It Is Time To Take Your Website Security Seriously

Google suggests about one percent of the total websites online have been hacked or infected. It quarantines approximately 10,000 websites a day. Many people don’t feel  that website security is important until they get hacked.

Websites get hacked because of three things:

Access Control

Access control is about how you log in. Hackers often to attempt to guess the possible username and password combinations so they can log in as the user. They may also use phishing pages designed to capture usernames/ID’s and passwords.

Software Vulnerabilities

Software vulnerabilities can range beyond the website itself to include other technologies such as the web server or infrastructure. Wherever there’s a system,

there’s a potential for software vulnerability waiting to be exploited.

Third-Party Integrations/Services

We assume that third party integrations and services are safe, but there is always the chance they could be compromised. The most prominent way this happens is through ads via ad networks that lead to malware.

Why You Need to Care

Without the proper website security it’s easy for automated bots to attack your site and deface it. Visitors to your site may be treated to content you never intended them to see. Search engines block visits to infected sites. No website security means a loss in traffic and a drop in revenue. 

Hackers also gain financially by hacking your site through plugin and theme vulnerabilities. If you often get comment spam, Google will hand out a ranking penalty.

How to Protect Your Website

There’s no such thing as a website security system that guarantees 100% protection but there are things you can do to reduce the risk. 

Here are 5 ways to increase website security:

1. Transfer your website from HTTP to HTTPS. It’s free to do so!
2. Avoid default usernames like admin. Do use passphrases, instead of passwords. Keep software updated and don’t download plugins or themes from unfamiliar sources.
3. Stay away from free hosting. Look for a web host with a solid reputation.
4. Automate your website software. Software like Sucuri, WebARX, or WordFence, are good products to try.
5. A SSL certificate (Secure Sockets Layer) is a standard security protocol that establishes encrypted links between a web server and browser. This ensures that all communication between them remains encrypted.

Conclusion

Website security is of great important to search engines. Without it, not only do you risk being hacked, but you may also suffer penalties as a result.