Safe and secure websites are incredibly important for businesses as well as consumers. Consumers need to trust your website before they feel comfortable enough to submit their credit information for a purchase or service, and businesses need to worry about the safety of their websites to protect against hackers and cybercrimes. This year has been called the “year of extortion” by security experts because of the high volume of ransomware demands. If cybercrimes and protecting customer information is important, here are five ways to make your website safe.
5 Tips for a Secure Website
Tighten Access Control
The admin page on your website is an easy way into everything you do not want a hacker to see. Create user names and passwords that cannot be guessed. Change the default database prefix on your WordPress website from “wp6_” to something random and harder to guess. Limit the number of login attempts within a certain time, even with password resets, because email accounts can be hacked as well.
Update Often
Don’t ignore updates when they show up! If the reason behind the update is a security weakness, delaying an update exposes you to attack in the interim period. Hackers can look through thousands of websites an hour looking for vulnerabilities that will allow them to break in. They also network like crazy, so if one hacker knows how to get into a program then hundreds of hackers will likely know as well.
Tighten Network Security and Educate Employees
Computer users in your office may be inadvertently providing an easy access route to your website servers. Ensure that:
Logins expire after a short period of inactivity.
Passwords are changed frequently.
Passwords are strong and never written down.
All devices plugged into the network are scanned for malware each time they are attached.
It’s important that everyone on your team is educated on internet security while they are working on your site.
Limit File Uploads
File uploads should be a major concern. No matter how thoroughly the system checks them out, bugs can still get through and allow a hacker unlimited access to your site’s data. The best solution is to prevent direct access to any uploaded files. Store them outside the root directory and use a script to access them when necessary.
Use SSL
Invest in an encrypted SSL protocol to transfer users’ personal information between the website and your database. This will prevent the information from being read in transit and accessed without the proper authority. We have two affordable options that will secure your website including the green website bar that consumers trust.
If you are interested in creating a website for your small business, do not underestimate the value and importance of security. KooSwift has a team of designers who can help you build security features that will benefit you and your customers. Contact us today and visit our Services page to discover everything we can do for your business.
About KooSwift
KooSwift is an all-in-one service operator for the web. KooSwift not only provides great domain names, they can create top-level websites that are customizable for your brand. Whether you are a small business or a student looking to create an online portfolio, KooSwift has something for you. Visit our website today to learn more.