It is crucial to keep your website protected against hackers as a business owner. If your website is hacked, it can result in lost revenue, damaged reputation, and even lawsuits. Not to mention, it can be very costly to fix a hacked website.
In this blog post, we will discuss 5 ways that you can keep your website protected against hackers. Follow these tips and you can rest assured that your website is safe from harm!
Update Your WordPress Site Regularly
WordPress often releases new updates to patch security vulnerabilities. If you do not update your WordPress site regularly, you leave your website open to attack. Be sure to install all updates as soon as they become available.
To update WordPress:
- Go to your dashboard.
- If there’s a pending update, you’ll see an announcement at the top of the page titled, “please update now”.
- Click on the link and then click “update now”.
After a few seconds, your site will be updated. Keep checking this page to see if any new updates are released.
Limit Your Login Attempts and Change Your Password Often
Hackers will often try to guess your password to gain access to your site, and the more chances they have, the greater the chance they’ll be successful. To protect yourself, you can limit the number of login attempts any user has to enter the correct password.
The best way to do this is to use specialized plugins. Login LockDown and WP Limit Login Attempts are two of the most popular plugins for this, and they’re free of charge.
Another way to ensure your site is safe is to change your password often. Doing so makes it more difficult for hackers to guess and increases the time it would take them to hack into your site. You can do this every two to three months.
However, you’ll want to ensure your passwords are strong and unique. That means avoiding using easily guessed words like “password” or common phrases. You can use a password generator to create complex passwords that are difficult to crack.
Two-factor authentication is another way you can keep your website protected against hackers. This security feature requires two forms of identification before someone can log into your site. For example, you might need to enter a password and then type in a code sent to your phone.
If you have any sensitive information on your website, it’s also crucial to encrypt it. This will make it harder for hackers to access the data if they manage to hack into your site.
Install a Firewall on WordPress and Your Computer
Another effective way to protect your website against hackers is installing a firewall on your WordPress site and your computer. A firewall will help protect your computer from malicious attacks and protect your website from unauthorized access.
On Your PC
You may be wondering what installing a firewall on your PC has to do with your site being hacked. The thing is, if your computer is infected with malware, your website will likely be too. And once a hacker has access to your PC, they can gain access to your website files and database very quickly.
That’s why it’s so important to make sure that your computer is protected from malicious attacks by installing a reliable firewall. Some of the best options on the market include:
- Comodo
- Norton Internet Security
- ZoneAlarm
Compare the firewall features and prices of these products before making a decision.
On Your WordPress Website
It’s not enough to install a firewall on your computer. You also need to take steps to protect your WordPress website. Installing a firewall on your website will protect it from viruses, hackers, and other online threats.
There are several firewall plugins that you can use to protect your website. Some of the most popular options include:
- Wordfence
- Ninja Firewall
- BulletProof Security
These plugins provide a wide range of protection features, including malware scanning, intrusion detection, and DDoS protection.
However, Sucuri is the most popular firewall plugin for WordPress. This plugin is free to all WordPress users and offers many impressive security features, including:
- Security notifications
- Effective security hardening
- Post-hack security actions
- Remote malware scanning
- Blocklist monitoring
- File integrity monitoring
- Security activity auditing
However, the website firewall security feature is only accessible to premium users.
Source: WordPress
Enable Security Scans
It’s also advisable to regularly scan your website for malware and other security threats. To do this, you’ll need specialized WordPress plugins that go through your website’s files and code, looking for anything that might be dangerous.
If the scanners find anything malicious, they’ll remove it immediately, thereby keeping your site safe and secure.
Several WordPress security plugins are available, both for free and for purchase. A few of our favorites include:
- Sucuri Security – this plugin is free to use, and it offers malware scanning, blocklist monitoring, file integrity checking, and more. You can also upgrade to the premium version to access additional security features.
- CodeGuard – this plugin is affordable and offers real-time website monitoring, malware scanning, and more.
- BulletProof Security – this plugin is available for purchase, and it offers features like malware scanning, firewall protection, login security, and more.
- Jetpack plugin – this plugin offers a variety of features, including malware scanning, security alerts, and more. It’s free to use, but you can also upgrade to the premium version for additional features.
Again, compare the features that each of these plugins offers and choose the one that best suits your needs.
Backup Your Site Regularly
It’s also essential to back up your website regularly. This way, you’ll be able to restore your site if it’s ever hacked or compromised in any way.
Several different backup plugins are available, so compare the features and choose one that best suits your needs.
Source: Themeisle
Wrapping Up
Whether you’re running a small blog or a large eCommerce site, it’s essential to take steps to protect your website from hackers. These are just five ways to do that, but there are many others.
So be sure to research and implement as many security measures as possible. Remember, the better protected your site is, the less likely you are to experience a security breach.
