Security hacks: 6 tips to have a secure website
Your website is your main asset, one of the most important investment you have made, and that it is capable of converting your marketing efforts. So, why leave it at the mercy of events? Of course, load content and improving its design is important, but it is not enough. To truly take care of your website, you must ensure that it’s always up-to-date and secure. Web security is a very important topic, so we have come up with 7 useful tips to ensure that you always have a secure and functional website.
1 – Keep your website up-to-date
To maximize your website’s security, an important first step is to keep all platforms, plugins, or scripts you have installed, up to date. Cyber hackers can carry out many attacks by aggressively exploiting security “holes” generated by outdated programs or applications that, most of the time, do not include advanced security measures. Therefore, checking and keeping all software products you use up to date becomes essential to have a secure website.
2 – Pay attention to your passwords
Never underestimate the importance of passwords. The most frequent cyber attacks occur through the forced password decryption for access, and therefore, it is essential to choose complex passwords for obvious reasons. Including both uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters such as exclamation or questions marks, helps to significantly increase the complexity of your password and increase the security of your website. Experts recommend a length of at least 10 characters, but of course, there are no precise data to support this pratice.
3 – Protect your website with a SSL certificate
Having a SSL certificate is one of the protection measure to activate as soon possible if you own a website. SSL protocol allows the secure transmission of highly sensitive information such as payment details, credit card details and login credentials. To understand how HTTPS pages work, imagine that the information entered on a page is encrypted using different opening keys, so that it has no meaning for third parties that try to intercept it. This prevents hackers from accessing any private information or data, protecting your website.
4 – Choose the hosting provider that offers more guarantees
Choosing the right hosting provider is also very important for your website’s security. Always assure that the hosting service you choose offers additional guarantees for the protection of your website, such as antivirus, antispam, and data backup to a remote server that is anytime accessible and easy to restore in case your website gets damaged. The possibility to receive technical support whenever necessary, makes the difference in keeping your website always secure.
5 – Keep your website clear and make frequent backups
“Forgotten” files are another easy entry point for hackers. Make sure to delete from your website all files, databases, or applications you’re not using anymore. To ensure this is done regularly, keep a record of all the changes you make. Moreover, always remember to regularly backup your website. It is essential to keep backups of all files in case the website is hacked or data is lost. Your hosting provider should provide backups of their servers, but it is always better to have your own backup. Major CMS, WordPress for example, offer plugins that perform automatic backups, making everything easier.
6 – Scan your website regularly
Last, but not least, regularly perform security scans to test the vulnerability of your website and servers. Security scans minimize the risks for your site and should be performed based on a schedule and after each modification on addition of components. There are various free tools you can use to evaluate the security of your website, but relying on a professional to perform the scans will give you the opportunity to have a more thorough review and leave nothing to chance.
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