How to Protect Your Website from Hackers: 10 Tips to Secure a Website

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Running a website can be an exciting part of growing your business, but with that growth, you may experience a couple of issues.

Cybersecurity threats are evolving, and non-tech businesses, in particular, often become targets of amateur hackers because they may lack the extensive security measures that larger companies invest in.

If you’ve ever worried about your website’s safety, this guide is for you.

Here at Trio, we have many highly experienced developers who have been able to utilize frameworks like React.js and many others to produce secure web apps without compromising on other factors like speed or useability.

Whether through outsourcing, staff augmentation, or even putting together a dedicated team, our cost-effective development services may just be what you need to promote business growth through technology.

Let’s explore critical strategies that you need to be aware of to secure your website from hackers.

What are the Best Practices for Website Security?

How to secure your website from hackers?

To stay ahead of potential threats, keeping your website secure should be a priority.

The foundation of good security starts with regularly updating your software. Whether it’s your content management system (CMS), plugins, or themes, staying up to date ensures you patch vulnerabilities before hackers can exploit them.

Adding a web application firewall (WAF) is another critical step you must implement if you are a website owner. A WAF monitors and filters traffic to block malicious activity, giving your website an extra layer of defense against cyberattacks.

Another essential measure is implementing strong encryption for data transmission, particularly by using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates.

SSL ensures that any data transferred between your website and its users remains private and secure, protecting sensitive information from interception.

Regular security audits are also vital.

These audits can uncover potential vulnerabilities in your website before hackers find them. They include checking for outdated software, weak passwords, or misconfigured security settings that could expose your website to attacks.

At Trio, we’ve worked with clients who have experienced how developers adding small, proactive steps like these – along with more complex processes like two-factor authentication (2FA) for login security – can prevent major security breaches.

Ensuring your website is always protected reduces the risk of unauthorized access or loss of valuable data.

What are the common security vulnerabilities?

Hackers typically exploit vulnerabilities such as SQL injections – where malicious code is inserted into your database – or cross-site scripting (XSS), where attackers inject harmful scripts into your web pages.

Other risks include weak passwords, unsecured file uploads, and outdated software.

Regular audits of your website’s security – such as the kind that we mentioned above – along with best practices can minimize these threats and help keep your site safe.

Which security plugins should I consider?

If you are a non-tech business owner using WordPress or similar platforms, security plugins offer a simple way to enhance your site’s defenses. Here are a few highly recommended options:

  • Wordfence: Offers a robust firewall, malware scanner, and real-time protection.
  • Sucuri: Specializes in malware detection, security audits, and firewalls.
  • SolidWP: Focuses on strengthening password security and offers two-factor authentication.

We often suggest these tools or similar solutions as part of a comprehensive strategy to help safeguard our clients’ websites.

They’re easy to use – even if you have no technical experience – and effective at covering the basics of website security without needing an experienced professional on hand at all times.

How to Use Strong Passwords for Website Protection?

What constitutes a strong password?

Passwords are your website’s first line of defense, so it’s crucial to make them as strong as possible.

A good rule of thumb that we’ve picked up is to create passwords that are at least 12 characters long and include a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols.

We would also recommend that you avoid easy-to-guess phrases or using personal information like your name or birthdate.

Password generators such as LastPass or 1Password can create random, complex combinations that are both secure and easy to manage.

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How often should I change my passwords?

Regularly changing your passwords is essential to maintaining your website’s security.

We’ve found that most people should aim for every 60 to 90 days and more frequently if they notice suspicious activity.

At Trio, we encourage businesses to implement two-factor authentication (2FA) as an added layer of protection.

Even if a hacker manages to get your password, 2FA requires an additional step – like a code sent to your phone – before access is granted.

What are common password security issues?

One of the most common issues with password security is reusing the same password across multiple accounts.

If a hacker gains access to one account, they can easily compromise others.

Weak passwords and failing to change passwords regularly are also major vulnerabilities.

What Steps Can I Take to Secure My Website?

What are the essential steps to secure a website?

To effectively secure your website, we recommend that you combine several preventive measures instead of focussing on only one.

