Around the world, 30,000 websites are hacked every day. Sadly, cyber threats are very real, so you need to be sure that you’re prepared for them.
If you’re not sure whether your website is secure or not, you should take steps to find out. Running a basic website security audit is easy to do but could save you from major headaches later on.
In this guide, we’ll tell you how to perform a website security check.
Review Website Settings
To test website security, start by reviewing all of the settings you have on your site.
You should check that spam filters are in place for preventing spam comments. It’s also useful to enable brute-force attack protection tools and plugins to prevent unauthorized logins.
No matter what website builder or content management system (CMS) you use, be sure to look over your security settings carefully. Verify that the available security features are activated and are protecting your site.
Update Software
The next thing that you should do to check website security is to verify that everything is up to date.
Failing to update your website and any plugins, themes, or extensions you use with your CMS can leave you open to problems. Out-of-date software can be easier for hackers to exploit to get access to your site.
Be sure that you’re in the habit of regularly updating your website and any software that you use to keep it as secure as possible.
Check for an SSL Certificate
Another important thing to check to verify the security of your website is whether you’re using a valid SSL certificate.
If you’re using an SSL certificate, then your site will show up as HTTPS rather than HTTP. This ensures that your site is secure and that it’s safe for both you and your visitors.
Adding an SSL certificate can also improve SEO and help you rank in search engines more often, so be sure that it’s in place correctly and that the certificate hasn’t expired.
Run a Security Scanner
The next thing that you’ll want to do is run a security scan to check for vulnerabilities and malware.
If you’re using a CMS such as WordPress, you can install a security scanner plugin. You can use this to scan your site and verify its status. There are other website scanning services that you can use online to check for vulnerabilities and security issues as well.
Be sure that you choose a security tool to use and then run a complete scan to get a better idea of how your security currently is.
Hire a Penetration Testing Service
To get a more extensive view of your website security, it can be helpful to hire a penetration testing service. With a pen test, professionals will perform a simulated cyber attack and check your website for exploits and vulnerabilities.
Getting web app pentesting can be well worth the effort and can help you verify the security of your web applications and APIs.
Learning About Your Site With a Website Security Check
If you want to stay protected from hackers and malware, you need to run a thorough website security check. Be sure to follow the essential steps above to verify that your website is secure and as safe from cyber attackers as possible.
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