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Hacking Websites Security – How to Fix & Prevent 3

Hacking Websites Security – How to Fix & Prevent 3





Hacking Websites: DDoS Attack

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) is associated with brute force attacks and other attack types so that log data becomes impractical amid investigations. Typically, hacking websites with DDoS attacks is not to attain entry but to disable the web site and/or web server.

Hacking websites denial of service attack imageFor instance, an attacker can directly hit your application barrier by flooding your website with an excessive number of requests, more than the server can handle. This can cause your website to be inaccessible. Furthermore, a Layer 7 assault can impose even more harm with constant polling data that contain fraudulent transactions.

How to Avoid DDoS Attack

It is almost unfeasible to shield from such an attack with standard means. In this scenario, there are no security issues being utilized. These requests are not malevolent. With more requests, it is a challenge to tell the difference between real requests and ill-intentioned ones.

Your options are limited if you cannot use a DDoS protection service, and they are different with each case. Taking in all the traffic by expanding network and server resources to harbor all the extra traffic until the attack lessens or can be isolated is your best option.

An attack on your website is bound to happen sooner or later. Approaching situations carefully and using sensible measures can protect you when it involves problems with internet security. Be sure to have an adequate restoration plan for complete compromise or absolute loss.



Hacking Websites: Spam and Phishing

Unsolicited email messages, or spam, is an old but relevant security issue. Spam has been around almost since the internet was started. Today, people regularly get these unsolicited emails in their email inboxes. Email spoofing is another form of SPAM. This gives the spammer the opportunity to send their own emails from your inbox. This can cause harm to your domain’s email reputation – which then leads to an immediate blacklisting. You will also receive error messages for each spoofed email..

Hacking Websites Security Phishing Attack ImagePhishing is different. Hackers send emails that look like they’re from a known organization. They try to trick the recipient into clicking on a link in the email – which can cause damage all by itself. The link usually takes you to a fake web page designed to look like a legitimate website. The spammers hope that you will fill out forms that will give them your personal information so they can steal your identity or log into your existing accounts.

How to Avoid SPAM and Phishing

Do not trust unsolicited emails. You should make it a habit not to click on links in unsolicited email. Most email software will show you the real link URL simply by hovering over the link without clicking. Never trust email attachments in unsolicited email. You should check attached files with your antivirous software before opening.




Hacking Websites: Virus Infection and Malware

Hacking websites with various types of malwareWhen hacking websites, malware is sometimes used to gather information about websites and their vulnerabilities. Malware is a shortened version of malicious software. Malware placed in a workstation can encode information for ransomware purposes, and it can even record keystrokes to seize passwords. Generally, hackers will use malware to extend entry to your website or give entry to others on the same system.

It is imperative to discover which internet security issue caused a breach before any malware sanitization or recovery.

How to Avoid Malware

On workstations, be cautious about what you download. Utilize antivirus software to locate and carefully eradicate malware. Maintain antivirus applications with updates and patches as indicated by the manufacturer. Users should not have administrative entry. Preserve backups to reinstate the workstation if compromised.




Hacking Websites: Data Breach

A data breach is unauthorized access to information on a computer system. The unauthorized user could’ve gained access through one of many routes. They could have an administrators login credentials, they could’ve found an unknown weakness in your system that allows access to users, they can hack the web server and create their own login. They can hack an insecure web form and have the database supply access information.

It is possible for a hacker to have access to your system and leave few to no signs that they’ve visited your server. The “good” hackers will know that secrecy is key and it allows them to steal information indefinitely.

How to Avoid a Data Breach

Hacking websites, at this stage, is usually performed by hackers that are quite skilled at maintaining stealth. It can be very difficult to address this security issue. A number of systems will automatically record session data from your prior visit. Check this data when available and be aware of activity that is unfamiliar.

Open-source applications and mainstream content management operations provide access alerts automatically or via plugins. Other plugins automatically process the monitoring of your website data for any new inclusions or changes. If you use these tools often, you can notice malicious activity. Discovering issues early gives you the opportunity to prevent data breach.



