Have you ever received unwanted or random comments on your website? Or, maybe you’re just worried about a cyber attack? When you have your own website, keeping it safe and secure is very important. Your website must be up to date, working smoothly, and free of spam if you want to have a successful online presence! In this article, I’ll share a few helpful tips on how to keep your site safe from spammers and hackers.
Spammers vs. Hackers: What’s the Difference?
Spammers are people or automated programs (bots) that send unsolicited messages, often through comments or emails. Their goal is to advertise products and direct traffic to other websites by having you click on their links.
On the other hand, hackers try to gain unauthorized access to your website. They might try to steal personal information, deface your site, or use your resources for malicious activities.
Getting hacked is uncommon. In all the years that I’ve had websites (since 2008), I’ve only had a site hacked once. Fortunately, I was able to get it cleaned up quickly.
I also have another article that gives more details on the difference between spammers and hackers.
Tips for Stopping Spammers
1) Use CAPTCHA:
Setting up a Captcha on your form will help you ensure that real people are filling them out, not automated bots. CAPTCHA stands for “Completely Automated Public Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart.” The Captcha tests can be simple math problems, for example, “2+2 = _”. Or, they might be image recognition tasks – “Click on all the pictures with bicycles.” These puzzles are easy for humans but difficult for bots to get right. Read more about how to set up a Captcha in my article ‘What is CAPTCHA and Why You Might Need It.’
2) Filter Comments with a Plugin:
Use an anti-spam plugin to filter out spam comments and emails on your WordPress website. These plugins review incoming comments and emails for common spam indicators. Then, the plugin will automatically move suspicious content to a spam folder. Akismet and other spam plugins help reduce the amount of manual monitoring you have to do. To see my list of top antispam plugins, read my article on ‘How to Reduce Spam Comments in WordPress.’
3) Moderate Incoming Comments:
Set up your site so that all blog comments must be approved before being published. This allows you to catch spam before it goes live. By manually approving comments, you can ensure that only real, human-to-human interactions are displayed on your site. Websites with random spam and irrelevant comments look unprofessional and untrustworthy.
4) Block IP Addresses:
If you notice spam coming from specific IP addresses, block them from accessing your site. WordPress allows you to block an IP address, but it may be easiest to call your hosting company to see if they can help you. If you identify repeat offenders and block their IP addresses, this can significantly reduce the volume of spam. It’s similar to blocking a spam phone number on your smartphone.
5) Disable Trackbacks/Pings:
Trackbacks and pingbacks are notifications from other websites that they have linked to your content. Unfortunately, spammers frequently use this feature to send fake trackbacks or pings. Disabling trackbacks can help keep your site clean.
To Disable Trackbacks on New Blog Post: Go to Settings –> Discussion in the WordPress dashboard. Then, uncheck the box next to ‘Allow link notifications from other blogs (pingbacks and trackbacks) on new posts.’
To Disable Trackbacks on Existing Blog Posts, Go to Posts –> All Posts (change your screen options to view as many posts as possible). Then, select all the visible posts and go to ‘Edit’—this will take you to the bulk edits settings. Open the ‘Pings’ dropdown menu and select ‘Do not allow’. Be sure to click ‘Update’ to save those changes.
Tips for Stopping Hackers
1 ) Keep Your Website Updated:
It’s much easier for a hacker to access a site that is old and outdated. That’s why it’s so important to regularly update your website’s software, plugins, and themes. Developers frequently release updates to patch security holes, fix bugs, and improve performance. Keeping everything up to date ensures you have the best protection against hackers and security threats.
2) Use Strong Passwords:
Make sure all users on your website have strong, unique passwords. Don’t use passwords that may be easy to guess, like “password123”. Strong passwords typically include uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. I highly recommend using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords.
3) Install Security Plugins:
Use a security plugin with a firewall, like Wordfence or Sucuri, to monitor and protect your site from potential threats. These plugins can perform regular scans, detect malware, and provide a firewall to block malicious traffic. They also offer features like login protection and real-time alerts about security issues.
4) Enable Two-Factor Authentication:
You can add an extra layer of security to your website by setting up two-factor authentication (2FA). 2FA usually involves something you know (a password) and something you have (a phone or hardware token). Even if someone manages to steal your password, they won’t be able to access your account without the second factor.
I know that 2FA slows you down when working online because you have to get a code sent to your email or cell phone. However, it does make your site more secure against hackers.
5) Do Regular Backups:
You should regularly back up your WordPress website! If you are the victim of a cyber-attack, you’ll be able to restore your website faster if you have been doing frequent backups. This means less time and money wasted and back to business quicker!
There are a few best practices for backing up your site, such as using an automated backup plugin and storing backups in multiple locations, such as cloud storage and external drives.
Final Thoughts
I often use a retail store analogy when discussing websites. Your web hosting is your store building, and your domain name is your store sign. This analogy also comes in handy when discussing security!
Imagine walking into a store and finding it littered with random flyers and banners for unwanted products. That’s what spammers do to your site. They add ‘content junk’ to your website, which discourages website visitors from staying and looking.
On the other hand, hackers are like thieves. They break into your store to steal or cause damage.
However, implementing a few of these tips can keep your website secure and give your visitors a great experience.
I’m a big fan of small business owners and entrepreneurs managing their own websites. This is just one reason why! When you know what’s going on with your website and you’ve taken steps to minimize risk, you can spend more time focused on business-building tasks.
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