Elance Network Security Blunders
Freelance Site Loses Credibility from Poor Quality Control
Elance providers and buyers are angered and victimized by the second network security blunder by the company’s information technology team. The second data leak in two months by the company has threatened its customers’ personal information privacy and shows how important it is to ensure that the technology expert behind the controls practices quality control.
The blunder is the second time Elance has failed to secure its paying providers’ personal data.
Elance Providers Victims of Data Scrape
Elance customers were baffled when private information showed up on a third party bidding website located on an offshore server. The news spread throughout the freelance industry and was even featured in the Washington Post.The full name, address, country, and some passwords were available on the website where providers never signed up for service.
Elance later sent an email to customers apologizing for the network security breach, but the problem remains. Elance continues to pursue the hackers who obtained private information of its providers, but the question remains how the data security failed.
Elance Violates Customer Privacy
The second data security breach came when Elance providers received dozens of emails that were unassociated with any jobs they were working. The messages were meant for other providers and were unrelated to the providers’ projects.
This network security breach caused thousands of messages with username and passwords to be sent to third parties, creating a security hole for buyers and providers who shared information on Elance’s private message board application.
The Importance of Network Security on Elance and Other Freelance Sites
The company’s two blunders show how important it is for strong data security. Some website owners disregard the importance of securing the network from hackers and eliminate costs associated with quality assurance and data security. The mistake can cost the company much more than the initial investment of a professional security expert.
Hacker infiltrations and network security breaches are not always perfectly protected, but there are ways to assure customers their data is a concern for the company. First, ensure that all client machines that have access to the web page code run antivirus software with the latest definitions. This secures the site from viruses such as Gumblar that steal passwords and upload malware code on the pages.
Freelance Sites Need Quality Control to Protect Providers
Secondly, for websites with high visibility on the Internet, ensure that quality control is practiced. Before rolling out changes on the network, have a separate team of professionals evaluate the integrity of the system. Even though a quality analysis team costs the company more money, the side effects of a severe network security breach can devastate a freelance website's reputation and erode all trust in their services.
Network security may seem like an unnecessary expense initially, but the protection of the company’s information increases trust from customers. When customers lose trust, the company loses revenue from poor decisions that can be avoided. Don’t make the mistakes like Elance, and ensure your customers are protected. Learn from Elance's blunders. Avoid embarrassment and financial losses by protecting customers and their sensitive data.
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