Okay, we admit it, no site is ever going to be 100% hack-proof. But there are some simple steps that you can take to help protect your author website from hacks and keep it safe. Here at Clockpunk Studios, we’ve been working in web design for years, and over that time we’ve seen too many authors, editors, and even publishers fall victim to security breaches, and we’ve seen how devastating those can be. So here are a few simple tips to help you keep your WordPress site as secure as possible, without going to a lot of effort yourself:
- Use strong passwords. The most common mistake that people make when securing their websites (or anything else that they do online) is to use passwords that aren’t strong enough. How many times have you gone somewhere and discovered that the WiFi password was something simple like “password” or “1234” or the name of the place? Strong passwords are complex, and usually involve combinations of letters, numbers, and even special characters. Many online experts recommend using a simple phrase, rather than a single word, as it is easier for you to remember, and harder for a potential hacker to crack.
- Secure your login. A password is like a lock, but even the best lock will give way under enough pressure. Similarly, no matter how strong your password is, it can be vulnerable to dedicated hackers who use brute-force attacks, such as a program that tries random strings of letters and numbers hundreds of times until it hits upon the right combination. To keep yourself safe from these kinds of attacks, it can be a good idea to secure your login page, either by limiting the number of attempts, and/or by using captchas.
- Update! WordPress works best when all its plug-ins are installed and are working as they’re intended. That’s also when your site is at its most secure. So make sure that WordPress is always up-to-date, and that all your plug-ins are properly installed. We know that keeping up with that can be a bear, which is why Clockpunk Studios offers ongoing WordPress support! Don’t want to constantly update your plug-ins? Don’t worry, we’ll do it for you!
- Backup your site! While it’s not exactly security in the strictest sense, think of regular site backups as a kind of insurance policy. In the event that your site does get hacked, having a current backup will make getting things back up and running so much faster and easier. Not sure how to back up your site? Don’t worry, Clockpunk Studios can help!
In fact, we pride ourselves on helping our customers with every aspect of their author or business websites, from design and construction through ongoing support and, yes, even security. Not sure how to keep your WordPress site secure, or how to implement any of the suggestions above? Just drop us a line and we’ll be happy to help!