You’ve built the perfect website for your business – or so you thought. Your site is visually appealing, offers easy navigation, displays well on multiple devices, and has even attracted visitors through search engine optimization (SEO) and great blog content. But you haven’t given security much thought. Often overlooked, website security is one of the most vital parts of having an online presence. An unsecured website is prone to hacking and data loss. Because your obligation is to protect sensitive customer data, you could end up in legal trouble if important files and data are lost or stolen.

 

Below are 10 tips to improve your website’s security and strengthen its defense against hackers.

 

1. Transfer to HTTPS

If you haven’t already, you should convert your website from HTTP to HTTPS. Doing so will add an extra layer of security to your site. SSL protocol ensures that the session between your browser and the web server is encrypted. Transferring your site to HTTPS can also help your site’s SEO and improve rankings as Google and other search engines prioritize secure sites over unsecured ones in the search engine results pages (SERPs).

 

2. Regularly Update Software

Keeping software updated such as a content management system (CMS) like WordPress can help improve the security of your website. Outdated software can have security holes for hackers to abuse. Most CMS platforms automatically update and have mailing lists that alert you about any security issues and major fixes.

 

3. Install Security Apps

Automated hacking tools scour the web for CMS sites with certain builds and versions. Security applications protect your website by hiding the identity of your CMS.

 

4. Use Security Questions With Difficult Answers

Having easy-to-guess answers to your security questions can put your website at risk. Answers to questions like “In what city were you born?” are easy to guess or find. All hackers need to do is visit your public profiles and get the answer. Choose difficult, complex questions and use numbers and even special characters in your answers.

 

5. Don’t Use Form Auto-Fill

When users are able to log in to their accounts on your website using auto-fill, they are vulnerable to attacks. This is especially true if a user’s phone or computer is stolen. Anyone can log on with automatically filled usernames and passwords.

 

6. Avoid Connecting to Public Wi-Fi

You might think that having a cup of coffee at Starbucks while browsing the web and using a public Wi-Fi network is harmless. But the truth is, you are exposing your website to dangerous attacks when connected to public networks that are not secure. If you must use public Wi-Fi, turn off file sharing on your computer before you connect. Also, use a virtual private network (VPN).

 

7. Backup Often

In case your website does get hacked, it’s important to back up your data. This allows you to recover your website from a major security incident. Backups should be stored off-site to protect your stored data against hackers.

 

8. Improve Network Security

Hackers can enter your website servers if you aren’t careful. Simple ways to improve network security include:

• Changing passwords frequently.
• Creating stronger passwords with numbers, punctuation, and special characters.
• Scanning devices for malware each time they connect to your network.

 

9. Beware of Suspicious Emails

Hackers can hack into email accounts and send emails that contain malware. They can pose as legitimate companies or even trusted email contacts. Don’t open suspicious emails. Also, alert your contacts if you suspect that their account has been hacked.

 

10. Only Download Apps From Trusted Sources

Avoid downloading applications from third-party websites (not the creator of the software itself). Also, be aware of the permissions you’re giving these applications. Some apps don’t really need access to your camera, contacts, or other personal files.

 

At MAB Ventures, we can help you develop a secure site. Contact us for secure website development today!