Keep Your Website Protected from Cyber Scams & Hackers

Let’s face it: running a website can feel like you’re hosting a party, but instead of fun and cake, you’re trying to keep out burglars, creepy party crashers, and the occasional rogue raccoon. The internet is a vast, wild place, and while there’s a lot of awesome stuff to discover, there are also a lot of cyber scams and hackers just waiting to take advantage of your site.

Think of Red Technologies as your cybersecurity bouncer—making sure only the right people get in, and kicking out those shady scammers before they can ruin the party. Here are some tips for protecting your website from hackers:

Control Access to the Site

Use Strong Passwords

This may seem like a no brainer, but strong passwords are the first line of defense in protecting your site. So often, people use their pet, child, or spouse’s names as passwords, which makes their sites vulnerable to anyone who knows how to use social media*. Always create complex, unique passwords for admin panels and databases. Use a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters, and aim for 24+ characters. A password manager can help you manage them securely.

Our web developer recommends using password managers such as 1Password or LastPass to remember long, complex passwords. If using a long string of nonsense characters and numbers is too difficult to remember, using random passphrases with five or more random words is an excellent alternative. A passphrase should not make any sense and will be just as difficult to crack as a string of random characters, but may be easier for you to remember. An example of a nonsensical passphrase would be “charity armhole heading camera ream.”

*Side note: Avoid taking those fun surveys and quizzes on social media asking questions such as your first pet’s name, the street you grew up on, your first car, your high school mascot, or other questions that could lead to figuring out your passwords. These quizzes may seem like a fun way for friends to get to know you, but they make hacking easier.

Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Think about it: you wouldn’t rely on just a single lock to keep your house safe. So why would you rely on just a password to keep your website secure? Passwords are so last century. That’s where Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) comes in—a digital lock with a combination, a key, and maybe even a secret handshake.

With MFA, even if someone gets their hands on your password (which, let’s face it, could happen if your password is something like “SuperSecret123”), they’ll still need a second layer of verification (like a code sent to your phone or an email) to access your site. Think of it as putting your website behind a fortress wall. Just, you know, with more tech-savvy wizardry.

Limit User Access

Only grant admin access to trusted individuals and regularly review user permissions. Use role-based access to limit what each user can do, and ensure each user has proper clearance to access the back end of the site.

Infrastructure Security

Keep Software Updated

Update your CMS (like WordPress) and any plugins or themes regularly to patch security vulnerabilities. Set automatic updates where possible to avoid missing critical security fixes.

Implement HTTPS (SSL Certificate)

An SSL certificate encrypts data between your site and users, protecting sensitive information like login credentials. Google also prioritizes HTTPS in search rankings, so it benefits both: security and SEO. 

Install a Web Application Firewall (WAF)

A WAF helps block malicious traffic and defends against common attacks like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). Consider services like Cloudflare or Sucuri.

Monitoring and Recovery

Backup Your Site Regularly

Regular backups are crucial in case of a cyberattack or server failure. Store backups securely (preferably offsite) and test them periodically to ensure they can be restored quickly.

Monitor for Suspicious Activity

Use tools like Google Search Console or Wordfence to monitor your site for signs of malware or suspicious behavior. Look for unusual login attempts or changes to key files.

Scan for Malware

Even if you avoid downloading anything that isn’t from a reputable site or that seems suspicious, you may still be susceptible to malware or viruses. Regularly scan your website for malware using trusted software. Catching malware early can prevent significant damage.

Don’t Fall for Scams!

Educate Your Team on Phishing

Phishing emails are one of the most common forms of cyber scams and can leave your site vulnerable to hacking. These emails often look like they’re from trusted sources, such as your bank or a company you do business with, and may ask you to click on a link or open an attachment. Teach your team to spot phishing attempts by::

• Scrutinizing email addresses: Check for subtle misspellings or strange domain names.
• Hovering over links: Ensure links lead to trusted websites before clicking.
• Never sharing credentials: Remind team members not to share passwords via email, even if the request seems urgent.
• Don’t click: Avoid opening attachments or clicking on links in unsolicited emails.

Let Red Technologies Handle Your Website Security

With all of the digital threats out there, protecting your website might seem impossible. These tips should help keep your site safe – but sometimes you need to hire some digital muscle to keep your site secure. With Red Technologies in your corner, you can finally relax and stop worrying about your website being hacked, scammed, or getting that dreaded “your site has been compromised” email at 3 A.M. We’ve got you covered—so you can focus on what really matters: making your website awesome.

Reach out to us today to assess your website’s security.