As website owners, it’s crucial to understand the potential risks associated with the internet and the importance of implementing appropriate security measures. Unfortunately, the online world is rife with threats, with hackers utilizing bots to scan the web for vulnerabilities they can exploit. These attacks can result in website breaches, allowing hackers to spy on or damage websites, steal personal identities, and even install harmful malware. The attackers are highly skilled, often possessing coding knowledge, and leveraging sophisticated software and scripts to access and steal valuable data, which they may hold for ransom. Therefore, it’s essential to take proactive measures to protect your website and your users from these threats.

It’s a common misconception that self-hosted WordPress websites are less secure than other websites. However, the truth is that regardless of the platform, all websites can be vulnerable to security threats. Therefore, it’s important to be aware of the security measures and implement them to prevent hackers from accessing your website. The security measures can include regular updates of all files that can be updated. It’s crucial to keep all websites protected online, and unfortunately, WordPress updates are often ignored due to various reasons.

Why I Liken The Internet To The Jungle

Maintaining a clean and tidy home is essential to prevent it from falling apart and being overtaken by nature. I recall observing my mother’s diligent efforts to keep our home organised and clean when I was only 12 years old. When I asked her why it was so important to clean up so frequently, she explained that neglecting the upkeep of a home can lead to it becoming overrun by the natural environment.

Mum’s response was, “If we don’t maintain our home it falls apart and the jungle moves in to claim it.”  

In my mind this was a worst case scenario image. Mum did that a lot. She forced me to look at worst case scenarios. This gave me foresight and allowed me to avoid disasters that I didn’t want in my life.

I also had a huge imagination, envisioning a scenario where a jungle invaded a home. In this scenario, creatures would seek shelter and build nests, resulting in a disorganised and chaotic environment. Unwanted growth would also occur, further contributing to the inhabitable nature of the home. Ultimately, the jungle would consume and overtake the entire home.

Like the jungle, the internet is wild, unpredictable and unsafe without protecting our websites from all sorts of nasty and invasive things. 

A self-hosted WordPress website environment uses plugins to add functionality, a WordPress theme for the design aspect and WordPress core files that make up the Content Management System (CMS). These need regular updates as they’re mostly security based to keep out nasty invaders that will potentially harm and overtake your site, spy on you and your customers, steal your data, and control aspects of your website. 

Harden your websites’ security with regular updates, combined with a security plugin like Wordfence or Sucuri that offers a malware scanner and firewall. Also ensure that your PHP is updated at the server and that you conduct regular backups of your website.  Test your website’s security here with a free online security check and malware scanner by Sucuri: 

Find information on WordPress updates from WordPress.org forums.

Worst Case Scenario Looks Like:

Worst case scenario results in your website becoming unstable, unusable and Google blacklisting your business website. But worst of all you lose your credibility as a business. Rebuilding a reputation is hard, particularly when the brand itself has been tainted with distrust after being blacklisted. Similarly, rebuilding a website from scratch is an expensive exercise.

In any case, prevention is far better than the cure.

No Time To Keep the Jungle Out?

Maintenance and support services can be outsourced to give you back your flexibility and valuable time to do the things you love.

My WordPress Maintenance Plans that start from $60 a month for your peace of mind.

In addition, I educate those whom I create a website for, how to take care of their site.