Is your website safe from evil hackers?

If you’re wonderblogger, you’ve a secure password and the double authentication feature that sends a magic passcode to your phone. Great! Is it enough to protect your cybercastle? I’d say no. With both those moats in place, sneaky invaders have attacked my castle and attempted to ransack my library of e-says®. Fortunately, Fake Flamenco lived to tell the tale. Here’s how I detected and deflected these unsavory characters:

Detecting Hackers

1. Blinkity Blinking  At times I am working on my next post when I notice the screen reset quickly and unexpectedly, as if my website is not sure which page to show. It’s like a mirage shimmer from the Matrix movie, in the far right corner of the screen. It’s not your server connection, it’s a cyberpunk with a spray paint can on the loose. Exit your website and your navigator immediately. Clean your “cookies” if you can on your computer, tablet or phone. Login again, if the trouble has not cleared, change your password.
2. Draft Drift  I’m in blogging bliss, the new essay is going swimmingly, I think. But the latest version doesn’t have the changes I just made. Where’s the flamenco fan? I added it a minute ago… This can be an technical error or a malevolent visitor. Close the post and reopen it. If that doesn’t clear up the mixed circuits, treat it like a site attack; exit and proceed as in #1.
3. Function Dysfunction  This week, I hit update and received an error message. Cannot save draft. Cannot save draft. I can rely on WordPress to save drafts and archive them. I closed my post and phew, it was saved. However, if button malfunctions repeat, exit WordPress as in #1. Another example this week was my scheduling button making its own publish date, called *now*. I changed my password and since then, I’ve experienced no further functionality problems! For me, that’s evidence I protected my site. As they say in sports, your best offense is a good defense.

Deflecting Hackers

1. Totally Randomize  Generate completely illogical passwords using symbol keys and numbers, not words a dictionary program can guess. It should look like a reserved person swearing; *d$M0%3!^
2. Dig More Trenches  Change your password every month. Use double authentication at sign in. Close the WordPress website when you are not using it. Sparingly join Unsecured Networks. These practices throw more steel shields between you and the ogres.
3. Beware of Phishy Phishers If you know you are signed into WordPress, do not enter the info again at someone’s WordPress website. You can trust the blogger, and not trust the gremlin who might have hijacked their site. Gong, phishy request!

Those are my tips. Here’s my caveat: These safety measures against hackers are my personal opinions according to my experience over seventeen months of blogging, if you want professional advice on your website, please contact WordPress directly.

How do you protect your website, or (social media) passwords? I’d love to know. All you need is an email address to leave a comment below.

Gracias for reading Fake Flamenco. ¡Olé! –Rebecca