How to Prevent Your Website from Getting Hacked

Update Regularly

There is nothing hackers love more than out of date software. This is because many updates address security issues and close certain “doors” that allow hackers access.

The 2017 Equifax hack was due to a vulnerability in their website software. This data breach resulted in 143 million consumers sensitive information being compromised.

Only Install Features You Need

If you find that there is a feature on your website that you are not using such as an old template or contact form, delete it.

Remember every component you install is another component you need to update or another component that could potentially be compromised.

Always Use Encrypted Passwords

Keep in mind hackers run sophisticated programs that try various character combinations. So you can bet common passwords like “abc123” or “password” are out of the question. But in addition to making your password something more personal or harder to guess, you will need to make it as encrypted as possible using 10-15 characters.

Install Security Monitoring

There are several free and paid security monitoring services available that will help you be proactive and prevent your site from being hacked. Features include blocking site access after a certain number of failed logins or notifying you when specific components are out of date.

Back Up Your Site Regularly

Even if you are taking every step to safeguard your site, it still could get hacked. Ultimately, prevention will decrease the odds significantly, but in the event it is hacked and beyond repair, make sure you always have backups to create a restore point.