The Horror! Avoiding Site Attacks

5 Tips to Secure Your Website

Securing your website is a constant responsibility somebody has to do.

As storing personal information online becomes the norm, the number of internet predators looking to gain access to those files is growing exponentially.

Most of us spend time and money avoiding malicious websites. However, many companies fail to protect their sites from becoming part of the problem.

While no site is 100 percent hack-proof, this month's blog post shares 5 helpful tips to protect your WordPress website against common site threats.

1. Update Software Components

According to one study, over 50% of hacked WordPress sites were running out of date plugins and/or themes. Neglecting updates is like leaving your door unlocked. Software versions are traceable and potential website intruders are constantly scanning for out of date software.

Keeping your WordPress website up-to-date is easy, but time consuming. Log-in regularly. Check for orange notification alerts in your dashboard for your theme, plugins and/or WordPress core. Keep in mind that new versions of software often don't play well together on the first release. So be sure to test your new versions before you apply them to your live site.

2. Research Plugins

In the rush to add cool, new features to a website, it's tempting to install a plugin that sounds prefect. Unfortunately, malware often masquerades as a helpful plugin.

Fortunately, because WordPress exists in a development community, bad and/or dangerous plug-ins get ferreted out quickly. Always read the ratings for a plugin and avoid ones with low installation numbers. Also, check when the plugin was last updated. A good plugin will be updated regularly with security patches.

Should you discover a security vulnerability, reporting it! Send a detailed email to security@wordpress.org or plugins@wordpress.org.

3. Schedule Regular Backups

No matter how vigilant a website administrator may be, the day will come when something goes wrong. A rigorous backup schedule can make the difference between a failure being a temporary annoyance or a total disaster.

WordPress has step by step instructions for backing up your WordPress site.

4. Security Monitoring

Knowing what's going on inside and outside of your website is the best way to identify and stop attacks. Two malware monitoring tools you might want to consider are WP Security Audit Log and Sucuri Security.

5. Invest in High End Hosting

No security in the world can protect you from the nightmares that can happen with a cheap hosting provider. SOLID chooses WP Engine’s enterprise-grade infrastructure over cheaper alternatives. As soon as a new version of WordPress is released, our clients' sites are automatically upgraded to ensure they contain the latest security patches.

Worried About Your Website?

Now that you know what you should expect from your website and service providers, you can make sure your site is protected from the most common threats.

Have questions or interested in upgrading your game? Contact SOLID for a free evaluation of your site and your online business strategy.

Automatic Updates

Ensures security patches.

Researched Plugins

Dangerous plugins are blocked.

Daily Backups

Multiple retentions of site backups.

Monitor for Outside Threats

Blocks potential hacks and attacks.

High End Hosting

Enterprise-level services and support.