4 Simple Cyber Security Tips to Make Your Blog Safer *

For bloggers, and anyone else who owns a website, cyber security is essential. Luckily, many of the ways to keep your blog safe – from web hosting choices to backing up files – are simple and require minimal tech expertise.

As modern technology and all things online continue to evolve, so do the capabilities of hackers and the danger of cyber attacks. With so much invested in websites – particularly in the case of eCommerce businesses – the losses related to cyber security each year are astounding.

While bloggers may not have eCommerce and business aspects of a site to consider, your website is still an investment (think of website hosting and domain registration), so it’s something that you want to keep secure. Not only does it help you to keep your content and data safe, but it allows you to maintain a healthy site for a lengthy period.

Here are some simple cyber security tips to make your blog safer:

Is Your Password Strong Enough?

An obvious question, no? Many websites will require your password to have specific characters (such as a number, capital letter, or special character) and most people have a grasp of what makes a “good password”. With that said, there are still some shocking passwords out there that act as a welcome mat for hackers.

A password is the first line of defence when it comes to protecting your data, and ignoring the risks of a weak password could be extremely costly. It’s also worth noting that using the same password for multiple accounts is a big no-no. Doing so will leave all your accounts vulnerable if your master password is exposed.

Be Wary of Who Has Access to Your Blog

Blogs come in many shapes, sizes, niches and platforms. While it’s most common for blogs to have one owner or author, there are others that benefit from the collaborative efforts of multiple writers. In this case, a writer will be given access to the blog account as a guest author.

If your blog has multiple users, it’s essential that they’re granted the correct level of access. If you give a guest author – who may well be a stranger – administrative access, your blog will be seriously at risk. Another tip regarding account users is to delete old or inactive user accounts, as they’re not only redundant but also potential security risks.

Check Your Web Hosting Provider’s Security

Unless you’re using a free hosting platform like WordPress, you will have purchased website hosting by now. Your hosting company provides you with the web space and bandwidth to keep your delightful blog online, but they’re also vital for cyber security.

Cheap hosting may seem like a good idea to suit a tight budget, but high-quality web hosting providers are worth their weight in gold when it comes to the advanced hardware you have access to and the level of support you receive. Both of these are vital to maintaining the safety of your site. More efficient tech will help to fight cyber attacks, and customer support will advise you on the best course of action should things go wrong.

Regular Backups Can Be a Lifesaver

By now you will have undoubtedly spent hours upon hours writing content, designing various aesthetic aspects of your pages, and sorting out all the other variables that make a blog great. So for a cyber attack to undo all of that time and effort in one fell swoop, it would be heartbreaking to say the least — especially if you have no backups to save the day.

You should check with your web hosting provider to see if backups are part of your package, and also how regularly they are carried out. Most high-quality companies will include this service in their packages, but if not you’ll want to do so yourself. Ideally, automated backups are the best as it means you’ll be covered even if you haven’t had the time or have forgotten to get around to it. If you’re reading this and have just remembered you haven’t backed up your data in a while, now’s the time!

Whether you’re a blogger by trade or just like to have a platform to ramble, a website is your bread and butter. Many hours will have been spent tapping away at your keyboard, scheduling content and establishing your blog in your chosen niche. So keeping it secure at all times is a top priority. The tips mentioned above – as well as common sense in regards to your online activity – will go a long way to giving you a Fort Knox-like blog.

* This is a sponsored post