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Your website serves as the core of your online presence. It’s where customers learn about your products and services, and often, where they make transactions with you. However, it’s also a tempting target for hackers seeking personal data, passwords, or payment details.
Even if you don’t store customer payment information, hackers can still misuse your site. They may use it to distribute spam, perform attacks on other sites, or even mine cryptocurrency. Having a reliable web hosting provider with security measures is essential, but there are additional steps you can take to safeguard your website from cyber threats.
1. Use Security Tools for Websites
Cyber threats against businesses continue to increase. Between 2020 and 2021, the average frequency of attacks rose by 31%, with successful breaches climbing from 44% to 61%.
To protect against this, employ security tools like Sucuri SiteCheck and WPScan to identify and address vulnerabilities on your website. Many hosting providers offer security tools either included in their packages or as an optional service. For instance, GoDaddy’s security plans offer malware scanning, unlimited cleanups, and DDoS protection to shield your site from overload attacks.
2. Regularly Apply Security Patches
When security flaws, or CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures), are identified in web software, hackers often exploit these gaps. Unpatched web servers can become susceptible to unauthorized access, allowing hackers to retrieve files, access databases, and potentially compromise passwords.
A typical website relies on a mix of software, including web servers like Apache, databases like MySQL, and CMS platforms like WordPress. These, along with plugins, require constant updates to address vulnerabilities. Staying proactive with patch management and adopting a rigorous testing policy will ensure your website operates on patched and secure software.
3. Restrict File Permissions
Each file on your server has permissions controlling its access level. Tightening these permissions minimizes potential risks if a hacker gains access to your server.
This becomes especially crucial with shared hosting, where multiple sites reside on one server. Without strict permissions, other site owners could modify your files or run scripts, potentially compromising your website. By configuring secure file permissions, you reduce the risk of unauthorized changes.
4. Implement HTTPS for Your Website
Beyond direct attacks, man-in-the-middle threats are a concern. In these attacks, hackers intercept communications between your site and users, potentially capturing sensitive information.
A straightforward solution is HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure), which encrypts all data exchanged between your site and visitors. Using HTTPS prevents eavesdropping on data sent through your site. Many security-conscious hosting providers, like Bluehost, offer SSL certificates for HTTPS integration at no extra cost. Other options include GoDaddy, A2 Hosting, and Network Solutions.
5. Prevent SQL Injection Attacks
SQL injection is a common hacking method targeting websites through vulnerabilities in database queries. SQL, a language used for database management, can be manipulated by a malicious user to execute unauthorized commands on your database, potentially exposing or altering data.
To reduce the risk of SQL injection, treat all user-provided data as potentially harmful. Ensure your website’s code sanitizes any user input to prevent malicious commands from being executed on your database.
6. Implement DDoS Protection
A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack overwhelms a website by flooding it with traffic from multiple sources. This surge in traffic can slow down your website, cause crashes, and, in extreme cases, open the door to additional attacks that compromise user credentials and sensitive information.
To guard against DDoS attacks, invest in network infrastructure capable of managing high traffic volumes. Firewalls can help by filtering out suspected DDoS traffic, and DDoS mitigation services can analyze incoming requests, allowing only legitimate traffic to pass through. Using a CDN (Content Delivery Network) can also spread traffic across global servers, reducing the impact of DDoS attacks.
7. Manage File Uploads with Caution
Allowing users to upload files introduces security risks, especially if poorly coded. A hacker could upload a malicious script, gaining control over your website.
To mitigate this, ensure uploaded files are checked thoroughly. For example, if users are allowed to upload images, verify that the files meet specific requirements and limit their size. Instead of storing files with the provided name, assign a secure filename to prevent overwriting existing files on your server.
Conclusion
Choose a website builder and hosting provider that prioritizes security, frequently updates its software, and simplifies HTTPS implementation. By enforcing strong passwords, restricting file permissions, and protecting against SQL injections, XSS scripting, and DDoS attacks, you can strengthen your website’s defenses.
These security strategies are essential for safeguarding your website and maintaining a secure environment for your business and customers.
