Today, more tools and applications are available to help you create and publish your own website. While this is great, there are some potential downfalls you may not be aware of. One is security. If you do not know how to ensure your website is secure, you may be opening yourself up to a world of problems. While this is true, there are steps you can take to secure your website, from taking time to check SSL certificate to making regular updates, including your password. Read below for some effective ways to safeguard your website.
Update Your Website Regularly
When a new CMS version or plugin is available, you need to update it immediately. Hacking bots are now automated and are constantly searching for website vulnerabilities. If you want to ensure your website isn’t hacked, you need to keep it up to date.
Ensure Password Security
Too many web admins are using passwords that are too easy to crack with innovative password-cracking programs. If you use passwords containing real words, it is much easier to guess than one made using a random combination of symbols, letters, and numbers. To help ensure your password is unique, and to safeguard your website, you need to make it complex and long. Also, never use the same password for programs or different accounts. If a hacker discovers your password, you want to ensure they can’t access anything else, such as your online banking account or email.
It’s also recommended that your password is, at a minimum, 12 characters long. Using a random string of characters will make it complex and difficult to guess. The downside is that it will be almost impossible to remember a complicated 12 character password. Because of this, consider using a password manager.
Use One Website Per Server
When you choose a web hosting plan that allows you to host several websites on a single server, it’s very tempting to take advantage of this. However, if a hacker accesses one site, the infection will spread to others easily. Also, the clean-up process will become more difficult as the infected sites keep reinfecting each other as you try to find the virus. The best way to keep your websites secure is to have a single website per server.
Manage User Access
There’s a good chance that you will need to allow several users to access your site. While this may be necessary, be sure that each person has a unique password and that they can only access what is needed to do their job. Doing this will help reduce the possibility of compromised accounts and allow you to monitor what the users are doing when they do access the site.
Change the Default CMS Settings
When you install the CMS, be sure to change the default settings. This will help protect against potential attacks, which search for the default settings in place. Even if you failed to change them when you installed the CMS, it is possible to change them at another time.
Choose Your Extensions Carefully
You can find countless plugins and extensions today. While this is true, you need to choose what you use carefully. To do this, make sure you are only downloading from only legitimate sources. This may mean that you don’t take the free extensions you are offered since they may be infected with malware. It’s also important to check for updates. For example, if it has been more than a year since it was updated, there may be security issues. You should also only use extensions that are made by experienced developers because they will know the best security practices and ensure the extensions are safe.
Safeguard Your Website: Conclusion
If you want to ensure your website is safe and secure, be sure to use the tips found above. Doing so will minimize issues and the likelihood of your site being infected with malware or other viruses. Being informed is the best way to keep your website safe and secure now and in the future.
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