Cybersecurity and your Shopify store: How big is the risk of breach?

Cybersecurity is a hot topic. And for good reason. Businesses, even small ones, are vulnerable to attack. Sometimes, the smaller businesses are most attractive because they typically have less security controls in place. In fact, 43% of all cyberattacks target small businesses. In the just the last 12 months alone, 93% of organizations suffered two or more identity-related breaches.

What does that mean for your Shopify store? Well, think about all the logins you've given out—employees, freelancers, or even apps that help run your business. Now, imagine that in the past year, 93% of businesses had at least two break-ins because someone stole or misused those logins.

These breaches, or break-ins, can happen due to weak passwords, phishing scams or hackers sneaking in through third-party apps. And once they're in, they can steal customer data, change store settings, or even take over your entire business.

That's why cybersecurity is an important topic for every Shopify merchant!

Cybersecurity and webshops: How attackers get in

E-commerce platforms, including Shopify, are prime targets for cybercriminals due to the valuable personal and financial data they handle. Understanding the tactics hackers use is the first step toward protecting your online business.

How big is the risk?

An estimated 32% of all organic traffic to webshops has malicious intent, originating from bots, hackers or suspicious users. Overwhelmingly, the cyber attacks against online stores is financially motivated. Not just credit card numbers, but getting a piece of the revenue flowing into an online store.

Attackers main tactics for getting access to your store

Phishing. It remains a significant concern for e-commerce retailers. In 2023, phishing accounted for 43% of all attacks, up from 35% in 2022. With phishing, cyber criminals use fake emails, texts or calls to pose as trusted people or brands. Then they trick employees into sharing data, clicking on harmful links, or downloading malware. With the stolen data, they can steal your identity, commit credit card fraud or take over your account.

Malware and ransomware. Hackers inject malicious software into your store, which means they lock your files and demand money to give them back. Ransomware attacks are on the rise and have increased by 95% over the past year, with businesses losing an average of $4.54 million per attack.

Weak passwords and stolen credentials. Many breaches happen because of easy-to-guess passwords or data leaks exposing login details. That's why common advice is to enable two-factor authentication and change your passwords regularly.

Third-party apps. Many Shopify merchants use apps to enhance their store. However, some apps may have security flaws that attackers exploit. Even if an app is reputable, they could be at risk so it's a good idea to have 24/7 security monitoring of your store.

The growing threat of social engineering

Not all cyberattacks involve complex code. Social engineering is a manipulation tactic where hackers trick people into giving them access, just like we mentioned with phishing. Instead of targeting Shopify's infrastructure, these attacks prey on human error.

Social engineering is so dangerous because it's highly effective. Remember the stat from the start of this blog – 93% of businesses had at least two identity-related breaches. When hackers steal real credentials and using them maliciously, it's extremely difficult to detect. The attacks appear as routine requests from suppliers, partners or even customers.

When it comes to e-commerce, cybercriminals can pose as shipping companies, payment processors or even Shopify support to steal sensitive data. Typical targets are small-to-medium businesses that are often lacking robust security measures, as well as high-volume retailers with significant translation volumes.

How safe is Shopify from cyberattack?

While many data breaches never make their way into the media, there have been several notable breaches over the years in the Shopify ecosystem. Shopify itself is highly secure, but third-party vulnerabilities and human errors have led to widespread breaches in the past.

Third-party app data leak

In July 2024, a threat actor known as "888" claimed to have stolen data from Shopify users. Shopify said its systems remained uncompromised, and that the breach came from a vulnerability within a third-party app. The exposed data included customer names, email addresses, phone numbers, and order details, affecting nearly 180,000 users.

Misconfigured database exposure

More than 1,800 Shopify stores suffered a data leak due to a developer's misconfigured MongoDB database in April 2024. The oversight exposed around 25 GB of sensitive customer information, including personal details and order histories. The incident underscored the risks associated with inadequate security configurations by third-party developers.

Shopify insider threat

Shopify identified a data breach involving two rogue members of their third-party customer support team in September 2020. The employees accessed transactional records of around 200 merchants without authorization. The compromised data included customer names, postal addresses and order details. Shopify promptly terminated the employees and collaborated with law enforcement agencies to address the breach.

What you can do to secure your Shopify store

The Shopify-specific incidents, combined with the growing cyber threat to e-commerce businesses highlight that while Shopify's core infrastructure is secure, vulnerabilities often arise from third-party integrations and human factors. To safeguard your store, here are some steps you can take:

Use strong, unique passwords: Avoid using the same password for multiple accounts. Use a password manager to generate and store strong passwords

Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): Add an extra layer of security by requiring a second step (like a text message code) when logging in

Be wary of phishing attempts: Double-check emails and messages claiming to be from Shopify, suppliers, or customers before clicking links. Consider investing in phishing awareness training for all employees

Monitor third-party apps: Research apps before installing them. Stick to well-reviewed, trusted providers. Even then, review your apps regularly and remove any you don't need

Limit employee and freelancer access: Only grant access to people who absolutely need it and at the level they need – not the entire store. Remove access when no longer necessary.

Regularly back up your store: If something goes wrong, you should have a recent backup of your store's data to restore quickly.

Continuous monitoring: Implement tools that provide real-time monitoring and alerts for suspicious activities within your store, like deleted products in bulk or changes to financial information

Don't wait until it's too late

Cybersecurity might seem technical, but it's essential for every Shopify store owner. The risks—whether from phishing, malware, or third-party vulnerabilities—are real, but they can be managed with the right precautions.

Take cybersecurity seriously, educate your team, and use security monitoring and backup tools to keep your Shopify store safe.