Displaying items by tag: security

By Kristin Tarr, Communications Manager atCloudFlare With the recent phishing hack on the Associated Press’ Twitter account and thecyberattack that compromised more than 50 million Living Social customers, you’re probably thinking that with all the time and energy hackers use up on high-profile attacks, that your small business is in the clear, right? Wrong. SMBs are not safe. In fact, they get hacked all the time. According to a 2012 study conducted by the National Cyber Security Alliance, nearly 40 percent of all cyber security attacks are targeted at small businesses. Compared with big enterprise companies with robust security teams and generous security budgets, small business can be an easy target for hackers. Many small businesses don’t allocate enough resources to their security systems or have little knowledge on how to stay safe from the schemes of cyber villains. So what are the holes in your system making your small business vulnerable? Here are a few we think are important: IPv6 Transition – The Internet is running out of IPv4 addresses and making a seamless transition to IPv6 is becoming more and more necessary, especially if you’re a small business. As an SMB, it’s important for your company to be technologically current and utilize services that offer gateways for conversion to avoid any customer confusion or lack of access during the switch. Two-Factor Authentication – Although two-factor authentication may seem obvious, it’s a constant potential threat that consumers don’t always think about. The absolute minimum your SMB should be doing to protect itself is turning on two-factor authentication whenever possible. It may not make your account invincible, but it adds an extra layer of necessary protection. DDoS Attacks – Don’t let your website get held hostage and lose business. SMBs are vulnerable to spambots and malicious DDoS attacks just like high profile companies. Be aware and educate yourself on best practices to avoid attacks. Phishing for Passwords – Still? Yes, phishing is still an all-too-common technique for hackers to steal your passwords, usernames and other private information by sending fake emails posing as an organization. As a small business, be cautious of any suspicious communication via email or over the phone. And, never use the same password twice – vary your passwords by using numbers, capital letters and other symbols. By following these simple tips and staying educated on the cyber security offerings available, small businesses can focus on their goals and objectives while thwarting hacker attempts and staying safe. Small businesses are the largest source of employment in the United States, and with the proper security measures, we can ensure it stays that way. Kristin Tarr is CloudFlare’s communications manager and oversees the company's marketing and thought leadership initiatives. Kristin hails from California’s Central Coast and is also a running fanatic, having run numerous half and full marathons. She graduated from CSU, Chico with a degree in Public Relations and Political Science. (Source)

Posted by John Joe Morgan

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WordPress is recognized as the most widely used Content Management System with over 72.4 million different sites all over the web as of March 2012. In an average month, 352 million people view more than 2.5 million pages on WordPress. With such a large number of users and developers, it shows that WordPress is truly a reliable blogging tool that can offer lots of wonderful features to users. While WordPress has an astounding set of features to offer such as good SEO quality, automatic filters, good security and clean permalink structure, security problems can still occur especially when you try to modify your WordPress by including plugins, adding themes and performing hack activities that could cause problems to your site. But of course, you can’t avoid doing these activities especially when you want your site to be appealing and functional. But as much as possible, you wouldn’t want it to end up being vulnerable to hacks. That is why security precautions must be done. To start with, let us try to see some factors to consider for the better security of your site: 1. Username and password. It is essential to have a strong username and password. All admin users should come up with a proper custom name. It is best to delete the default admin and create a new one. Picking a secure password also increases the security of your site. To ensure the strength of your password you can refer to WP’s password strength meter and make sure you see the green color which indicates a strong password. 2. Plugins. Plugins contribute a great deal of factor on how your WordPress operates so make sure to be very careful when it comes to installing plugins. Try installing useful plugins that could increase the security level of your site such as Antivirus plugins, online backup plugins, hide login, bulletproof plugins and security checker plugins. Make sure that your plugins are always up to date. Delete those that you do not use. 3. Updates. It is important to consistently update your site. WordPress regularly creates security fixes and other new features for your site’s better functionality. If you don’t update, you won’t be able to have the fixes and features of the latest versions. Worse, you will be making your site more vulnerable to hacks. So whether it’s your plugins, themes or your entire WordPress software, always update. 4. Secure Hosting. If you are using your site for business or brand purposes, it is understood that it is essential to invest money. It is best to find a good hosting provider that applies the needed security features and support on your blog. With paid hosting, we are talking about better features, better customization tools and more advantages. Paid hosting is surely well worth your investment. 5. Database Backup. Always be ready in case something bad really happens. Backup your database regularly so you won’t lose everything in case of a crash or a hack. There are three ways to do back up: First is doing it manually, second is paying for a backup service and third is using a plugin that does the backup. It is really important to have a backup of your entire site. Remember, better safe than sorry. For more information on how to secure your WordPress site, e-mail The Northern Office Innovative Marketing at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call us at (0)45 499 1082 today.   Posted by John Joe Morgan