Website security is one of the most pressing concerns for modern businesses. Cyber threats are constantly evolving, becoming more complex and sophisticated, so protection against them must be constant and effective. In this article, we will discuss the basics of website security and provide you with some tips on how to protect your business from cyber threats.
The first and most important step in ensuring the security of your website is to keep all software and plugins up to date. This includes the platform your site runs on (e.g. WordPress) as well as any additional plugins and extensions you use. Developers constantly release updates that fix vulnerabilities and improve security, so it's important to always use the latest version.
The second step is to install a reliable and trusted SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate. An SSL certificate provides encryption for the data transmitted between the user and the website, helping to prevent potential attacks such as information interception or account hacking. Installing an SSL certificate also boosts user trust in your site and can positively impact its ranking in search engines.
The third step is to use a strong and secure password for administrative access to your website. The password should be sufficiently long (at least 8 characters) and use a combination of lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid using simple and obvious passwords such as "123456" or "password". Random combinations of characters that are difficult to guess will be more secure.
The fourth step is to back up your website. Regularly creating backups will help you quickly restore your site in the event of an attack or data damage. There are many plugins and services available that can automatically create backups, making it easy for you to set up this process and secure your data.
The fifth step is to protect against cross-site scripting (XSS) and code injection. XSS is a type of attack where an attacker injects malicious code into a web page that executes on the user's computer. This can be used to steal personal information such as passwords and credit card data. To prevent XSS attacks, ensure that all user-inputted data is properly validated and sanitized before being displayed on the web page.
The sixth step is to protect against SQL injections. SQL injections are a type of attack where an attacker injects malicious SQL code into database queries. This can lead to unauthorized access to the database or manipulation, deletion, or resetting of its information. To protect your website from SQL injections, use prepared statements and parameterized queries instead of string concatenation to create SQL queries.
The seventh step is to monitor your website for possible attacks and vulnerabilities. There are many tools and services available that help you track activity on your site and alert you to potential threats. Some of these also offer automatic security solutions, such as blocking suspicious IP addresses or cleaning infected files.
The eighth step is to use two-factor authentication for access to the administrative functions of your website. Two-factor authentication adds an additional layer of security, requiring the user to provide not just a password but also a unique code generated on their mobile device. This makes it much more difficult to hack an account, even if an attacker knows your password.
The ninth step is to restrict access to the admin panel of your website. Disable public access to administrative pages and limit them only to yourself and your employees. This will help prevent accidental or malicious access to the administrative part of your site by visitors or attackers.
And finally, the tenth step is to regularly update and change passwords for all administrative accounts on your site. Use passwords that are difficult to guess and regularly change them to ensure the security of your data and accounts.
Remember that website security is an ongoing process. Cyber threats are constantly changing and evolving, so it's important to stay vigilant and up-to-date with security measures. By following these ten basic steps, you can significantly reduce the risk of attacks and secure your business in the online environment.