Large-scale hacking threats have become common news nowadays. You might think your website is completely safe and secure, especially if you have never experienced problems in the past.
However, hackers can target anyone at any time and without warning. Most security breaches don’t involve stealing data but spreading spam across the web or creating a temporary server to deliver files illegally. A hack can even leave you vulnerable to ransomware, where the thief gains access to your data and demands financial compensation to return it to you.
To truly keep data safe online, you must take the following 7 precautions:
1. Keep Updated on Hacking Trends
First and foremost, it’s a good idea to keep updated on the latest hacking trends. That way, you will have the basic knowledge of what hackers do and how they manage to gain access to data. Follow technology websites and read articles about the topic. One good source is the Hacker News.
2. Use Strong Passwords That Nobody Can Guess
One of the biggest mistakes people make online is to use weak passwords that are easy to guess. If you rely on a password like “1234 or “ABCD,” hackers can easily gain access to your personal and financial information. A weak password can leave you vulnerable in a heartbeat.
In general, you should always use something that is difficult to guess and change all passwords every 60 days or so. A truly strong password should utilize a combination of upper- and lowercase letters as well as numbers and special characters—like an exclamation point or dollar sign.
3. Keep Software Up-to-Date
Keep all your software up-to-date. That includes any software programs you use as well as the operating system of whichever computer you’re using. Outdated software frequently gets forgotten by companies and security issues can arise.
For example, if you have a MacBook Pro and are still running OS X 10.6.8 Snow Leopard, you can no longer update the Chrome browser, making it vulnerable any time you are accessing sensitive data. Hackers are quick to pick up on such issues and can take advantage of them.
Any third-party software running on a website – such as a forum or CMS – should be updated because updates typically include necessary security patches. Many different programs will alert you of any updates when you log in.
4. Crack Down on Access
If you run a business, you should restrict access to computers—make sure that only specific employees have access to certain data based on the requirements of their jobs. Another thing you should do is to limit the number of login attempts anyone can perform before they are locked out. This can protect against unauthorized access, which can lead to a security breach.
5. Use HTTPS in Your URL and Entire Website
Although HTTP used to be the norm, it opens a website up to vulnerabilities. HTTPS is the new standard protocol for protecting your website and ensuring that hackers don’t have the ability to view the content on the page. If your website holds personal and financial information, you should always have HTTPS on your URL throughout the entire site.
A twofold benefit of this is that Google has announced that it will place your website higher in searches if you use the encryption.
6. Eliminate Auto-Fill Forms
Delete all traces of auto-fill forms on your website. These forms can make data far more vulnerable because all it takes to auto-fill is a simple click of the cursor.
7. Block Potential Intruders
All devices that are used within your company should include up-to-date antivirus protection, anti-spyware programs and, of course, firewalls. Run the scans in full on each device at least once per week to ensure safety.
Protecting your data against hackers doesn’t have to be overly expensive. However, at the end of the day, even if it does cost a few dollars more than you expected, the peace of mind you gain from keeping your data safe from thieves is well worth it.