How to Protect Your Website from Malware and Hackers

Most websites get hacked through a handful of common weaknesses. Close them, and you'll stop the vast majority of attacks.

Hackers rarely target small business websites personally. Instead, automated bots scan millions of sites looking for known weaknesses. The good news is that basic security stops most of them.

Keep everything updated

Outdated CMS software, plugins and themes are the number one entry point. Update regularly, or use a maintenance plan.

Use strong passwords and 2FA

Unique, long passwords and two-factor authentication for admin, hosting and domain accounts.

Limit admin access

Give each person their own account with only the permissions they need, and remove old users.

Install a firewall

A web application firewall blocks malicious traffic before it reaches your site.

Back up regularly

Automatic, off-site backups mean you can recover quickly if the worst happens.

Avoid nulled themes and plugins

"Free" versions of premium software often contain hidden malware.

Use HTTPS everywhere

An SSL certificate protects data in transit.

Monitor

Malware scanning and uptime monitoring help you catch problems early.

Been hacked already? Our team can clean it up and secure it. Contact us.

Key takeaways

This guide on protect your website covered:

• Keep everything updated
• Use strong passwords and 2FA
• Limit admin access
• Install a firewall
• Back up regularly
• Avoid nulled themes and plugins

Protect your website checklist

Use this checklist to put the ideas above into practice:

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

Key terms explained

SPF, DKIM and DMARC

Email authentication records that prove messages really come from your domain and keep them out of spam.

CDN

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

DNS

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

Backup retention

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

Malware

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

VPS

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

Shared hosting

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

Protect your website FAQ

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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 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 protect 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.