Hacking Websites: Ransomware Attack

Hacking websites with a ransomware attack is designed to obtain absolute control of vital information on your computer systems. The objective of a ransomware attack is to maintain control of your data until you pay for the key that will give you the ability to recover your data. Hacking Websites Security Ransomware Attack imageThey then demand payment in exchange for the decoding key you need to access the files. The hacker often downloads your data and threatens to publicize important information if you do not comply with their demands.

How to Survive a Ransomware Attack

Backups are the answer to this problem. Frequent backups of the entire website as well as incremental database backups will keep you from falling victim to this attack. Be sure to keep your backups in a location separate from the web server. iThemes BackupBuddy can help you create incremental and full backups quickly and easily. WebShoppingSystems.com Fully Managed WordPress Hosting includes BackupBuddy as part of its Perfect WordPress System.



Hacking Website Security – How to Fix & Prevent 2

Hacking Website Security – How to Fix & Prevent 2





When Do You Have A Website Security Problem?

When you have issues with the security in your systems, it means that your systems are vulnerable and at risk. Anything in your system can have vulnerabilities, and hackers can exploit this to inflict harm to data or systems. For example, there could be a vulnerability in the software, servers, or your customers’ private information. Website security to stop hackingEven if a hacker has not taken advantage of a vulnerability in your system, the vulnerability still exists and can allow an attack to occur. If there is a problem with the security in your systems, it should be addressed immediately. Website security breaches are inevitable, so it is important to put forth effort to find these vulnerabilities.

The links at the top of this page identify the most common types of hacking and website security problems.  Visit any link above to learn about hacking and how to protect your website, data and business reputation against hacking. To get information about the security of your website visit the free website security checker at Sucuri. Only a full website security audit will give you the most information about potential problems with your website.



Website Security: Authentication Issues and Weak Passwords

Basic website security demands that every password should be complex and have an adequate length. At minimum, a secure password should contain 18 characters – the longer it is, the better. While complexity is good, password length enhances security. A good password includes upper case and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols. Your password should not use the same character consecutively more than two times.

Website security authentication

How to Avoid Authentication Issues

Wherever available, make use of two-factor authentication. Doing so can protect a login even if the true password is retrieved or guessed. On top of that, change your passwords often. Do this every sixty or ninety days. Never use the same password or the username as a password.



Website Security: No Backups

Having a restoration plan in place if a total loss occurs is paramount to website security. Do frequent backups and maintain sufficient backup retention policies to ensure this. Back Ups are often the easiest way to restore your website after a malicious attack.

How to Prevent Lack of Back Ups

Every situation will warrant a different solution. Listed below are three backup best practices.

Retention: Preserve as many past backups as you can in the event that a website is compromised. The more backups you have, the better. It is a good practice to store your back ups away from the live server. If the live server is hacked, you won’t run the risk of losing your back ups in the hack.

Scope: Ensure that the backups are sufficient enough to recover all aspects of your website.

Scheduling: Have an adequate backup schedule. It will frequently record backups to stay up to date, but not so often that it negatively affects website function.



Website Security: Insider Threat

As discussed in social engineering, you cannot depend on your ability to judge a person’s character to maintain your protection. Treachery can come from within. An attacker can be anyone you consider to be trustworthy – like an employee. They can inflict severe damage to your organization.

How to Avoid Insider Threat

Other than running background checks on employees, you can also limit users’ access inside the company – and provide only the minimum level of access to accomplish tasks given.

An ill-natured insider wants to remain unknown. Create precise logins for each employee with the relevant authorizations necessary to complete their duties. Dispose of these logins when it is no longer needed.

It should be mandatory for staff to stay up to date with the most efficient security practices. Unattended workstations in your office should remain locked with a secure password.



