Websites need to be secure for those that view them, especially if they are ecommerce. They also need to be secure for those that own them, to prevent a hacker from taking the site down, publishing unwanted content or stealing your customers bank or personal details.
What checks can you do to make sure your website is up to date and secure?
1. Make sure you have the most up to date version. If your site is built in Wordpress for example, then make sure you keep it updated. For most websites this can be set to update automatically. Some hosting providers will take care of all this for you if you are using wix.com or something similar.
2. Watch out for third party apps. Most hosting platforms will make sure the apps that you use are safe. But this isn't always the case. If you are using something that is open source then your site may be open to attack through that app that you have added to your site. Make sure they are from a trusted source, do some research.
3. People have been talking about SSL for some time now. If you haven't got a Secure Socket Layer or your website developer built your site without one, then we'd suggest you install one as quickly as possible. Not having an SSL on your site affects your Google Rank, it doesn't give customers much confidence seeing a warning in the address bar and if you are an ecommerce site then not having one is just foolish. Paying for Adwords, SEO and not having an SSL installed is counterproductive. It's like running a race with ankle weights on. If you aren't sure what an SSL is then look in the address bar where your site is and see if it begins with HTTP or HTTPS. If it's HTTP then you don't have an SSL installed.
4. Passwords. I think this advice has been said so many times that people have just switched off from listening. Try not to use the same password in multiple places, have a password that contains uppercase and lower case letters as well as symbols. We'd also suggest you keep your passwords on a memory stick or even a printed version in your filing cabinet as oppsed to leaving them on your PC. If your PC is compromised then so will all your passwords be.
There are obviously more things you can do, but these are just 4 simple things you can look at when securing your website for yourself and for those that are visiting your website. Depending on where your website is hosted there may be things you can do that are specific to that host, so it's worth looking at what is offered and what it in place automatically.
Signpost Media are a Website Designer in Peterborough. We help small to medium sized Cambridgeshire businesses with their Websites and any Marketing, as well as Graphic Design and Branding.