest transaction fee
• 7 payout fee to withdraw money to your bank account

Yoco

Yoco is well known for its credit card machines, and they also offer an online payment gateway for South Africa. Their focus is to make it simple for entrepreneurs to get paid and grow their businesses. Yoco currently processes payments for more than 200,000 businesses.

It is very easy to open an account and start receiving payments with Yoco. The process only takes a few minutes. The Yoco payment gateway allows receiving transactions directly through your site. All transactions are protected by 3D-Secure, and Yoco releases funds to your bank account within 2 business days.

In terms of payment methods, Yoco allows accepting payments using any Visa or Mastercard.

The Yoco transaction fees for online payments start at 2.95%, with no minimal or fixed fee per transaction. The fees also go down depending on your monthly volume of transactions. If you reach R80,000 per month, the transaction fee is already down to 2.6%. If you process more than R100,000, you can even get custom rates negotiated directly with Yoco. For payments from international cards, the Yoco transaction fee starts at 3.45%, down to 3.05% depending on your monthly sales volume.

The Yoco payment gateway integrates with several eCommerce platforms, including Portmoni, Wix, WooCommerce, and Shopstar.

Overall, Yoco is a great solution with a very easy-to-use interface. The Yoco brand is also well-known and trusted, thanks to its large network of mobile card machines in South Africa. The only downside is that they only offer credit and debit card payments.

Pros:

• Very easy to get started
• The Yoco transaction fees are affordable
• Customers are familiar with the brand thanks to their large network of credit card machines in South Africa

Cons:

• The only available payment methods are bank cards

Zapper

Zapper is a QR code and online payment method in South Africa. With more than 70,000 merchants and 800,000 users, they are a large player in this field.

Zapper is a solution based on the use of QR codes. The way it works is that a Zapper user will have to install the Zapper app on their phone and link it to their bank card. Then, when they want to make a payment, they only need to scan a QR code on your website using their phone’s camera. Then, once they approve the payment through the Zapper app, the amount is sent to you. As the process does not require entering card details, this can help with conversion rates.

Besides processing payments, Zapper offers different value-added services. They will manage a base of customers for you, and you can then send them vouchers and offers through the Zapper app to attract orders. They also offer a cash advance facility based on your transaction history with them. To qualify, you only need to have been an active merchant for at least 6 months with a minimum of R5000 per month in processed payment. This can be very interesting for cash-intensive businesses like eCommerce.

Zapper offers two packages. The first one requires no fixed monthly subscription, and Zapper then charges a 2.9% commission on payments. The second package benefits from a reduced transaction fee of 2.2% but attracts an R199 per month fee. This second package also has the benefit of daily settlements to your bank account, instead of weekly.

Zapper integrates with several eCommerce platforms, such as Shopify, WooCommerce, Ecwid, or Magento.

Overall, Zapper has the great advantage of not needing to enter your payment details at checkout. They also offer cash-flow financing. Yet, customers need to be users of the app to use this payment method.

Pros:

• QR based
• Customers are familiar with this payment method for in-store shopping

Cons:

• Customers need to have the Zapper app to use this payment method

SnapScan

SnapScan is a quick and easy way for customers to pay online. SnapScan was started in 2013 and was one of the first mobile payment apps in South Africa. They are available in many retail stores, restaurants, and also offer an eCommerce solution. Over 60,000 merchants use SnapScan in South Africa.

Like Zapper, SnapScan is a QR code based payment solution. This means that a user will download the app, and configure it by entering their payment details. Then, they can just scan a QR code available on your website to make a payment. Like with Zapper, the advantage of a QR code based solution is that there is no need for customers to enter their payment details for each transaction.

The SnapScan transaction rates depend on your monthly turnover. They start at 2.95% and decrease to 2.55% if you process more than R80,000 per month. There is no fixed monthly subscription.

SnapScan has integrations with WooCommerce, Magento, ShopStar, and OpenCart. They also offer a partial integration with Shopify. Finally, a custom API allows integrating any eCommerce platform like Portmoni.

Overall, SnapScan is an interesting payment channel. It allows clients to pay directly without having to enter their payment details. Yet, to use SnapScan, they need to have the app already installed and configured on their phone.

Pros:

• Customers do not need to enter their payment details for each payment
• SnapScan is widely used in retail stores so many customers have it installed already

Cons:

• Customers need to have the SnapScan app installed to use the payment method

Ozow

Ozow is a payment gateway focused on EFT payments. They work with several well-known online businesses including Takelot, Loot, Zando, and Vodacom.

