When your website gets hacked, you lose your rankings on search engines, and in some of the worst cases, sensitive information about your company and all website data is lost.
To prevent this from happening to your business in the future, the first step is to purchase an SSL certificate. Then it’s important to understand why hackers might target your website, so you know what steps to take to prevent WordPress website hacking.
1. Hacking Due to Unpatched Vulnerabilities:
You might have heard the term ‘vulnerability scanning’ in relation to computer antivirus software. It’s a common practice in the design of programs that identify reasons for site hacking that hackers could exploit to damage your files or computer system. They suggest the necessary solutions to address them. Unfortunately, hackers can use a similar scanning approach to hack your WordPress website. Given this reality, it’s always essential to regularly check your WordPress website for vulnerabilities and patch them immediately.
2. Hacked Because of Exposure to Automated Hackers:
While having a website on a platform like WordPress is easy and user-friendly, during changes and updates, as well as regular content production for business connection to search engines, a WordPress website is exposed to automatic attacks known as bots. While these bots aren’t inherently malicious, if not checked immediately, they can quickly bring your website down.
3. SQL Injection Attack:
One of the most common reasons for website hacking is the SQL injection attack, whose goal is to input code into the site’s database and manipulate the data.
Website Hacking Due to Third-Party Connections
Do you work with an email company, utilize Google Maps, or use Facebook integration features on your WordPress website? While all of these are excellent features to offer your customers, they can also provide an opening for hackers. Make sure these third-party companies are reputable and safeguard your customer’s security.
WordPress Website Hacking Due to Security Weaknesses
Another reason for WordPress website hacking is carelessness. Most business owners are unaware of how easy it is for a hacker to target and misuse a WordPress website. This is why many people configure server or WordPress website access codes in a way that makes them difficult to guess. This practice exposes the website to vulnerabilities, and if the password is not secure enough, hackers can find potential passwords within seconds.
Ensure you follow these steps to enhance password security against website hacking:
- Â Create long passwords: Ideal passwords should be 16+ characters, as long as they are not repetitive or a common word.
- Use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols for your password.
- Use words or phrases that are not easily guessable.
- Avoid security questions that can be answered by checking your social media profiles.
- Regularly change your password.
- Do not use a password similar to the ones used for other things.
- Use two-factor authentication.
Using SSL to Prevent WordPress Website Hacking
Do you have SSL on your WordPress website? Don’t want to be on the list of hacked sites? If not, you’ve left a significant vulnerability for potential hackers to exploit. SSL technology ensures that the connection between the website and the browser is encrypted, helping protect your website visitors and ensuring that you safeguard your potential customers. Through encryption, SSL technology ensures that the information shared between your website and your customers remains private. This is why purchasing an SSL certificate is essential to prevent WordPress site hacking.
Recovery Process in Case of WordPress Website Hacking
Fortunately, there are multiple strategies you can have both before and after your WordPress website gets hacked. Before a hacking incident, create a strategy to assist you in case your website is hacked. When your WordPress website is hacked, conduct a quick assessment of what you’ve lost. Do you still have access to your website? Have hackers gained access to sensitive information?”
