How to protect Joomla website from hacking?
With thousands of websites and online applications, Joomla is easily considered one the most popular content management systems around. With so much popularity and a massive user-base, Joomla has to come good on the expectations of the users. If security is not attained for Joomla websites, millions of dollars would be wasted. In this article, we would discuss how to protect a Joomla website from hacking.
Use only official Joomla website for installation
Using only the official Joomla website for installation is a viable strategy to escape the danger of hacking. Only a genuine source is used so that reliable installation of Joomla CMS can take place. It would be wrong to click onto any provided link to start the installation process. Hackers lay traps all the time, and unspecified and easily-available links to be clicked onto may well be the trick to hack the website.
Use only the latest version of Joomla
Using only the latest version of Joomla is another useful tactic to avert the looming dangers of hacking. Once the most up-to-date version is used, security issues are less likely to bother for being already filtered out. It’s to be learnt that latest versions are released to minimize the risks of hacking and potential damage to the website. And therefore, only Joomla’s latest release should be trusted for the job.
Never forget to disable FTP Layer
FTP details are often stored in plain texts which make them vulnerable to future hacking attempts. If they are left in the same standard format, it might prompt hackers to come into play. If the FTP layer is enabled while installation, it can create a trouble on the security front. So it’s important to disable FTP layer to keep the website away from the danger of hacking.
Set-up a new admin user
Setting-up a new admin user is a good ploy to lower the harm of hacking. It’s hazardous to let the default admin account used, as it can invite a slew of hackers. When a new admin user is set-up, hackers are sent away from any inroads into the website. More so, the default one should be either blocked or sent to the disable mode.
New database user would be fine
Having a new database user is also minimizes the risks of hacking by giving ample security to a website. As soon as the CMS is installed, a new user for database should be created. Assigning entry/rights to new user to easily access the database is important to lower the security risks. Once this step is taken, only specified users can have the access to vital parts of the database and other elements.
Caution with username & password
Caution with username and password is vital to escape the wrath of hackers. If username and passwords are constantly changed after a while, it can dissuade hackers by troubling them. If constant changes are brought into username and password, it makes tough for anyone to get past the security defense of the website. This step is basically aimed at making the road somewhat tougher for those wanting unauthorized access to the site.
Properly configured server
A properly configured server dries up the attempts of hacking by securing the website. Before selecting the host, it must be known whether the hosting environment is suitable or not. If the server has already hosted sites with dubious track record, its services must never be taken of. If the server is reliable up to an extent, it can further add a sense of trust to secure your website.
Care with adds-on
A great amount of care with adds-on must be shown to avoid being embroiled in security related mess. Many a time, 3rd party extensions and adds-on are used without proper verification. Sometimes, hackers create adds-on to achieve a range of targets. If care is not shown in the installation of extensions and adds-on, it might create a lot of security related issues later on.
Recovery process is important
It’s good to keep trying for security related issues to flourish and meet the targets. In spite of trying everything, lapses do occur and fail the purpose of some much attempt. So it’s important to take steps of recovery once the hacking is anyhow done. Either having back-up or initiating the recovery process must be an integral part of security measures.
Denying easy back-end access
Denying easy back-end access is another viable strategy to counter the perennial hacking threats. Once the access is either restricted or made tougher, security related would prop up less frequently. ACL solution which is a third party component can do immense amount of help in this cause. So get this component sooner rather than later to beef up the security of Joomla website.
Conclusion
Joomla website has become a reliable CMS for thousands of users across the globe for their website and online application needs. By stepping up the security of Joomla websites, the trust can be retained and the popularity can be extended further. This article has listed how to protect Joomla website from hacking; users are invited to add more to the list.