10 Easy Tips to Safeguard your Website Against Hackers & Spammers

Nowadays, website attacks have become too common. Irrespective of multiple techniques followed for protecting your website against spamming and hacking attempts, you're quite vulnerable to fall victim to the same. Today's post makes you familiar with ten of the easiest tips that can help you out in securing your website from spammers and hackers who're on a constant hunt for opportunities to get an access to vital areas within your website. So, let's get going with these tips!

1. Create hard-to-guess passwords

It goes without saying that complex passwords serve as a protection shield for all the sensitive areas within your website. Hence, it is recommended to use strong passwords for login and admin areas so as to give hackers a hard time getting access to your website. Avoid using passwords containing your name, your spouse's name, your date of birth etc.

2. Choose automated backups

If you're a WordPress user, you can conveniently opt for installation of a simple plugin that can allow you to setup automated backups for your website. Recently, Automattic(the creators of WordPress) launched a premium service called VaultPress which allows you to back up not just databases but even all the other files associated with your WordPress powered website/blog. These backups will ensure that you don't lose your important stuff even if you ever get hacked.

3. Opt for SQL Injection

SQL is believed to be one of the most common hacking techniques used by multiple hackers. Implemented using some manipulative coding along with injection of some SQL commands into a login form or a URL; the hackers makes an easy attempt to steal data from your website. Hence, as an initiate to strengthen your website's security, ensure to use parameterized SQL queries which can be used and implemented conveniently.

4. Be careful about the kind and quantity of information you give away with the error messages

Even the error messages act as easy routes for hackers and spammers who're continuously looking for ways of bursting into your website. For instance, if you have a login form on your website, then it is recommended to use typical error messages like “You're entering an incorrect username or password” instead of a message like “You're entering an incorrect username”.

5. Keep all the plugins and themes updated

Many a times you might have got frustrated due to the constantly popping plugin/theme update notifications on your website's admin dashboard. Well, an outdated plugin or theme acts as a simple way for a hacker to enter your website, with you being uninformed. Hence, it is suggested to keep all your plugins and themes up to date.

6. Make sure to set your file permissions

As an approach to ensure your website's security, it is imperative to know the exact value at which multiple file permissions and folders have been set. For example, it is vital to set the file permissions for some apps to “777” for easy installation. But, it is also equally important to set back these file permission to either “644” or “755” so as to prevent any kind of brute force attack.

7. Install the much-needed security plugins

A bug-free security plugin can ascertain guaranteed safety of your website from spammers and hackers. For instance, if you're running a WordPress website, you can get hold of some awesome, free WordPRess plugins that will do all the hard-work of keeping your website up and running all the time. Some popular WordPress seucrity plugins include WordFence, G.A.S.P and Akismet.

8. Choose SSL(Secure Socket Layer)

If you've known cyber security, then you'd definitely have also known SSL(Secure Socket Layer). Well, SSL is a security certificate which will encrypt all the information that is transferred between the website and web server. That means, only the authorized users would have the key for decrypting the data and accessing it. This would make it even more tough for the hackers to access vital details about your website.

9. Opt for server side/form validation

It is pivotal to perform validation both on the server as well as the browser side. A failure to perform successful validation can enable the hackers to insert malicious code into your website's database, causing undesirable changes to your web portal.

10. Prevent direct access to uploaded files

Website security can easily get hampered due to file uploads. Bugs can easily enter your website in the form of uploaded files. A simple solution to this problem is to restrict users from accessing the uploaded files. Instead, choose to store these files outside the root directory and later you can access them via a simple script.

Conclusion

Nobody wants his/her website's security to get compromised in any way. If you too have just started managing your newly owned website or have been facing concerns regarding your existing site; the above tips can help you assure 100% website security.