Almost every webmaster, developer, or site owner is familiar with hacker attacks. Attacks damage the reputation of the resource and its ranking in search results, which negatively affects the site traffic, as well as the income of its owner if the project is commercial. That is why it is necessary to consider the security of the resource as a priority for your business, especially if you request personal information from customers. How can you ensure this security? Read this article to learn about 6 ways to protect yourself from hacker attacks.
Keep only the customer information you need.
Hackers can’t steal what you don’t have. So query through your online resource and keep only the personal customer data you really need to run your business. When you need to process bank card data, use an encrypted channel to process it so that your servers can’t read the card data. This may take longer for your customers to process the payment, but it protects you from the risks associated with keeping your customers’ credit card data secure. A good example of such storage on the website of the company guru restoration, which deals with asbestos removal near GTA, Canada.
Update SSL
When transmitting sensitive information you need to encrypt the connection between your site and your browser. To keep your site safe from hackers, keep up-to-date with current encryption algorithms, such as for SSL (Secure Sockets Layer). It is important to use updated versions of the encryption library to ensure security. Some time ago, researchers discovered a serious vulnerability in the code of SSL versions 3.0 and 2.0. This is why updates are necessary.
Test your site for vulnerabilities
Bank card companies require merchants to test their resources for compliance with certain security standards. However, this is sometimes not enough. The surest way to prevent unexpected hacks is to conduct regular testing of your resources. This includes:
- Regularly checking websites (including testing all links) to make sure hackers haven’t introduced malware (malware) into ads, graphics or any other content placed on your site by third parties.
- Penetration testing. If your budget allows, consider hiring a cybersecurity specialist to find vulnerabilities in your code.
- Select scanning tools that help figure out various vulnerabilities in the code during program testing.
Encrypt communications
Encrypt communications with your business partners, especially when it comes to payment card data. You might even consider encrypting your emails if necessary. Remember, you should never send important personal data in plain text over the Internet. Why risk the security of your data?
Trust, but verify
We all want to trust our customers, right? But these days, it’s best to double-check. So hook up an address verification system and ask customers to enter a card authentication code for all transactions.
Choose a reliable hosting provider
When choosing a hosting provider, make sure you’re investing in quality services. Lots of hosts, like Time web, offer a range of services that help keep your site running consistently and reliably. The greatest security you can be guaranteed by providers that:
- Conduct regular backups;
- conduct regular monitoring of the network;
- provide support in case of any problems.
You must be sure that the hosting provider has scripts to respond to unforeseen malfunctions or attacks. Check with the hoster for all the necessary information.
Withdrawal
Your customers need to be assured that you are doing everything necessary to ensure online security. To do this, test your site regularly, fix problems promptly if they are found, and make sure that all vulnerabilities are under your control.