Page 79 - Cyber Warnings

Delaying updates, especially when there is a security vulnerability will expose you to an attack
which could have been prevented. Remember, hackers spend days and browse thousands of
websites looking for weaknesses that’ll allow them to attack and damage your website.
Updating software regularly will give you an extra shield and may even end up being the reason
why your website wasn’t hacked.

Invest in a Web Application Firewall
WAF or a web application firewall is a software or hardware which is set between the server of
your website and the data connection. What makes it valuable for you, especially in terms of
protection is that it reads every single bit of data which passes through the portal. Though these
web types of firewalls will cost you, they can provide an added level of security.

You can find these applications in cloud form or as a plug-and-play service which can be used
for a monthly fee. Once the WAF is installed, it will block all attempts of hacking also help you
filter out spammers and bad bots. This is one of the best options which you should start
exploring especially if you have a website which has a lot of competition.

Limit Uploads
If you aren’t new to the industry and the internet, you already know that file uploads are
probably the first culprit when it comes to hacking. It doesn’t matter how thoroughly your website
checks out the system because very secretly hidden bugs can still come through and allow a
hacker to damage your website’s data. If you run a website where uploads cannot be stopped
completely, you should prevent direct access to the files and store them outside the main
directory to avoid bugs from getting inside.

If you aren’t sure how you can make this happen, you can always ask your web host to help you
set this up. Doing this will give you a considerable amount of protection so don’t make the
mistake of skipping this valuable technique.

Backup Everything
Much like you need to update your system software regularly, you must also make sure that you
backup every frequently. This is important because sometimes, even the toughest security
measures can’t stop adamant hackers and this is when you need be sure that everything is
backed up.

Your backup should be so aggressive that every time a user saves something on the website, it
is automatically saved on multiple platforms. The best policy is to backup several times a day
because if you are saving once a day, you will lose data when the hard drive fails.

Changing passwords and logins regularly and using HTTPS are some other ways you can
protect your website from malicious hackers. All the techniques discussed here will help you go
a long way in protecting your website, so don’t forget to apply and integrate them immediately if
you plan on making your website live soon. However, remember that some threats are
inevitable and if you do get a breach, acting quickly is one of the first things which will stop
further damage.

79 Cyber Warnings E-Magazine – May 2017 Edition
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