Why Security Matters for Your PrestaShop Store
In the world of e-commerce, trust is everything. Your customers entrust you with their personal and payment information, which is extremely valuable to hackers. A security breach can lead to stolen customer data, fraud, and extended downtime for your website – all of which directly impact your revenue and reputation. In fact, studies have found that about 60% of small companies go out of business within six months of a cyber attack. Even if a breach isn’t fatal to your business, the immediate losses can be substantial: one report estimates that downtime can cost smaller online retailers around $427 per minute on average in lost sales.
Simply put, a vulnerable PrestaShop store is a ticking time bomb. Hackers are constantly probing online shops for weaknesses. There have been instances where attackers exploited known vulnerabilities to take over PrestaShop stores and steal customers’ payment details. Every day your site operates without proper security measures is a day of risk – and the fallout from a serious breach can range from loss of customer trust to legal consequences under data protection laws. Security needs to be top-of-mind for every merchant running a PrestaShop site.
Remove Unused Modules
One practical step you can take today is to uninstall any modules you’re not using. Modules (plugins/add-ons) provide great features to your store, but each extra module is also an additional potential attack vector if it has a flaw. If you installed a module for a specific promotion or feature that you no longer need, remove it from your PrestaShop. Security experts advise merchants to delete all unused or disabled modules to reduce the attack surface. Inactive modules may still be present on your server, and if hackers find a vulnerability in one, they could exploit it even if it’s not active in your shop. Think of it like this: each module is a door into your store’s system – if you’re not using a particular door, it’s best to close it for good rather than leave it unattended.
Also, be selective about which modules you install in the first place. Stick to modules from the official PrestaShop Addons marketplace or other reputable sources. Modules obtained from unverified sources (like random downloads or pirated copies) might contain hidden malware or security holes. For example, a free module shared on an unofficial forum could be deliberately designed to create a backdoor into your shop. By keeping your PrestaShop environment lean – only the modules you truly need, all from trusted publishers – you minimize the chances of a rogue module putting your business at risk.
Keep PrestaShop and Modules Updated
Another cornerstone of e-commerce security is staying up-to-date. PrestaShop releases updates not just to add features or fix bugs, but often to patch security vulnerabilities. The same goes for module developers – many module updates are issued specifically to fix security issues that have been discovered. Running an outdated version of PrestaShop (or an outdated module) is risky: once a vulnerability becomes public and a patch is released, attackers quickly move to exploit any sites that haven’t yet applied the update. For instance, a critical SQL injection flaw (CVE-2022-31181) was found in PrestaShop 1.7.8.6 and earlier; it allowed remote code execution and was given a CVSS severity score of 9.8 (critical). Stores that promptly upgraded to version 1.7.8.7 were protected, while those that delayed remained exposed to potential attack.
To ensure your store stays secure, make a habit of checking for updates:
- Regularly update the PrestaShop core: Enable notifications in your PrestaShop back office or subscribe to the PrestaShop newsletter to be alerted about new releases. Even minor updates can contain important security fixes.
- Update your modules: Visit the Modules section in your back office and see if any installed module has an update available. Developers often provide patches when vulnerabilities are discovered. Keeping modules up to date is just as important as updating the PrestaShop core.
- Prioritize security patches: Sometimes you might be hesitant to upgrade to a whole new version (especially a major version change). At the very least, apply interim security patches or minor version updates that address security bugs. These usually install quickly and fix the specific weaknesses hackers are exploiting.
- Always back up before updating: This cannot be stressed enough. Create a full backup of your site files and database before any update operation. If an update fails or causes a conflict, you can revert to the backup and get your store running again quickly. Many hosting providers offer one-click backups, or you can use PrestaShop’s own backup tools.
Plan Updates Carefully (Compatibility & Customizations)
While keeping software updated is essential, we understand that updating a PrestaShop store can be complex. Particularly when moving between major versions (say, from PrestaShop 1.6 to 1.7 or from 1.7 to 8), you may encounter compatibility issues. A major upgrade introduces significant changes to the platform. Your existing theme and some modules might not work on the new version without updates or replacements. For example, a theme built for PrestaShop 1.6 is not compatible with PrestaShop 1.7+ due to substantial changes in the template system and data structure. Likewise, modules that were custom-made for your site or not maintained by their developers may break during a big version jump.
