13 Tips to Secure Your Website from Hackers

A practical, no-jargon checklist of thirteen security steps every website owner should take.

1. Keep your CMS, plugins and themes updated.
2. Use strong, unique passwords and a password manager.
3. Turn on two-factor authentication for admin, hosting and domain accounts.
4. Install an SSL certificate and force HTTPS.
5. Use a web application firewall to block malicious traffic.
6. Limit login attempts to stop brute-force attacks.
7. Change default admin usernames and URLs where possible.
8. Remove unused plugins, themes and user accounts.
9. Never use nulled or pirated software.
10. Back up automatically and store copies off-server.
11. Validate and sanitise all form inputs to prevent injection attacks.
12. Set correct file permissions on your server.
13. Monitor for malware and downtime so you can act fast.

Want all thirteen handled for you? Our website maintenance plans include security hardening and monitoring. Ask us about it.

Secure your website checklist

Use this checklist to put the ideas above into practice:

• Uptime is monitored with alerts
• Daily backups are stored off the server and tested
• SSL is installed and renews automatically
• Admin accounts use strong passwords and two-factor login
• Hosting resources match your traffic
• Software, plugins and the server are updated regularly
• A firewall and malware scanning are active
• Email uses SPF, DKIM and DMARC to avoid the spam folder

Key terms explained

Uptime

The share of time your website is online; good hosts aim for 99.9% or better.

Shared hosting

Hosting where many websites share one server; affordable and fine for small, low-traffic sites.

VPS

A virtual private server with dedicated resources, suited to busier sites, online stores and web apps.

Malware

Harmful code that attackers inject into websites to steal data, show spam or redirect visitors.

Backup retention

How many past backups are kept and for how long, so you can restore from before a problem started.

DNS

The system that points your domain name to your server and email provider.

CDN

A content delivery network that serves your files from locations near each visitor, making pages load faster.

Secure your website FAQ

How often should a website be backed up?

At least daily for active sites, with copies stored somewhere other than the server. Backups only count if you have tested restoring them.

How do I know if my website has been hacked?

Warning signs include strange redirects, unknown admin users, spam pages in Google results, browser warnings or a sudden slowdown. Regular scanning catches problems early.

Why is SSL important?

SSL encrypts data between visitors and your site, shows the padlock in browsers and is a small ranking signal. Browsers warn visitors about sites without it.

What is website uptime monitoring?

A service that checks your site every few minutes and alerts you if it goes down, so problems are fixed before customers notice.

Why do my website emails go to spam?

Usually because the domain is missing SPF, DKIM or DMARC records, or the server has a poor sending reputation. Fixing these records makes a big difference.

What type of hosting does my website need?

Small business sites run well on good shared or managed hosting; busy online stores and web apps usually need a VPS or cloud server with more resources.

How DigiGlobal can help

DigiGlobal provides fast, secure hosting with SSL, daily backups, updates and monitoring, and can move your existing website with no downtime. If you have questions about secure your website for your own business, our team is happy to help.

• Web Hosting & Domains: Fast, secure hosting with real humans to help when something goes wrong.
• Web Development: Websites and web apps that are quick, secure and built to grow with your business.
• Website Design: Good design isn't decoration. It's the reason a visitor stays, trusts you and picks up the phone.