Security Measures to Protect Your Website from Different Threats

Websites are being hacked every day, and sensitive information is leaked. Hackers have new methods of hacking that are facilitated by fast internet speeds and fast computers. New tools are also at their disposal to exploit tiny loopholes in your website. As such, websites are vulnerable to many threats online, and it is your responsibility to protect your website and keep it as secure as possible.

Hackers are not always after your information. Some hackers are motivated by reasons like using your web server for illegal services. Subsequently, each website needs protection regardless of how small or insignificant you may think it is. Here are some safety measures that you can take to protect your website.

Keep Your Passwords Safe and Updated Regularly

It is important that you do not share your passwords with anyone. Every website has a portal where you log in. Choose a password that is easy to remember. However, avoid using predictable passwords such as your birthday or your pet’s name. A password should not be easy to guess. Hackers are people like you, and they only succeed if they know how you think. The hacker knows that people do not like complex stuff, which means they are likely to use the easiest password that they can get. That is how the hacker gets you.

Use a password that is about 8 characters long. Make sure it is a mixture of capital, small letters, numbers, and symbols. Also, be sure to change your passwords after 3 months. That will help you unsettle anyone who had stolen it or was trying to crack it.

Keep Your Website’s Software Updated

CMS platforms like WordPress release updates regularly. The reason behind it is that the software is always being worked on. Every time they find a vulnerability, they release a patch to block that hole. You, on the other hand, should install these updates as they come. If you don’t do it, then hackers may use that hole against you. Whenever you see available updates on your WordPress admin panel, update them.

Change Your Website from HTTP to HTTPS

Every web address begins with either HTTP or HTTPS. The difference between the two is that HTTPS is secure, and HTTP is not, hence the S at the end. HTTP is responsible for transmitting data from your website to your server and back. If you are not familiar with this technology, you can ask someone who knows how to secure a website to install an SSL certificate on your website.

If your users are likely to input sensitive information on your website, then you should use HTTPS. What it does is encrypt the data as it is sent to the server and back. Therefore, even if a hacker got his hands on the information, it would not make sense to them. This is a good website protection measure to keep your users secure. Users are now advised not to input sensitive data on any website without HTTPS. A browser like Chrome shows you “not secure” on all addresses that are not HTTPS.

Install Security Scripts and Plugins

Again, if you are using WordPress, many security plugins are available to protect your website. One way hackers penetrate your system is through brute force and dictionary attacks. You should install a plugin that limits login attempts. Once someone tries to log into your site more than 6-8 times, the IP address is blocked. This is a good way to minimize hacking attempts on your site. The plugin can detect when someone tries to crack your system.

Get a Web Application Firewall

In the same way, you have an antivirus for your computer, your website needs a firewall, too. You can choose from the many available options. A firewall helps to analyze traffic coming to your website and filter out the bad requests. It can detect requests that are from a brute force or an SQL injection that hackers use to compromise your website.

Sometimes, your web host may fail to keep your website secure. This means that your website’s security will be your responsibility. As such, you should rent a cloud-based web application firewall to protect your website. It can also protect you from spam, cross-site scripting, and other threats to your website.

Keep Your Website Directories As Secure As Possible

When hackers attack your website, they either want to access your database or your admin directories. When securing your site, these two areas should be your focus. Remember that hackers attempt to access those two areas every day. Hackers often scan for directories with names like ‘Admin’ or ‘login.’ Rename your directories if you have that option.

If you cannot rename them, you can change permissions to those directories and other sensitive files. Limit the permission so that no one can delete or edit your folders and files without your permission.

Backup Your Website Regularly

Sometimes, there is nothing you can do to avoid hackers. That is why you need backups to your website. Keep an exact copy of your whole website and its files at a separate location. In case your site is compromised, you can reduce the downtime by simply restoring it brute-force. Backing up is also a wise decision because even some updates may change your website to something you don’t want. You should have control over the situation and not get caught unaware.

Need Help From The Professionals?

Website security is not an event; it is something you do every day. It is advisable that you keep yourself updated on the current issues in the tech world. Hackers are always alert and eager to identify new loopholes on websites. Do the same. Stay ahead of them by keeping up to date with the latest web threats. This is the only way you can know what to protect and how to do it. When it comes to website protection, preventing attacks is the way to go. Now that you know how to protect your website, it is time to take your business to the next level. Visit Lucid Advertising and learn more on how to beef up your website’s security.