As a blog owner, you are exposed to more cyber threats than an average internet user. This is because experienced hackers can gain access to your financial statements and personal information through your blog. Cyber breaches are mostly financially motivated, and, unfortunately, it takes about 206 days to detect a breach.
Cyber attacks on blogs are usually aimed at installing malware on the webpage or redirecting traffic away from the blog. Whatever the case may be, with the following security tips, you can nip such cyber threats in the bud. Not only would you protect your blog from the repercussions of such cyber attacks, but you’ll also protect your data as well.
How Blogging Can Put You at Risk for Cyber Threats
Blogging in itself exposes you to a bunch of dangers you should be aware of. Before taking a look at how you can protect yourself from cyber attacks, let’s have a breakdown of how blogging puts you at risk in the first place.
Finances
Hackers and online fraudsters who steal personal information are capable of gaining control over your finances. They can leverage your data to gain access to your credit card or bank account details, among other things.
Another common scenario is using your identity to open up credit. They can max out your credit and leave you in substantial debt. Be aware that hackers attack every 39 seconds on average, and without the right security measures put in place, you can be at risk too.
Reputation
Your reputation could take a hit if someone puts together your identity matched with some information to incriminate you. This is especially true if you assume an anonymous identity while blogging.
Depending on what brand or organization you represent, you might have to face some heavy punishments for putting out online some secrets or confidential data of your workplace or company you work for.
Privacy and Safety
As a blog owner, your personal information is at risk of getting to the public. For instance, if you make your name, address, or company details public through your blogs, you might be at risk from people who do not entirely agree with your opinions on trivial matters like politics.
This form of online harassment can be as damaging as its counterpart in the real world. It could lead to various forms of emotional and psychological trauma.
Also, putting your contact or email address out on your blogs could expose you to junk mails and bulk SMS from unscrupulous marketers.
Tips on Protection From Such Cyber Threats
Use a PO Box
As a blogger who patronizes email marketing, it is safe to have a postal or mailing address separate from your home address. This is because using your home address as your mailing address gives an idea of where you live to whosoever subscribes for your newsletter.
You can open a separate PO box by making contacts with your local post office for this purpose. Alternatively, you can make use of a digital provider like VirtualPostMail to scan your mails.
Use a Google Voice Number
As a blogger, you might sometimes need to lend your number to various apps, services, or even clients you have dealings with. Rather than give them your mobile phone, you can get a free Google voice number to give them. This way, they can’t send phishing SMS to your mobile number. Unfortunately, Google voice numbers only exist in the US.
Use Unique and Secure Passwords for Each Website
It is common practice for most bloggers to use the same password for several sites. Hence, hackers can gain access to their other accounts merely by gaining access to one of them. To this end, you must use a secure and unique password for each account you open on the web.
Be Cautious With What You Blog About
While blogging, be careful about sharing some personal information. Personal information such as your regular schedule, places you visit routinely, and names and details of your family members need not reflect in your content. As much as you might love sharing personalized stories, fudge some of the information a little bit by using fictional names and locations.
Bottom Line
Cyber attacks on blogs are not only damaging the blog itself but the blog owners as well. Consequently, blog owners should pay more attention to cyber threats and protection from them to be able to stop cyber attacks before they mature.
Note that around 60% of small companies go out of business within six months of a cyber attack, suggesting that bouncing back from a cyber attack could be quite tricky. The above listed tips will keep you and your blog safe from such attacks.