What best practice should be avoided to protect e-commerce user data?

Storing unencrypted sensitive data onsite is a practice that should be avoided in order to protect e-commerce user data. Sensitive customer information, such as credit card numbers, personal identification details, and other private data, must be always kept secure to prevent data breaches and unauthorized access. By not encrypting this information, it becomes vulnerable to theft or exposure, especially if the systems storing this data are hacked or compromised.

In contrast, making security updates regularly, implementing secure payment gateways, and using strong passwords for databases are sound practices that enhance data security. These measures collectively help in safeguarding sensitive user information, preventing unauthorized access, and mitigating potential vulnerabilities. Regular security updates ensure that the software is protected against known exploits, secure payment gateways provide robust transaction processing that encrypts payment information, and strong database passwords protect the data from unauthorized access at the storage level. Thus, focusing on the avoidance of storing unencrypted sensitive data is crucial to maintaining user trust and compliance with data protection regulations.