Ozow allows clients to make instant EFT payments. With instant EFTs, bank transfers are verified and settled in real-time. There is no need to wait 24 to 48 hours for the funds to clear, and you also get a payment notification in real-time. Ozow integrates with most of the main banks in South Africa, such as Bidwest, TymeBank, Investec, Capitec, Absa, FNB, Standard Bank, and Nedbank. The solution also allows refunding payments easily if needed.

Ozow is free to use for the first 12 months if you process less than R1 million in transactions in total. After that, Ozow charges a 2.5% transaction fee. The fee goes down to 1.5% if you process more than R10 million per month. Ozow also charges a refund fee of R3 to R8.5 depending on the value of the transaction. If you use their integrations, Ozow also adds an extra fee. For instance, they charge an extra 0.3% if you process transactions through Shopify.

Ozow offers integrations with shopping carts, like WooCommerce, Shopify, Prestashop, J2store, or Drupal.

Overall, Ozow is a good solution to collect payments using instant EFT payments. They also offer free transaction fees for 1 year to most businesses. However, after that period, they are not the cheapest. When you compare Ozow vs Payfast, the lack of choice in payments methods is also a limitation.

Pros:

• Free transaction fees for 12 months up to R1 million processed revenue
• Instant EFT solution

Cons:

• Payment options limited to EFT
• Not the cheapest after the first 12 months

Mobicred

Mobicred is an online payment platform in South Africa that has the added benefit of offering a credit facility to your customers. Your clients will be able to buy your products on credit and Mobicred will provide the financing. This can be a big advantage if you are selling expensive items. Mobicred is already used by more than 1600 online stores in South Africa.

To use Mobicred, both you and your clients need to be approved by Mobicred. After that, your clients will be able to buy your products on credit from your site, with financing from Mobicred. You as the merchant will get your money upfront, while your client repays Mobicred over time. Mobicred assumes the risk of recovering the money from the customer.

Mobicred charges a commission of 3.5% per transaction. This is the only cost to the merchant for a Mobicred sale. Your client also has to pay the cost of the credit if they choose this solution.

Mobicred is available through PayU, Paygate, Payfast, and Peach Payments. When you use one of these payment gateways, you just need to activate Mobicred in your payment options. Once you are approved, it will become available for your clients.

Overall, Mobicred can ease payment for expensive products. Yet, customers need to be approved by Mobicred before making a purchase. The fees are also higher than most traditional payment methods.

Pros:

• Once approved by Mobicred a client can get credit automatically
• Credit can increase conversion for expensive products

Cons:

• Clients need to go through the Mobicred credit process before making a purchase
• Not the cheapest option

Payflex

Payflex is another payment option that allows consumers to shop now and pay later. The difference with Mobicred is that the credit offered is interest-free. Payflex started in 2017 and has more than 200 merchants on board. They are currently expanding to all South African online shops.

Clients using Payflex get the option to pay their products in 4 installments over 6 weeks at 0% interest. On the merchant side, you receive the money upfront. Payflex assumes credit and fraud risks. By making payments easier, Payflex claims that the order value of their clients increases by 70% and the repurchase rate by 80%. If a client misses a scheduled payment, Payflex charges an R65 default fee for every week the installment is outstanding. There is a maximum of 3 charges for the default fees.

Payflex charges a per-transaction fee on successful transactions, but the amount is not publicly available on their website. There is no setup fee, but they do charge a fixed monthly service fee in addition to the transaction fees.

Payflex integrates with many eCommerce platforms including OpenCart, Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and Prestashop. They also offer an API to integrate any other solution or custom website.

Overall, Payflex offers another interesting alternative for customer credit. It has the added benefit to be interest-free.

Pros:

• Increase order value by allowing payments in installments
• 0% interest for the client

Cons:

• Clients need to have a Payflex account and be approved before using the service.

Peach Payments

Peach Payment started in 2009 intending to revolutionize online payments in South Africa. Today they are one of the well-established players in the field. They process over R1 billion a month for their merchants.

Peach Payments allows accepting local and international cards, EFT, Masterpass, and Mobicred. Their enterprise package also allows accessing Paypal and multi-currency payment.

Peach Payments transaction fee is 2.95% + R1.50 per transaction for cards. EFT payments are cheaper at 1.5% + R1.50 commission per transaction. There is no setup fee or monthly fee with their growth plan, where payments are settled weekly. For businesses that transact more than R300,000 per month, an enterprise package is available. The cost for this enterprise package is a fixed fee monthly fee of R500. This package enables customized volume-based rates and daily settlements, as well as access to Paypal.

Peach Payments integrate with several eCommerce platforms, including WooCommerce, Shopify, Wix, and Magento.

