Security for your websites!

Building a website has become more accessible in recent years. Content management systems like Word Press and Joomla have made it easier for business owners to maintain their websites.

The responsibility for website security is now in your hands, but many website owners have no idea how to secure their sites.

Customers who use an online credit card payment processor need to know that their personal information is safe. Many visitors are concerned about the security of their personal data. Regardless of the size of your business, customers expect a secure online experience.

Make sure you know this: Security isn’t a “set it and forget it” type of thing. It always changes. Instead, please think of it as a long-term process that must be constantly checked to keep the overall risk down.

Website security can be seen as an onion, with many layers of protection all coming together to make one piece. This is how we can think about it. We need to look at website security and think of it as a defense in depth strategy.

Let’s begin with what website security is?

On the Internet, things can go wrong very quickly. We hear a lot about websites that aren’t working because of denial of service attacks or changed (and often harmful) information on their homepages. In other high-profile cases, millions of passwords, email addresses, and credit card numbers have been leaked into the public domain, putting website users at risk both for their embarrassment and for their money, too.

The goal of website security is to protect against these (or any) types of attacks. The more formal definition of website security is the act or practice of protecting websites from being accessed, used, changed, destroyed, or disrupted by people who are not supposed to be there.

Is website security important? 

Web site security is vital because no one wants to own a compromised website. Accessing a safe website is just as important as having a reliable website host when it comes to having an online presence. If a website gets hacked and then blacklisted, for example, it can lose up to 98 percent of its traffic as a result. Not having a secure website can be just as terrible as not having a website at all, if not worse, than having no website at all. For example, a client data breach can result in lawsuits, significant fines, and a tarnished reputation.

What are some website security threats? 

1. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

When an attacker gets into someone else’s browsers through a website, they can put client-side scripts there. XSS is a term for this type of attack. It’s safe to send the user’s site authorization cookie to the attacker because the code came from the site. Having a cookie lets an attacker log into a site and does everything the user can do, like get their credit card information or see contact information. They can also change the password.

2. SQL injection

Using SQL injection vulnerabilities, attackers can access and modify data in a database regardless of the user’s permissions who is executing the SQL code, allowing data to be accessed, edited, or deleted without the user’s knowledge. An injection attack can succeed and spoof identities, create new administrative identities, access all data on the server, or destroy or modify the data in such a way that the data cannot be used.

How can we protect the security of our website?

1. Add an SSL Certificate and HTTPS.

A secure URL is necessary to keep your website safe. For example, if your visitors send you their personal information, you must use HTTPS rather than HTTP.

What does HTTPS stand for?

Internet security is provided through the HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) protocol. While the content is in transit, HTTPS ensures that it cannot be intercepted or interrupted.

Your website also requires an SSL Certificate to establish a safe connection online. In addition, your website should be encrypted if it requires visitors to register, sign up, or make a transaction.

What is SSL, and how does it work?

Additionally, a secure sockets layer, or SSL, is necessary for the site. This is how personal data about website visitors is passed back and forth between your database and your website. SSL encrypts information not to be read by anyone else while it travels over the Internet.

It also prevents individuals without the proper authority from accessing the data. An SSL certificate from WebHostingWorld is an excellent example of one compatible with the majority of websites.

1. Make Use of a Safe Web Host

Consider the domain name of your website as a house number. Think of your web host as the “landowner” who owns the “land” on which your website is located.

To locate the best web host for your needs, you should do your research in the same way you would if you were looking for a property on which to build a house.

Your website’s data is more secure if hosted on a secure server. However, there are a few things to watch for when selecting a host.

• What file-transfer protocol does the web host provide (SFTP)?
• Is it possible to prevent an unknown user from accessing your FTP server?
• Is Use of a Rootkit Scanner given?
• Is there a way to get my files backed up?
• How well are they keeping up with the latest security updates?

2. Pick a Password that’s Smart.

It’s challenging to keep track of all the passwords needed for various websites, databases, and programs. As a result, many consumers use the same password across multiple sites to make it easier to remember their login information.

However, this is a significant security blunder.

Each time you log in, use a different password. First, attempt to come up with passwords that are difficult to guess. After that, place them somewhere else than the website’s directory.

For example, you could use a 14-digit password that is a mix of letters and numbers. A smartphone or a different PC could store the password(s). Your CMS will ask for a username and password, and you’ll need to come up with a clever one. Avoid putting any personal information in your password. For example, avoid using your birthdate or your pet’s name in your password.

Change your password every three months or sooner, and then repeat. Every time you use a password, you should make it at least twelve characters long. Using a combination of numbers and symbols in your password is required. Letters in uppercase and lowercase should be alternated.

Keep your passwords secret, and don’t use the same one twice!

As a business owner or CMS administrator, make sure your staff change their passwords regularly to keep them safe and secure.

3. Make a backup of your website.

One of the most effective techniques of keeping your website safe is to use a reliable backup solution. It is recommended that you have more than one. Each is critical to restoring your website’s functionality once a severe security breach happens.

There are a variety of various techniques available to assist you in recovering damaged or lost files.

Keep the information on your website off-site. Do not put your backups on the same server as your website; this makes them just as vulnerable to attacks as your website is.

Decide to store your website backup on a personal computer or hard disc. Ensure that your data is stored in an off-site location and that it is protected from hardware failures, hacking, and viruses.

Alternatively, you might back up your website on the cloud. It simplifies storing data and provides access to information from any location.

In addition to deciding where to store your website backups, you should think about automating them. For example, use a system that allows you to plan your site backups. It would be best to ensure that your solution includes a dependable recovery system.

Make your backup method as redundant as possible.

You will be able to restore files from any point in time before the hack or virus occurs.

Final words-

If you own a business and are a webmaster, you can’t just put up a website and walk away. Even though it is now easier than ever to build a website, security maintenance is still required.

Don’t just react when it comes to safeguarding the information of your organization and customers; be proactive about it. Whether your site accepts online purchases or collects personal information, visitors’ data must reach the correct people.