Website Security: Not Updating or Patching Frequently

Outdated and unpatched systems are one of the most frequently imposed on security issues. Security issues are often the catalyst for a program update.  Although frequent updates can be bothersome they are necessary. There are hacker circles where software vulnerabilities are shared for future use and exploit.  There is automated hacking software with databases full of known vulnerabilities to be exploited.

All software should be updated when a security vulnerability is found. Very popular software like WordPress, must be updated frequently. Because it is very popular; it is popular to hackers and requires a development team to maintain. The hacker does not care why you need the software, they only care that they can get into it and/or break the software …sometimes for nothing more than bragging rights.

WebShoppingSystems.com Fully Managed WordPress Hosting relieves you of this responsibility. All updates are performed automatically so that you never have to worry about security problems.



Website Security: Sensitive Data Leak

Data leaks are similar to ransomware. They can contain classified intellectual property like source code or have consumer information. If it is confidential, it is automatically a target for hackers. Oftentimes, this information is well guarded. Compromise generally happens via other techniques like social engineering or insider threats.

How to Avoid Sensitive Data Leak

Sensitive information should be kept behind login restrictions and network security. Control the number of users approved for entry. Make certain that all user entry is protected with multi-factor authentication and solid passwords wherever possible and that users modify these passwords often. A secure maintained email platform will clear away suspicious links and phishing. Additionally, limit physical entry to vital systems.



Hacking: Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Attack

JavaScript and other browser-side scripting languages are generally used to update page content with external data like revenue-generating advertisements, social media feeds, and current market data.

To attack your customers by manipulating your site as a means to administer unwanted advertisements or malware, hackers use XSS. Your organization’s reputation can suffer as a result, and you may lose the trust of your consumers.

How to Avoid Cross Site Scripting

Modify security programs on your website to restrict images and Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) remote scripts to only your realm, as well as whatever external URLs you need. This can prevent several XSS attacks.

The majority of XSS attacks depend on the website formulator having done nothing to intercept it. You are able to alleviate these website security issues with input sterilization by duly escaping HTML tag characters if you are a developer. Deterrents can give a great deal of protection.



Hacking: Social Engineering (Plain Old Fraud and Deception)

Social engineering is the lies, fraud, and deceit people will use against your web system and personnel. People will call and try to gain access through tricking you or your personnel into believing that they’re someone they’re not. There is almost no limit to the amount of deceit used by hackers. Below is a list of the trickery that is very common. People have called and claimed to be the following:

  • Our Banker
  • Our New Vendor
  • Utility Company
  • Police Department
  • Fire Department
  • Our CEO and other high ranking personnel of our business

They usually call with the most urgent situations. We’ve heard such things as “we’re a new vendor and haven’t been paid in 60 days. You need to pay us today to avoid ruining your credit.” We’ve also received the super urgent “we’re going to disconnect your phone service for non-payment.” These are just a few of the scams designed to make you move urgently and hopefully before thinking.

Hackers will use trickery and bribery against your personnel to gain access to your systems. If they can convince someone to “try their excellent, new software” then that’s potential access to your systems. If your personnel can be convinced to shut down the web security for “systems testing” then all the more easier their hacking becomes. They will pretend to be your customer needing help with their account. They will try to have your personnel give them sensitive data like credit card numbers.

There shouldn’t be any credit card numbers to give since they’re not supposed to be stored on web enabled computers. If you’re ever audited by your merchant processor or Visa/Mastercard and credit card numbers and/or credit card security codes are found in your computer – not only will you be fined heavily but other problems will soon follow. You could  lose your merchant account, be banned from processing credit cards in the future, and you would open yourself up to all sorts of financial liabilities if found to be the cause or contributor to identity theft.

Social engineering attacks can have disastrous ramifications. The reason for this is because the individuals who initiate these attacks are skillful at trickery and coercion. A number of them posses several years of experience and an arsenal of highly polished characters. It is imperative that you do not depend on your ability to judge someone’s character.

