E-commerce Cyberattacks: Understanding the Danger to Better Protect Yourself

Your online store may attract more than just your customers.

Introduction: What if it's already too late?

Imagine a commonplace scene: a customer enters their bank details on your site. They're about to confirm their order. But, unbeknownst to them, an invisible copy of their entry is being transmitted… elsewhere. To a server located abroad. To a group you'll never know. And you, the merchant, haven't noticed anything yet.

Since 2022, cyberattacks targeting e-commerce sites have skyrocketed. Whether you use PrestaShop, WooCommerce, Magento or even Shopify, you are potentially a target. And the methods are getting more sophisticated: trapped modules, exploited vulnerabilities within hours, undetectable scripts… Hacking no longer needs to force the door, it often comes through a window left ajar.

But how do hackers do it? What happens once they're in? And most importantly: can we effectively protect ourselves?
We will answer these questions. Clearly. Without jargon. And with answers that could well change your view of security.

How hackers break into your store

Hackers don't need to guess your password. They simply wait for you to click where you shouldn't. Or for you to install that free, handy module, but downloaded from somewhere other than the official marketplace. Or for you to delay an update.

Here are the main entry points:

• Unofficial or obsolete modules : the majority of recent attacks exploit vulnerabilities in extensions (modules on PrestaShop, plugins on WooCommerce). An unpatched vulnerability = an open door.
• Social Engineering : fake PrestaShop update emails, fake Shopify partners, enticing offers… Hackers target the human before the code.
• Uncontrolled access : simple passwords, forgotten accounts, carelessly shared APIs, never revoked FTP access…
• Custom code : poorly managed in-house development can create its own breach. Conversely, a developer trained in security will anticipate vulnerability points and strengthen the site's solidity from its conception.

Some hackers go further: in 2024, an attack on PrestaShop allowed a hidden script to retrieve credit card data at the very moment customers were entering it, while evading usual detection systems. This is called a “skimmer”: a small piece of code hidden on the payment page, discreetly copying the bank details entered by your customers.

But there's no need to go that far: 9 times out of 10, the site was simply poorly protected.

What happens when your store is compromised

A hacked site is not just a “bug”. It's a cascade of consequences – heavy, costly, sometimes irreversible.

• Your customers' data is stolen : bank details, identifiers, addresses… and you are legally responsible.
• Your site becomes an accomplice : it can host a script that attacks other sites, or serves as a relay for a criminal network.
• Your store is blacklisted by browsers or search engines. Sales drop. So does reputation.
• Getting back online is slow and costly : a complete audit is needed, every file must be checked, backdoors cleaned, customers reassured.
• You must notify the CNIL or the competent authorities in case of confirmed leakage of personal data (GDPR obligation).
• You must finally notify all customers affected by the leak. A mandatory process, but also a delicate one: it can cause concern, tarnish the image of your store, and weaken the trust relationship built with your customers.

And sometimes, the malware comes back… because the hacker had planned to return. A simple backup restoration is not enough: compromised accesses remain valid, modified files are re-injected, unpatched vulnerabilities persist.
Once in, the hacker often copies the entire site code, looking for other vulnerabilities. They may have left several backdoors — invisible without a thorough audit — that will allow them to return later, effortlessly.
At this stage, your store becomes a recurring target, monitored, exploited, sometimes even used as a springboard to attack others. As long as it remains vulnerable, it becomes a profitable asset for the attacker.

Can we really protect ourselves?

There's no need to adopt extreme measures to protect yourself.
Most attacks can be avoided with some basic precautions and good security hygiene. It's less about being invulnerable than not remaining unnecessarily exposed.
Well applied, these measures often deter opportunistic attempts and block the most common scenarios.

Here are the five pillars of effective protection, adapted to merchants, regardless of the platform.

1. Update everything that can be updated

• Update the CMS core, modules, but also the server, PHP, MySQL.
• Enable automatic updates if possible.
• Remove unused modules (the fewer doors, the better).
• Monitor security alerts (CERT-UK, publisher bulletins, Sucuri, etc.).

2. Secure your access

• Strong passwords, changed regularly. Add 2FA if available.
• Don't leave the admin URL as “/admin123” or “/backoffice”.
• Give temporary and named access to your service providers.
• Regularly regenerate API keys, especially after a doubt.

3. Put your site under active surveillance

• Install an application firewall (WAF) to block suspicious requests.

→ Example: PrestaFence for PrestaShop, Wordfence for WordPress.

• Add a CSP (Content Security Policy) to limit authorised scripts.
• Use integrity scan tools (e.g. Sucuri, Sansec, eComscan).
• Activate client-side monitoring with tools like Cloudflare Page Shield.

4. Develop securely

• Only install trusted modules (ideally from the official marketplace).
• Train your developers in good security practices.
• Avoid copy-pasting code found on unverified forums.
• Implement a code review for each new feature.

5. Prepare a response plan

• Make frequent backups, offline if possible.
• Document who to call and what to do in case of an incident.
• Plan a post-attack audit in depth, not just a surface fix.

Conclusion: Act before it's too late

Cyberattacks on e-commerce stores are not isolated cases nor science fiction scenarios. They happen every day, often in silence, as victims prefer not to talk about it. Out of modesty. For fear of scaring their customers. Yet, the consequences are very real: financial losses, weakened reputation, paralysed activity.
These attacks are discreet, but they leave traces. And they strike indiscriminately, often where you least expect it.

We've seen how they break in. We've measured the potential damage. We've identified ways to protect ourselves.
But let's be clear: maintaining constant vigilance, following security alerts, checking your modules, monitoring your access… all this takes time. And expertise.

What if you got some help?

That's exactly where experts like 202 e-commerce can step in. Initial diagnosis, security audit, firewall configuration, continuous monitoring… We know where to look.

We know what to correct. And most importantly: we know PrestaShop inside out.
Security is like insurance: you hope you'll never need it, but you're glad to have it when it counts.