If you compare Peach Payments vs Payfast, Peach Payments offers cheaper rates. However, they have fewer online payment methods available, and the setup is not as easy as with Payfast.

Pros:

• Access to Paypal with the enterprise package

Cons:

• Focus on larger businesses and enterprise

Paygate

Paygate is another well-established payment gateway in South Africa. They are owned by the DPO Group, like Payfast. DPO works with over 100,000 merchants in 19 countries, with offices in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Paygate allows receiving payments through many channels. You can accept secure online card payments worldwide through Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and Diners. You can also receive instant EFT payments using the SiD Secure EFT service. Paygate also allows receiving payments through Zapper, SnapScan, Mobicred, Paypal, and MTM MomoPay.

Paygate offers two different packages. The Paygate Switch package allows you to be paid in real-time but requires that you have a merchant account. With a base fee as low as 0.25%, it is the most cost-effective if you process large volumes. The other option, Paygate Plus, does not require a merchant account. Funds are settled every 72 hours. With Paygate Plus, the transaction fee is 3.5% on all transactions. Both packages are month-to-month and allow receiving cards, QR codes, and all other payment methods supported by Paygate.

Paygate supports many different shopping carts. The list includes WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, Ecwid, and several others. An API also enables custom integrations.

If you compare Paygate vs Payfast, which are both parts of the DPO Group, the main difference is that Paygate will have a stronger focus on larger businesses and enterprise customers.

Pros:

• High number of payment options available
• The Paygate Switch is affordable for high volume merchants that have a merchant account

Cons:

• At 3.5% Paygate Plus is among the expensive options

PayGenius

PayGenius started in 2011. They focus on providing innovative B2B solutions to process secure payments online. PayGenius has the advantage of allowing receiving payment in foreign currency. They currently support Euros, USD, and GBP, in addition to South African Rands.

PayGenius supports payments worldwide from all debit, credit, cheque, and hybrid cards issued by Visa, Mastercard, Diners, and American Express. They also offer Instant EFT payments. Finally, clients can also pay directly from their PayGenius wallets. This gives access to their 20,000 recurrent users. Those users can pay in 1-click without having to enter their bank or card details again.

PayGenius charges a 3.2% transaction fee for transactions in South African Rands. They do not charge any monthly subscription. For transactions in euros, USD, or GBP, the fee starts at 4%.

PayGenius integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento. They also offer an online API to connect to any other available platform.

Pros:

• Payment in foreign currencies is available

Cons:

• Lesser-known solution
• More expensive than some alternatives

Netcash

Netcash is an established online payment platform in South Africa with more than 16 years of experience. They offer a wide range of payment services, among which a payment gateway for eCommerce businesses.

Besides their online payments gateway service, Netcash offers loans based on their merchants’ transaction history. Pre-approved funding offers are generated based on the account data. This allows getting unsecured loans based on the transaction history.

Netcash offers many online payment methods for your eCommerce website. They offer Instant EFT through Ozow, credit card, and Scode. Several QR wallets and banking apps like Zapper and SnapScan are also available.

The Netcash transaction fees are not publicly available. You can contact them for more details.

Netcash also integrates with different eCommerce platforms, including WooCommerce, Prestashop, and Magento.

Pros:

• Established payment provider
• Instant loans are available

Cons:

• Not a specialized online payment gateway supplier

PayU

PayU is a global payment solution available in 50 different markets, including South Africa. They work with some of the biggest online retailers in the country. With 10 million transactions processed daily, they are well placed among the online payment platforms in South Africa.

PayU offers solutions for 1-click payments, subscription payments, security, and financing solutions. They offer different payment methods, including bank cards and EFT payments through Ozow. They also offer cash-flow loans based on your transaction history.

The PayU transaction fees are not publicly available on the website. You can contact them for any details.

Overall, PayU is an established payment gateway, but more focused on larger businesses and enterprises.

Pros:

• Services extend beyond payment with for instance cash-flow loans

Cons:

• More geared towards enterprise clients
• Pricing is not transparent

Paypal

Paypal was one of the earliest companies facilitating payments online. They are still one of the most trusted brands in the industry. Unfortunately, Paypal does not currently allow receiving payments in South African Rands. However, it is one of the few options available to receive payments in foreign currencies from South Africa.

Due to regulations and foreign exchange control in South Africa, it is however quite complex to set up and manage a Paypal account. Indeed, Paypal accounts have to be linked to an FNB account that will be used to withdraw the funds into a South African bank account. All PayPal balances must also be withdrawn within 30 days of receipt of funds. It is not possible to hold your funds in your Paypal account and spend them from there.

