Hackers can’t access your website
Whether you are an SMB owner or an individual, you should continue to ask yourself the question “How do I protect my website from hackers?” as long as your website is active. The good news is that, while technology changes, keeping your website secure from hackers generally just means applying some common-sense steps and investing in some affordable security tools. Here’s what you need to know.
How can I protect my website against hackers?
Six key steps are required to secure your website from hackers if you’re wondering “How do I protect my website?” Make sure your domain provider keeps your details private. Consider carefully what hosting arrangements you make. As much as possible, use two-factor authentication. Strong control of access privileges should be maintained. Find out more about the content management system you have chosen. Secure your investment with reliable software
Make sure your domain provider keeps your details private
Your details might be kept secret by default depending on where you live. Or, you can request that they be kept secret. For privacy, you may even need to pay a fee. You will need to pay this fee if you are required to.
Consider carefully what your hosting arrangements will entail
Hosting is available in three ways. You have the option to self-host or use a third party host. This will give you a private server. Or you can choose to use a third party host and share a server. Practically, very few SMBs will be able to host their own server. They need to decide if they want to host a server for themselves or if they are willing to share it.
In principle, a server that you own is safer than having one hosted by someone else. This eliminates the possibility of security breaches and attacks on your site. The likelihood of an attack on your site will be very low if you choose a reliable hosting provider. They will ensure that there are strong logical divisions among customers.
No matter which option you choose to go with, it is important that you thoroughly investigate the security credentials of any potential host.
Two-factor authentication should be used as often as possible
TFA implementation would be a top recommendation if you asked an expert how to secure your website from hackers. You should consider TFA for not only your website but also your host and FTP/sFTP servers.
TFA does not allow you to use weak passwords. For any website-related activity, you must still use a unique and strong password. TFA can also be compromised, particularly if it is implemented via text message and not via token. Although it is rare, it can happen.
Access privileges should be kept under strict control
You want to reduce the number of people who have direct access to your website’s back end. Additionally, you want each person to be able to do their job efficiently. Each person should have their own login, but only for the time they use it. They are forbidden to share it with anyone, regardless of what.
Similar comments can be made about user accesses. You need to ensure that your website is secure when you allow users to enter information. File uploads are the biggest vulnerability for most websites. While you should try to avoid file uploads, there are ways to secure them.
Use a list of allowed file extensions to validate your uploads. Uploads should not exceed the maximum allowed size. Move the upload folder to another location than the webroot. Change the file’s name upon receipt. Scan all files for malware, but never allow macros.
Find out more about the content management system you choose
Every website needs a CMS. Some companies offer both hosting and a custom CMS. These services are often marketed as complete website-building solutions. However, most companies will let you choose the CMS that suits your needs, with WordPress being the most widely used.
If you are using a proprietary CMS, the vendor will manage it. If you are using a standalone CMS, you will need to be familiar with it and how to manage it safely. You need to know about third-party extensions such as plugins, scripts, apps and templates. You will need to determine which add-ons are safe and effective for your website.
Keep in mind that add-ons can be conflicting with each other, and the more you use them, the more you will have to manage them. You should limit your use of add-ons and make sure they are up-to-date.
Developers who offer free products don’t always keep them up-to-date, which can lead to security issues. You will need to either uninstall them or arrange for their updating.
Invest in security software that is reliable
You want a website vulnerability scanner for your site itself and an anti-malware solution to protect the devices you use to connect to it. These tools are extremely affordable and can greatly improve your website’s security.