If you’re one of the millions of people around the world with a blog, whether it’s for business or for personal thoughts, it’s imperative to protect all the content you have created over the years along with the loyal following of readers you have built up. Unfortunately, these days many people end up in a frustrating situation where their blog is hacked, and they lose not only content but also time and energy, money if their blog earns an income and the trust of readers.
Regardless of how much you post or the purpose you have for running your blog, you have to take steps to keep cybercriminals at bay, so they can’t gain access to your system and hold the information ransom, delete content, crash systems or steal sensitive information. You don’t have to have an I.T. guru on hand to set things up for you. There are numerous precautions you can take simply and easily today. Read on for the lowdown.
Use Security Software
One of the first things to do to keep a blog protected is buy security software for the computers you use to update your content. This way, hackers won’t be able to break into your blog via your laptop or desktop computer.
Invest in security software that is comprehensive, so it protects against a variety of threats. Choose max security antivirus, antispam, antispyware and antimalware coverage that also guards against ransomware, as this is a big issue now. In addition, utilize firewalls on your computer(s). These act as another line of defense against attack, particularly when it comes to threats from the internet. Firewalls help filter out threats from credible data when you download information or browse online. Most computers come with firewalls pre-installed (although check the settings as activation may be required), but you can also purchase third-party products if needed.
Have Secure Passwords and Change Them Occasionally
Another key step is to opt for more secure passwords on both your blog itself and on the computer(s) you use to update it. Hackers often end up getting into people’s blogs simply because the content wasn’t protected with a decent code.
Proper passwords are 12 characters long or more and created using a variety of symbols, numbers and upper- and lower-case letters. It pays to use a different password for your blog than you use for other accounts online, so if a cybercriminal happens to learn one password, they can’t use it to also log into your blog. Plus, update your password every couple of months for extra security.
Update Software as Updates Become Available
When it comes to software, keep in mind that it’s not a “set and forget” process. To be secure, software (including security programs, firewalls, browsers, operating systems, apps, plugins and blogging programs) must be updated on a regular basis. The reason for this is that the companies that develop programs refine them often and discover various security gaps. If you don’t update software to the latest version, it’s easier for hackers to work around security protocols.
To stay safe, set up your computers and blogging platform to automatically update any time a new release becomes available. At a minimum, at least make sure you have alerts set up, so you’re notified whenever updates come out.
Keep Your Blog Backed up
Your blog also needs to be backed up on a regular basis, so you have a copy of all your valued content if you do happen to be compromised by a hacker attack. You need to have a copy, off-site (preferably in the cloud) that includes all the words you’ve created plus a list of your readership and any other relevant information. Back up any time you make updates to your blog, not just once a week or monthly. It’s wise to set up an automatic backup system, so when you or some other authorized administrator of the blog creates a file or makes a change, the update will be saved without the need for a manual backup.
Check with your blog platform and web hosting provider about this side of things, as many platforms have backup options available, whether included in the price or available as an add-on. The peace of mind and security you’ll get from backing up will definitely be worth the costs involved.