How to protect your website from hackers – 7 steps

Think there’s no reason why your site would get hacked? Think again. Not only can your website be used to store illegal files, but it can also result in lost traffic, and in extreme cases get your site blacklisted by Google. While it’s true that no solution is 100% fool-proof, there are many actions you can take right now to protect your data from malicious hackers.

7 ways to get a hack-proof website

If your website has been hacked before, you’ll know how frustrating it can be. Not just for yourself, but to your visitors who may feel their personal data has been compromised. This can land a serious blow on your brand’s reputation that you have no doubt worked so hard to build.

There’s a lot of reasons why someone would hack your site: they may manipulate your website layout ‘for fun’, steal FTP logins, or even hit you with ransomware. Any one of these reasons is enough to justify why it’s so important to keep your web development secure. Here’s 7 tips on how to protect data from hackers.

1. Enhance your password protection

One of the best ways to reduce the risk of hackers is to invest in a good password. The majority of hacks occur through the attacker guessing your login password via a brute force attack.

We recommend:

• Using a variation of uppercase and lowercase letters, as well as numbers and symbols to create a complex password that is impossible to guess.
• Using different passwords across multiple sites
• Activating two-step authentication (TSA)

Two-step authentication is an extra level of security that offers the best protection against hackers. In addition to putting in your password, you will be prompted to enter an SMS code sent to your phone, answer security questions previously set up by you, or even complete a quick voice recognition task.

2. Keep your CMS and plugins updated

Hackers will dig into your site to find security vulnerabilities in your CMS (Content Management System). Many of these vulnerabilities are addressed by developers through continuous updates. In 2017, 39% of users who use wordpress were hacked due to outdated installations. This means a large amount of websites were affected by malicious activity which would have caused loss in traffic, users, leads and revenue. While it’s important to keep your CMS constantly updated with the latest version, it’s just as crucial to keep all your plugins updated. Developers of reupatable plugins will identify security flaws in their products and offer regular updates to address any issues.

3. Backup your website and database

Your website content and data are highly valuable assets to your business. Becoming the victim of hackers could mean losing days and months of information. Constant back-ups of your website ensures that your information is safe and secure and ready to restore in the event of a hacking attack. Its best to have automation of backups in place, both onsite and locally. Remember to test that your backup solution is working and storing the backup files correctly.

4. Keep software up to date

No surprise here, but updating your software every time you’re prompted to do so will help keep your site secure. Not only do updates include crucial changes that will improve the performance of your website, but installing them ensures that your software will continue to run safely.

Hackers thrive on finding website security holes, so if you don’t have the latest update installed, it’s easier for them to get in. Make sure you’re always up to date on all your antivirus software.

5. Get an SSL certificate

SSL, short for Secure Sockets Layer, is a certificate that is essential for internet security. It ensures all data that passes between a web server and a browser remain private via an encrypted link. Your customers will be looking for a padlock in the address bar before they type in their bank details, fill out a personal form, or perform anything of a private nature – this is a sign that your website has an SSL certificate.

Without SSL, hackers can place an undetected program on the server that your website uses, and take your customer’s private information that they have entered. It’s scary stuff that isn’t just the plot of a Hollywood sci-fi movie.

6. Invest in Cloudflare

Cloudflare software is another great way to protect your website from hackers. Not only does Cloudflare deliver the best performance for your visitors via faster page loads, but the software also blocks malicious bot abuse, prevents customer data breach, and mitigates DDoS attacks.

7. Protect your IP address from hackers

Just like your home address or car licence plate, your digital devices have their own unique address. This is how your exact location is discoverable by just about anyone. While this might seem harmless enough, hackers can launch attacks against you if they know your IP address. In some cases, they can be disguised as you and download illegal content under your identity.If you want to protect your IP address from hackers, it’s a good idea to get a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN creates a secure encrypted connection between your computer and the Internet, thus protecting your identity.

Do you have a hack-proof website? Enlist the help of JTB Studios, where our professional team can help identify the best ways to provide hacker protection for your site. Contact us to find out more.