Steps to perform to secure your website from hackers
One great fear that website owners have to live with is the idea of someone altering their work, or wiping it out completely. Building content on a website takes hard work, and the same should be done to protect it.
1. Update all platforms and scripts
Among the best things to do is to update all platforms and scripts installed on the browser regularly. The reason is that these tools often have open source codes, which are available to developers with good intentions as well as hackers. Website hackers may pore over the code, looking for any weaknesses or loopholes they can take advantage of to gain entry and control the website. Updating does not take much time to complete and helps to mitigate against these risks effectively.
2. Install security plugins where applicable
After the updating attempt stated previously, ensure that the browser has security plugins installed to prevent any attempts by hackers to gain entry without permission. Security plugins address the weaknesses inherent in any platform and hamper any potential hacking activities. Alternatively, SiteLock is a tool that goes the extra mile to provide regular monitoring reports after it foils hacking attempts. If the business's success relies on the proper functioning of the website, then SiteLock is a valuable investment.
3. Use HTTPS
When using HTTPS, one may notice that a green signal appears in the browser bar alerting that one is about to provide sensitive information to the website. The shorthand five letters are an important indication of security and that it is safe to provide the information requested. If the business's site requires visitors to provide their private information, then it must invest in an SSL certificate. It comes with an extra cost but goes a long way into building the credibility of the site and making it more secure.
4. Parameterized queries
Most common website hacks that have many sites fall victim to are those related to SQL injections. SQL injections matter in web forms or URL parameters that give entry to outside information to supply information when they are left to open. What happens is that website hackers insert code into the website database which allows them to gain easy entry whenever they want. It is a problem for website owners as they are supposed to safeguard the private information that clients trust them to do. Parameterized queries ensure that the code used for the website is fixed and thus offers no room for additions. Website hackers find this impossible to beat.
5. Content Security Policy (CSP)
Another common medium that website hackers use is the cross-script (XXS) attacks. Through them, they manage to slip malicious JavaScript code into the website pages. A parameterized strategy used together with CSP which allows the user to define the domains that a browser should consider as legitimate sources of executable scripts when they land on the page should suffice. The browser can then ignore all others that not included in the list of directives allowed to make changes to website pages.
6. Secure Passwords
People opt to choose passwords that they find easy to remember. However, one should make an effort to think of a secure password. The longer the password, the better. It should make use of characters, numbers, and letters. Obvious passwords put the integrity of the website at stake. In the same manner, institute the same requirement for the passwords that users use.
7. Lock down the directory and file permissions
Each file and folder contained on a website have a set of permissions and controls as to who can read, write, or execute them. Assign who has access to each of these permissions based on the user and the group to which they belong.
Stay Safe With Semalt
