common cybersecurity concerns

Common Website Concerns | Cybersecurity

Common Website Cybersecurity Concerns

While you were sleeping … a thief gained access and stole your valuables. A statement many in South Africa are not unaccustomed to hearing. This time however, the thief didn’t gain access through a broken window or smashed lock, they simply logged onto their PC and found a way into your website. The valuables?  Your data, your server, and a massive cost to your business in downtime and revenue.

Losing sleep over cybersecurity concerns is the new ‘normal’ for business owners, especially with the pandemic and the increased number of people working from home.

Often, successful hacking attempts are a result of basic human error with poor password security, hosting accounts and the site itself. Unfortunately, these errors make it easier for hackers to attack and cripple your website. Phishing, malware, and DOS or DDoS attacks are just a few of the ways hackers can try to take over your website.

malware

Malicious files cause damage to your system, collect or destroy sensitive information and prevent access by locking you out of the system entirely. Viruses, spyware, ransomware, adware, trojans and worms are just some of the many common types of malware.

phishing

Hackers commonly use email or social media to pose as a legitimate entity such as a bank or government authority. There is usually an urgent request to update personal information on a seemingly valid page, but in reality, sensitive information is being harvested. Common phishing attacks come in different shapes and forms such as spear phishing, pharming and whaling.

DOS or DDoS attacks

Denial-of-Service or Distributed denial-of-service attacks are when the hacker uses one or more infected machines to send an overwhelming amount of traffic to the server forcing it to reduce its functionality and eventually stop working.

Other attack methods include SQL injections, whereby hackers use code to reveal both private and admin information. They can also use cross-scripting to mix legitimate content with malicious code, which causes the visitors’ browsers to become infected when accessing the website. And lastly, the hackers’ main form of cyberattack is still the age-old password attack.

People tend to use easy-to-remember words, phrases, or numbers that the patient hacker readily guesses. This attitude to passwords may be down to the sheer volume of passwords needed in our daily lives these days. However, this complacency is a hackers’ dream and gives them easy access to your data in no time.

how can you protect your cybersecurity before the ‘lights’ go out?

  1. Utilise a password management tool to manage employee passwords securely
  2. Use Secure software and plugins
  3. Optimise your website code
  4. Install a rigorous firewall
  5. Install two-factor authentication
  6. Update your admin username and login URL
  7. Utilise an online backup service to backup your data automatically

A successful web page comprises three essential elements: a website builder, a domain name, and a trustworthy web hosting service. A dependable web hosting service ensures you have additional security needed to prevent malicious cyberattacks by applying layers of security before accommodating your account.

last say on common cybersecurity concerns

By following the above recommendations and selecting a secure host, you can eliminate your cybersecurity concerns and catch up on some well-deserved sleep.