Using Paypal in South Africa leads to multiples fees:

1. A Paypal commission of 3.4% + $0.30 USD per transaction (can get down to 2.4% depending on volume).
2. An FNB withdrawal fee of 1.52% (can get down to 0.81% depending on volume).
3. A foreign exchange fee (typically around 2%).
4. And finally, a payments gateway fee if you use one to process Paypal payments (2.5% to 3.5%).

In total, the fees will add up to between 5% and 10% of the transaction amount, which is quite expensive.

The main advantage of Paypal is that it is widely trusted, and integrated with almost all eCommerce platforms. If you want to use it on your site, you can check our full guide on how to use Paypal in South Africa.

Pros:

• Known and trusted brand

Cons:

• Expensive
• Difficult to set up and manage in South Africa

2checkout – Verifone

Another option to accept payments in foreign currencies in South Africa is using 2checkout – Verifone. 2checkout is an established company in the field, but less known in South Africa. It is used by more than 20,000 shops worldwide.

2checkout focuses on a few segments of the market. It is available for software, SaaS, and some online services, as well as eCommerce merchants. If you fit in the activities they support, it is very easy to set up your account and get verified. You can then start accepting payments in different currencies.

The 2checkout transaction fee is 3.5% plus 0.3€ per transaction. They also offer different pricing for subscriptions at 4.5% + 0.4€, and for digital goods at 6% + 0.5€ per transaction. There is no fixed monthly fee.

2Checkout integrates with over 120 eCommerce shopping carts and allows selling in over 200 countries and territories.

Pros:

• Easy to setup
• Allows processing payments in foreign currency

Cons:

• Expensive
• Your activity needs to be on their accepted list

South African Payment Gateways – Buying Guide

Now, let’s review some of the criteria to select which is the best among the South African payment gateways.

What is a payment gateway?

First, let’s have a look at what online payment gateways in South Africa offer exactly. The payment gateway is the middleman between you and the bank of your customer. It allows you to receive payments made using different methods, typically credit and debit cards. In South Africa, popular payment methods available through payment gateways also include instant EFTs, as well as QR codes payments.

With a payment gateway, customers can use their payment details to pay for goods or services on your site. The gateway then connects to the bank to ensure the customer has sufficient funds. It then carries out the transaction in a secure manner. The payment gateway takes care of all the security layers required by the transaction, such as PCI DSS compliance. It also usually offers risk assessment and fraud prevention services. This allows blocking customers who use fraudulent or stolen cards before they buy on your site.

The process goes as follows:

1. The customer purchases on your site and validates its order.
2. They enter their payment details, which are submitted through the payment gateway.
3. The payment gateway collects the information needed and transfers it to the payment processor.
4. The payment processor submits the information to the card association, which checks for authenticity.
5. When the authorization is validated by the card network, the customer’s bank either approves or denies the transaction.
6. The bank sends this information back to the payment processor.
7. The payment processor then sends the response to the gateway.
8. The gateway forwards it back to the website.
9. The money is then accepted by the merchant’s bank and starts processing to their account.

As you see, this is a complex process, which is entirely taken care of by the payment gateway on your behalf.

Which payment options should I offer?

In South Africa, about 20% of online sales are paid through EFT, and the rest by credit and debit cards. You should thus aim at accepting at least cards and EFTs.

The recommended setup is to offer different payment options to your clients, but not overwhelm them with too many choices. This can be achieved by several means. First, you can use a single payment gateway that combines several payment methods. This would be the case of solutions like Payfast for instance. Another option is to combine different payment methods yourself. To offer credit card payments, instant EFTs, and QR code payments, you can for instance offer payments through Yoco, Ozow, and SnapScan.

How to receive payments in foreign currencies in South Africa?

Most payment gateways allow your foreign customers to pay on your site using their international debit or credit card. They are charged in South African Rands, and their own bank will do the currency exchange for them. On your side, you receive South African Rands directly.

Yet, in some cases, it can be interesting to charge directly in foreign currencies. Due to regulations in South Africa, only a few payment portals are available in that case. Those include Paypal and 2checkout – Verifone. Some payment gateways also include this option by default, like PayGenius and PayGate.

The Bottom Line

Selecting the best payment gateway in South Africa is key for the success of your business. The cost is an important factor. The trust in the payment partner you select and the ease of use of the solution are also important to consider.

Depending on what you need, we recommend Payfast as the best eCommerce payment gateway in South Africa. It includes many payment options, is very easy to set up, and has a reasonable cost.

Another great choice if you only need credit card processing is Yoco. Their interface is great and easy to use, and their brand very well-known and trusted. Yoco can be coupled with an EFT payment portal, like Ozow. Their solution links to the most common banks in South Africa.

