Chapter 3: Secure Your Network
Now that you’re as certain as you can be that the devices you’ll use to log into your site are clean, the next step is to ensure that the network you use to log onto your website is secure. It’s highly advisable that you not use public Wifi hotspots such as in eateries, transportation hubs, places of lodging, etc., as these are notably insecure. If you absolutely must do so, then use a VPN to encrypt your traffic to & from your server in order to prevent possible sniffing of transmitted credentials & other sensitive information.
If you’re logging in using your home or office network, especially if you’re connecting wirelessly, make sure the default password, &, if possible, the default username, is changed on the router. All routers come w/built-in credentials, & the vast majority are either available through online documentation or are easily guessed. Some routers won’t allow username changes, but at least make the password long & strong. & in the event you’re not using wireless capabilities, disable them. Make sure your encryption is as strong as possible–at least WPA 2 until WPA3 is fully supported–& turn off WPS!
Unfortunately, routers vary greatly in terms of their settings, as there are no standards. Therefore, posting instructions would probably not prove helpful. My suggestion is that you consult your hardware’s documentation, talk w/your ISP’s customer service support personnel, consult our forum , or hire someone to do this for you. It should not take long.
If you will be uploading files to your website, log into your hosting provider’s file manager using the https protocol, i.e., https://brightstarsweb.com/cpanel, or use an FTP client that supports one or more methods of secure file transfer, such as FileZilla, which, as you may recall, was mentioned in the article:
What is a site hack? Consult your hosting provider’s knowledge base for which encryption methods they support & which ports they use. Here at Brighter Vision, we use SFTP on port 22.
If you absolutely must log into your website from a public Wifi hotspot, use a VPN. Here’s a list of TechRadar’s best VPN browser extensions for 2018.
TechRadar’s best VPN Browser Extensions 2018
This is a very broad topic, w/considerable variations among operating systems, browsers, & hosting providers. All possible contingencies would probably take up multiple books & numerous websites. Discuss your particular circumstance in the forum & we’ll do what we can to assist you.
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