How to Prevent a Social Engineering Attack

Teach your personnel to be suspicious of the following scenarios

  • People who get highly agitated at security questions.
  • Threats of a law suit if you don’t follow their instructions immediately.
  • People who have the solution to a problem that you can’t verify exists.

Your organization should set policies that define methods of verifying your customers. If a customer refuses to follow your verification requirements then don’t give them any information. If a person insists that they are someone you do business with then let them know that you’ll call them back at their publicly listed number or the number you have on file for them.



Hacking Website Security – How To Fix & Prevent 1

Hacking Website Security – How To Fix & Prevent 1





Introduction

Hacking website securityFor hackers, hacking your website security is done for something as small as bragging rights to something as large as identity theft and theft of  financial information. There are many types of hacking. Computer hacking has similarities to hacking a web server, however, the focus of this document is hacking of websites. While a number of online applications and websites have protection, they are still susceptible to website security problems and hostile attacks. This can occur with any website or online application even with something like an internet bank or a web store  for a small neighborhood business.

Some websites and online applications become targets because of how well-known they are and some become targets because of their vulnerability. Smaller systems are easy targets for hackers, even if they do not hold private data. There are hacking websites that do nothing but share information about insecurities in various software and at various websites. There is no shortage of people who want to be hackers. There are hacking camps that teach others how to circumvent website security and hack websites.

Most people see website security as a defensive barrier encircling a single site and/or server, which can simply be reinforced or ignored. A better, more factual viewpoint is that every computerized protection measure is a blanket of security. If you input more layers, then it is more likely that your data will remain safe and untouched. Adding layer after layer may appear unnecessary but doing so makes it more efficient. It is better to assume that every layer you add will be breached.



Hacking: Brute Force Attack

Brute force attack lock imageA brute force attack consists of the hacker attempting to use several password guesses in a variety of combinations until one of them grants access. Basically, it is akin to someone trying to open a combination padlock by inputting multiple numeric combinations until one works.



How to Avoid a Brute Force Attack

Several applications and content management systems (CMS) contain software that oversees website security and monitors excessive login failures. Some provide a plugin system that shows this data and allows you to block and unblock users and/or IP addresses. These plugins and software are efficient defenses against brute force attacks, as they heavily restrict the number of guesses permitted.

The WebShoppingSystems.com Fully Managed WordPress Hosting prevents this type of hacking using the iThemes Security Pro premium plug in. iThemes Security Pro prevents this type of attack and many others.




Hacking: Code Injection (Remote Code Execution)

SQL injection attack on codeTo start with a code injection a hacker will test the areas of your website that collects user input – namely a search box, contact form, or data-entry field. After trial and error, the attacker gains knowledge of which fields can be manipulated to give access to unintended data on the server.

Here is an example: A hacker will enter a variety of database commands into a search field. If your website’s search function gives un-sanitized data access to the database query then the hacker can be successful in extracting unexpected data from your database.



How to Prevent a Code Injection Attack

Maintain frequent updates with security patches when it involves development platforms, CMS, or any framework. It is highly advised that, when data processing, the best practices are followed in regards to sterilization. It does not matter if it is minimal, all user input should be checked to be sure that it is the anticipated.data type.

Programmers that create the code that processes your data are responsible for sanitizing and validating all incoming data. Sanitizing data has to do with removing known characters used in hack attempts. Validation has do with using the programming to verify that you have received the expected data type. For example, if you expect to receive an email address then the programming should check that the data is in the format of an email address.



Hacking: Credential Stuffing Attack

Hackers will abuse the re-use of passwords throughout a number of accounts. This is called credential stuffing, and it is a general term given to hackers who do this. There is no doubt that, if hackers have one of your account passwords, they will use that password to attempt to log into countless of other services.

How to Avoid Credential Stuffing

Never use the same password or username for different services. Web users should maintain a password book to track the credentials of each service they use. This is the most efficient way to prevent this security issue. What also helps is multi-factor authentication. Two factor authentication is very common now. This type of security uses a password and live authorization from the owner of the login information. This maintains a secure login even if the main password is frail.