You might not think your website would be worth a hacker’s attention, but this is only sometimes the case. In fact, 64% of companies worldwide have experienced at least one form of cyber attack.

Most website security breaches involve attempts to set up a temporary web server. This is usually to host unlawful content or use your server as an email relay for spam rather than stealing your data or messing with your website layout. Utilising servers as a botnet component is another typical method of abusing compromised PCs. You might even experience ransomware.

Automated programmes that search the internet for known vulnerabilities in website security are used to hack into websites. We’ve provided some advice below to keep you and your website safe online.

Maintain Software Updates

Although it may seem simple, keeping all software up to date is essential for maintaining the security of your website. This holds for the server operating system and any software you may use on your website, such as a CMS or forum. Unfortunately, hackers are quick to try to take advantage of software security flaws on websites.

You won’t have to worry as much about installing operating system security updates using a managed hosting service because the hosting provider will do this for you.

Ensure you are quick to install any security fixes if your website uses third-party software, such as a CMS or forum. Most companies have an RSS feed or mailing list that details any website security vulnerabilities. When you log in, many CMSs, like WordPress, Umbraco, and others, alert you to available system upgrades.

One of the simplest ways to get caught out is when security flaws appear in a package you depend on but aren’t paying any attention to. Make sure your dependencies are current and utilise programmes like Gemnasium to receive alerts automatically whenever a flaw is reported in one of your components.

Set Up A Reliable Firewall 

Hackers do not manually breach websites. A skilled hacker will build a bot that searches for weak sites and automates most of the procedure. Bots are now designed to do highly specific tasks. They lack sentience.

A firewall’s fundamental component is software that recognises fraudulent requests. Each information request made to your website must first pass through the firewall. When the firewall detects a malicious request or one coming from a known malicious IP address, it stops the request rather than processing it.

Use A Password Manager And Follow A Strong Password Policy

Thousands of websites employ passwords that are simple to guess. Weak passwords were used on 5% of compromised websites, with malware removed with MalCare.

Hackers regularly create large tables to use as a sort of dictionary and have a collection of such passwords known as rainbow tables. An attack called a “dictionary attack” can be launched by a hacker using these tables.

The majority of dictionary attacks are variations on brute force attacks. But there are other ways to crack a password as well. Strong passwords are therefore advised.

A combination of letters, numbers, and symbols makes up strong passwords. However, uncommon combinations are challenging to decrypt and can take years to decode using brute force techniques. Additionally, a password becomes difficult to crack the longer it is.

With the help of the WordPress plugin Password Policies Manager, you can also use plugins that require all your WordPress users to use secure passwords. With this plugin, you can establish rules requiring all WordPress users to choose secure passwords when setting up their accounts.

Watch Out For Admin Users 

Did you know 88% of data breaches are a direct result of human error? Most individuals believe that hackers just disappear after installing malware on their websites. That is untrue. To be able to waltz back in at any time, the most cunning hackers will set up a ghost account with administrator rights.

This problem can be fixed by routinely reviewing and expelling WordPress users.

Yes, if you have a large team managing your website, it can be a time-consuming process, but it is worthwhile. The first step is to remove users who no longer contribute to your website. Then, enforce secure passwords to prevent your authors and editors from unintentionally compromising your website.

Even with excellent password security procedures, your website could still be compromised if one of your administrators falls for a phishing scheme.

Why Should You Protect Against Hackers on Your Website? 

According to Nira, hacker attacks happen every 39 seconds, and cybercrime costs the global economy over $1 trillion each year. Your website is useful. It has more value than just how it affects you and your guests. For example, perhaps you own a small hobby blog or online store that only a few people frequent. The idea is that even if the hacker doesn’t make a significant amount of money directly from your website, the advantages of having a secure website to sell illicit or grey market goods still make the attack worthwhile for the hacker.

A small website, therefore, offers no defence against malicious intent.

Second, it is our collective responsibility to safeguard the information and identities of our users. By even accessing a website, they are putting some trust in it, so while thinking about website security, we should keep this in mind.

A hacker can be stopped if you are proactive and aggressive with your protection. However, it’s critical to understand that safeguarding your website from hackers and malicious attacks is a continuous effort. There are actions you can only take once, but you should also be aware of how the dangerous landscape is changing.

Additionally, there isn’t a comprehensive article that will help you prevent all website attacks. Any piece, website, or expert that makes this assertion is lying. 

Having a hacker enter your website can be really frustrating, which is why we at Interact want your website to be fully protected. If you need any help or additional tips for protecting the security of your site, contact us today.

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Call us on 01257 429217 Or fill in the form underneath.