Every single day, small businesses fall prey to cyber-attacks. Hackers infiltrate websites, steal customer data, and destroy hard-earned reputations. Your website is the backbone of your business, and it’s constantly at risk. These attackers don’t care if your business is big or small. They target any site they can exploit.

If you think your website has been hacked, don’t wait. Scan it immediately.

We’ve helped countless business owners recover after an attack. It’s a stressful and overwhelming experience, but the good news is that you can protect your website even if you’re not a tech expert. This guide will show you how to secure your site step by step.

No security system is perfect, but having some level of protection is always better than none. You have a responsibility to your visitors, their data, and your business.

We’ve compiled a list of effective, practical, and easy-to-use security measures. Security should never be at the expense of usability. If your customers struggle to access your content, they won’t stay.

Protect Your Website with a Firewall and Bot Protection

Sourch: 2024, Types of Firewalls – Learn different types of firewalls, Hasonss, available at: https://hasonss.com/blogs/types-of-firewalls/(accessed 4 March 2025)

Firewalls are one of the strongest defenses against cyber attacks. At their core, firewalls act as filters that identify and block malicious requests before they reach your website. Every request for information passes through the firewall first. If it detects a threat, such as a request from a known malicious IP, it blocks the request instead of processing it.

A good firewall also includes bot protection. Hackers use bots to scan the web for vulnerable websites and automate attacks. A firewall prevents these harmful bots from accessing your site while still allowing good bots like search engine crawlers and uptime monitoring services to function properly.

Malicious bots are not just a security risk. They also consume server resources, slowing down your website or even causing it to crash. AI-powered scrapers are a common example of this. A firewall with strong bot protection is essential for keeping your website secure and running smoothly.

Scan for Malware Every Day

Sourch: Tim Fisher(2024), How to Properly Scan Your Computer for Malware, Lifewire, available at: https://www.lifewire.com/properly-scan-your-computer-for-viruses-and-other-malware-2624526(accessed 4 March 2025)

When it comes to website security, two things are always true. First, no system is completely attack-proof. Second, the longer malware stays on your site, the more damage it causes.

That’s why daily malware scanning is critical. The best way to do this is with a vulnerability scanner.

You might think that if hackers breached your site, you would notice right away. Unfortunately, that’s rarely the case. Hackers prefer to keep their presence hidden for as long as possible. Your site is a valuable asset for them to exploit, and once you realize it’s been hacked, you’ll work to remove the malware—something they definitely don’t want.

The only sure way to detect an infection is through regular scanning. A good malware scanner checks every file and database entry for signs of compromise. If a threat is found, you can take action immediately. Automated tools like MalCare conduct deep scans daily, keeping a watchful eye on your website and its data.

Keep All Software Updated to Prevent Cyber Attacks

Most website hacks happen because of vulnerabilities in themes or plugins. Hackers actively seek out these weak spots to exploit and take control of thousands of websites at once.

So what exactly is a vulnerability? Themes and plugins are software, and like any other software, they contain code that can have bugs. Some bugs are harmless and might just cause a minor glitch. Others, however, can create serious security risks.

Take SQL injection as an example. A poorly coded contact form plugin might allow hackers to insert malicious database queries through form fields. This could give them unauthorized access to your website’s data, allowing them to steal or manipulate information. A small coding flaw like this can lead to major security breaches.

When vulnerabilities are discovered, security researchers usually report them to the plugin developer, who then releases a patch. If you have that plugin installed, you’ll see an update notification.

That’s why keeping everything updated—from your CMS to plugins—is critical. We understand that updates can sometimes cause unexpected issues, but there’s a simple solution. Use a staging environment to test updates safely before applying them to your live site. Just make sure you don’t delay updates. Keeping your software current is one of the best defenses against cyber attacks.

Use Strong Passwords to Block Cyber Attacks

Everyone knows password security matters, yet weak passwords remain one of the most common reasons websites get hacked. Too many site owners use simple, easy-to-guess passwords, making them an easy target.

Hackers take advantage of this by using precompiled lists of common passwords, known as rainbow tables. When combined with brute force bots, they can flood login pages with countless password combinations until they find a match.

A strong password should include a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. The more unique the combination, the harder it is to crack. In fact, a well-crafted password can take years for a hacker’s algorithm to break. The catch? Strong passwords are also difficult to remember.

That’s why using a password manager is a smart move. It can generate complex, hard-to-guess passwords and store them securely so you don’t have to remember them. This also helps you follow another key rule of password security: never reuse passwords across different accounts. A unique, strong password for every login is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to protect your website from cyber attacks.

Strengthen Security with Security Headers

Sourch: How to Strengthening Nginx Security and Website Security Headers with SSL?, AWS Monster, available at: https://www.awsmonster.com/how-to-strengthening-nginx-security-and(accessed 4 March 2025)

Security headers are special directives that help browsers and applications defend against cyber attacks. They are particularly effective in preventing threats like cross-site scripting (XSS) and clickjacking. Additionally, they can enforce secure data transmission by ensuring all communication happens over encrypted channels.

Instead of manually coding security headers, the easiest way to implement them is through security plugins. Many plugins offer simple toggle options, allowing you to activate or deactivate security headers as needed. This flexibility is useful since some headers can be restrictive, and having the ability to adjust them prevents unnecessary disruptions while keeping your site secure.

