Blogging can bring about a number of security risks for their owner, and one of the most dangerous issues you face as a blogger is as a result of someone hacking into your account. I’m going to share 10 ways you can keep your blog secure.
This can cause a myriad of different issues, ranging from damage to your reputation through to a loss of earnings, so it’s important that you keep your blog safe.
With hackers constantly thinking of new ways to access online accounts, you need to be proactive and use the latest solutions available. Here are 10 of the most innovative ways you can keep cybercriminals out of your blog and continue to have fun sharing your ideas with the world.
Create A Secure Password
Passwords are the frontline of the cybersecurity world, and as such you need to make sure that yours is secure and can’t be guessed easily. It’s a renowned fact that longer passwords containing a few special characters are the most effective, so try to think of a long phrase or series of words interspersed with various numbers and forms of punctuation.
Be Proactive
Many blog owners can become complaisant when they’re running their blog, and assume that any suspicious activity is just something that they’ve forgotten. However, it’s vital that you’re proactive and take into account anything you notice that may be suspect. This may include understanding what the different page error codes mean, such as inurl:”?return=http”. Make sure that even the smallest of changes is noted and that, if in doubt, you change your password and increase the security of your blog.
Store Your Passwords Safely
With numerous different account logins to remember, it’s easy for busy bloggers like yourself to become complacent and keep accounts logged in permanently, or use the same password for multiple accounts, but both of these tactics pose security risks. Use a secure password storage system to keep your passwords safe and save you time of having to remember them every time you go to log in.
Use A Verification System
As well as hackers accessing your systems remotely, you also have to consider fraudsters who will try to trick you into handing over bank or login details by claiming to be a legitimate collaborator looking to support you and your blog. An innovative verification system, like this one from Cognito, will ensure that anyone who tries to pay you for your services is who they say they are. This will mean that when you work with anyone you can easily verify that they are legitimate and safe to work with and save you from accidently handing out your details to organizations and individuals who aren’t who they say they are.
Never Hand Out Your Login Details
This might sound obvious, but it’s important that you never share your login details with anyone, not even someone you trust. When hosting guest posts, you should always do any editing of your actual blog yourself; they should write the piece on a document and send it to you. Guest posters who demand a login for your account should be treated with suspicion; this isn’t common practice and poses a serious security risk, so they’re probably trying to scam you into giving over your details. If your passwords do end up in the hands of someone else for whatever reason, then you should change them immediately so that you know your blog is secure.
Research The Add-Ons That Could Keep Your Blog Safe
Many blog hosting platforms, like WordPress, allow users to integrate a range of security plug-ins that will enhance the security of your blog. Explore all the options available to you and see which ones will be the most effective so that you can keep your precious blog safe from intruders. There might be several options that’ll meet your needs, so review all the options on offer so that you can select the one that’ll work the best for your blog and keep your content and details from getting into the nefarious hands.
Only Use Secure Devices To Log On To Your Blog
Part of your security procedure for your blog needs to include the hardware you use to access it. You should only use devices that you know and trust. Install antivirus software on your own devices so that you know that no one can access them remotely. Older devices are often less supported by software companies, so it’s important that you update your hardware regularly and only use products that have fully up to date antivirus solutions on them. Avoid using shared devices where possible, as these can have spyware installed that you’re unaware of.
Open Networks Are Insecure
Public Wi-Fi networks, such as those offered in cafes and other public areas, are unsecure and easier for criminals to hack into than private networks. As such, you need to make sure that you only use private, secure networks that you trust and that are password protected when accessing your blog. For your own Wi-Fi network, you should use the same rules as any other account: have a secure password and a unique username, both of which should be changed intermittently and whenever you feel that your network has been put at risk.
You Need A VPN When Accessing Public Wi-Fi
Nowadays, the Wifi Hotspots are everywhere, and we inevitably use them daily. Use a virtual private network service provider like NordVPN to stay protected on public Wi-Fi networks.
Stay Ahead Of The Latest Cyber Security Developments To Keep Your Blog Secure
Hackers are constantly developing new ways to access websites and blogs, so it’s important that you keep yourself informed on the latest tactics used by them and the ways you can overcome them. New products are released onto the market to combat cyber crime, so staying on top of these is a great way to ensure your blog is always at the cutting-edge of the latest changes in the cyber security space. Follow a blog, sign up to a newsletter or even listen to a podcast on the subject of cyber security so that you’re always one step ahead of the latest changes in the market and able to keep your blog as safe as possible.
I’ve been using Cloudways since January 2016 for this blog. I happily recommend Cloudways to my readers because I am a proud customer.
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These solutions should help you to keep your blog secure. This isn’t an exhaustive list, but it does contain a range of inventive security solutions that you might not have considered before.