Even minor updates can occasionally lead to issues if you have a heavily customized store. Perhaps you or your developer tweaked some core files or installed a customization that wasn’t standard – those changes might be overridden or conflict with an update. Although PrestaShop follows semantic versioning to keep minor updates stable, occasionally a critical fix might require adjustments that affect backward compatibility. It’s no wonder many merchants worry that hitting the “update” button could bring their site down or disable key features.
The solution is to approach updates strategically:
- Test updates in a staging environment first: If possible, set up a duplicate of your website on a private server or a localhost environment. Perform the update there to see what happens, instead of directly on your live sitemydreams.cz. This way, you can catch and resolve problems in a safe setting.
- Check module and theme compatibility: Before upgrading, review whether your theme and modules have versions compatible with the new PrestaShop release. The PrestaShop Addons marketplace listings usually indicate the supported versions. If a critical module hasn’t been updated for the new version, see if an alternative exists or if you can postpone the major upgrade until a fix is available.
- Consider incremental upgrades: If you’ve fallen several versions behind, don’t jump straight to the latest major release. It might be safer to go through the latest minor releases first (e.g., if you’re on 1.7.6, update to 1.7.8 before attempting 8.x)mydreams.cz. This gradual approach can reduce the shock to your system and pinpoint compatibility issues step by step.
- Schedule downtime and support: Plan the update for a low-traffic period and ensure you have technical support on hand. If you have an IT team or an agency like AGTI assisting you, coordinate so they can quickly address any hiccups during the upgrade. With proper planning, even complex updates can be executed with minimal disruption.
How AGTI Can Support Your Store’s Security
You don’t have to navigate the technical minefield of e-commerce security and updates alone. AGTI has a team of PrestaShop experts dedicated to helping merchants like you keep their stores safe, updated, and running smoothly. We bring deep technical expertise in PrestaShop – from performing version upgrades to securing servers – so you can focus on managing your business. If the thought of updating your store or auditing its security sounds daunting, our team is here to step in.
What can AGTI do for you? For starters, we offer a comprehensive security audit of your PrestaShop store, checking for outdated software, vulnerable modules, and any misconfigurations that could pose a risk. We’ll identify modules that should be removed or updated, ensure your backup and recovery systems are solid, and verify that critical security features (like SSL encryption and proper permissions) are in place. When it comes to updates, AGTI can plan and execute the entire update process for you – from backing up your data, testing in a staging environment, to going live with the new version. Our experts will handle any compatibility fixes or adjustments needed to preserve your custom theme and functionality during the upgrade.
The end result is peace of mind. With AGTI as your partner, you won’t have to lose sleep over hackers or broken updates. We’ve helped numerous PrestaShop merchants upgrade safely and implement best practices to fend off cyber threats.
Conclusion – Take Action on Security Today
Every day that passes with your PrestaShop store in a vulnerable state is a day of unnecessary risk. The good news is that by following the best practices outlined above – removing unused modules, keeping everything updated, and planning carefully – you can drastically reduce the chances of a security incident.
Call to Action: If you’re unsure where to start or simply want professional guidance, reach out to AGTI. We’ll be happy to conduct a security analysis of your online store or work with you on a safe update plan tailored to your business. Don’t wait for a cyber attack to happen – contact AGTI today and let us help you reinforce the security and reliability of your PrestaShop store, so you and your customers can shop with confidence.
Sources:
PrestaShop Official Blog – How to secure a PrestaShop store from hackers (importance of backups and updates)prestashop.com
PrestaShop Help Center – Good practices for securing your storehelp-center.prestashop.com
PrestaShop Forums – “1.6 site hacked repeatedly, need vulnerability fix” (expert advice on removing unused modules)prestashop.com
PrestaShop Build Blog – Major Security Vulnerability on PrestaShop Websites (July 2022, remote code execution exploit)build.prestashop-project.org
CloudDefense.ai – CVE-2022-31181 analysis (critical PrestaShop vulnerability)clouddefense.ai
IBM / Ponemon Institute – Data Breach Report Statistics (impact on small businesses)cybersecurityventures.com
Gremlin – Cost of Downtime for eCommerce (average cost per minute of downtime for SMBs)divergeit.com
PrestaShop DevDocs – Keeping PrestaShop Up-to-Date (compatibility considerations for updates)devdocs.prestashop-project.org
MyDreams.cz – How to Solve Module Compatibility Issues After PrestaShop Update (staging and incremental update tips)mydreams.czmydreams.cz
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