HOW TO PROTECT YOUR BLOG FROM HACKERS

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR BLOG FROM HACKERS

Your blog is one of the most important things in the world for you. This is the way you communicate with the outside world, share your passions and maybe even generate your income.

There are other people who do not feel the same way.

These hackers want to take your blog and use it to profit by sending unwanted messages to your blog or using your subscriber lists for criminal purposes.

If your blog is supported by a hacker, you can not only lose your blog, but you can lose your readership and reputation. It is worth every inconvenience to make sure that this does not happen.

The basics

What happens to the rest of the internet does not change for your blog. Many threats to your computer can also affect your blog, so you need to keep constant vigilance on both fronts. Know these bases and know them right.

Passwords and user names

Although it is better for you to have a simple password like "Password123" or something similar, hackers will be able to crack such a password in five minutes on a slow day. You need something better with different types of characters, no words in the dictionary, and enough characters to keep the number of options high (at least 10). Once you are friends, you do not care much about the trouble, and it will be easier to remember a new one every time you change it.

If you are looking for good password examples, see the following examples:

Typ561Tesert?

M0O0Nrare!

J0hnsm1TH

Pra531cTiCal

As for your user name, this is obviously not so well protected, but there are steps you can take. The larger does not use "admin" as a username.

Many different exploits and attacks from hackers start with the premise that Admin is a username or a profile name on the site. If you use it, then you have made your work easier. Unlike that, make sure you do not give your user name at all. Keep it as safe as your password.

security software

Your computer is connected to your blog, and there is nothing you can do to change that. If your computer is being attacked, consider your blog. All cookies or passwords stored on your device can be stolen and used to access your blog.

You need security software on all your devices, and you need to make sure it is updated regularly. There are free programs and premium programs available. Some of the best free products are Panda Free Antivirus, AVG Free Antivirus and Avira. Some of the best premium programs and brands are Norton, McAfee, and Kaspersky Total Security.

Everyone has its pros and cons (eg Kaspersky is the most expensive, but has all the features you might want) and you need to decide what is in your budget and most compatible with your needs. Consider an investment in the survival of your blog.

E-mail security

In the case of your blog, your e-mail security is of equal importance to your overall computer security. If a hacker is able to enter your e-mail account, he can easily find your password and / or user name. This is in addition to the many other questions you need to have when your email is hacked (such as potential identity theft).

This is why your email must have the safest account you have. If you're particularly cautious, you'll want to create a separate email for blogging purposes. You can also use it as a separate contact for readers, so you can organize your e-mail more easily. A second e-mail address is free and easy to start, so there is no disadvantage for setting up (except time).

In addition, you want a strong password (see above). Your email account may also have other verification options such as a security or security issue that requires you to reply each time you connect to a new device. Take all these options and keep in mind that you do not have to share your email with everyone you need to meet.

Platforms, tools and plugins

A strong web page is your first line of defense against potential hackers. Hackers are not necessarily lazy, but they are opportunistic and attack the weaker blog they see. If your blog is outdated, its security is probably also dated. Try to think how a predator thinks, then take action that will eliminate it. Try to do it from a holistic view, taking into account the platform, the basic blog, and any plugins that you have installed.

Security Tools & Modules

Most blogging platforms, including WordPress, have a lot of tools and plugins for users to make your site safer. Let's see some of the most popular and useful:

Acunetix WP Security Scan is one of the first plugins you need to download for your blog. Once activated, it will analyze your blog and design for any possible security hole, and then recommend repairs. It is constantly improving and is an excellent introduction to WordPress security.

WordFence is probably the most popular and familiar of all plugins for WordPress now. The plugin analyzes the coding of your website and then optimizes your security and makes it up to fifty times faster. It has some of the best blocking features (you can block entire networks), analyze holes and common leaks, not too often, and a firewall. There is a superior option that is great, but the free option is more than enough to protect your blog from most of the threats.

Sucuri Security is a plug-in from a company that specializes in audit and security on the Internet. It will integrate multiple Blacklist Engines on your blog to protect it, and it has a lot of monitoring features available so you can get to know all the latest things about security and activity on your site. It is a fantastic security application all around.