Are you looking for a eCommerce solution that actually works well. We have a team that specialises in eCommerce website solutions. Get in touch with us for more information. All our website services include advanced Search Engine Optimisation and Security at it’s core.

The post South African Payment Gateways for eCommerce appeared first on Website Admin.

Any data can be shared with an application programming interface. APIs are implemented by function calls composed of verbs and nouns; the required syntax is described in the documentation of the application being called.

For example, on a real estate website, one API might publish available real estate properties by geography, while a second API provides current interest rates and a third offers a mortgage calculator.

In the early days of Web 2.0, the concept of integrating data and applications from different sources was called a mashup.

The web, software designed to exchange data via the internet and cloud computing have all combined to increase the interest in APIs and services.

How do APIs work?

APIs are made up of two related elements:

• a specification that describes how information is exchanged between programs in the form of a request for processing and a return of the necessary data; and
• a software interface written to that specification and published in some way for use.

The software that wants to access the API is said to call it, and the software that creates the API is said to publish it.

APIs authorize and grant access to data that users and other applications request. Access is authenticated to a service using predefined roles that govern who can access specific actions and data.

APIs also provide an audit trail that details who and what have had system access and when it happened.

Applications that call APIs were traditionally written in specific programming languages. Web APIs can be called through any programming language. Web pages created in Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) or application generator tools can also access them.

The most common architectures for APIs are Representational State Transfer (REST) and Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP). They define a standard communication protocol specification for a message exchange based on Extensible Markup Language or XML.

SOAP requires less low-level infrastructure-related code than REST. However, REST APIs are easier to scale and redeploy, and simpler to implement and integrate with websites and services. REST APIs are most often used today, particularly for web interactions.

The post What is an API and how does it work appeared first on Website Admin.

Website Terminology

A
A/B Testing

Also known as split or bucket testing, A/B testing is the process of comparing two or more variants to determine which one performs better. By conducting an A/B test, you can fine-tune a website and enhance its UX.
Add-on

An add-on is a software extension or script that extends the functionality of a program.
Ajax

Ajax is a JavaScript and XML-based set of techniques that enables web applications to work asynchronously. Using Ajax, it’s possible to send and receive data from the server without reloading the entire page.
Angular

Angular is an open-source software development framework developed by Google. It uses Typescript and HTML to develop dynamic and interactive single-page web applications.
API

An API (Application Programming Interface) facilitates the interaction between two or more software applications. API-standardized protocols, such as Rest API, can provide web developers with an efficient and secure way to transfer data.

B
Back-End Development

A part of web development that focuses on the server-side of the website. The back-end activity isn’t visible to users but has a significant impact on the site’s performance and usability.
Backups

Backups are copies of your files, databases, or information that are stored in a separate location from the original one. The purpose of having backups is to avoid data loss if there’s an issue on the site.
Blog

A blog is a web log, an online journal where entries are displayed in reverse chronological order. Blogs can be standalone sites or part of a larger website, and the people who own and maintain them are called bloggers.
Bootstrap

Bootstrap is a free and open-source front-end framework designed to simplify the development of responsive, mobile-friendly websites. It includes a library of HTML and CSS-based design templates that allow users to speed up the website creation process.
Breadcrumbs

Breadcrumbs are navigational links that give an overview of the site’s information hierarchy. By implementing breadcrumbs, you will improve the website structure and user experience.
Breadcrumb on best buy website
Browser

A software program that translates HyperText Markup Language (HTML) code into readable web content using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). Some popular web browsers include Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Safari.

C
Cache

Browsers use cache to store files, codes, and other content in order to avoid downloading them each time users access the same site. Cleaning your browser cache regularly will resolve loading issues and avoid overusing your disk space.
Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)

CSS is a style sheet language used to define how HTML documents are displayed to end-users. With CSS, users can modify the visual appearance of a website, including its font, color, and background.

Content Delivery Network (CDN)

A content delivery network (CDN) is a group of servers distributed in different geographical locations worldwide to enable quick web content delivery.
Cookies
An example of a cookie policy pop-up

Cookies are a set of data that help websites keep track and save users’ information or activity, like login details or preferred site settings.
Client-side

A web terminology that describes any elements of a website or web application displayed or performed by the user’s devices. Client-side development involves designing a website’s layout and user interface (UI).
Content Management System (CMS)

A content management system (CMS) is a software application that comes with a graphical user interface for creating and managing websites. Some popular CMSs include WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla.
WordPress.org homepage
Customization

Customization is the process of modifying products or services to better meet the users’ preferences and needs. For instance, WordPress provides users with tools to customize their site’s theme, menu, and font.

