How To Secure Your cPanel Account

In the recent past, cybersecurity violations have been on the rise. This is partly due to the sophistication of technology, which has, consequently, provided the tools and means for cybercriminals to gain unwarranted access to internet users’ data. While some attacks may be apparent and easily identifiable, others are very subtle; subtle enough to make you feel comfortable and safe.

Of all the security breaches and hacks happening around the globe, websites account for the highest number of reported hacks. But why does this happen when we have top-notch site-level protection and SSL Certificates? If your site is secure enough, your cPanel account is the easiest way to get past the firewall and onto your web files. Hackers are specifically targeting cPanel users. That said, you need to protect your site, but most importantly, protect your cPanel account.

Here are seven ways in which you can protect your cPanel account

Create a strong password

More than 80% of all hacking attempts originate from weak passwords. If you are using weak passwords for your cPanel account, it makes everything easy for hackers to try out a combination of characters and gain access to your site. The most important measure you should employ is to ensure that your passwords are strong enough. Here are useful tips on creating a strong password;

· Do not include names of things or dates in your password.

· Do not use your username or part of your username in your password.

· Use different passwords from the ones you use on your social media accounts or Google accounts

· Use auto-generated passwords or a combination of characters with no known pattern.

If you feel like you cannot remember the password, use password manager tools that can encrypt your passwords and store them online for you.

Enable brute force protection for cPanel account

Hackers may use thousands of username/password combinations until they get the right one. To prevent this, you need to enable brute force protection. You can do this by enabling a firewall so that any IP address that attempts to access your account with wrong credentials, will be blocked after a specified number of attempts.

Secure the site itself

Keep your cPanel secure and also ensure your site is secure. An attack can come from anywhere. Your site can still give you away no matter how secure your cPanel is. Hackers can gain access to your cPanel by exploiting vulnerabilities on your site.

Here is how you can secure your site against hackers;

· Enable HTTPS. By installing SSL Certificates, users on your site can freely communicate with who they intend to without any third-party interception/manipulation of the content being transmitted.

· Keep your site software up to date. Hackers are always quick to exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software, like a CMS for your site. Always be on the lookout for new releases and install them promptly.

· Always check your passwords. Insist on the use of strong passwords by all your users. Use complex passwords in the admin area so that hackers find it hard to try and gain access by guessing a combination of characters. A minimum of eight or so characters is a standard recommended length.

· Beware of XSS attacks. Hackers may also use Cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks to inject malicious JavaScript into your webpages which then runs in the browsers of your visitors and can change or steal information, from a comments page for example, and send back to the attacker.

By following the tips above, your cPanel account will be more secure and it will be hard for hackers to gain entry. Besides, you should employ general best practices like not sharing your passwords or logging in to your account and then leaving your machine unattended for long periods.