Have you noticed that you’ve gotten more spam in recent months?  Or that not only is spam coming directly to your email address, but also through that contact form on your website, or from other sources – even text messages? It’s important to protect your computer and your website from spammers and hackers.

One thing we overlook often is that spammers and hackers are business owners like many of us. Just as we look for new and different ways to reach our clients, those people that use the internet maliciously have the same goals and the same tools at their disposal. Hackers and spammers find early access to new technology, and use that knowledge to search out and cause trouble – everything from mostly-harmless advertising, to installing software in your website that sends out thousands of spam emails, all the way up to spreading viruses that destroy visitors’ computers. Scary.

How do you keep yourself safe?

• The #1 thing to do is change your passwords periodically.  Password guessing is the most common way hackers access websites.  Nobody likes to do this, because passwords are hard enough to remember as it is!  It is important though, so keep a list safe somewhere and do it.
• Back up your website. If you have a WordPress site, you can work through your web person to set up a back up plan, either that you do on your own, or they perform for you.  If your site gets attacked, often the only remedy is to reinstall the whole thing. Having a backup is the best protection you can have.
• Update to the latest software. WordPress updates include the latest security patches.  This keeps the software safer from the new technology that hackers develop regularly.  Talk to your web person about updating, however, because some applications within WordPress cannot be updated without professional help. The same is true on your computer – keep doing those annoying updates!
• When in doubt, don’t click! Say “no” to installing new software or toolbars when you upgrade or download new software for your computer, don’t click the link in that weird email from Aunt Betsy, etc. If you don’t know what it is, it’s probably not good for you!

This article has some more detail about website hacking: read on.

Common sense reigns when it comes to protection, but when technology changes so quickly it is important to work with someone you can trust for both your own computer and your website.  Contact us today to talk about protecting your website, and I can also help you connect with someone to help with your computer or network.

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