“I am not able to find my site anywhere over the web!” “My Joomla site is showing up no content at all!” “Why am I redirected to some random malware site as and when I access my Joomla site?”
Have any of these questions popped up in your mind recently? Attention! Your Joomla site might be hacked! Rush to your site administrator or your Joomla development company, because you need a fix as early as possible.
If you are one of those lucky folks who still haven’t been bit by the hacking bug, you deserve a sigh of relief. But, wait! Don’t just lay back and relax. Your website can be the next target. Recently, there have been quite handful cases of hacking of Joomla sites. In fact, there have been outcries from government authorities like National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in Ducth, which warned users against a probable hacking spree as a result of a vulnerability impacting Joomla Content Editor.
With so many malicious activities doing rounds, it seems that hackers have armed themselves, and this time they have Joomla at their hit list. No! This is no scaremongering. It’s just an attempt to alert you and safeguard your site against probable hack attacks.
Why Is My Joomla Site at Risk?
Have you wondered this quite often, but haven’t found a suitable answer yet? Here are some probable reasons that make your Joomla site a soft target for hackers.
- You are using an outdated version of Joomla
- The extensions used in your site are old and non-prominent
- You allow your users to upload scripts
- You have written permissions on *.php and .htaccess files
- Execute permissions of your site are available on public directories
- All possible permissions lie with the database users
- Unknown developers have access to the admin of your site
- You are quite laid back about the entire idea of Joomla security
What Do You Do to Keep Hack Attacks at Bay?
You surely want to protect your site, but how? You definitely have heard the saying, ‘Better Safe than Sorry”. Here are some precautionary measures that will make your Joomla venture highly guarded and secure.
Go With Just-Out Joomla Versions!
It has been noted that hackers usually eye sites which are using outdated version of Joomla CMS. So, it is best to upgrade your site with the latest CMS versions as soon as they surface in the marketplace. So, if you are still running your web portal on Joomla 1.x versions, upgrade to versions 2.5 and 3.0 at the earliest. Upgraded versions will offer upgraded security features, which enhance the protection level of your website.
B for Backup Plan
No other precautionary measure can beat this one. Taking a regular back up of the data on your website ensures that you have an access to last version of your site, even after it gets hacked. Taking backup is like a Plan B that never fails. But always remember one thing. Before you restore your site, explore the plug-in or extension that caused the vulnerability and get rid of it.
Be Up-to-Date With Plug-ins and Extensions
It’s not just the latest fashion fads that you need to keep up with. You need to be up to date in case of Joomla extensions and plugins as well. If you are using third-party plus-ins, keep at pace with the development firms, stay in their mailing list and get notified as soon as an update is released. After all, there is no point in using outdated extensions and plugins and making your portal unsecure.
Look for a Reliable Host
Hosting is another critical aspect of web development, which impacts the security of your online venture equally. Ensure that you partner an established, reliable and honest hosting company. As you choose a hosting plan do pay special heed to the security features enlisted with each plan. Opt for a plan that offers highest data security and guarantees maximum up time for your site. Also ensure that your hosting provider is renders 24X7 support and maintenance services, so that you are not stuck alone at the hour of crisis.
In Crisis, Call Joomla Experts
Even as you implement all the aforementioned security tactics, it’s highly advisable to keep the contact of expert Joomla developers handy. In critical situations, they are just a call away. They can advice you with some instant tricks and suggest you with the best possible solutions for restoring your Joomla site.
Prevention Is Better Than Cure!
To say the least, it is always better to adapt precautionary security measures, rather than dealing with the flurry of being hacked. Yes, you Joomla site can be restored after being hacked. But have you ever wondered who will restore the number of hits or prospect customers which you have lost while your site was down?