As a blogger, there is very little more frightening than being subject to a hack or threat to your blog’s security. Yet, everyday hackers fill the internet looking for loopholes in websites or hardware they can expose. The result can be that they install malware to your website with potentially devastating consequences for your blog and the traffic you have worked so hard to cultivate. Not to mention the undue stress and anxiety it can cause. Unfortunately, no one is immune from cyber attacks and while you may not consider yourself to be a prime target, security should always be taken seriously. Here are some ways you can up your game and improve the security of your blog.
Protect your hardware
First and foremost your hardware, such as your laptops or computers should be adequately protected to ensure that hackers do not gain access via your personal laptop. You can do this with a few simple and easy steps:
- Ensure it remains up to date.
- Good password practices.
- Don’t open unknown or suspicious links or emails.
- Browse the web safely.
- Use a firewall or anti-malware tools. Some apps can provide great and sometimes free protection.
Tighten up your log-in
When it comes to logging in to your blog consider taking some of these steps;
- Add double authentication.
- Use a captcha.
- Regularly change the password.
- Repeatedly review who has the log-in details and/or administrative access. Revoke access where it is not necessary.
- Only ever use secure or trusted devices to log in to your blog.
Be mindful of plug-ins
Plug-ins can be a great tool for bloggers but they can expose your blog to threats. Here are some plug-in best practices to follow.
- Plug-ins that are out of date should always be updated.
- Plug-ins that are not provided with an update for an extended period of time should be deactivated and deleted.
- Unused or unnecessary plug-ins should always be deactivated and deleted.
- Check the rating of any plug-in before installing.
- Read user reviews of plug-ins
- Check the number of users of a particular plug-in before you download and install it.
Always backup your blog
Regardless of how robust your security is, you should always back up your blog. This will make recovering and re-installing your blog from even the most vicious of attacks possible, with minimal disruptions. You can do this by using a hosting provider that offers automatic back-ups or backing up your website manually using an external storage system.
Use a reliable host
Your hosting provider will be responsible for ensuring your blog and all of its content is online. Many hosting providers offer a variety of packages and benefits and you should spend time researching the options available to you. Do not always be tempted by the most attractively priced provider. You want to ensure that you use a competent and trusted host that offers a decent level of security protection. A top tip is to opt for a provider that offers stellar customer service. A good provider will be able to