Today, we’re going to look at security on your WordPress site and at how options such as VPS hosting can help keep your site safer. Incredibly, WordPress sites are attacked at the rate of 90,000 per minute!
It is impossible to be online today and not expect to be attacked at some point. So, what you need to do is to make sure that your website is as secure as possible. There are a few different ways to do just that:
VPS Hosting Situation
One of the first things you need to do is look at your hosting situation. If you are on shared hosting, then your website is on the same server as hundreds of other sites. If a hacker compromises one of those sites, then it could leave your site vulnerable as well.
A better alternative would be to switch to a virtual private server (VPS). In this hosting platform, each site on the server is assigned a separate section of the server.
This puts a wall up between the sites so they don’t share resources. This also means that you will be separated from infected or hacked sites so that they don’t compromise your site.
Updates
This can’t be stressed enough: You must keep all aspects of your website updated regularly. This includes the site itself and the computer you edit your site on.
(The hosting company should take care of updating the server’s software and operating systems.) If a flaw or glitch in WordPress is discovered, then they will roll out a patch to correct this as soon as possible. If you don’t run these updates, you will leave your website open to potential hacks.
Passwords
Another way to protect yourself is to make sure all your website related passwords are truly secure. You should make your login password at a minimum:
- Between 8 and 16 characters
- Random (no full words or names and NOTHING personal)
- Mixture of capital letters, lowercase letters, numbers and special characters (@#$%)
If you do this, it will be harder for hackers to get access to your site. You should also limit the number of logins that are allowed on your site. A hacker can use a program to randomly “try” password combinations until it gets the right one. But if you lock them out after three guesses, you block them from being solved.
You can also add two-factor authentication on your login. This means that you log in as normal and then have to enter a code that is sent to your smartphone as a text. In order to hack you, the crook would have to steal your password and your smartphone.
Backups
If the worst-case scenario happens and you are hacked, there is actually a way to fix the problem. You simply have to restore your website from the last (uninfected) version of your site.
If you do regular backups (or have your hosting provider do them), then you can simply push a button and restore your website, foiling the hackers who would try to take you down.
Yes, Hackers Will Hack
Welcome to the internet. Yes, you will probably be attacked by hackers. That’s just the nature of the world we live in.
But by using VPS hosting, regular updates and backups, and secure passwords, you can block the hackers and stop them from destroying your hard work. Hosting providers such as InMotion Hosting can provide you with VPS hosting and automatic updates and backups that will keep your site safe and secure.