Hopefully this never happens to your website, but take it from someone who has had her websites hacked more than once, it’s a huge headache when it happens.  The first time I was hacked the issue was due to a security breach with my hosting company.  (We’ve since changed hosting companies.)  Sometimes despite the best security, hackers find a way to hijack your domain or access your site to install virus laden software, or worse!  Your whole website could be deleted which is the worst case scenario.

Can you imagine how terrible it would be to have to redo your website from scratch?

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce the possibility of this happening.  You can sleep easier at night when you have a backup of your website, posts, comments, store, etc..  That way, in case the worst happens, you can restore your WordPress blog in the event that it is hacked and/or deleted.

Implement these suggestions to prevent your site from being hacked:

• Be sure your password is made up of numbers and letters so it isn’t easy for others to guess.  If you use something simple, such as your name, a hacker may be able to figure it out pretty easily.    The same goes for your user name, don’t use the default “admin”.

• Don’t use free plugins, themes, templates, etc that you find online.  Often these “free tools” contain viruses and spyware.  Only purchase website software from reputable sources.

• Login to your website frequently and watch for new security upgrades, and implement the latest updates as soon as possible.  Using outdated versions of WordPress can leave chinks in your security armor that gives hackers easier access.

• Install security and anti-virus plugins that will make it more difficult to gain access to your site. Some plugins will notify you if there are attempts to guess your password as well.

These simple tips can protect your WordPress website from being hacked.  Even if a determined hacker gains access to your site, when you have everything backed up it will be a cinch to restore your site if you’ve taken the appropriate measures to have everything backed up.