9 Quick & Easy Steps to Secure a Joomla Website

Joomla is one of the most popular content management systems around for extensive usages and robust online applications. Being open-source in nature and coupled with the free availability of themes and extensions, this CMS remains an ideal choice for small businesses. With so much popularity and a massive user-base, Joomla has to meet the users' expectations.

Thousands of websites, personal, and professionals are running over it to meet varied targets and success. If proper security is not available, millions of websites' fate will hang in jeopardy that might cause the loss of billions of dollars. In this write-up, we would discuss ten tips to secure a Joomla website. Let's get started!

#Use Only Official Joomla Website For Installation

Great care has to be taken while installing Joomla. It's suggested to install Joomla only from the official website to escape the danger of hacking. Never use any link to initiate the installation process, as it might cause many security-related issues later on. Hackers lay traps all the time, and unspecified and easily-available links to be clicked onto may well be the trick to hack the website. Hence, going only to the original Joomla website is recommended to avoid the risk of hacking.

#Use Only the Latest Version of Joomla

Using only the latest version of Joomla is one of the surefire ways to avert the looming dangers of hacking and unauthorized access. Once the most up-to-date version is used, security issues are less likely to bother for being already filtered out. Since Joomla updates are made available to slash down the risks of hacking and potential damages to the website, use only the latest release to tighten the security.

#Never Forget to Disable the FTP Layer

Disabling the FTP layer is another proven way to secure a Joomla website. When the FTP layer is enabled at the time of installation, security issues are bound to creep in, which might cause trouble in the later stages. FTP details remain a weak target for being stored in plain text and hence, can be sneaked past with ease, making the website vulnerable to future hacking attempts. So, it's crucial to disable the FTP layer to keep the website away from the danger of hacking.

#Set-up a New Admin User

Creating a new admin user rather than relying on the default one is suggested to secure a Joomla website. When the default admin account is used, it can invite a slew of hackers. When a new admin user is created, hackers are sent away from any inroads into the website. Besides creating a new admin user, the default one must be either blocked or sent to the disabled mode to remain hacking-free.

#Always Create a New Database User

Creating a new database user is also a significant step to hardening the security of a Joomla website. As soon as the CMS is installed, a new database user should be created. Assigning entry/rights to the new database user to access the database easily is vital to lower the security risks. Once this step is taken, only specified users can access critical parts of the database and other elements.

#Frequent Changes of Username & Password

Caution with username and password is vital to escape the wrath of hackers. If usernames and passwords are changed from time to time, it can make the road somewhat more challenging for those wanting unauthorized access to the site. It's suggested to change the username and password after every 2-3 months to secure a Joomla website from being hacked.

#Reliable Hosting Environment

Getting a reliable hosting environment is the first step to secure a Joomla website and give it adequate protection. A properly configured server dries up the attempts of hacking. The server should run PHP in CGI mode, wherein the personal user account is used rather than a universal server. This way, many hacking-related risks are avoided to give a new safety cover to the website.

Before selecting the host, it must be known whether the hosting environment is suitable or not. If the server has already hosted sites with a dubious track record, its services must never be taken. If the server is reliable up to an extent, it can further add a sense of trust to secure your website.

#Caution with 3rd Party Extensions

Taking appropriate caution with 3rd party extensions is another useful way to keep the security of a Joomla website intact. The lure of extensions must be avoided, and only reliable ones must be selected for the job. Many times, security lapses occur due to deficiencies in these extensions. So take the utmost care with installing 3rd party extensions and adds-on to avoid any security-related issues later on.

#Backup Is Crucial

Setting up a backup and recovery process is an integral part of securing a Joomla website from being hacked. There are many extensions available for the backup or recovery process to level up a Joomla website's security. If such measures are not taken, some vital data might be lost in any hacking attempt.

Conclusion

Joomla is a powerful CMS as it runs thousands of websites and applications. By taking these safety measures, Joomla websites and applications can be made safe and secure forever. In case your Joomla website is already hacked, or you suspect it being hacked, you can hire a reliable Joomla development company to fix and secure it.