D
Deprecated

Refers to programming features, like software, hardware, or stacks, that are scheduled to shut down or be replaced by new versions. Users are encouraged to switch deprecated items with other updated options.
Document Type Definition (DTD)

A set of rules that defines and validates the structure of XML files. Applications use DTD to verify the validity of XML data.
Doctype

A document type declaration (doctype) is an instruction that informs web browsers what version of HTML is used on a web document.
DOM

The Document Object Model (DOM) is a programming interface for XML and HTML documents that treats each element on a document as an object. It allows developers and programs to read, access, and update the document’s content.

Domain Name

A domain name is a unique website address consisting of a site name and an extension. It serves as an alternative to using an IP address and helps internet users find your site more easily.
Domain Name System (DNS)

The domain name system (DNS) allows web browsers to communicate easily with servers to present a website’s content. DNS servers translate domain names into Internet Protocol (IP) addresses.
Domain Registrar

Domain registrars are companies that handle the reservation of internet domain names along with their matching IP addresses.
DNS Editor

DNS editors enable users to modify their domain’s DNS records.
Drag and Drop

Drag and drop refers to moving elements on an interface by dragging them from one location and dropping them in another.
Drupal

Drupal is a powerful content management system (CMS) that offers extensive modules and flexible customization for building all kinds of websites.

E
eCommerce

eCommerce stands for electronic commerce, and it refers to any transaction made online. When people talk about eCommerce, they usually associate it with online shopping.
Email Service Provider (ESP)

Companies or platforms that provide email marketing services or tools for creating and launching email campaigns. Using an ESP offers several advantages, such as ensuring email deliverability, personalizing email content, and automating subscriber listing.

F
File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is used to communicate and transfer files between computers on a network. Using FTP, users can modify websites and transfer files to a server.
Footer

Footer is the information or content displayed at the bottom section of a web page. Usually, it provides easy access to important pages such as the privacy policy and disclaimers.
An example of a footer on Hostinger’s website
Front-End Development

Front-end development is the process of developing the visual output of a website, from its layout to navigation.

G
Gatsby

Gatsby is an open-source static site generator that combines the functionality of modern tech stacks like React.JS, GraphQL, and webpack.
Geolocation

It is the practice of using the Global Positioning System (GPS) or IP addresses to track the location of users and their devices.
Git

The global information tracker (GIT) is a distributed version control system (VCS) that tracks changes to any set of files. It’s primarily used to coordinate collaborative software and development projects.
GitHub

GitHub is a cloud-based Git hosting service with a web-based graphical interface. It enables developers to collaborate on shared projects while maintaining a detailed record of their progress.
GitHub’s website, an open-source software for developers

H
.htaccess

Hypertext access or .htaccess is a configuration file used to enable and disable features of Apache-hosted websites. With it, users can make various configuration changes, from setting up URL redirects to changing the website’s time zone.
HTTP Headers

HTTP headers are data that provide additional information about HTTP requests and responses.
Headless Website

It’s a website architecture solution that separates the back-end content repository (“body”) from the front-end presentation layer (“head”), so users can modify one without interfering with the other.
Homepage

A homepage is the default page of a site – usually the first page a website visitor sees. Multilingual websites, for example, often have multiple language-specific homepages.
Hotlinking

Hotlinking is the process of directly linking media files hosted on third-party sources. It’s recommended to avoid hotlinking to avoid unethical practices and legal repercussions.
HyperText Markup Language (HTML)

HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is a computer language for creating web pages and online applications using elements, tags, and attributes.

HTTP/HTTPS

HTTP/HTTPS are protocols for transferring data and information via the world wide web (www). What makes them different is that HTTPS uses SSL/TLS protocols for encryption, establishing more secure data transfers.
HTTP Status Code

An HTTP status code is a message consisting of three digits issued by a server to inform the status of a client’s request.

I
Information Architecture (IA)

This web terminology refers to the blueprint of websites and applications. These are made so that the end product’s functionality can adapt to the user’s needs.

J
JavaScript (JS)

JavaScript is a popular lightweight programming language that lets developers implement interactive elements on web pages, applications, or games.
Joomla

Joomla is a free, open-source CMS platform for creating and managing various kinds of websites. It supports extensive features that allow users to enhance the site’s functionality without installing third-party plugins.
jQuery

jQuery is a cross-platform and open-source JavaScript library designed to streamline the coding process. With jQuery, users can write less code while still obtaining the same results.
JSON

JSON stands for JavaScript Object Notation, and it’s a file format that uses human-readable text for data interchange.

