15December 2022
Today’s world is digital and so are the risks that come with it. Every website you browse has the potential to be used for cybercriminal activities. These attacks can include phishing scams, identity theft and hacking. This is why ensuring your site is as secure as possible is of the utmost importance. The first step in making sure your site isn’t an inviting place for hackers or other malicious users is to identify the riskiest areas and implement measures to prevent them from happening again. Here are some of the most common website security risks you need to look out for:
Weak Password Policies
One of the biggest risks you can face on your website is a weak password policy. Vulnerable services, such as emails, can be accessed and spied on by cybercriminals through the use of password sniffing. This isn’t just a risk for sensitive data, but also the integrity of your website. If malicious users are able to access sensitive information such as login credentials, they can impersonate your business, and potentially ruin your reputation. To prevent this, you should aim to have a password policy that is as strict as possible. Avoid allowing users to create passwords that only contain a certain letter and number combination or just one word. You can also try to implement a password reset system. This will help you to keep track of what passwords are being used, especially if you have many users.
Poor SSL/TLS Configuration
The majority of the time, a weak SSL/TLS configuration is to blame for many of the website security risks you find on the internet. When you purchase a domain that comes with an SSL certificate, you’re meant to take advantage of a much more secure connection. SSL/TLS is the name for the protocol used for HTTPS. Without taking the steps to ensure it’s configured as it should be, you’re risking anyone who is looking to intercept data passing between your server and the user’s device. That includes hackers who might be able to intercept sensitive data and use it to impersonate your business or steal information from your site. The best way to prevent this is to use a tool that helps you to configure your SSL/TLS correctly, such as CSO Online Domain Security Scanner. You should also make sure that your server is patched and up to date.
Lack of Updating on Software and Versioning
The majority of website security risks can also be attributed to a lack of software and versioning updates. This is another issue that can be solved by using a tool to help you out. When it comes to software, this does not just apply to the CMS you use on your site. Aside from the WordPress core and plugins, there’s also the website itself. If you’re not using a tool like W3C Scan to make sure all the software on your site is up to date, then you’re putting your visitors and business at risk. When it comes to versioning, you should also make sure that there aren’t any missing versions of your software. This could be a risk to the integrity of your site and the data stored on it.
Inadequate Outgoing Traffic Restriction
Many of the risks that come with having a website also come with a lack of manageable outgoing traffic restrictions. This is another area where a tool can be extremely useful. You need to make sure that any bots or other automated scripts on your site are only allowed to perform specific functions. This will help to keep a check on how many requests they’re making per day and which IP addresses they’re coming from. Some of the best tools to help you to do this are W3C Scan and SEMrush. You can also try to use software that’s designed to help you to manage outgoing traffic restrictions, such as Exoconnel.
Insufficient Staff Monitoring and Detection
One of the most common mistakes when it comes to website security is a lack of monitoring and detection. Cybercriminals are becoming increasingly savvy when it comes to hacking websites. This is why it’s so important to make sure that your team is regularly checking whether the site is secure or not. If you don’t have a monitoring system in place or if staff isn’t trained to spot any potential risks, it could be a case of doing too little, not too much. This is a major risk to your website. You could try to implement a system that records every action your team takes, such as every URL that is clicked or the form that is filled out. This last item is particularly important since it could help you to detect if any abnormal requests are being made.
Final Words
The best way to make sure your website is as safe as possible is to identify the riskiest areas and implement measures to prevent them from happening again. This includes ensuring that your password policies are as strict as possible, that your SSL/TLS configuration is up to scratch and that you’re regularly checking whether your outgoing traffic restrictions are too high. You also need to make sure that your staff is monitoring these areas and that you’re taking the necessary steps to keep track of them.