In today’s fast-growing digital world, your website is the most prominent element of your online presence to represent your brand or services if you’re running a business.
Having a secure website is essential for any business, especially when it comes to WordPress websites. With the increasing number of cyber-attacks, it is important to take steps to protect your website from malicious activities.
Not only can a security breach damage your reputation, but it can also cost you money and time. That’s why it’s important to make sure that your website is well protected from hackers and malicious attacks.
Website Security Tips to Secure Your Website:
In this article, we will be discussing essential website security tips that you don’t want to miss. These tips will help you keep your WordPress website secure and protect it from possible threats. So let’s dive right in!
Secure Website with HTTPS:
In today’s world, most modern browsers now warn users when they visit a non-HTTPS-encrypted site, but hackers can still gain access to sensitive data if it is not encrypted with enough time and effort.
The most important tip for your website security is to implement HTTPs. HTTPs can be used by using an SSL/TLS certificate. SSL certificates validate your identity and help to build customer trust, resulting in higher search rankings. SSL-enabled websites use HTTPs rather than HTTP, which makes them easier to identify and trust.
HTTPS establishes a secure link between the website and the browser. Because HTTPs are secure & encrypted, no one can access the important information you provide with HTTPs, allowing you to use the website safely.
Use Strong Passwords:
Your website’s login credentials are a very important aspect. Ensure the use of strong, non-guessable passwords to improve security. Use these guidelines to establish a strong and secure password.
- Long Passwords: Always try to use a long password which is harder to guess because it increases the difficulty for the hackers in brute force attacks. It should not be on your name or date of birth which is easily guessed.
- Use Letters, Numbers & Special Characters: It is advised that when making passwords, you choose a longer password that contains both upper- and lowercase letters, a variety of special characters, and numbers.
- Avoid Commonly Used Passwords: Mostly, when people create a password they use a password that is easily guessed. Your name, your birth date, your girlfriend’s name, and other personal information may be the most often used passwords. choose the unique one and make your website secure.
- Use Different Passwords for Different Accounts: Always use different Passwords for different Accounts and don’t use the same password on all accounts. Don’t use the same password across many websites, for instance, if you’re setting up accounts on buying portals like Amazon and eBay. Hackers are more likely to already be aware of your password if this is the case.
You can also use some password generators such as Last Pass, and 1password.
Use Two-Factor Authentication:
Another element of your website security is to use two-factor authentication. Suppose a hacker finds your website password through a malware attack or phishing but they can’t access your website if you are using 2FA.
Two-factor authentication (2FA) consists of two layers that increase the security of your website. In 2FAs the code is sent to your mobile number while logging in with your login credentials and you can access your login while entering the code received in your mobile number.
Common ways to set up 2FA (Two-factor Authentication) are
- OTP (One-time passwords) sent through SMS or Email.
- Using a mobile app like Google Authenticator to verify identity
Update Plugins Regularly:
Do you know that plugins are responsible for 98% of the flaws in CMS (Content Management Systems) like WordPress?
If you don’t constantly check for updates and update your plugins, it can also occur to you. One of the greatest ways to safeguard your website against hackers is to keep your CMS and plugins updated.
To enhance website functionality, plugins are utilized, but some have been misused by hackers to introduce malware into websites. Thus, it is important to only install plugins from trustworthy and reputable developers to ensure security.
Limit Login Attempts:
An easy and effective method to defend against brute force attacks on websites is to block visitors who repeatedly enter incorrect login passwords.
To enhance the security of your website, it is advisable to limit the number of failed login attempts per user, as some malicious entities may try to access your site with various combinations of credentials.
Implement Login Restrictions if you’re using a well-known CMS like WordPress, obtaining plugins to block multiple login attempts can be easily accomplished.
Separate Accounts & Permissions:
One effective method to achieve website security is through the use of separate accounts and permissions. This approach helps in controlling access to sensitive areas of the website and prevents unauthorized access.
By assigning unique usernames and passwords to different users and limiting their level of access, website administrators can maintain a higher level of security. This not only protects the website from potential hacks but also reduces the risk of internal misuse.
Use Secure Web Hosting:
With the increasing threat of cyber-attacks, hosting your website on an HTTPS-only server is a crucial aspect of website security. There are multiple companies that can assist you in this process.
HTTPS serves as a first line of defense against potential intruders and raises red flags in case of any malicious attempts to break into your system. It is important to note that HTTPS does not guarantee full protection, but it does improve security significantly.
Moreover, it is worth mentioning that Google has a policy of penalizing websites that use the HTTP protocol by lowering their search engine rankings. Thus, it is recommended to use HTTPS as an additional layer of security to safeguard against future cyber-attacks.
Backup Your Website Regularly:
It is not only important to regularly back up files on your computer but also on your website. Many hosting services provide automatic backup options, but if you self-host your website, using a reliable service like CrashPlan or Backblaze is a good practice to ensure frequent backups.
Having consistent backups in place is a vital aspect of website security. In the event of an attack that results in the destruction of your site, having a backup ensures a swift restoration process without any significant loss of readership.
In case a prompt restoration from the backup is not feasible, utilizing an automatic WordPress migration plugin such as UpdraftPlus can help maintain the flow of traffic to your site.
Conclusion:
In this article, we have discussed several effective website security tips that can be implemented for any type of website, ranging from small to large.
It is important to note that cyber-attacks are becoming increasingly frequent each year, making it essential to have a comprehensive website security plan in place. By implementing the tips discussed in this article, you can secure your website and protect yourself from potential harm.
Share your thoughts about these website security tips in the comments section below.