Being an online business owner it’s your responsibility to secure and protect your customer’s confidential information like bank details, mobile no, addresses, or passwords. Because they have shared all their confidential information by trusting you. Also, no one wants some kind of hacking that unlocks their online store overnight. Here we will discuss every single aspect of your website security and your customers’ data.
By understanding this you will secure your website and overall business reputation.
What is Website Security?
Like the main door of your home protects your family from thieves and intruders. In the same way, website security protects your website and customer information from cyberattacks, malware, and data breaches.
On average, around 30,000 websites are hacked every single day. Out of which 43% are small businesses. So, it’s really important to secure it.
Why do hackers hack websites?
- Financial Gain: About 80% of website hacking done for a single reason is “Money”. They transfer money from the user account, Identity theft, create spam through social media accounts, and so on.
- By selling data on the dark web for earning massive amounts of money from there.
- SEO spam: By doing SEO spam, hackers can easily reduce the ranking of the website and sometimes make spam duplicate websites and then redirect the customers there to get their credential details.
- Spreading Malware: By spreading malware on the website they can blackmail companies to pay a random amount of money.
You can also read: How to Drop a Pin in Google Maps (Desktop & Mobile)?
Why Website Security Matters
- Protect Data
- Maintain Customer’s trust
- Prevent Financial Losses
- Helps in keeping maintain your online reputation
- Maintain the brand’s authority and credibility.
Common Threats to Website Security
- Ransomware: Ransomware usually locks down your website and demands payment for its release. This not only creates financial loss but also operational disruption.
- Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): In this attack, unsafe and harmful script is injected into web pages and this ultimately affects your website visitors and decreases your online reputation.
- SQL and Code Injections: These attacks usually target database queries, website security, and data integrity.
- Stolen Passwords: if you use your name, dob, or mobile number in your password they can easily be guessed. So, it’s always recommended to use a strong password that contains a capital letter, a small letter, numbers, and an icon like this Am123456@.
- Data Breach: A data breach occurs usually when an unauthorized or unknown individual gets access to sensitive information like user data and business operations.
Denial of Service (DoS): This attacks the website resources and makes them unavailable for the customers.
Website Security Best Practices
- Strengthen and Regularly Update Passwords: A strong password is the best precaution you can take to secure your website. You can use complex, unique passwords and change them regularly to protect your website from unauthorized individuals.
- Get an SSL certificate: SSL certificate encrypts data transmission between your website and users. So, hackers can’t check it. SSL certificates not only protect your data but also build users’ trust by seeing a padlock next to your website. Setting up an SSL certificate is tricky but a super-secret handshake.
- Choose the Right Content Management System (CMS): it helps in managing your content with website security. It always helps in minimizing security gaps.
- Limit User Permissions: You always need to give access only to the higher authorities. By giving passwords and data to the whole team they increase the chances of getting website vulnerability.
- Invest in Anti-Malware Software: Investing in anti-malware software helps in protecting your business, website, and customers by identifying any malicious malware.
- Regularly Backup Your Website: Whenever you take new hosting, then you will get the backup option. Maybe it’s weekly or monthly. By doing a backup you can easily reinstall the whole data in case any attack or data loss happens.
- Scan Your Website: You always need to scan your website daily or weekly to secure your website from hackers. There are many plugins that you can use like SiteLock free website scanner, quttera, Astra security, Virus Total, or malcare.
- Use HTTPS: You always need to ensure that all your web pages are served over HTTPS to provide a secure browsing experience for your users.
Use a Web Application Firewall: It helps in filtering and managing traffic to your website. And always block malicious activity. - Train Employees on Security and Data Management Best Practices: After knowing everything you should also train your staff regardless of their position. Maybe they make a mistake and your website gets hacked.
- Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): By adding MFA, you can add an extra layer of protection. You can use a one-time password, QR code, or multiple security measures to secure your website from hackers.
- Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN): A CDN not only speeds up your website but also provides security benefits against DDoS attacks.
- Prepare a Recovery Plan Before Anything Happens: Cybersecurity attacks still happen no matter how careful you are. So, You need to make a recovery plan for your website and also train that occasionally to your employees.
You can also read: Guide to Optimize Google My Business Listing: 10 Tips for Better Rankings
Top 5 Website Security Tools (Free)
- SSLTrust
- UpGuard Web Scan
- Observatory
- MalCare
- Sucuri SiteChecker
Website security is not just important but crucial for your business and customer safety. By Implementing these practices and free security tools you can easily protect your website.
So, don’t forget to discuss this with your webmaster because prevention is always better than cure.
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Rishabh Sharma (Rish)
Founder, ICONIER Inc.
Over 7 years of experience in managing digital products with a specific focus on branding, lead generation, and delivering custom IT Solutions. Graduated from the University of London (U.K) in Business & Management. Rish saw the opportunity to improve and digitalize operations for small and large businesses by providing simple and innovative online solutions.
