| Could a hacker have access to your membership | | | | become "tqbfjotld". Add the year of your birth at the |
| site? Is it possible they are stealing valuable data? Is it | | | | end if you like so you'll get "tqbfjotld1972". Nobody's |
| possible your site is now redirecting to an unwanted | | | | going to guess that password! The sentence is easy |
| destination? | | | | to remember but if you have to, you can always write |
| Unfortunately, the answer is yes it's possible, and it's | | | | down the sentence since it's only a clue to your |
| even more likely if you don't protect your blog. | | | | password and someone miles away from you isn't |
| Currently, there are over 22 million installations of | | | | going to see it. |
| WordPress around the world. That's equal to the | | | | Also, don't forget to change it regularly. As for the |
| amount of people in Australia, to give you an idea of | | | | username, "admin" is the most common choice for this |
| numbers. With such a large amount of users, it's no | | | | option. If you've already picked it (or something easily |
| wonder that hackers view this group as such a | | | | guessed), ask your hosting company how you can get |
| tempting target. | | | | it changed. You may have a control panel that will |
| There are two forms that WordPress hackers usually | | | | allow you to change it easily. Even something simple |
| come in. Either they'll steal your data (such as | | | | like "Mary1972" is better than "admin". |
| membership lists & e-mails for spamming) or alter your | | | | Backing up your WordPress database is another good |
| site in an unwanted way. This could include changing | | | | idea. Now, this option won't necessarily keep the |
| the content of your site, modifying it so visitors will be | | | | hackers out of your blog but it will give you a back up |
| infected with malicious software, or simply redirecting | | | | plan if your site is altered. After all you wouldn't want |
| your domain to another site. | | | | to trust the data after it's been compromised. Another |
| Many hackers will attack your site using a combination | | | | option is to contact your hosting company and ask |
| of tactics. | | | | them to revert your site to how it was before the |
| How can you stop hackers attacking your site? While | | | | attack if you don't have a backup. A charge may |
| no method will completely protect you from hackers, | | | | occur for this service, depending on your hosting |
| some simple steps can be taken that will greatly | | | | company, but it is an option. |
| reduce your chances and make it more difficult for | | | | The last suggestion involves your own computer. All |
| them. | | | | the security measures you have for your WordPress |
| In a future article, I'll describe more sophisticated ways | | | | blog, won't matter if you're infected with a keylogger (a |
| to protect your blog but the methods below, while | | | | program to copy keystrokes) or similar virus. Make |
| simple, are very effective in stopping most attacks. | | | | sure to run a virus scan every day. Schedule it for |
| The quickest and easiest step is to pick an uncommon | | | | when you're sleeping if you like. If you don't have a |
| username and password. The most popular (and | | | | virus scanner, there are plenty of good free ones out |
| easily guessed) passwords are simple strings of | | | | there. Grisoft's AVG, Alwil's Avast, and Avira's AntiVir |
| numbers (123456). The word "Password" itself is | | | | Personal are all great choices. You can even go to |
| another common choice. You want to select a | | | | and use their free online anti-virus scanner as well. |
| password with letters AND numbers. | | | | So, now you have some easy ways to protect your |
| Taking a memorable sentence or phrase and turning it | | | | membership site (and your revenue). An upcoming |
| into a password is a great trick. For example, "The | | | | article will address even more tips on how to protect |
| quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog" could | | | | your WordPress blog from attacks by hackers. |