Do you think your website is too small to get hacked?
WordPress hacks increased by 221% in 2017. And over 89% of these hacks were for espionage or financial gains purposes.
Regardless of how big or small your marketing site is — or who your web host is — you’re at risk. And getting a secure site isn’t as difficult as you may think.
Let’s explore the 5 keys to securing your website.
1) Keep Everything Up-to-Date
You spent all your time on the perfect design. Now, you need to keep it updated.
Update all software running on your site and computer immediately when prompted.
Often these update requests are sent out when a new vulnerability has been discovered. Delaying updating leaves you open longer.
Check for updates regularly. And when you get an update request, stop what you’re doing no matter how seemingly important it is. And update the site.
Your instant action may just save your site.
2) Set Query Parameters
When you use standard SQL transact, hackers can easily insert malicious code to gain access to your site and wreak havoc on your data. Set parameters for data entry into these fields to prevent your marketing website being open to these common attacks.
HyperTarget Marketing is a website that does this very well.
3) Limit Your Error Messages
You try to be helpful and share with visitors what happened when something goes wrong. But to keep a secure site, this is a bad idea.
If there’s an error on your page, provide only very limited information about what went wrong. And encourage them to contact you.
Your TMI can give the savvy hacker just what they need to exploit vulnerabilities in your website.
4) Make a Stronger Password
Sometimes we just make it too easy by thinking we’re so invincible that we don’t need a strong password. This is like going out and leaving your home door wide open where everyone can see you 52 inch TV, MacBook, and 3 gaming systems.
Only use a strong password for your site and don’t use any variation anywhere else. Create a strong password in 6 easy steps:
- Think of an 8-12 word phrase from your favorite movie
- Write down the first letter of each word in the phrase
- Exchange letters that look similar to numbers with numbers (e.g. 5 for S, 3 for E)
- Exchange letters that look similar to symbols (e.g. @ for a, # for H)
- Capitalize one random letter in the middle.
- Memorize it. Then shred/burn the paper.
This should take little to no time to memorize.
5) Secure File Uploads
If you’re allowing users to upload anything to your site, you’re at risk — even something as simple as a jpg. Once someone uploads a file, the code inside them may be executed to give access to your website.
There are several ways to prevent this. One of the easiest and best ways is to only allow these to be uploaded to a file outside. You will then need to create the script to retrieve them from that file. It will then deliver it to the browser.
A Prepared Site Is a Secure Site
By taking these 5 steps you have a more secure website. Update your software. Change your password today if it’s weak. And tweak the set up of your site to prevent attacks.
Want to learn more about how to manage the speed and security of your site? Check out our blog.
