As hackers continue to find more sophisticated ways to exploit site vulnerabilities, it is critical to take proper steps to protect your website. On average, over 30,000 websites are hacked daily, and to avoid becoming a victim, you need to be prepared to face these attacks. Here, we look at five website security tips to keep you safe online.
1. Choose the right hosting provider and plan
Finding the right hosting provider and plan for your site is critical, as this determines whether security will be time-consuming or not. Make it a priority to go through the website Hosting FAQ to better understand each hosting provider’s value and plans. A general rule of thumb is to settle for web hosting services with an uptime guarantee and comprehensive security features such as DDOS protection, automatic backups, malware scans, virus protection, and firewalls.
2. Always run CMS and software updates
The first line of attack used by most hackers is taking advantage of your software and CMS vulnerabilities. Keeping your website platform and software up-to-date will save you from these weaknesses by giving you the benefits of new and upgraded security patches. If you are using a managed hosting solution, you do not have to worry about applying these updates, as your hosting provider will take care of these critical updates.
3. Install security plugins
Regardless of the content management system you use, installing security plugins is critical for better protection against hacking attempts. The good news is that there are many free options available for all CMS-managed sites that efficiently address vulnerabilities inherent to each platform. To ensure you do not have to worry about any security loopholes, it is equally important to invest in SiteLock. This web security tool will actively scan your site for vulnerabilities and malware besides fixing security problems you might encounter on the web.
4. Get an SSL certificate
Your website needs an SSL certificate to have secure, encrypted connections that allow for the safe transfer of information. This security protocol will give you many benefits, from protecting sensitive customer information such as credit card numbers to attaining a better ranking on search engines. You will also get the HTTPS authorization that makes it clear to site visitors that they are browsing a safe site, increasing your website’s trustworthiness.
5. Use secure passwords and limit login attempts
You need to implement strong password practices to make it harder for attackers to hack your website. Use a password that is hard to guess and has a minimum of eight characters made using a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Most importantly, limit the number of people who know the admin password and restrict login attempts. This will give hackers a hard time as they will need to use different IP addresses each time they try to break into your site.
Endnote
Keeping your website safe is no longer an option but a priority as this is the only way to stay safe from hacks and data breaches. Implement these steps to stop hackers and cybercriminals from breaching your site.
