Having a website is crucial for any business. It allows businesses to grow their customer base without spending too much on advertisements. The best thing about websites is that they can reach customers around the globe. They provide customers an easy way to communicate with suppliers, air their inquiries or complaints, and know more about the business without ever going to a physical office.
Websites are not only beneficial to business owners. They are also money-making machines for individuals who know the power of the Internet. Anyone who has a website can earn passive income through advertising sites, such as Google Adsense.
However, the web is filled with all sorts of individuals, some of which make money out of scamming other people. Websites are prone to hackers, who use their knowledge of internet technology to gain unauthorized access to other people’s data.
The Dangers of Hackers
Hacking can do a lot of damage to businesses and individuals. When hackers can successfully hijack websites, they gain access to important usernames, passwords, and other pertinent information. They can steal credit card information, use them to purchase online or obtain cash advances, sell information to third parties into illegal activities, and even ruin a person’s good credit standing.
Fortunately, there are ways to protect against these cybercriminals. One of them is to protect your website from hacking and any form of cybercriminal activity.
Protecting Your Website
Hackers and online predators can only gain access to important personal information if your website is not secure. Therefore, protecting websites from hacking should always be a priority. Here are some ways to protect yourself, your website, and your customers from the potential harm resulting from any hacking activity.
Install anti-virus software. These software types are installed on the computer to protect it from viruses, phishing attacks, Trojans, spam attacks, rootkits, ransomware, malware, and spyware. Anti-virus software can protect desktops, laptops, tablets, and even smartphones by detecting online threats, blocking them, and removing them to ensure data safety.
They block phishing and fraudulent attacks, thereby protecting website owners and their customers from identity theft. They also warn users about dangerous links to websites, allowing them the option to proceed or get back to safety. These types of software also protect online accounts by securing passwords through data encryption.
Establish Backups. Websites can crash at any given time. To secure all information and make sure that your website data can be retrieved easily, make backups regularly. There are types of software that can provide easy data backup for websites. Some examples are SiteVault, IDrive, and Carbonite. Website hosts may also offer data backup as part of their hosting packages. The WordPress platform likewise has several plugins that can help with backing up data and protecting website information in breakdowns.
Depending on the type of backup software you use, you can encrypt files for security purposes. Some backup services may also offer automatic regular backups.
Backing up data is important for the restoration of websites should any untoward incident happen to your online portal.
Invest in Security Plugins. Websites built with a content management system (CMS) can be protected by installing security plugins. These are applications that can block hacking attempts on websites. Popular CRMs often have their own security plugins, which customers can install on their portals.
For WordPress users, plugins such as Wordfence, Sucuri, Bulletproof Security, fail2Ban, and iThemes Security are excellent options. For those using Magento, Magefence, Amasty, and Watchlog Pro are popular choices. Joomla users can opt for RSFirewall, JHackGuard, jomDefender, and Antivirus Website Protection. Installation of these plugins can address the security problems on the platforms mentioned. They can also foil any hacking attempts that can ruin websites.
Encrypt with an SSL Certificate. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates provide a secure channel to websites. They protect all data transmission types from browser to server, server to server, and application to server. They make online transactions, such as credit card payments and online payments secure and safe from hacking. Websites with an SSL certificate has the HTTPS to their online address.
Use secure passwords. Hackers can easily hack websites with weak passwords. To avoid this, use passwords that are secure and are not easy to track and remember. Additionally, make it a habit to change passwords from time to time. Hard to remember passwords may cause inconvenience, but the protection they offer cannot be argued.
Protecting websites from cybercriminals may sometimes entail money. However, the benefits derived from getting protection are vast. With the right website protection software, you can relax knowing that your important information is safe from cybercriminals.