Brute Force login protection is probably your best bet when you are targeted by a botnet attack or, as the name implies, a brute force attack. Since most of these types of attacks are automated, you need a good level of protection that works automatically for you, and this plug-in blocks the IP address of a hacker trying to sign up too often. You can even email them when this happens, so you are aware of the frequency of attacks on your site.

Whatever security plugins you choose, do not forget to search them thoroughly. Many options are obsolete or malicious in disguise and give you a false sense of security. In the worst case, you could even hackers a gateway method to attack your blog. Your homework will save you a lot of money in the long run.

Kevin's advice: Respect the plugins in the official WordPress directory. You'll see when a plugin was last updated, compatible with the latest version of WordPress, how often its developers answered the questions of "support" and the other users who gave it. In addition, all plugins are free. I love it for free.

A final tip is to take an hour or two every few months to check all the apps you can use on your blog. If they are outdated, do not hesitate to replace them. Cybersecurity is developing too fast to be something true that no longer works.

Use the latest version

If you use WordPress or another hosting service that has multiple versions, make sure you use the latest available ones. Hackers find many more holes and security issues in older versions of blogging platforms, and hosts do not support them nearly as much in their latest product.

If you upgrade, do it now. There are only a few disadvantages for the upgrade after the first month (where they get the bugs), and you can use the other features offered.

Protect your blog on the road

Many bloggers travel or work outside the home, and that is a good thing. It allows new perspectives and a faster and more uniform production rate. However, there are many risks while the blog is on the road, and you must be prepared for it with the right knowledge and the right tools.

networks

As far as the security of the Internet in general, public networks are your worst enemy and hacker the best friend. Although they are useful to many people who want to surf the Internet, most people do not have the lack of security inherent in many of them.

The biggest problem with a public network is that it is really easy for anyone to intercept your data or upload them to the network. Think of your computer as a sending tower. Anyone with a receiver and knowledge to use it can take the signal. Unfortunately, the receivers are not expensive, and they are fairly easy to use for beginners hackers.

If your data is collected in this way, they can be easily used against you. Try to imagine whether your passwords and usernames will not retrieve any encryption for someone to retrieve. If you connect without protection, this is what will happen. The sky forbids you to try online banking or financial transactions related to the blog.

Use a VPN

The best way to deal with public network problems is to use a virtual private network (VPN) to defend yourself. What a VPN will do is to connect your device to a different off-site server through an encrypted connection. This connection can serve as a tunnel and hide your IP address, which gives you maximum security and privacy. Pirates know nothing, even in the public network.

There are several different VPNs, and many of them are specialized. The research on the subject will help you know who to use to prevent hackers in public networks and stay private. If you want a decent, you must pay a subscription fee, but it is worth comparing to the doubtful liberals on the market.

If you travel to other countries or you need access to sensitive data, another important thing about VPNs is to be considered. The fact that they mask IP addresses and make them appear as if you are sailing in another country means that you can circumvent government censure when you are in a restrictive country. This is necessary for bloggers who report risky topics.

Secure your smartphone

If you're on the go, or if you're walking around town, you need to make sure your smartphone is at your fingertips and you can feel it. There is a huge market for stolen smartphones, and call shooters how to make profits.

Your smartphone is probably connected to your blog, so if your smartphone is stolen, you need to change your password to one of your top priorities. If a smartphone thief gets a blog to sell, in addition to a new phone, you have another problem on your hands.

If you are worried about traveling with your smartphone, try to leave it in a safe place in the hotel if you do not believe that you need it or put it on your person in a place where a handkerchief doesn ' will not try to achieve. A popular measure is to attach your smartphone to an arm strap that people will be happy to use when you are working and wearing something.

Also try to have some type of verification measure configured on your phone so that no one can open it. This may be the form of an access code (that is not "1111"), a fingerprint check, a voice command, or something else. Check to see what options your phone is available for and choose the right one for you and is the safest.

Conclusion

To investigate, there are many threats, but there are an equal number of defenses. You need to maintain an active and up-to-date website, have an adaptable and solid defense for all your technology, and be more cautious while traveling.

The ultimate goal and the best thing is to use the healthy human understanding when using your blog. If something does not seem or does not seem right, do not participate. Check immediately all inconsistencies. Do not trust anyone.

Thank you for reading. I hope you have a better understanding of how your blog is vulnerable and how you can protect yourself from hackers.