Is your website secure?

Is your website secure? If your answer is “maybe" or "I am not sure", then it is most likely not the case. Operators must expect attacks from hackers on their online presence at any time. Small and medium-sized companies, in particular, often lack sufficient in-house expertise to carry out the necessary security checks. For companies that do not have their own IT department, especially, it is advisable to reach out to a professional service provider. Since a website represents the company and often provides the first impression on potential customers.

What exactly is Website Security?

Website security describes all online security measures that can protect a site and its users from malicious attacks. A secure webpage is therefore not only protected on the server-side, but also in its communication with the user's browser.

Website security, however, means more than just protection:

Þ      A secure website helps you build trust in your product, ensures a better ranking and more sales.

Þ      An insecure website, on the other hand, damages your reputation and your brand.

Attack vectors

There are several approaches to how websites can be attacked (so-called attack vectors). Very common interventions, among others, are Phishing and Distributes Denial of Service (DDoS):

Phishing and Social Engineering

Phishing is an electronic fraud attempt in which the recipient is sent a fake e-mail but often does not recognize it as such. This method of attack, in the form of a professional-looking e-mail, is often designed in such a way that the receiver may be tricked into disclosing sensitive data (personal data, for example).

It is often associated with social engineering. Here, (fake) relationships between people are used in order to gain trust and obtain information. This means, for example, that malware attachments are sent from familiar e-mail addresses and accompanied by realistic and personal-looking cover letters.

DDoS

A website can become a victim of a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack or – if the server has been infected – be used as part of an attack itself. The primary goal is to overwhelm the server with too many requests so that the website is no longer accessible.

Top tips for a secure website

Every website is vulnerable – but there are a number of simple measures you can take to protect yourself.

Tip 1- HTTPS and SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificate

HTTPS secures the exchange of sensitive data. With the help of SSL, the data exchange between server and client is encrypted. This means that hackers cannot easily read or intercept the transmitted data. An SSL certificate, which is integrated for a domain, ensures that the page is called up in encrypted form. The use of SSL is particularly recommended for online stores, forums, and Internet pages that have a login area. The certificate can be purchased on several websites. With many hosting providers, the certificate is included in the web hosting package or is offered for an additional fee.

Tip 2 – Regular backups

All important information should be backed up and stored regularly and automatically – preferably without direct connection to the Internet or the rest of your network.

Tip 3 – Regular updates

Every system has weaknesses and gets regular security updates. Your store system always needs to be up to date. Ideally, the latest version should be installed. Security updates should be installed with high priority.

Tip 4 – Use secure passwords

If someone finds out the password to the administration area of your website, they can harm your website.

Þ      Use long and complex passwords, if possible because they are much harder to hack.

Þ      Use a separate password for each service to avoid direct access to all of them. Otherwise, someone who knows it will have direct access to all other services.

Þ      Change it systematically because regular changes minimize the risk that (further) damage can be done with a hacked password.