It’s every online store owner’s nightmare to wake up one day to find that a security hole has been exploited to hack their website. Unfortunately, this is a situation that happens more often than you might think. Above all, once you own a business and have a certain reputation, the risk is even greater as the challenge of hacking the website becomes interesting.
That’s why it’s so important to make sure everything is in place so that the site is well-protected and to do regular checks to see if there are any potential vulnerabilities.
How to improve the security of your virtual store? Here are 10 tips to keep hackers out of your digital business.
Hackers are creative and have a plethora of types of attacks they can try to use on your site. The following tips are general and do not represent absolute solutions, but they can still help to prevent most potential problems.
Table of Contents
10 tips to secure your website and make sure it’s not vulnerable
1) Change your passwords
It may sound like basic advice, but many people are lax on this level. We’ve often seen how very simple passwords are still commonly used. The “1234” and “abcd” should be avoided, especially when it comes to accessing the backend of an online store and entering the database. On the other hand, even if you use complicated passwords, it’s best to change them often. To help you stay on top of this, you can use a password manager.
For those uninspired, using tools like KeePass or LastPass can provide passwords complex enough to fool hackers. Also remember that it is not recommended to use the same password for more than one service, because if you fall victim to a hack, you are particularly vulnerable.
2) Monitor activity in your database
Databases are particularly vulnerable to attacks, especially when users can upload attached files or fill out forms where they can write code. Therefore, it is necessary to assess whether there is potential for people visiting the site to be able to access the code and make modifications to it using this technique. If you are able to do this, test yourself. Otherwise, do not hesitate to hire experts to carry out this task.
In this regard, please note that enabling Google Webmaster Tools (Google Search Console) is a great way to be aware of abnormal activity on your site. In fact, because Google regularly updates its search index, it is able to quickly detect any activity that it considers suspicious.
3) Make sure the software is up to date
All software associated with your site should be updated regularly. You are probably using CMS or software associated with your server. During each update, additional protections are built in and vulnerabilities are sealed. Therefore, these “updates” are vitally important. You can also use software that will alert you to the presence of vulnerabilities in the software. When you receive a notification, please respond as soon as possible.
4) Make sure you share as little information as possible
For example, when your online store issues error messages, you should make sure that these messages don’t reveal too much information (including API keys). In all situations, make sure that the information and messages you share with customers contain as little specific data as possible. With online tools, sharing your personal phone number can reveal your current and past addresses, income, relationship, SSN, and more.
5) Apply HTTPS throughout your online store
Haven’t you applied HTTPS to your store yet? Don’t delay doing this! Especially if your store has not adhered to this security protocol, some search engines like Google and Bing will penalize you, lowering you in the rankings.
In short, HTTPS is a communication protocol that guarantees, among other things, the visitor that their information is sent to the website’s server and that the data is encrypted, thus preventing the possibility of access by third parties. It is even more important to use it on pages to which visitors must send sensitive information (passwords, personal data).
Also, note that the HTTP protocol must be enabled with an SSL certificate. In fact, the latter represents a form of additional protection for both your visitors and your store.
6) Install security plugins
Some plugins that you can install in your store increase security, and their main purpose is to block the way of possible hackers. You will find many options depending on your needs. For example, some plugins are specifically designed for WooCommerce, while others work on Magento. Do your research and look at the reviews to get a good idea of how trustworthy they are.
7) Make regular backups
Backups of your online store should be done at regular intervals. How can backups help improve site security? In fact, if you have a problem, you can quickly restore the site and get it back up and running without much work. Most hosting services offer a backup option. You can also see if your CMS software contains the option or if you can install a plugin that does the job automatically.
At this point, let’s specify that we should compare the number of backups that should be done with the number of updates done in the store. So if you update your products every other day, you should do 15 backups per month.
8) Use a tool to test website security
There are tools that allow you to make a general diagnosis of the security level of your website. These tools are very useful and can be activated regularly, weekly or monthly as needed. Security scans should also be performed whenever a medium or large change is made to the site.
9) Consult cybersecurity experts
Regarding the previous point, it should be noted that these tools are not foolproof and nothing replaces the expertise of cybersecurity experts! That’s why you should enlist the services of a company or a self-employed person with a lot of experience in the field. Typically, these companies offer a variety of options, from full coverage to periodic cybersecurity audits.
10) Make corrections quickly
Whatever your situation, one of the most important things to do is to fix any flaws you find in your online store as quickly as possible. Don’t wait for a problem to arise before reacting! In fact, even if the flaw is small, it can expose you to significant problems. You don’t have the experience to make the necessary changes? Call experts!
Conclusion
Moral of this article: no one is safe and we must remain vigilant without becoming paranoid. The security of your website should be at the center of your concerns, especially when your customers use it for transactions. Just by applying these 10 tips, your customers felt more confident in your online store.
