| hope it won't happen to us. We keep our typing fingers | | | | make sure that the security is up-to-date. This makes |
| crossed. But one day, it will. Web site owners who | | | | the correction of such problems, if they arise, easier. |
| have been doing business online for some length of | | | | A Web site owner should also regularly change the |
| time know all the trouble one hacker can cause. Once | | | | Web site's administrator password, observing all the |
| a hacker gains access to a Web site they can do a | | | | common sense rules regarding password creation. |
| devastating amount of damage to an established | | | | Although many do not take this step, simply taking |
| business. It is for this reason that most online | | | | precaution can help prevent a costly breach from |
| businesses hire a team of Web site security specialists | | | | occurring. |
| to make sure this never happens. Whether it's people | | | | Monitor Online Activities |
| who just accidentally entered a forbidden part of a | | | | It is absolutely vital for a Web site owner to monitor all |
| Web site or those who hack into a system | | | | of their online activities. Many Web site owners have |
| deliberately, the goal is to prevent it before it happens. | | | | unwittingly caught a computer virus by downloading |
| Here are three steps you can take. | | | | something or clicking on a Web URL link while |
| Use Digital Certificates | | | | browsing the Internet. These kinds of mistakes are |
| Any Web site that does business online should use | | | | common and can be avoided by simply taking |
| digital certificates. This helps to protect sensitive data | | | | reasonable measures to provide security for their |
| when passed using a form. This could include anything | | | | computers. |
| from person's social security number, credit card | | | | Email from unknown people should be treated |
| information, to his or her address and contact numbers. | | | | suspiciously, particularly if an attachment is included. |
| It is important for Web site owners to be able to | | | | Often these attachments have a trojan, virus, or other |
| assure their clients that their Web site is secure. A | | | | malicious software packaged inside them that will burst |
| digital certificate goes a long way towards allowing | | | | free when the attachment is downloaded. Although |
| clients to trust a business is legitimate and entrust | | | | most new computer security products are aware of |
| sensitive information to it. | | | | these viruses, a brand-new virus can remain |
| It is, however, important to be careful when buying a | | | | undetected until it is discovered by security |
| digital certificate. It is vital to not obtain one that is | | | | professionals who then update their protective |
| outdated or which has been sabotaged by a hacker. | | | | software to counter the new threat. |
| Keep Security Regularly Updated | | | | For the owner of a Web site, every virus and illegal |
| Some of the most important security procedures | | | | access that is prevented on their personal computer |
| include methods to make sure a Web site's forbidden | | | | represents a lot of money saved. Perhaps more than |
| pages are inaccessible to anyone who lacks authority | | | | most anyone else, Web site owners get their money's |
| to view them. This includes tracking that person's IP | | | | worth when buying security products. A Web site |
| and recording it. This will help protect Web site owners | | | | owner can lose their Web site and all their earnings |
| from people trying to illegally access, download, or alter | | | | from a single breach by a single hacker, even if that |
| the Web site's files. As a last resort it will also help | | | | breach is on their home PC if that computer has been |
| authorities track down where an offender lives and, if | | | | used to access restricted areas of their Web site. The |
| necessary, whom to charge with a crime. | | | | peace of mind a few security software purchases |
| As criminals constantly devise new ways to | | | | can bring are more than worth the cost in dollars. |
| circumvent modern security, security procedures are | | | | Remember the old adage: penny wise and pound |
| constantly being updated to ensure that the latest | | | | foolish? This can apply to managing a site in today's |
| version includes protection against these new security | | | | increasingly fraught environment. Are you being pound |
| threats and risks. It is the Web site owner's duty to | | | | foolish? |