Securing a website: How to Protect Your Website From Digital Dangers
How secure do you think your website is? It could probably be better. According to a report that was released by the company Whitehat Security, 86% of all websites had at least one serious vulnerability. Website security is a serious issue that affects everyone, not just big businesses.
The Capital One website and several websites of the Israeli government were hacked in 2011 on Guy Fawkes Day, a holiday with special significance to hackers.
A group of hackers claimed responsibility for hacking the GoDaddy website in 2012 and causing it to crash.
It’s critical to know how to defend yourself online in light of the increasing complexity of websites and the growing number of internet users.
Make a copy of your data.
Every webmaster ought to keep a copy of their website’s files as a backup. Why? Because you don’t want to have to start from scratch if something happens to your website.
Even worse, if you don’t have a good backup, you could lose all of your important data. As a result, regularly backing up your files is recommended.
Naturally, you don’t have to do this by hand. Back up both the database files and the files on your website with a service like Carbonite or Mozy. After that, adjust the settings so that they back up each night automatically.
Limit the sharing of login information.
Even if you share your login credentials with friends and family, the more likely it is that someone else will use them fraudulently.
Therefore, if you can, don’t share this information. Instead, give each person who frequently needs to access the website a separate account. But what happens if someone leaves the business? Then you should immediately change the password or deactivate that account.
Choose a secure password.
Sadly, hackers are developing more sophisticated methods for breaking into password-protected accounts.
Because of this, using a strong password is even more critical. You might now think: My password gets stronger the more complicated it is. However, did you know that complexity actually outperforms length?
Another pointer: Use words that don’t seem to have anything to do with your website. When creating your passwords, you should use a mix of random letters, numbers, and symbols for the best results.
Secure the login pages.
It goes without saying that if a hacker obtained your password, they could cause a great deal of damage.
SSL encryption should be used on your login pages for this reason. https:// appears at the beginning of a URL due to this encryption. But what exactly does it accomplish? By encrypting data entered on a page, SSL renders it meaningless to anyone who might intercept it.
Tip: SSL encryption should also be considered if you send sensitive information via email.
Utilize a safe network to connect.
In the same way, you shouldn’t connect to the internet through networks that aren’t secured or have security settings you don’t know about.
Put another way, It is not a good idea to update your website from the library or the nearest Starbucks. Use a secured website proxy if you absolutely need to access your website from an unprotected network. Your connection will, at the very least, originate from a secure network via a proxy.
Choose a safe host.
Your web server, like your network, needs to be protected. After all, the safety of your website depends on how secure your web server is. Therefore, ensure that your host runs suPHP. PHP scripts can only run with the owner’s permission thanks to this tool. Additionally, your web server should perform nightly server backups and have active server monitoring available round the clock.
Keep up to date.
We are aware of the “there’s an update!” Pop-ups are distracting. However, there is a purpose to them. When a company releases software, they frequently are unaware of every potential flaw. Therefore, they release a patch or update to address any vulnerabilities or malfunctions that they discover in the software. Moreover, those pop-ups are just that. As a result, you should not put off updating your WordPress, antivirus, firewall, or web server software. Another explanation: These software vulnerabilities could be exploited by skilled hackers.
Know where your link is going.
Have you ever clicked on a link to what you thought was a reputable website only to be taken to a spammy page with Viagra and pornographic content? Now picture having a link like this on your website. We are aware that you will not include a dubious link on your website, but spammers might. Using a link that appears to be of no consequence, they can use open redirects to divert web traffic to the spammer’s website.
So, how do you determine whether this has occurred to you? Enter “site:” Replace “yourdomain.com” with your actual domain in a Google search to see if anything suspicious comes up.
Regularly scan.
Your website may also become infected with malware or other suspicious code, in addition to shady links. You should invest in website scanners like Securi Sitecheck and SiteLock because you will want to eliminate this immediately. They will check your website for anything suspicious and malware. You should run a scan of your website at least once per month to make sure everything is in working order.
Limit your permissions.
The majority of webmasters do not need to alter the default file permissions. However, they might have to in order to install or update something. When you’re done, just remember to put them back in their original settings.
Keep an eye out.
Finally, but not least: Simply being aware of your website’s activities is an essential part of its security. Check log files from time to time for any suspicious code. Do not install plugins for WordPress that look suspicious. Additionally, keep an eye on who has access to your website. Keep your eyes and ears open, basically.
to conclude.
Your website does not have to fall victim to the dangers of the internet. Your risk of being attacked will be reduced if you take even just a few of these precautions. It is beneficial to be aware of the various threats to your website. Therefore, talk to your webmaster about the best ways to safeguard your website. The old adage holds true after all: A pound of cure is worth an ounce of prevention.
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