Hackers can destroy a website, whether it is a personal or professional one. Hackers are skilled at making their way into websites and implementing viruses that can make the website corrupt and/or allow them [the hackers] to take over the website, causing the website owner to lose all of his or her information. Hackers look for websites that have low security in order to steal, exploit, or delete valuable information.
If your website is hacked, it’s often hard to recover all the information. A lot of the time hackers create invisible entry points, so it can be challenging to prevent them from re-hacking your site later on. Digital forensic services can help if the computer crime case is taken to court. However, it’s important to know how to best protect your website from hackers and what you can do to be proactive against online attacks.
Ways To Secure Your Website
Hackers will hack any kind of website, from bank websites to medical professional websites, hackers can steal private and valuable information that could impact people’s lives personally. Securing your website lowers the odds of your website being hacked. Though no security is 100% “hack-proof,” implementing certain practices can increase website security to better keep your information and data private. Here are some tips to better protect your website:Install Security Plugins
Enhancing security plugins is an easy way to keep hackers out, this is also particularly easy if you created your website using a content management system, CMS. Security plugins actively prevent website hackers from entering a website while also analyzing the website for vulnerabilities and areas of weakness.The purpose of plugins is also to close any holes in the website by monitoring malware and viruses. Plugins will detect any malicious activity before it’s too late.
Keep Your Software Up To Date
Another easy way to protect your website is to keep the software up to date. Like software updates for apps or mobile phones, website software updates are crucial to fixing any security malfunctions in the original software design. The purpose of a software update is to address known areas of vulnerability; it’s likely that other websites using this software were hacked creating the need for the new update.In fact, hackers are able to detect websites that are not up to date and will take advantage of this because the websites are easy to get into.
Make Sure Your Passwords Are Secure
This may seem like an obvious way to protect your website, however, password security issues are one of the ways that allow hackers to gain access to a website. Passwords should have no personal significant meaning such as birthdays or names; a hacker can very easily do research on a person or company to find out this information and simply guess the password. It’s also important to keep in mind that a hacker does not have to be an anonymous person in a different country gaining access to your website; a hacker could very well be an employee or even friend that knows personal information that may be used as a password.In a business setting, passwords should also only be shared with employees that need the password to access information that is relevant to their workday. Not all employees need access to all passwords. Keeping private information secure is simple if the password is only given to employees that need it; this will also allow a website/business owner to have an idea of the internal hacker if the website is in fact attacked.
Pay Attention To File Uploads
Hackers will often implement viruses by sending corrupt files or emails containing corrupt files. Restricting certain file uploads can be extremely important in protecting your website from hackers.If there is a flaw in the plugin or software, hackers have the ability to upload any file because there aren’t any restrictions preventing this. In order to avoid this, reset where files are uploaded and stored and put them in a folder that will not directly impact other important files in addition to restricting what kind of files can be uploaded. A few other ways to manage file uploads include:
Automatically Renaming Files Upon Upload
This will not only allow you to notice a file that you did not upload quicker, but it will also prevent hackers from re-accessing a file if it has a different name when he or she goes to look for it.Set A Maximum File Size
This will make your website reject any files over a certain size.Scan Files For Malware
This will be done using antivirus software. Each day, the software will scan files to make sure there isn’t anything that is corrupt.Keep The Upload Folder Outside Of The Webroot
This means that hackers will not be able to access your website from a corrupt file they place.Another easy way to protect your website in regards to file uploads is to remember to not click on files that do not seem trustworthy. More often than not, common sense will set in when looking at a file and trying to determine if it is legitimate or not. Ask yourself, does this file name make sense for my website? Where did this file come from, is it a trustworthy name or company?
Implement Two Factor Authentication
Implementing a two-factor authentication code at the time of sign-in is a great way to keep your website secure. This means that in addition to a username and password, you will get a text or email that will either ask for confirmation or send you an additional OTP (one-time-password). These can be set up using plugins or with the help of Google Authenticator.Protect Your Website
It’s more important to know how to protect your website from hackers and internet attacks now than ever before. As the use of technology for everyday life is becoming increasingly popular, hackers are becoming smarter and your website is at a higher risk of being hacked. Whether you are running a company website or simply your own personal website, make sure to stay up to date on ways to keep your website safe from hackers that will steal, delete or exploit private data and information. Be proactive in keeping your website safe by using these tips in mind when running your website.
About the Author:Jennifer Bell is a freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast and avid beach-goer operating out of Southern New Jersey.
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