Cyberattacks are still very common in 2021. Hackers and bad actors develop new ways to infiltrate sites every day. However, you can minimize the risks of having your website compromised with the right tools.
Check out our top 10 recommendations on how to improve your website’s front-end security.
1. Be Proactive About Preventing XSS Attacks
Cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks are still a huge problem in 2021. Today, many websites have some sort of public forum or comment section that allows individual visitors to add their comments to the site. These comments will then be displayed to every other visitor. The problem arises when hackers use these comments to add malicious scripts to the site.
To prevent XSS attacks, you need to be extremely proactive in your prevention. You likely have a lot of custom code on your website, and if you didn’t write it with XSS attacks in mind, you need to go back and rewrite it using secure XSS practices.
2. Use Libraries With Build-in XSS Protection
When building your website, you should use secure libraries to protect against XSS attacks. The OWASP Enterprise Security API is a free library built with XSS security in mind. Using a library like OWASP will help you build a lower-risk website.
3. Implement Content Security Policy (CSP)
Content Security Policy (CSP) is an added layer of security that works as an HTTP response header. When enabled, the CSP will only allow secure scripts to run, helping you prevent XSS attacks.
4. Compartmentalize Your Data
If your website receives and stores sensitive customer information, you should compartmentalize it in different meta fields. This will prevent all of your sensitive information from being accessible through a single leak or hack.
5. Get an SSL Certificate
A Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate is an easy way to give your website an added layer of security. The SSL will help keep your site secure by authenticating the identity of a website and encrypting server information.
Setting up an SSL certificate only takes a couple of minutes, and many hosting services offer it free of charge.
6. Update Your Software and Plugins
Server and website software and plugins get updates for a reason. Many times, it has something to do with security. Updating your server and website software and plugins is an easy way to keep your website secure. Use only premium plugins that are tested for the latest version of your server and web software.
7. Be Selective When Installing Third-Party Scripts
Not all third-party scripts can be trusted. Only install scripts with plenty of good reviews and are transparent in what they do to safeguard site safety. No matter how securely you develop your website, a single bad plugin could be disastrous. Use only plugins that have been around for years and have been updated on a regular basis.
8. Remove Inactive Plugins
You should get rid of any plugins that you do not use. You never know which plugins may experience a security breach, so it’s best to remove unused plugins to mitigate the risk.
9. Use CAPTCHA
A CAPTCHA can prevent bots and bad actors from trying to take advantage of your forms and login screens. Make sure to enable CAPTCHA whenever you ask a visitor to input sensitive information.
10. Stay On Top of Web Security
Finally, you need to be invested in the latest security trends and best practices. Hackers are constantly finding new ways to infiltrate websites, so you need to make sure that you read all the security news. We also, recommend installing a professional security plugin that is scanning your website for security issues. Professional security plugins offer Scheduled Security Scans, Audit Logging, Firewall, IP Lockout, Login Masking, Brute Force Protection, Vulnerability Reports, User-Agent Banning, Geolocation Blocking and so much more.
Conclusion
Even if you think your website is very secure, there is likely a lot more than you can do to improve your front-end security. Be prepared to protect your website’s safety and your visitor’s information.
At Auxilium Technology, we take pride in developing the most secure websites. Our clients enjoy sites built using only the most advanced security practices to prevent malicious software or hackers from infiltrating them. Auxilium Technology websites are built with a professional security plugin that offers Scheduled Security Scans, Audit Logging, Firewall, IP Lockout, Login Masking, Brute Force Protection, Vulnerability Reports, User-Agent Banning, Geolocation Blocking and so much more at no extra charge. Call us at 301-519-9622 to learn more about our web development services and web security services.