L
Landing Page

Landing pages are special web pages designed to generate conversions by focusing on a specific call-to-action. A landing page can be a standalone web page that links to your main site or a part of it.
Laravel

Laravel is one of the best PHP frameworks for developing modern and complex applications. It’s well-known for its expressive code syntax and extensive built-in functions.

M
Magento

Magento is a flexible CMS built on PHP. It provides a robust set of plugins and website themes that allow entrepreneurs to build reliable online stores.
Metadata

Metadata is a data set containing information about other data, which makes searching and processing data easier and faster. In SEO, meta tags like titles and descriptions help search engines and readers better understand a page’s content.

O
Open-Source

In software development, the term refers to a software or IT-related project with publicly accessible code that can be altered or enhanced by anyone.

P
Pageview

It refers to each time a browser loads or reloads one web page.
Pagination

A method of dividing website content into separate web pages. Adding pagination can enhance a website’s user experience and performance.
Permalink

Short for permanent link, a permalink is the URL of a web page or blog post that is intended to remain unchanged. It’s typically written in a simple and readable format, making it easier for visitors to understand it.
Plugin

In WordPress, a plugin is a software extension that increases the functionality of a website.
Prestashop

PrestaShop is a free, open-source eCommerce site builder that allows users to develop and manage their online stores easily. There are currently 294,000+ live websites running on PrestaShop, making it the 7th most popular open-source platform.
Privacy

It refers to an individual’s level of control over their personal information while connected to the internet.
Proxy

A server that allows users to hide their public IP addresses. It provides better security and privacy protection than connecting directly to the internet.

Q
Query

A query is a request for information. When talking about database queries, it refers to information retrieved from a database.

R
React

React is an open-source JavaScript library developed and maintained by Meta. It contains a collection of reusable JavaScript components used for building user interfaces (UI).
reCAPTCHA

reCAPTCHA is an updated version of the traditional CAPTCHA system. It’s a test that distinguishes human users from bots to prevent websites from getting spammed and abused.
Really Simple Syndication (RSS) Feed

Formerly known as RDF site summary, it refers to web feeds that notify users about the latest updates from a website. An RSS feed is often written in a computer-readable format to enable the automatic transmission of website content.

S
Schema

A schema is a layout or structure that serves as a basis for programmers when constructing a database. Users can use it to understand and find information within a database.
Screen Resolution

It refers to the pixel density relative to the visual dimensions (height and width) of your computer screen. It’s an important element to consider, especially when working in the web design industry.
Sidebar

An additional piece of information resided on the left or right side of the main website content.
Sitemap

A sitemap is a website’s blueprint created using XML to store relevant web page information in an organized and hierarchical order, helping search bots to index the site.

T
Tags

Tags are essentially keywords that refer to a file’s or document’s details. Applying tags to your blog makes it easier for visitors to find related content.
Tooltip

Tooltips are UI components containing brief instructions that appear when users hover over an element on websites or apps.

U
Uniform Resource Locator (URL)

A Uniform Resource Locator or URL is a web address used to specify the location of web resources. It consists of elements such as protocols, subdomains, domain names, and domain extensions.
The structure of a URL
User Acceptance Testing (UAT)

An evaluation process that verifies whether the software meets the needs of clients and end-users. Implementing UAT can help save time and money while increasing customer satisfaction.

V
Virtual Private Network (VPN)

A VPN or Virtual Private Network is a type of network that encrypts your internet connection and masks your IP address on a public network. Using a VPN connection enhances security and can also be a great way to bypass content restrictions.
How VPN encrypts the internet connection

W
Web Page

It’s an HTML document displayed in a web browser. Websites are formed by a group of web pages gathered under one domain name.
Website Analytics

A process of researching and analyzing website data related to users’ behavior to improve its performance. This data usually includes four key metrics – total traffic, source of traffic, bounce rate, and conversion rate. Google Analytics is a popular tool for tracking website traffic.
Website Builder

A website builder is a software or platform that enables users to construct websites without having to manually code them.
Website Migration

Any significant changes to a website’s configuration that may have an impact on SEO. For instance, changes in domain name, URL, hosting plan, or layout design.
What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG)

This term describes content editors, such as website builders, that let users directly edit and update content in an interface that simulates the end result.
White Screen of Death

A typical website or application issue in which the user’s screen suddenly turns blank. In WordPress, fixing a white screen of death can be more complicated since it doesn’t show any error messages.
WebP

WebP is a Google-made image format that combines lossy and lossless image compression methods to produce high-quality images with small file sizes.
Whitespace

Whitespace (negative space) is a term used to describe the empty area between or within web design elements. It helps create a visual hierarchy of your website by emphasizing important elements.
WordPress

