Best Website Made in WordPress
It seems like every other week there is a new website launched that’s either been hacked or has some big security vulnerability. The amount of website owners who’ve had their websites hacked or compromised is terrifying. This is mostly because they never thought they’d have to face this problem. This is also due to the fact that web design and development have become so affordable that almost anyone can launch a website. This trend alone has created a huge target market for hackers and malware creators out there who are looking to gain access to your data.
The good news is that once you realize how vulnerable your website is (or soon will be) to hacks and data breaches, you can start taking measures to secure it. There are numerous free and premium WordPress security plugins that can be used to fortify your site against hacks, malware, and attacks. In this post, we’ll discuss how you can create the best website possible using WordPress.
A WordPress Security Checklist
If your site has been hacked or threatened with a data breach, there are some steps you can take to secure it. First and foremost, you should contact your web host and notify them of the problem. They should be able to take care of this issue quickly and professionally, and ensure that your website stays up and running as smoothly as possible. Next, you should look into upgrading your hosting to a professional platform. This will help ensure that your site can’t be hacked or compromised. If you’re using shared hosting, consider upgrading to a VPS (virtual private server).
In addition to all these security measures, you should also look into upgrading your CMS (content management system). WordPress is, in fact, a very secure content management system, and it’s one of the most popular platforms out there. If you’re using the default options provided by WordPress, your site will be secure. However, if you’re using a custom theme or plugin that hasn’t been updated recently, then it’s highly likely that your site can be hacked or compromised. Updating your theme and plugins on a regular basis is the key to keeping your site secure.
Create A Strong Password
One of the primary ways hackers and malware can gain access to your data is through your weak passwords. If you use the same password for multiple accounts, then it’s very likely that a hacker will be able to figure out your password and gain access to all your other accounts. This is why it’s essential that you create a unique password for each account that you create. If you use a password manager like 1Password to generate strong passwords, it’ll make remembering them much easier. Another great feature of 1Password is that it can generate high-quality passwords that are tough to crack. In fact, the passwords it generates are so good that you don’t even need to use a traditional password for log in. You can simply use your fingerprint to confirm yourself as the rightful owner of the account.
Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
If you use Google to log in to your accounts online, you’re probably familiar with the 2FA (two-factor authentication) security option. Essentially, this is a second layer of security that requires you to enter a code in addition to your username and password. It’s an optional security feature, but it’s highly recommended that you enable it on all your accounts. There are numerous benefits to using 2FA. Not having to remember a password is one of the most significant benefits. Not having to remember a password for your online accounts is a significant safety net. Not having your accounts hacked or compromised is also a significant benefit. In order to use 2FA, you will need to obtain a security code by text message or email. You should also set up alerts on all your accounts so that you can be notified as soon as your accounts are compromised or hacked.
Use A Security Plugin
Keeping your site secure from hacks and data breaches is very important, but sometimes it’s not enough. For those times, you can use a security plugin. Security plugins are simply extensions for your WordPress account that allow you to strengthen your login processes and add extra security features to your site. They do this by, for example, requiring you to confirm your password upon every login, or forcing you to change your password on a regular basis. If you use a security plugin, then it’s very unlikely that your site will be hacked or compromised. Simply because, as we’ve established, creating strong passwords and using 2FA are essential for keeping your data secure.
Consider An SSL Certificate
An SSL certificate is, essentially, an encrypted version of your website’s URL that can be used to encrypt data being transferred between your site and a user’s web browser. It’s a very trustworthy certificate, and it’s becoming more and more common for websites to use them as a form of extra security. If you have an SSL certificate, then it’s very difficult for someone to eavesdrop on or tamper with the data being transferred between your site and a user’s web browser. The best part is that an SSL certificate is totally free of charge! All you need to do is go to your website’s host and ask them if they offer free certificates, or click here to go directly to the domain’s security page and request an SSL certificate.
Update Your CMS And WordPress Core
Even though WordPress is a very secure content management system, it is, nonetheless, a continually developing platform that always has vulnerabilities that could allow an attacker to compromise your site. The most significant way to keep your site secure is by keeping up with WordPress updates as they come out. Not only will this ensure that your site is always protected from newly discovered vulnerabilities, but it will also ensure that your site continues to operate at its optimum performance level. For this reason, it’s important that you keep your WordPress version up to date on a regular basis.
WordPress is constantly developing, securing, and patching their platform to keep up with the latest technologies. Regularly checking for updates and keeping your WordPress version up to date is the best way to keep your site secure.
The Cost Of Thievery
If you think that all the measures we just discussed are too expensive and too much work, then you’re in the right place. Keeping your site secure from hacks and data breaches is a lot of work, and it costs money to do so. If you don’t want to commit the time or the resources necessary to keep your site secure, then you should certainly consider whether or not to launch the website at all. Remember, there are free alternatives out there that you can use to accomplish the same thing.
The costs of launching a website include digital marketing (paid ads), website design (typically priced per project), and web programming (typically priced per hour). In addition to these three cost centers, you’ll also need to consider the cost of website security (via a paid security plugin premium or a paid VPN), domain name registration, and email marketing (which can also be considered part of your digital marketing efforts).
Considering these costs, it’s no wonder why a lot of entrepreneurs decide to DIY (do it yourself) their websites rather than paying professionals for their services. The important thing to keep in mind is that the money you’ll save by doing it yourself will more than likely be outweighed by the cost of paying someone else to do it for you.
WordPress makes it easy for anyone to launch a website. Anyone can download the platform and begin creating a blog in no time at all. However, this also means that there is a wide audience of potential hackers and malware creators who may try to access and steal your data. You must actively monitor your site and take the proper precautions to keep your content safe. Remember, being hacked or compromised is never a pleasant experience, and it certainly doesn’t do any good for your business. So, make sure you take the necessary steps to protect your content and take advantage of the platform while you can.