First, keep your software and plugins updated, use strong password management, and implement a secure sockets layer (SSL) certificate to encrypt data. Also, make sure your hosting provider is reliable and includes regular backups.

Automating your website backups ensures that, in the event of a cyberattack or system failure, you can quickly restore a previous version without losing crucial data.

As you will notice, none of these measures that you could take to secure a website from hackers will interfere with one another, so it’s best not to take chances and protect your site as much as possible.

How can I help protect my website from hackers?

Monitoring your site for suspicious activity is essential.

We’ve already mentioned that there are many security plugins that offer real-time monitoring, which can alert you to unauthorized access attempts or malware.

Limiting user permissions is also a good strategy – only giving administrative privileges to trusted individuals. This is especially important as you prepare to scale your web app and get more developers or employees on board.

Consistent monitoring and proactive security measures are also incredibly important as you grow so you can catch potential threats before they escalate.

What extra layers of protection can I add?

In addition to fundamental security practices, you can add extra layers of protection to secure your site further.

We’ve already spoken about two-factor authentication (2FA) a couple of times, but it really is one of the most effective ways to enhance login security.

Using a CAPTCHA on forms and login pages can also prevent bots from trying to brute-force their way into your site.

Additionally, consider using IP whitelisting, where only specific IP addresses can access your admin dashboard. This can be especially useful for businesses with remote teams needing secure backend access.

How to Backup Your Website Effectively?

Why is website backup important?

Imagine waking up one day to find that your site has been hacked, or worse, all your data is lost due to a server failure. Without a reliable backup in place, the damage could be irreversible.

A good backup system ensures that you can restore your website to its most recent, secure version, saving you from downtime, lost revenue, and the potential frustration of starting from scratch.

But that’s not all. Backups don’t just protect against hacking or system failures – they’re also your safety net if you accidentally delete important files or experience unexpected issues during updates.

Something relatively small – like making a simple change to a form or button – can lead to unexpected problems. With a backup, you can restore everything to a previous, working version quickly and seamlessly.

At Trio, we often advise clients to schedule automatic backups, whether daily or weekly, depending on how frequently the site is updated. This ensures you don’t lose valuable data in a failure or attack.

If you would like some assistance with backup automation for extra peace of mind, our web developers have the required skills to assist you through collaborative software development and tech management.

What are the best practices for website backup?

The best practices for website backups include automating the process, storing backups in multiple locations, and ensuring backups cover all essential files, including databases and core content.

Using cloud storage or external servers for backups adds an extra layer of protection in case your hosting service is compromised.

How often should I back up my website?

If you decide to go the automated way, we often recommend scheduling automatic backups daily or weekly, depending on how often your website is updated. This reduces the likelihood of data loss and makes it easier to recover your site quickly.

For most businesses, weekly backups are sufficient. However, daily backups may be necessary to ensure all recent changes are saved if you frequently update content, such as with a blog or e-commerce site.

What Role Does SSL Play in Website Security?

What is an SSL certificate?

An SSL certificate encrypts the data exchanged between your website and its visitors, preventing unauthorized access to sensitive information such as login details or payment information.

It’s not just important for e-commerce sites or websites that require sensitive details like credit card information – every website benefits from SSL encryption, and search engines favor secure websites.

How does SSL help secure a website?

SSL certificates provide encryption, which is essential for keeping data private and secure.

Without SSL, information transmitted between users and your site can be intercepted, leading to potential data theft.

Installing an SSL certificate can also make your website appear more trustworthy to visitors, as most browsers label non-SSL websites as “Not Secure.”

This perception of your trustworthiness can greatly influence your overall brand and long-term reputation.

Is SSL necessary for all websites?

While SSL is particularly important for e-commerce sites or any website handling sensitive information, it’s now considered necessary for all websites.

As we have mentioned already, search engines like Google give preference to SSL-secured sites in search rankings, and visitors are more likely to trust a site that is marked as secure.

How to Protect Your Website from Malware?

What are the signs of malware on my website?

Malware can manifest in many forms, including suspicious pop-ups, redirects to unauthorized sites, or a sudden drop in website performance.

Other signs of malware include unknown files or code changes, as well as warnings from search engines or security plugins about potential threats.

