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Keeping Your Website Secure: 3 Simple Must-Dos (for Noobs)

Introduction

Once your website is live, you want to keep it safe from hackers and other online threats. Website security can seem daunting, but there are some basic, essential steps every website owner, especially noobs, should take. This guide covers three simple "must-dos" to get you started.

Think of these as locking your doors and windows when you leave your house – they're fundamental precautions!

1. Use Strong, Unique Passwords

This is one of the easiest yet most critical security measures. Weak or reused passwords are a primary way hackers gain access to websites.

  • What Makes a Strong Password?

    • Long: Aim for at least 12 characters, more is better.
    • Complex: Use a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols (e.g., !@#$%^&*).
    • Unique: Don't reuse passwords across different accounts (especially your hosting, WordPress admin, email, and domain registrar). If one account is compromised, others remain safe.
    • Unpredictable: Avoid common words, dictionary terms, personal information (birthdays, names), or simple patterns (like 123456 or password123).

  • Where You Need Strong Passwords:

    • Your web hosting account login.
    • Your WordPress admin account (if using WordPress).
    • FTP/SFTP accounts.
    • Email accounts associated with your domain.
    • Your domain registrar account.

  • Tips for Noobs:

    • Use a Password Manager: Tools like Bitwarden (free), 1Password, or LastPass can generate and store strong, unique passwords for all your accounts. You only need to remember one master password. This is highly recommended!
    • Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): If your hosting provider or WordPress offers 2FA, enable it. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification (like a code from an app on your phone) in addition to your password.

2. Implement Basic Backups

Imagine your website gets hacked, or you accidentally delete something important. A recent backup can be a lifesaver, allowing you to restore your site to a working state.

  • What are Backups?

    • A copy of your website's files and database (if it uses one, like WordPress does) stored in a safe place.

  • How to Get Basic Backups (for Noobs):

    • Host-Provided Backups: Many web hosts offer automatic backups as part of their service, especially for shared hosting.
      • Check your hosting plan features or ask their support if they provide backups.
      • Understand how often they back up (e.g., daily, weekly), how long they keep backups, and how you can restore one if needed.
    • WordPress Backup Plugins (if using WordPress):
      • There are many free and paid backup plugins for WordPress, like UpdraftPlus, All-in-One WP Migration, or BackupBuddy (paid).
      • These plugins can automate backups of your WordPress files and database.
      • You can often schedule backups and store them remotely (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3).
      • Tip: For noobs, start with a simple, well-regarded free plugin and configure it to take regular backups. Ensure you know how to restore from these backups.

  • Important Considerations:

    • Test Your Backups: Occasionally, try restoring a backup to a test site (if possible) or at least understand the restoration process so you're prepared if disaster strikes.
    • Store Backups Off-Server: If possible, don't rely solely on backups stored on the same server as your live site. If the server has a major issue, your backups could be lost too. Remote storage (like cloud services) is ideal.

3. Understand and Use SSL Certificates (HTTPS)

We've covered this in detail in another article, but it's a core part of security, so it's worth a recap!

  • What it is (Quick Recap):

    • An SSL certificate enables https:// for your website, encrypting data sent between your visitors' browsers and your server.
    • It also helps verify your website's identity.
    • (See "What is an SSL Certificate and Why Do I Need It?" for full details)

  • Why it's a Security Must-Do:

    • Protects any information submitted through your site (contact forms, login details).
    • Prevents "Not Secure" warnings in browsers, which builds visitor trust.
    • Protects against certain types of attacks where hackers try to snoop on or alter data in transit.

  • Action for Noobs:

    • Ensure your hosting provider offers a free Let's Encrypt SSL certificate (most do).
    • Make sure it's activated for your domain via your hosting control panel.
    • Ensure your website loads correctly over https://. If you're using WordPress, plugins like "Really Simple SSL" can help enforce this.

Why These Matter (for a Noob)

These three steps – strong passwords, basic backups, and SSL – form the foundation of good website security. While there's much more to learn as your site grows, mastering these basics will significantly reduce your risk of common security problems and give you peace of mind.

Key Takeaway/Summary

To keep your website more secure, always use strong, unique passwords (preferably with a password manager), ensure you have a basic backup system in place (either via your host or a plugin), and make sure your site uses an SSL certificate (https://).

Next Steps/Related Articles

  • What to Do if Your Website Goes Down? (Link to be created)
  • Explore two-factor authentication options for your hosting and WordPress admin.
  • If using WordPress, research reputable security plugins (like Wordfence or Sucuri Scanner) for an added layer of protection once you're comfortable with the basics.

Stay safe out there!