Top Reasons Websites Get Hacked - And How to Avoid Them

As the use of the internet is growing , there have been increasing discussions about website security and the reasons why websites get hacked. Nowadays, organization's websites store important data and help to carry out daily business activities. The increased dependence on websites makes them vulnerable to hacking by hackers who take advantage of their weaknesses. Cyberattacks not only target big organizations but small ones as well. A hacked website not only causes data breaches, it also results in financial damage, loss of customer trust and reputational damage. Many website owners ignore the security factor of businesses sites, which results in the risk of being hacked. Learning why websites get hacked, helps to recognise vulnerabilities. Many attacks done to hack websites can be prevented with early implementation of security practices and regular maintenance.

Staying informed about common website security risks can help you better protect your website from potential threats. In this blog, we will discuss the reasons  why websites get hacked, warning signs to recognize a hacked website, and the measures that you can adopt to ensure that your website is secure.

Making an eye-catching website for any organization has become very common in this digital age. With the rising use of technology, cybersecurity risks are also on the rise. In the modern digital era, websites are still getting hacked as they contain valuable data and sensitive information. Hackers often target those websites whose security measures are weak and help them to earn more profit. Their main motive includes stealing the sensitive data, earning profits, tarnishing the reputation of the firm, spreading viruses and exploiting any security vulnerability. The hackers usually scan and attack the websites using some automated scanning tools regardless of their sizes. Here are the reasons why websites get hacked:

• Data Theft: Hackers may steal sensitive information such as customer details, login details or business data, which leads to financial loss and reputational damage.
• Financial Gain: Attackers blackmail and steal credit card information, and demand money in exchange for not misusing or exposing the stolen data.
• Spamming and Phishing: Hackers send spam and phishing emails using trusted domain names to the visitors of the website.
• SEO Manipulation: Hides invisible links on your websites to improve their SEO ranking.
• Abuse: Leverages the computing power of the server to mine the cryptocurrencies or attack other servers.

Why is Internet Security so Important?

The Internet has become an essential part of our professional as well as personal life. Almost all businesses and individuals depend on the internet for communication, transactions, and storing information. As a result, they face an increasing risk of cyberattacks. It has always been a misconception that larger organizations are more vulnerable to attack. But the reality is that any website that includes personal or confidential information is at risk of attack. This includes information such as login credentials, customer login records, payment details, confidential financial documents, website databases, and so on. So, this is where internet security plays an important role.

Without proper internet security measures, this data can be stolen and misused. These may result in financial losses, identity theft, customer loss of confidence and legal troubles. It also affects the brand reputation among customers, overall brand image, and the trust of the customers. To prevent such risks, internet security plays a vital role. It helps to ensure that the website remains safe and operational, which reduces the risk of cyberattacks and data breaches.

Top Reasons Websites Get Hacked

Whether you have a high performance or a simple business website, there is a chance of your site being hacked. Websites getting hacked has been a common problem. Most of these hacks can be prevented with few security and maintenance practices. Now, do you know why websites get hacked? Knowing these common reasons can help you take the right decisions to protect your website from potential cyber threats. Some of them are briefly discussed below:

1. Outdated Plugins and Extensions

Plugins and extensions are commonly used to enhance a website's functionality and user experience. With the functionality, it can also bring websites at the risk of being attacked. To remain secure, plugins and extensions need regular updates. When they are outdated, it can be used by attackers to exploit vulnerabilities for gaining website access.

2. Weak Passwords

Weak passwords are one of the most common causes of website hacks. Passwords that are reused, easy to guess, and short can lead to website hacking. Thousands of common passwords are tested by automated tools to find the right one. So, to prevent your website from getting hacked, you should use long and unique passwords with combinations of lowercase, uppercase , number and symbols. To add an extra layer of security, Multi-factor authentication (MFA) can also be used.

3. Poor Server Configuration

Websites can’t always be the problem, sometimes servers can be the reason for sites getting attacked. A poorly configured server exposes websites to unnecessary security risks. Misconfiguration such as default settings, open ports, weak access control or incorrect file permissions makes it easier for hackers to gain unauthorised access over the websites. This results in data leak, install malware and disrupt website operation.

4. Phishing Attacks

Phishing attacks are a major cause of why websites get hacked. compromises.Hackers use a trustable domain name to send email or message to trick users into revealing login credentials and other sensitive information. After obtaining this information, it is used to access websites and utilize or sell the stolen data.

5. SQL Injection

Hackers often use SQL (Structured Query Language) injection to exploit weaknesses in a website's database. It is a web attack mechanism in which malicious SQL code is inserted into website input fields like login forms or search boxes to manipulate a website’s database. This results in easy access, edit or delete of sensitive information including login credentials and records. Websites can reduce the risk of SQL injection by keeping software up to date and validating user input using parameterised queries.

