How can I avoid my website getting hacked?

Every website is different, but here are some general tips. At Simba Hosting we do our part, monitoring various threats at the server level, and keeping a strong fence between different customer accounts. But you also need to do your part. Here are some general tips:

  • Keep any software in use on your website up-to-date. If you don’t know how, then we can help.
  • Make sure you use strong passwords, not-easily-guessable for any logins on your website. It only takes one weak one to bring a breach. For WordPress, we recommend you install the “No Weak Passwords” plugin.
  • If your website is not SSL-protected, then do not log in to it from any locations with free, unencrypted wifi (e.g. coffee shops, fast food restaurants), as it is easy for other customers at such places to learn your passwords.
  • When building your website, only use modern, maintained software. Do not install obsolete components or components from sources which you are not sure whether you can trust.
  • It can be cheap to get your 12 year-old nephew to help you build a website, and he might be a genius. On the other hand, he might be a learner, and have very little idea of best practices or today’s security threats. Build your website through a reputable company if its security is important to you.
  • Pay for a security audit of your site – Simba Hosting can offer these, and have experience of finding weaknesses that hackers can use, even in expensive sites. You may be surprised what we turn up!

Posted in: Questions about website security / being hacked