Encryption and trust in e-commerce: A data-driven analysis of user perception and security

In the virtual economy, trust among e-commerce platform users is highly determined by perceived security controls, particularly data encryption. With increasingly ordinary and complex online transactions, users‘ perceptions of cybersecurity functionalities have become essential to marketers and developers. This study examines the potential of encryption awareness in e-commerce platforms. The survey questionnaire was given to 120 participants and measured perception of encryption, notice of privacy, trust in the platform, and online buying behaviour intention. Statistical analysis conducted with SPSS 26.0 involved descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression model to identify the predictors of consumer trust. Results show that more knowledgeable buyers of data protection and encryption technology are more trusting and willing to complete online transactions. Also, the exposure of security badges (e.g., SSL certificates, secure payment pages) as well as data processing transparency also have significant impacts on the level of trust. The research contributes to cybersecurity and consumer behavior knowledge by providing proof of the interaction between technical protection measures and psychological trust in online shopping. The article concludes with strategic recommendations to e-commerce websites, including giving top priority to educating end-users and emphasizing trust-promoting security features to increase customer retention and satisfaction in a competitive online marketplace.