In the digital age, websites are vulnerable to scammers and hackers who use various techniques to steal sensitive information.
Statistics from different sources show that in 2020, 62% of all reported scams were attempted online or through smartphones, causing an estimated $1.9 billion loss in the U.S. Meanwhile, over 4.8 million consumers worldwide reported falling victim to online scams in the same year.
While website security measures have improved over the years, it is still important for webmasters and website owners to be aware of the potential risks associated with their online presence. There are a variety of ways that scammers can exploit websites, from using malicious software to stealing personal data. Website owners need to be vigilant to safeguard their websites from these malicious actors.
In this article, we share some basic tips to protect your business website that are important because you’ve probably put a lot of effort into your website and brand.
Install an SSL Certificate
Installing an SSL certificate is a simple way to safeguard your website, your own security, and the privacy of your users. SSL is ubiquitous on the web, indicated by the ‘s’ in ‘https’ and the padlock icon. It’s often overlooked but vital for security.
SSL encryption secures data transmitted between website and users. Lack of SSL now triggers Google warnings and affects search ranking. SSL is essential when processing payments, transferring files, or asking for login details on your website. Data can be compromised without it.
You don’t need to understand the technicalities of SSL security. What matters is knowing that your website requires SSL and how to obtain it.
Consider Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a method of electronic authentication in which an individual is only granted access to certain websites or applications, after successfully presenting at least two or more pieces of evidence—possession, knowledge, and inherence. There are several types of multi-factor authentication, each including various combinations of authentication factors. This type of authentication offers numerous benefits, from improved user experience to increased protection against cyberattacks.
MFA providers, such as Ping Identity, help companies manage user access with security and efficiency. Their services and products guarantee a seamless user experience and provide top-notch security. With the right MFA solutions, you can protect your website from phishing attacks, password insecurity, and data breaches.
Multiple authentication factors make it harder for scammers to steal sensitive data or hack accounts. MFA may be a combination of a password, a code, or biometric data, as well as time-based, one-time passwords.
Keep Your Website and Software Updated
If you’re using a digital agency, you don’t have to worry too much about this, as most digital agencies will handle software updates and security issues for you, depending on the contract and your level of expertise. But if you’re using a platform like WordPress, you need to be alert and run updates when needed.
You need to run updates for your WordPress core software, as well as any plugins you have installed. If you don’t, everything can become outdated and vulnerable to bugs, errors, and worst of all, hackers using malicious code.
Make Your Passwords Impossible To Crack
Your password is all that stands between a hacker and your personal information. Although it’s easy to overlook this fact, keep in mind that passwords are a very important step. They are also one of the easiest things you can change to increase the security of your website.
It can be tempting to choose a password that you are confident you will remember. However, to prevent hackers and outsiders from attempting to log in, you need to do much better to create a truly secure password. Make it long and mix special characters with numbers and letters, and avoid passwords that are easy to guess, such as your puppy’s name or birthday. If hackers gain access to your other personal information, they will guess these first.
The first step is to hold high standards for password security. It is also important to ensure that everyone with access to your site has strong passwords. If your team has a weak password, it can leave your website vulnerable to a data leak. For this reason, you must set expectations for everyone with access.
Bottom Line
Learning how to secure your website and protect it from malicious attackers will help you keep your site safe and healthy for the long term. By taking these important steps, you won’t have to worry about getting tripped up in the process, and you’ll ensure that your website is secure and safe for visitors to use.
