Thousands of vulnerable websites are exploited everyday.\u00a0 In many cases, your site can be victimized without you having the slightest clue.\u00a0 Unfortunately, there are also instances in which your site can be used in malicious ploys without being directly compromised\u00a0\u00a0 In the best interests of both you and your visitors, it is imperative that you take the appropriate measures to ensure that your site is a safe place to visit.\u00a0 In this article we will talk some of the more unusual ways hackers and malware writers plant their harmful seeds.<\/p>\n
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Malicious Banner Ads <\/strong><\/p>\n \n Although most attacks involve taking advantage of vulnerable web applications, attackers have several other weapons that can be used to maliciously exploit your site.\u00a0 One popular method is through the use of banner ads.\u00a0 The person you think you’re networking with could be using your site as a medium to propagate their malicious code.\u00a0 As soon one of your visitors clicks on the compromised banner, they are redirected to a malware hosted site or directly infected depending on the nature of the code.\u00a0 If you insert third-party advertisements on your website, it is imperative to make sure they do not put you or your visitors in danger.\u00a0 The best way to do this is knowing how to properly access obfuscated banner code for signs of malicious values.\u00a0 You could also do some checking to find out if the advertiser you’re working with has a reputation for participating in such activities.<\/p>\n \n Sneaky Uploads and Downloads<\/strong><\/p>\n \n Most website attacks focus on HTML code but it is also possible for malicious items to be uploaded to an improperly secured site.\u00a0 If you allow users to upload content to your site, they can easily sneak in executables such as Javascript, .exe, .bat and. cmd files.\u00a0 Attackers have also been known to bundle their harmful programs with applications given away as free downloads.\u00a0 You will become unpopular if every time someone downloads your free software, they end up with a nasty infection on their PC.\u00a0 You can learn if your site or applications are being used to distribute malware by downloading the source code from the live site onto a virtual machine and scanning it with a reliable anti-malware tool.<\/p>\n \n A Few Security Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n It’s a jungle out there in cyberspace, filled with more hazardous creepy crawlers than you could imagine.\u00a0 Following these simple tips should help make your website a much safe place to hang out.<\/p>\n \n Transfer Data Securely<\/strong> – If you allow users to upload to your site or require root access, be sure to utilize SSH and SFTP rather than Telnet or FTP.\u00a0 These protocols have both been considered insecure because of their tendency to transmit data in plain text.\u00a0 When using FTP or Telnet, sensitive information such as user names and passwords can be easily read by anyone eavesdropping on the network.\u00a0 SSH and SFTP are encryption-based protocols that scramble data so it appears in the form of unreadable characters.<\/p>\n \n Scan Your Website<\/strong> – There are a number of scanning technologies that will comb your site for vulnerabilities.\u00a0 A good one will not only help you detect insecure applications, but also software packages that require immediate patches.<\/p>\n \n Secure Hosting –<\/strong> You can take all the preventive measures you want, but if the server you’re hosting on isn’t secure, all those efforts will prove futile.\u00a0 Make sure your web host is taking the necessary steps to keep you protected behind the scenes.\u00a0 If they are not making use of features such as firewalls, anti-malware and DDoS protective software, you need pack up your website files and head elsewhere.<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Thousands of vulnerable websites are exploited everyday.\u00a0 In many cases, your site can be victimized without you having the slightest clue.\u00a0 Unfortunately, there are also instances in which your 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