How to protect a website from hacking: simple but important steps

In today's digital world, a website is not just a business card, but a full-fledged asset, a sales tool and a channel of interaction with the audience. However, as online business grows, so do the risks: hacker attacks, viruses, data leakage and loss of access to the resource. Especially vulnerable are sites on popular CMS, such as WordPress. In this article, we will look at how to effectively protect your site from hacking, while maintaining its availability, performance and stability.

Main threats and how to avoid them

Any site, even a small blog or a website, can be the target of a cyberattack. Hackers are not always interested only in large resources - automated scanners are looking for vulnerabilities everywhere.

Here are the main threats:

• Brute Force (Brute Force). Automated bots pick up logins and passwords to the site administration.
  
• Vulnerabilities in plugins and themes. Third-party add-ons often become a loophole for hacking.
  
• SQL injection and XSS attacks. Attackers inject malicious code through feedback forms and comments.
  
• Malware infection. Malware can spread to the server or users' computers.
  
• Phishing and data theft. Through fake forms or a hacked website, criminals steal logins and bank details.
  

How to Avoid:

• Use complex passwords and two-factor authentication.
  
• Regularly update your CMS core, themes and plugins.
  
• Configure a limit on the number of attempts to log in to the admin area.
  
• Install cross-site protection (WAF).
  
• Make backups - in case of force majeure.
  

Simple security settings for WordPress

WordPress is the most popular CMS in the world, and therefore the most attacked. Fortunately, there are basic settings that will help you close most vulnerabilities:

• Change the admin login URL. The default path /wp-admin is easy to guess, replace it with plugins.
  
• Delete the "admin" account. Create a new user with a different name.
  
• Disable file editors in the admin area. This reduces the risk of malicious code injection.
  
• Configure access rights. Do not give full access to users unnecessarily.
  
• Restrict IP access to the control panel. Especially useful if you have a fixed IP.
  

Such measures do not require in-depth technical knowledge, but significantly reduce the risk of hacking.

Useful plug-ins and services for protection

Here's a list of proven solutions to help keep your site secure:

•  Wordfence Security is one of the most popular WordPress security plugins. Includes WAF, scanner and IP blocking.
  
•  Sucuri Security - activity monitoring, file integrity monitoring, change tracking and alerts.
  
•  iThemes Security is a powerful tool with dozens of settings, from a simple blocker to a threat scanner.
  
• Cloudflare is an external protection service and CDN. It protects from DDoS and accelerates site performance.
  
• UpdraftPlus - don't forget about regular backups. The plugin allows you to save your site to Google Drive, Dropbox and other clouds.
  

We also recommend connecting Google reCAPTCHA to all forms - this reduces the risk of automated attacks and spam.

It is important to understand: there is no "absolute protection", but there is a systematic approach that minimises risks. Many attacks occur not because of the genius of hackers, but because of the elementary negligence of website owners. Regular updates, backups, competent configuration and attention to detail are the key to a peaceful life for your project.

Don't forget the human factor: training and awareness

Even with the most advanced technical protection, a website remains vulnerable if it is administered by careless users. Statistics show that a significant part of attacks occur due to trivial mistakes - accidentally clicking on a malicious link, downloading an infected file, or using the same password for different services.

What's important to do:

• Train your team in the basics of cyber hygiene. Even if only one person is maintaining the site - their skills and attentiveness are critical.
  
• Check your passwords periodically and change them.
  
• Do not use shared accounts.
  
• Do not download themes and plugins from dubious sources - only from official repositories or trusted developers.
  
• Check e-mail newsletters, do not click on suspicious links.
  

Cybersecurity isn't just about plugins and settings, it's about a culture of digital behaviour.

Regular auditing is the key to reliable protection!

Security is not a one-time setup. It is a process that requires attention. Just as a website is updated and refined over time, security measures should be reviewed regularly.

Which is worth doing at least once a month:

• Check site activity logs.
  
• Scan the site for malicious code.
  
• Check that all installed components are up to date.
  
• Check if the site is blacklisted by search engines.
  
• Update passwords and accesses when personnel change.
  

If you don't have a technical team - turn to the professionals! At Kakadu Studios. we offer regular website maintenance services, including security audits, backup management and vulnerability monitoring. Kakadu Studio creates not only beautiful, but also secure websites. We know what settings should be enabled "by default" and always configure security individually for each project. If you need a website that will work stably and securely - we are here for you!