Implement Security Headers

Security headers tell browsers how to handle certain requests, helping to prevent attacks like XSS and clickjacking. They can also enforce encrypted data transmission, making sure information is only sent over secure channels.

Instead of messing around with code, the easiest way to add security headers is with a plugin. Most security plugins let you flip them on or off with a simple toggle. This is useful because some security headers can be restrictive, and having the option to disable them when needed gives you more control over how they work on your site.

Block PHP Execution in the Uploads Folder

Janessa Tran(2021), How to Disable PHP Execution in the Uploads Folder in WordPress, Medium, available at: https://medium.com/gretathemes/how-to-disable-php-execution-in-the-uploads-folder-in-wordpress-cd34ca2f1dc8(accessed 4 March 2025)

There’s a whole category of attacks called Remote Code Execution (RCE), in which hackers sneak malicious PHP files into the uploads folder. That folder is supposed to hold images and media files—not executable code—but because it allows uploads, it’s a prime target for attackers.

Once a hacker gets their PHP file in, they can run it and take control of your site. That’s bad news. But there’s a simple fix—just block PHP execution in the uploads folder entirely.

If you’re using MalCare, you can do this with a single click as part of its hardening measures. That way, even if a hacker manages to upload a bad file, it won’t be able to execute, keeping your site safe.

Signs Your Website Has Been Hacked

Catching a hack early can save you a lot of trouble. While this isn’t a full list, these are some of the most common warning signs that your site has been compromised.

Google Blacklist Warnings

If Google starts showing a warning when users try to visit your site, that’s a big red flag. It means Google has detected something suspicious and is actively blocking visitors to protect them. Unfortunately, that means the problem is coming from your site.

Google Search Console Warnings

You might get security alerts in Google Search Console (GSC). These warnings mean Google has found potential security risks and wants you to fix them fast. It’s always a good idea to check GSC regularly for errors. If your site gets blacklisted, this is also where you’ll need to file a request for removal once the issue is resolved.

Strange Behavior on Your Site

If your site suddenly starts redirecting visitors to random pages—like a pharmaceutical store—you’ve got a problem. Hackers often inject spam or malicious content into hacked websites.

Unrelated Search Results

If your site is showing up in search results for unrelated terms (like Japanese keywords), but those pages don’t seem to exist when you check, hackers have likely created hidden content. These pages are cloaked from normal visitors but do exist. Try searching from an incognito window or using a VPN—you’ll likely see the hacked content.

If you notice any of these signs, take action immediately. These are not minor glitches—they’re serious warnings that your site needs security fixes right away.

Why Prevention is Better Than a Cure

Stopping hackers before they strike is always better than trying to fix the damage later. Here’s why proactive website security is crucial.

• You’re responsible for protecting user data. This isn’t just about ethics; in many cases, it’s the law. If your site handles financial transactions or sensitive user information, security is non-negotiable.
• Your visitors trust you. When people use your site, they expect their data to be safe. A security breach breaks that trust and can drive visitors away for good.
• Prevention is easier and cheaper than recovery. Fixing a hacked website can be expensive and time-consuming. Even with early detection, cleaning up a compromised site is never simple. Firewalls, malware scanning, and regular updates are far more cost-effective solutions.

At the end of the day, website security isn’t just about protecting data, it’s about protecting your business, users, and reputation. The good news is that you can secure your website without making it harder for visitors to use.

The Impact of a Hack on Your Website

A hacked website is more than just an inconvenience. The fallout can be severe, affecting your business in ways you may not have considered.

• Loss of data – Hackers steal sensitive information, from customer details to financial records. This can lead to identity theft, fraud, or even legal trouble.
• Reputation damage – If visitors see security warnings or experience issues on your site, trust is lost. Rebuilding your brand’s credibility after a hack is incredibly difficult.
• Financial losses – A compromised website can lead to lost sales, customers, and revenue. Plus, fixing the issue and handling potential legal matters can be costly.
• Search engine penalties – Google doesn’t take hacked sites lightly. If your site is infected, Google may drop your rankings or remove you from search results entirely, erasing years of SEO efforts.
• Malware spread – If your site is hacked, it could be used to infect visitors or even other websites. This could put you at risk for further reputational damage and potential legal consequences.

Why Hackers Target Websites

Let’s say you have a small blog or an online store with a handful of visitors. You might think hackers wouldn’t bother with your site. Think again.

Your website is valuable, whether you realize it or not. Even if your site doesn’t generate much revenue, hackers can use it to distribute malware, promote shady products, or redirect visitors to scam sites. Clean, trusted websites are prime real estate for these kinds of attacks.

Then there’s the possibility of malicious intent. A disgruntled employee, an unethical competitor, or just a random attacker with nothing better to do could decide to target your site. Unfortunately, you don’t need to have enemies to become a victim.

Conclusion

Protecting your website from cyber-attacks isn’t a one-time task—it’s an ongoing process. Security threats evolve, and staying ahead of them means regularly updating your CMS, plugins, and themes. Updates patch vulnerabilities that hackers love to exploit, making them a critical part of website security.

That said, there’s no single guide, tool, or expert that can guarantee 100% protection forever. Anyone who says otherwise isn’t being honest.

What we can do, however, is give you the best practices to make hacking your website as difficult as possible. If you follow the steps in this article, you’ll patch many common security flaws and make your site far less appealing to attackers.

Taking website security seriously today will save you from bigger problems down the road. Be proactive, stay informed, and keep your site safe.