Thorough website security
What is website security or cybersecurity?
The formal definition of website security is “the act/practice of protecting websites from unauthorized access, use, modification, destruction, or disruption”. It aims to prevent a wide range of cybersecurity threats that can severely impact your business. A security breach can result in lost revenue, remediation costs, damage to your brand reputation, and significant fines for failing to protect personal data per the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Common website security threats
Brute force attack
A brute force attack is a method of cracking passwords through trial and error. It involves systematically attempting all possible password combinations until the correct one is found. These attacks are usually executed by scripts or bots that target a website’s login page.
Clickjacking
Clickjacking is a malicious technique that deceives users into clicking on something different from what they believe they are clicking. This can potentially expose confidential information or enable attackers to gain control over their computers.
Compromised credentials
A weak login procedure can expose credentials to attackers, enabling them to steal data, access accounts on your website, and potentially compromise your entire network.
Credential stuffing
Credential stuffing is a type of cyber attack in which hackers use stolen login credentials to gain unauthorized access to other accounts. This method takes advantage of individuals who reuse the same username and password combinations across different platforms.
Distributed denial of service (DDoS)
A distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack aims to overwhelm a server by flooding it with fake requests, making it unable to respond to legitimate client requests.
DNS cache poisoning or spoofing
DNS cache poisoning or spoofing happens when an attacker inserts false information into a DNS cache. This causes DNS queries to respond incorrectly, directing users to the wrong websites.
Machine‑in‑the‑middle (MITM) attack
A machine-in-the-middle (MITM) attack occurs when an attacker intercepts unencrypted data, such as login credentials, personal information, or payment details that travel between your website’s server and the browser.
Subdomain takeover
A subdomain takeover occurs when an attacker gains control of a subdomain. This typically happens when the subdomain has a CNAME record in the DNS but lacks a host to provide content. The attacker can take over the subdomain by setting up their own virtual host and hosting their content there.
Watering hole attack
A watering hole attack happens when an attacker identifies the websites frequently used by a specific organization and infects one or more of those sites with malware. As a result, the computers of some members of the targeted group may become infected.
How to protect your website
Creating your website by yourself can leave it vulnerable to cyberattacks. It’s essential to update WordPress and any plugins you use frequently. However, problems may arise during automatic updates, and disabling these updates can expose your website to vulnerabilities.
Even if you take all the right steps, your website can still be at risk from bugs, plugin vulnerabilities, or security breaches since third parties create plugins. Additionally, hackers continually find new ways to exploit websites as technology evolves. In the event of an attack, it’s essential to have systems in place to quickly restore your website from the most recent backup and identify vulnerabilities to prevent future incidents.
Website security is an ongoing process. Therefore, I strongly recommend having a website maintenance plan to ensure your site is always optimized and secure.