A Little Common Sense Goes a Long

While many security software solutions exist, some of the best ways to defend yourself can be summed up to applying common sense.  Here are five simple tips to help keep your website safe and secure:

1.) Smart E-commerce – If you plan to sale goods or services through a shopping cart, make sure that the software used is properly figured and secured.  If you do not possess this knowledge, bring someone on board who does.

2.) Password Protection – Use secure passwords for all of your website applications that require a login.  This goes for everything from your control panel to CMS software.  A good rule of thumb is to use a combination of numbers, letters and symbols, in addition to never using something that others can associate with you for a password.

3.) Monitor Your Server Logs – By checking your server logs on a regular basis, you may be able to identify strange or unusual activity.  Because knowing what to look for can be difficult, many software solutions exist that will do the job for you.  These programs analyze your log files and automatically send alerts if strange behavior is detected.

4.) Update Your Web Applications - An outdated web application is one of the most vulnerable points of a website.  Hackers are constantly working on new ways to compromise security so if your applications are not up to date, you could be exploited.  Also keep in mind that most updates consist of critical upgrades that address known security issues.

5.) Backup Your Website – Because no website is ever 100% secure, it would be wise to frequently backup your site and all the files its contains.  Don’t overlook this.  Not only do hackers target websites, but entire web servers.  If the server your site resides on is compromised, you could possibly lose everything you worked so hard to build.  Regular backups give you the assurance that your website data can be restored should a disaster occur.  Be sure to keep a copy of your backup in a location other than your hard drive just in case ill fate happens to strike your computer.

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Why Web Hosting?

You may wonder why the web hosting industry is such a big target of hackers?  The simple answer is that the market is tremendous, consisting of thousands of companies that power millions of websites throughout the world.  There are billions of dollars tied up in the business and hackers are willing to use every trick in the book to get a share of it.  If your site runs mission-critical operations, acts as the central source of information for your niche or enables you to make a living, it is imperative that you make security a priority.  Because your web host is in a better position to ensure reliable protection than yourself, you need to put security on the top of your list when sizing up potential hosting providers.

The Expanding Threat Model

A hacker’s arsenal is made up of numerous tools and techniques.  They typically combine various methods to compromise websites and turn the unsuspecting into victims.  Some blend into social networking sites, playing nice in hopes of enticing community users to visit an infected site and unknowingly execute malicious code on their system.  They trick users into downloading items that appear to be something desirable like a multimedia application or game but is only a deceptive Trojan horse in disguise.  Some utilize more destructive weapons that could result in the theft of one’s assets and identity.  The malicious keylogger is a prime example, a menacing program with the ability to capture every single character you type into your keyboard.  These threats and more, are the very reasons why web hosting providers across the world are increasing their efforts to deliver better security to their customers.

Put Security First

You don’t have to be a security expert in the IT field to keep yourself protected from hacking exploits.  However, your web host should be.  After all, if they are taking money from you and making a commitment to serve your pages over the internet, shouldn’t they also be on top of the security mechanisms and procedures needed to ensure the safety of your website and personal information?   Security is a must in the web hosting arena so you should take no excuses and never settle for less.  With that said, if you feel that your current hosting provider isn’t taking the necessary measures to keep you protected, don’t stand for it – move your files to a responsible server.

Related posts:

• May 5, 2010 – Healthy Website Security Practices
• May 7, 2009 – Protect Your Site From Maliciously Activities
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