Preventing malware from being installed on your website is better than trying to fix it afterwards!
It’s commonly known that you need anti-malware protection for your PC, but what about your website? Did you know that abandoned or outdated websites are a goldmine for malware developers looking for places to host their ransomware and spread it to unaware site visitors?
Get help with Website Security
Just like your PC, your wordpress website needs a security strategy. Did you know WordPress currently powers over 25% of all websites in the world? Due to it’s popularity, it has become a common target for hackers with malicious intent. You need a security solution that includes trusted plugins to keep hackers out of your control panel and to keep your customers safe.
Layered WordPress Protection
The best way to block hackers is to make multiple changes to the way that WordPress normally works, which prevents all the standard ways that someone might look to gain access. They will most likely to move on to all of the easier targets out there that they can infiltrate! When considering a layered protection plan for WordPress, always look for the following features:
File Change Detection
To install malware, a hacker by necessity must change a file in the backend of your website. A good security program with send you email alerts with any recent file changes so you know if you’ve been hacked before a customer has to alert you to it.
404 Detection
If a bot is scanning your site for vulnerabilities, it will generate a lot of 404 errors. Quality anti-malware protection will lock out that IP after the limited amount of attempts you set.
Away Mode
Abandoned websites are the jackpot for hackers who can make as many changes to a site as they like, completely undetected. If you’re not making changes to your site 24 hours a day, plugins can make your WordPress dashboard inaccessible during specific hours so no one else can sneak in and attempt to make changes.
Database Backups
Scheduled database backups are the key to preventing ransomware from taking hold of your site and your savings. A backup plugin will email you regular backups so if your site is ever infected you can simply ignore the ransom and restore from a previous backup.
Lock Out Bad Users
Does your site have a subscription option? Can customers login to their accounts? With a protection program you can block a user if they have too many failed login attempts, if they generate too many 404 errors, or if they’re on a bot blacklist.
WordPress Brute Force Protection
In addition to blocking a user, you should be able to limit the number of failed login attempts allowed per user with a brute force protection plugin for your protection suite. If someone is trying to guess your password, they’ll get locked out after a few attempts.
Strong Password Enforcement
In addition to knowing when someone is failing to login to your site, you also need to have control over the level of access users on your site (admins, editors, users, etc.) have, and determine the necessary strength of their passwords. Strong password enforcement is one of the best ways to lock down WordPress.
Hide Login & Admin
Your security product should also allow you to change the default URL of your WordPress login area so attackers won’t know where to look. Typically this can be found at http://www.yourwebsite.com/wp-admin. This feature is also useful to help clients remember their login link.
Get help with Website Security
Summary
Malware is as prevalent in websites as it is in the operating system of a PC. Don’t let your business site become the host of ransomware. Not only can this destroy your customers’ faith in the security of your business but can end up costing you thousands in ransom money. But, there is hope. As you can see, there are practical steps you can take to secure your wordpress site. Look for the above features when considering your wordpress security solution and get protected now. Ask us about WordPress security.