Website hacking is more common than you think. No matter what type of business you run, you’re susceptible to being hacked if you don’t protect yourself. Not only do hackers try to mess with your website layout or steal your data, but they also will use your web server to send illegal files, set up a temporary web server, or even use it as an e-mail to send out spam.
How Does Hacking Work?
Usually, this is not a manual process. Hackers will use technology to run scripts that will look through the internet to find websites with security software issues. When they find a way to enter your server or obtain your data, they use it for whatever purpose they want. It’s essential to know how to protect yourself from having this happen to you.1. Always Update Your Software
Whenever you receive an e-mail or notification that there has been an update to your software, whether it’s your plug-ins or a layout update, always make sure to do it as soon as possible. Companies will only update their software when it’s something serious like a security vulnerability or a bug. By choosing not to update, you could expose yourself to hackers.2. Protect Your Password
Always use a strong password when setting up your accounts and change it every six months. While that may be annoying to remember, creating complicated passwords will stop hackers from the ability to get into your account. Use a combination of numbers, symbols, and even hashtags to make your password difficult. You can even use online password managers to help create and store complex passwords.3. Back-Up Your Data
Make sure that you have your website set to automatically back up. This will be essential if you get hacked or your website code is messed up. You can use many plug-ins to back up your content, or you can do this directly through your hosting provider. This ensures that you don’t have to create your website again from scratch.4. Use a Security Application
Use a plug-in or firewall to help protect your website. This software will sit between your website server and data connection to ensure that everything coming through, including traffic, is monitored for any potential threat. It will block all hacking attempts and get rid of bots and spammers.5. Limit File Uploads
Allowing users to upload their own files can be risky for your website, even if it’s only an avatar. Bugs can still get through and let hackers have access to data on your site. Instead, it would be best if you prevented any direct file uploads. Allow them to be stored outside the main directory and use a script to access them as needed. If this sounds complicated, you can ask your hosting website to help you set it up.I promise it’s worth it.
It might take extra time and effort to make sure your website is protected, but it will be worth it to ensure that you and your client’s data are not compromised in any way. By following the above steps, you’ll significantly reduce your chance of being hacked.
0 Comments