WordPress is a free and highly-flexible CMS for website creation. At the technical level, it’s a PHP-based program that runs on MySQL or MariaDB databases.
WordPress Auto-Update

WordPress auto-update is a feature that enables automatic updates for WordPress core, plugins, themes, and translation files.
WordPress Database

A WordPress database is storage that uses a MySQL open-source database management system to save and manage your WordPress website data.
WordPress Hooks

WordPress hooks are functions applied to both WordPress actions and filters to modify the functionality of a WordPress plugin or theme.
WordPress Multisite

WordPress multisite is a WordPress built-in feature that lets users run multiple sites from a single dashboard.
WordPress Pingback

A pingback is an automated WordPress notification that lets site owners know when someone links to their site. To receive it, enable the pingback feature in the WordPress settings.
WordPress Private Page

WordPress private pages and posts can only be accessed by specific users.
WordPress Sidebar

A WordPress sidebar is a widget area on WordPress sites that displays extra information alongside the main content.
WordPress Slug

A WordPress slug is a part of a WordPress site’s URL that comes after the domain name. Users can customize it easily via the WordPress settings.
What is WordPress slug
WordPress Staging Environment

A WordPress staging environment is a duplicate of the live site that users can use to test any updates or changes before launching them.
WordPress Tags

WordPress tags are words or phrases assigned to specific WordPress posts. Usually, they are used for sorting a website’s content, improving user experience and SEO.
WordPress Taxonomy

WordPress taxonomy is a grouping mechanism for WordPress content. Two of the most frequently used ones are Categories and Tags.

The post Web Jargon, Abbreviations and Technologies appeared first on Website Admin.

The Basic Philosophy

On paper, you can think of it like this: a web designer plans for the visual design and user experience of a website; a web developer brings those designs to life and programs the website to full functionality. They’re two sides of the same coin, but they each bring skills and philosophies that make the finished product something special. Without either one of them you will never have the best website possible. It is almost like the left / right brain. Left brain is technical development and right brain is creative design. In order to have the best possible website for your business you need both.

Tools of the Trades

Web designers are typically the first to get their hands on the project. They’ll begin by reviewing the clients’ goals and determining how to best organize and present all the information the website needs to house. From there, they’ll plan a user experience that supports those goals and a design that elevates the brand identity. 

To do all that, they rely on design skills and sensibilities like: 

• Creativity. The web is a canvas unlike any other, and web designers always strive to deliver an experience that’s both innovative and engaging. 
• Balance. A well-done website creates balance and hierarchy to all visual elements, like photo, video and copy. 
• Emphasis. A website needs visual emphasis in key areas to drive engagement with calls to action like email sign-ups and purchases. 

Web developers, on the other hand, are more practical in their approach. They receive the design files and translate them to the web. Along the way, they take several measures to ensure the website feels smooth and responsive to the user, no matter which device they’re using. 

Web developers lean on skills like: 

• Simplicity. Web developers want to make the web easy to use. That could mean simplifying a form, reducing a click in a user journey or just making the site load more quickly. 
• Consistency. Web developers work hard to optimize the backend of a website to ensure it looks and feels the same, every time you use it. 
• SEO. Now more than ever, web developers are considering SEO at every step of the development process and finding new ways to help websites reach the front page. 

Shared Goals, Different Philosophies

Although web developers and designers have much in common, they hold slightly different philosophies about the internet at large and how they tackle a web design project. Often these two will clash with each other as the designers will want to make things look awesome and developers will want to make it rather function well. When you have an experienced team – you get the magic of both worlds.

Web Designers: Cares about the look 

Designers want to push the web forward with fresh, original designs that serve the user experience. Over the last several years, we’ve seen the internet become dominated by templates and standardization. Designers see this and know that those brands are missing out on an incredible opportunity to make a genuine, meaningful connection with their audiences. 

Web Developers: Cares about the functionality 

Web developers see the internet as a tool, intended to reliably help users accomplish what they’re trying to do. They don’t ignore the website’s design, but rather seek innovative ways to make it functional and enjoyable for the user. Where designers may ask “how does it look and feel,” developers will generally ask “how does it work.” 

Balance is Key 

When people hear “web design” and “web development,” they usually lump them together as one job. But as we’ve seen, building a truly great website requires both designers and developers and all the skills they bring to the table. With each and every project at Paradigm, our team brings a balanced, multi-disciplined approach to build websites that innovate as much as they inspire. Contact us and we’ll bring that same approach to your next website. 

The post The Yin and Yang Philosophy in Web Design appeared first on Website Admin.