A beginner’s guide to boosting your site security

Published on November 5th, 2019 by Guest Author

Creating a website is a popular pastime. After all, the internet is the biggest communication platform of our day.

People build websites for business, to organise local clubs and blog about their hobbies – and they’re doing so at a shocking pace. 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created every day, many from brand new websites.

Whether your site has a commercial purpose or simply exists to showcase your interests, poor site security can lead to hacks, data losses and corruption of your content. When you’ve worked hard to build a site, seeing it filled with malware is never on the agenda. 

Follow these tips to boost your site security:

Encrypted communication

Ever noticed the ‘s’ after ‘http’ in a site’s URL? It’s an important measure of security that many users only notice when it’s taken away – especially if the red warning ‘not secure’ lights up the search bar.

The secret behind that extra ‘s’ lies in SSL, a security technology designed to create an encrypted link between web servers and browsers. Securing the communication that takes place on your site – in forms, comments or user surveys – is important, since failing to do so allows hackers to intercept that data. It’s like leaving your digital front door wide open, and it’s a quick way to destroy trust in your site.

Choose a reputable host

Sometimes, achieving great site security is about going back to the basics. All web hosting services are not created equally – and the cheapest isn’t always the best. Choose a host that has been recommended by reputed source.

This is especially important since it is now possible to discover the host behind any website – a trick that makes it easier to find reputable website hosts.

Try the best Hosting Provider – Bluehost Hosting

Invest in malware detection software

Following best-practice techniques when building a site can offer protection against malware, but no site is completely immune to attacks. Malicious software can gain access through many routes and it may operate for months without your knowledge. The risk goes far deeper than just breaking your site – malware can be used to steal data, or even take control of the domain.

Your new software will be able to detect invasions as soon as they happen, giving you a chance to clean your site using advanced services.

Remove unnecessary applications and plugins

When you first start out with web design, the range of exciting features and plugins – especially on WordPress – can feel appealing. Adding too many features makes your site vulnerable to hackers, however, which is part of the reason why the best websites tend to be sleek and uncomplicated.

Wipe unnecessary apps to stay one step ahead of the cybercriminals. After all, if your site is worth building, it’s worth protecting too.