6. Vulnerable Third-Party Integrations

Modern websites depend on third-party integrations such as payment gateways, social media plugins, analytics tools and application programming interface(API). But if any of these integration programs has some security loopholes, then this makes the website vulnerable to attacks. These security loopholes can be exploited by the hackers to steal valuable data.

Warning Signs to Recognize a Hacked Website

Identifying the warning signs after a website is hacked helps to minimize the damage and prevent further security issues. A hacked website doesn't always stop working immediately, but there are few signs showing before major issues. Below are some of the signs to recognize a hacked website:

• Website Slowdown: Website slowdown is one of the warning signs showing up if your site is hacked. It becomes slow as compared to usual days.
• Unexpected Redirects: A hacked website redirects its visitors to unknown and suspicious websites.
• Unauthorised Website Changes: Unauthorised and unexpected changes to your website’s content, design or functionality can be a sign that it has been hacked.
• Browser Security Warnings: Whenever browsers display messages like “This site may be unsafe” or "Deceptive site ahead", that message can be the sign of your website being hacked.
• Unusual Server or Website Activity:  A hacked website shows unusual activity like failed login attempts, suspicious server activity and high website traffic.
• Emails Sent Without Your Knowledge: Your customer may receive spam or phishing emails sent from your domain name without your knowledge.

Ways to Protect Your Websites From Being Hacked

Taking the right security measures is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of cyberattacks and protect your website from potential threats.A hacked website can cause a tremendous amount of destruction on so many levels. That's why it's better for you to practice prevention methods from the start rather than fixing the hacked site. Below are the ways to protect your website from being hacked:

1. Keep Everything Updated

If there is an update for your website, software and devices you should update it right away. This minimizes the chance of your website being at risk of getting hacked. You can also enable automatic update whenever possible to ensure your device receives the latest security patches. Keeping everything up to date also helps fix known security vulnerabilities that hackers often exploit.

2. Use Strong Password

Creating strong and unique passwords for your website panel, and hosting accounts and databases saves websites from being hacked. To create a strong and unique password you should use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. You should immediately change password when there is evidence or suspicion of a security breach, rather than every 30, 60, or 90 days.

3. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is another method that you can use to make your website more secure. In addition to the user providing a password, he or she will have to confirm the identity by providing a one-time code through the user’s phone, email, or even an authentication application. Even if the password falls into the wrong hands of hackers, accessing your website will be a challenge.

4. Choose a Secure Web Host Service

The other aspect that you should do is finding a reliable web host service provider. This can be seen through looking at various services provided by web hosts. These include SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate, firewall, malware scanning, and automatic backups among others. Choose a web hosting company that frequently updates its servers and security measures.

5. Use Secure Security Plugins

You can enhance the security of your website by using secure security plugins. Plugins and extensions should be installed from a reputable source and update them regularly to secure your website. Security plugins help to detect malware, prevent suspicious activities, and scan for vulnerabilities. You must also review any plugin installed and remove those that are not needed anymore.

Conclusion

As the internet continues to evolve, it plays an increasingly important role in our daily lives. Website Hacking is rising as the online activity has increased over the past years. Nowadays, it has become essential for businesses to secure their websites as customer interaction ,online transactions, data management, and service delivery are carried out through them. So, to save your website from the unnecessary vulnerabilities and potential cyber threat, it has become important to adapt security measures. Investing in website security helps ensure a safe experience for both businesses and visitors.

Taking some preventive actions right now can take care of a lot of future cyber attacks on your website. It is important to remember that cybersecurity for your website is not a one-time thing and needs to be continuously maintained.

To prevent such hacks in your website, it is essential to know why websites get hacked. Being one of the best IT agencies in Nepal, Softbenz Infosys provides reliable solutions in the form of website development, maintenance, and security for your business. Contact us now to have us work for you to give your website the security it deserves. For more information, do check out our other blogs. Contact our team today to grow your business.

FAQs on Why Websites get Hacked

1. What are some of the reasons why websites get hacked?

There are a number of elements that make websites easy to hack. These elements include out-of-date software, weak password security, dangerous web hosting companies, outdated plugins and lack of continuous upgrades.

2. How can I protect my website from hackers?

There are a number of ways that you can use to protect your website from hackers. You can do this by updating your website, using strong passwords, using multiple authentication, installing reliable security plugins, choosing reliable web hosting companies and backing up your website.

3. How often do I have to update my website?

Updates are necessary each time there is an update for your website, plugins and content management system (CMS). It will protect the website, boost performance, and save from cyber attacks.

4. Can a hacked website be restored?

A hacked website can be restored by getting rid of malware and restoring it using backups. It will be wise after restoring the website to upgrade all the software and change passwords.