Affiliate software reliability is a very basic requirement. However, more often than not, it is hard to check the data reliability before using the system. The following checkpoints will help you to assess the security and reliability of any affiliate software. Does the software use first party cookie, multilayer tracking to ensure a high level of tracking reliability? For any affiliate software, the first tracking method is the cookie. Other tracking technologies (such as IP tracking) are not an alternative to cookie tracking; however, when cookie tracking is not available other technologies can be used. It is important to know that not all cookie tracking is reliable. Third party cookie or lifetime cookies are ignored by the default privacy setting of many advanced browsers. Some hosted affiliate software services still use third party cookie technology. For repeat visitors the most reliable tracking method is the unique customer key validation. Unlike cookie or IP tracking, it is not machine or browser specific. It works even when customers buy from a cyber café using the same user account. Is the security system guarded against any general attack?Security for any web application is required to save the application from hackers or evil crawlers. Any external attack on any website may cause data loss, reputation loss, and ruin a site's SEO advances. There are normally three types of attacks: - The most common type of attack is forced redirection. Hackers inject a redirection code through a hole in the system's security forcing a visitor to be redirected to a website that may damage your computer. The security hole may be a web server configuration file (httpd.conf), an "at.htaccess" file, or in any script file. This type of attack kills the site's reputation and destroys the SEO advances.
In most cases, these attacks happened in open source projects where the code logic and security holes are also open to the hackers.
- The second type of attack is getting into the system by using a fake password or generating a fake session. Normally, hackers make use of the known security hole in session-handling, improper password policy, or non-encrypted data transfer. In most cases, people do this for fun but sometimes they cause major damage.
The non-encrypted code helps the hacker figure out the code logic and play with it.
- The third type of hacking is spamming by bad crawlers. These crawlers continuously try to get unauthorized access to certain pages in order to collect information or to increase a site's visits.
The more popular your site becomes the greater the risk of this kind of attack.
Your affiliate software should always be protected against all of the above security attacks. Does affiliate software have proper checks to prevent fraudulent commission entry?Immoral affiliates might try to earn commissions by making fake clicks, sales, or leads. Your affiliate software must have proper checks before generating commissions for affiliates. If you offer commission for clicks or leads, you must ensure that real visitors made the click or lead. A two-step entry of sales data requiring a unique ref key verification can stop almost any type of fake entry. In all cases, the software must be able to cancel any commission and cite the reason ofr the cancellation. Can you stop access from evil crawlers or unauthorized visitors proactively?An ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure. If you can stop fraudulent access with the proper affiliate software, you won't have to worry about immoral affiliates generating unearned commissions..Before you purchase any affiliate software make sure it allows you to view the access history and allows you to prevent access from any doubtful source. With this protection, you can rest assured that your system will be safe from tampering. | 
