It’s an unfortunate reality that some people are actively working against the safety and security of others. Hackers and other malice-minded individuals would hijack your site in order to spread other harmful software to your visitors or contacts, which can get you blacklisted by Google as well as turn people off from your site or frighten new visitors. Here are some tips to keep your site safe and hacker-proof:
Keep Software Up to Date – Hackers, like a virus, are constantly evolving along with security technology. They are poking around, finding and exploiting weaknesses until they are fixed by a new update. No security software is impenetrable, and they are only capable of blocking attacks that they are already aware of. As new methods are discovered, new countermeasures are created. Staying up to date with your software is the best way to make sure you are as secure as you can be.
Use Strong Passwords – You may have a password that is particularly personal to you that no other person could ever guess, but that is much different from a password that a computer can guess. Create strong, smart passwords to build up your digital defenses. Swapping the letter O for the number zero may seem clever, but it’s such a common trick that any software designed to crack passwords will bypass it like it isn’t there, the same goes for any common substitutions, personal info, dates or even sequential numbers or letters that are close together on a keyboard. The more complicated your password, the harder it will be for it to be cracked.
Is Your Website Secure?
Steer Clear of Unsecured Networks – Anytime you use an unfamiliar internet connection, you put your computer at risk. If that connection is also unsecured, meaning it has no password, then you are potentially exposing your computer and all its data to any one else on the same network. Avoid using your business computer at places with free public wifi like coffee shops, airports and restaurants. If you must do work here, take great care to ensure your firewall is on, active and at it’s most restricted setting.
Use Encryption – Unless you built your own site from scratch, the idea of adding layers of encryption to your page might seem above your head, but it is extremely important. SSL Certificates allow you to encrypt your login pages. They make it nearly impossible for anyone tracking your activity to gain access to the data you enter like usernames and passwords; it also secures data like credit card info on your purchase page.
Read more about SSL here. Why SSL? The Purpose of Using SSL Certificates.
Avoid Links from Untrusted Sources – It’s hard to know what’s behind every link you click, so be mindful of what put the link in front of you. Is it an email from a friend? Be sure, some malware emails masquerade as a name from your address book, when in reality the address doesn’t match. If you got an unexpected email from your bank or web host, double check that the return address uses the actual website for the domain name. If you are still unsure, navigate to the page yourself and login to your account directly rather than clicking on links that reroute you.
Fixing Compromised Sites – Sometimes, in spite of our best efforts, we fall short and you may find yourself with a security compromised site. Your options depend on the extent of the damage and your own level of technical expertise. Your first step is to contact your webhost and see what help they are able to provide. If you still have access to your page, you’ll want to change all your login information, as well as removing any links or content added by the hacker. If you run up against a wall, there are non-profit groups and other specialists who can help you reclaim your site and get back to business.
Camille McClane is a writer, researcher and editor who enjoys creating content on all-things related to tech, social media and marketing. She hopes you enjoy this article, and is happy to be a part of the Profitable Web Strategies community!