Towards effectively appraising online stores

This paper introduces research being carried out into the measurement of the quality of e-commerce systems. Considerable work has been done on software metrics in the last few decades but e-commerce specific metrics seem only applicable to already deployed systems. It is proposed that a set of metrics is needed, which can be applied from the earlier stages of E-Commerce system development to improve risk management. This paper attempts to appraise e-commerce systems by proposing a set of essential attributes for an e-commerce site to succeed. This paper also serves as groundwork for future e-commerce metrication work based on these same attributes.peer-reviewe

An ontology of security threats to web applications

As the use of the internet for commercial purposes continues to grow, so do the number of security threats which attempt to disrupt online systems. A number of these threats are in fact unintended. For example, a careless employee might drop a cup of coffee onto essential equipment. However, when compared to the brick and mortar world, the internet offers would-be attackers a more anonymous environment in which to operate. Also, the free availability of hacking tools makes it possible even for the curious teenager to carry out dangerous attacks. Despite this ever-present threat however, it is all too often the case that security is dealt with (if at all) after a web application has been developed. This is mainly due to our software development heritage whereby companies prefer to focus on the functionality of new systems because that provides an immediate return on investment. As a precursor to proposing an framework for building security into web applications, this paper presents an ontology of threat to web applications. The thinking behind this is that much the same as in the military world, one needs to have as much intelligence about the enemy as possible, the same can be argued in the case of online security threats. Such an ontology would enable stake holder in online applications to take less of a reactive stance but instead be more proactive by being aware what’s out there.peer-reviewe

Towards Effectively Appraising Online Stores

Abstract. This paper introduces research being carried out into the measurement of the quality of e-commerce systems. Considerable work has been done on software metrics in the last few decades but e-commerce specific metrics seem only applicable to already deployed systems. It is proposed that a set of metrics is needed, which can be applied from the earlier stages of E-Commerce system development to improve risk management. This paper attempts to appraise e-commerce systems by proposing a set of essential attributes for an e-commerce site to succeed. This paper also serves as groundwork for future e-commerce metrication work based on these same attributes. 1 Language Electronic Commerce (e-commerce) is most often referred to as the buying and selling of products and services using the Internet. The British government broadly and completely defines ecommerce as “the exchange of information across electronic networks, at any stage in the supply chain, whether within an organisation, between businesses, between businesses and consumers, or between the public and private sectors, whether paid or unpaid”[1]. Throughout this paper, references to e-commerce systems should be taken to imply a Business-to-Consumer (B2C) type model