It’s every website owner’s nightmare to wake up one day to find that a security hole has been exploited to hack their website. Unfortunately, this is a situation that happens more often than one might imagine. Above all, as soon as you own a business and have a certain reputation, the risk is even greater, as the challenge of hacking the site becomes interesting.
It is also so critical that all is in place so that the web is safeguarded and routine tests are carried out to check if any vulnerabilities are present.
Hackers are creative and have many types of attacks that they can try to hack your site. The following tips are general and do not represent absolute solutions but may help prevent potential problems. It is also important to prioritize according to your type of website.
10 tips to protect your website and make sure it’s not vulnerable
1) Change your passwords
It might sound like basic advice, but you see how lax people are at this level every year. Already, we often see how passwords that are too simple are still commonly used. The “1234” and “abcd” are to be avoided, especially when accessing the site’s back-end and entering the database. On the other hand, even if you use complicated passwords, it is still better to change them often. To help you stay on top of this, you can use a password manager.
For those lacking inspiration, using tools like KeePass or LastPass can allow you to have passwords complex enough to fool hackers. Be aware; it is not advisable to use the same password for many services since you are especially vulnerable if you are a victim of a hack.
2) Monitor activity on your database
Databases are particularly vulnerable to attacks, especially when users can submit attached files or fill out forms to write code. Therefore, it is important to determine if people who visit the site can access the code and make changes using it. If you can do this, test yourself. Otherwise, do not hesitate to hire experts to accomplish this task.
In this regard, note that enabling Google Webmaster Tools (Google Search Console) is a great way to be made aware of abnormal activity happening on your site. Indeed, as Google regularly updates its search index, it can quickly spot any activity deemed suspicious.
3) Check that the software is updated
All software associated with your website should be updated regularly. You are probably using CMS or software associated with your server. During each update, additional protections are integrated, and vulnerabilities are sealed. Therefore, these “updates” are of vital importance. You can also use software that will alert you to the presence of vulnerabilities in the software. When you get a notification, be sure to respond as soon as possible.
4) Make sure you share as little information as possible
For example, when your site issues error messages, you should ensure that these messages do not reveal too much information (including API keys). In all situations, make sure that the information and messages you share with users contain as little specific data as possible.
5) Apply HTTPS everywhere on your website
Haven’t you applied HTTPS to your site yet? Above all, do not delay doing it! If your site does not adhere to this security protocol, some search engines like Google and Bing will penalize it by lowering it in the rankings. In short, HTTPS is a communication protocol that guarantees, among other things, to the visitor that his information is sent to the site’s server and that the data is encrypted, thus avoiding the possibility that third parties can access it. The use of it on pages where visitors transmit confidential information is all the more relevant (passwords, personal data).
Also, note that the HTTP protocol should be activated with an SSL certificate. Indeed, the latter represents a form of additional protection as much for your visitors as for yourself.
6) Install security plug-ins
Some plug-ins that you can install on your website will increase your website’s security, their main purpose being to block the path of would-be hackers. You will find a lot of options, depending on your needs. For example, some plugins are specifically designed for WordPress, while others work with CMS. Please do your research and watch the reviews to get a good idea of how reliable they are.
7) make regular backups
Back-ups of your website should be done at regular intervals. How can backups help improve site security? If you have a problem, you can quickly restore the site and get it back up and running without much hassle. Most hosting services will offer a backup option. You can also see if your CMS software contains the option or if you can install a plug-in that does the job automatically.
Let us specify that we must compare the number of backups that must be made with the number of updates. So, if you update every other day, you should have 15 backups done per month.
8) Use a tool to test the security of the website
Some tools allow you to make a general diagnosis of the security level of your site. These tools are very useful and can be activated regularly, either weekly or monthly, as needed. Security scans should also be performed whenever a medium or large change is made to the site.
9) Consult cybersecurity specialists
Regarding the previous point, it should be noted that these tools are not infallible and that nothing replaces the expertise of cybersecurity specialists! This is why you should use the services of a firm or a self-employed person who has a lot of experience in this field. Typically, these companies offer several options, ranging from full coverage to periodic cybersecurity audits.
10) fix loopholes quickly
Whatever your situation, one of the most important things to do is fix any vulnerabilities you find on your website as quickly as possible. Do not wait for a problem to arise before reacting! Indeed, even if the flaw is minor, it could expose you to significant problems. You don’t have the expertise to make the necessary changes?
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