Detecting malware as soon as possible is crucial to protecting your website from hacking attempts that can compromise sensitive data and functionality.

Hackers often use malware to gain access to websites and hack into sensitive data or functionality, making it essential to detect and remove any infections quickly.

How can I remove malware from my website?

If you suspect malware on your website, the first step is to scan your site using a security plugin like Wordfence or Sucuri. These tools can detect and remove most malware.

Hackers may leave backdoors or malicious code even after initial removal, so restoring your site from a clean backup can ensure all malware is completely eliminated.

Additionally, staying proactive with regular scans and updates can prevent future incidents.

We would also recommend consulting with a security expert to ensure all traces of malware are removed and that your site is reinforced against future attacks.

If you are on a budget, you could look at freelancers whenever you see that you have an issue.

However, it is probably best to build a long-term relationship with a cybersecurity expert so that they can become familiar with your website, even if you just hire them for a few hours every month.

A great way to do this is through a firm like Trio, which offers long-term support and emphasizes effective client communication.

What security software can help protect against malware?

There are many robust security tools available to help protect your website from malware, giving you the peace of mind that your site is secure 24/7.

While we’ve already touched on Sucuri, Wordfence, and MalCare, there are several other powerful options that can add extra layers of protection.

Jetpack Security is a popular choice for WordPress users. It might be a particularly good option if you have a non-tech business, as it is a hassle-free solution that automates much of the security process.

SiteLock is another great option, known for its ability to detect vulnerabilities and offer malware removal services. It also provides a web application firewall (WAF) to block potential threats before they can even reach your site.

NinjaFirewall is a lesser-known tool but is highly effective as a standalone firewall for WordPress sites. It can detect and block attacks as long before they reach your core files.

How do I secure file uploads on my website?

What are the risks of file uploads?

Allowing file uploads from users can open the door for hackers to insert malicious files that compromise your server. Even seemingly harmless files, like PDFs or images, can hide dangerous scripts.

To minimize risks, restrict the types of files that can be uploaded, scan all uploads for malware, and store uploaded files outside the webroot.

How can I secure file uploads?

To secure file uploads, you should restrict the types of files that can be uploaded, limit file sizes, and scan all uploaded files for malicious content.

Storing uploaded files outside the webroot (where executable files are located) can also prevent them from being run as scripts by attackers.

What measures can prevent malicious uploads?

Outside of these basic measures that we have mentioned above, you can further reduce the risk of malicious uploads by implementing strict file permissions.

Doing this will ensure that uploaded files do not have permission to execute any scripts or commands on your server.

Alongside these permission restrictions, consider using CAPTCHAs to prevent bots from uploading malicious files.

How Trio’s Developers Can Help Safeguard Your Website

We understand that it can be challenging to maintain a secure website if you do not have a technical background and your business does not entail keeping a technical team on board at all times.

One of the best ways to implement website security measures and protect sensitive data is to get an expert on board. 

Our team of experienced developers can help you create custom security solutions tailored to your specific needs.

If you do not have any prior experience in web security, our developers can help you analyze your existing website or help you understand the process that they will need to implement if they are helping you create one for the first time.

We implement the necessary safeguards, such as firewalls, malware protection, and backup systems, to ensure your site remains secure from potential threats. 

Custom Security Solutions from Trio

Trio’s custom security solutions are designed to address the unique risks facing your specific business.

We understand that security needs vary depending on the size of your website, its features, and the data it handles.

Our developers can use their expertise for various services, from essential protection like SSL implementation to advanced security measures such as real-time monitoring and malware removal; you only have to commit to what you want and need.

Trio can serve as your trusted partner if your business is looking to enhance its website’s security without having to manage the technical aspects themselves.

Our team is committed to providing cost-effective solutions that allow you to focus on growing your business while leaving the technical side up to an expert you can trust.

Contact us today, and let us help protect your online presence by building a website or web app that you know is safe from threats.

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With over 10 years of experience in software outsourcing, Alex has assisted in building high-performance teams before co-founding Trio with his partner Daniel. Today he enjoys helping people hire the best software developers from Latin America and writing great content on how to do that!
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