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Keep your online presence hack-proof
Eddie Bauer, an outdoor clothing and accessories retail chain, appears to be the latest victim of a malware attack that has affected its point-of-sale systems. Any customers who used a payment card at the store between January and July may have been affected, with their card details at the risk of being stolen.
These high-profile cyber attacks stress the importance of implementing proper security protocols as we live in an age where more businesses are going online to leverage the virtually boundless opportunities that the World Wide Web has to offer. This is especially true for small businesses that have neither the expertise nor the resources to protect their online presence from hackers.
Regularly Update All Your Software
Avoid using out-of-date software as they have security flaws that can be exploited by hackers to target your online assets. This is also true for any software you host in the cloud (like WordPress), or have installed on your computer.
For instance, many businesses have their primary blogs and websites on WordPress. While it is quite secure, older versions usually have major loopholes that leave you open to cyber attacks. Since a majority of web hosts do not update WordPress automatically, you may end up using an older version, which means you are an easy target for hackers.
This, however, can be avoided by ensuring you install these updates as soon as they are made available. You could also automate the process by using the “Advanced Automatic Updates” WordPress plug-in to keep your version updated. Additionally, you need to make sure you are using a secure web host that monitors and updates your plug-ins/software automatically.
Use a secure web host
Not all web hosts are made equal. Some have implemented far advanced security protocols than others to help keep your online presence hack-free. Therefore, to protect your online assets, it is important for you to use a web host that is serious about security. Compare the features of different web hosts and determine whether they can protect your business and its online activities efficiently.
Use a Popular DNS Service
DNS, an acronym for Domain Name System, is the way internet protocol addresses are translated into human-readable domain names. It converts IP addresses (like 150.125.5.304) to appropriate domain names (like ‘particularwebsite.com’). From a web security point of view, a DNS service, such as Cloudflare, routes all traffic to your site through its nameservers, not only improving security, but as well as traffic.
When it comes to keeping your online presence hack-free, it is extremely important to be proactive! You need to deal with any threats as soon as they appear. Sure, there is no such thing as being 100% hack-proof, but by following the aforementioned advice, you can considerably lower your chances of being hacked!
About The Author
Joe is an avid technologist. He has worked for Emirias for 5 years now, and is loving the experience very much.