The scale of attacks on websites and blogs around the world is increasing on a daily basis, and it’s getting worse.
It’s safe to assume that if your website or blog hasn’t been hacked yet, then it’s only a matter of time.
On March 11, 2014, technology sites like Cnet.com began reporting that over 160,000+ WordPress web sites had been hacked.
Thousands of websites are hacked every year! Will yours be one of them?
(Image source: BlogDefender site)
According to the Cnet report,
“With some old-fashioned trickery, hackers were able to get more than 162,000 legitimate WordPress-powered Web sites to mount a distributed-denial-of-service attack against another Web site.”
(Source: cnet.com/news/ddos-attack-is-launched-from-162000-wordpress-sites)
As described by security firm Sucuri, hackers had leveraged a well-known flaw to attack unsuspecting WordPress sites and direct a distributed-denial-of-service cyber-attack (DDoS) towards another popular website.
You may think that your website or blog is of little value to hackers, but the reality is that all websites are valuable to a malicious user.
If a malicious user can find a security vulnerability that allows them to compromise the control of your blog, that blog can then be employed as a “bot” in a planned cyber-attack against more valued web sites.
The harsh reality is that hackers are very likely trying to hack into your website at this very moment. Whether they will get into your site successfully depends on how difficult or easy you will make things for hackers to keep persisting until they can either find how to get access, or decide to look for a less secure target.
How Much Information About Your Site Are You Broadcasting To Hackers?
Do you own a WordPress site? If so, visit a site like Hackertarget.com and run your site through their WordPress security scan …
(Hackertarget – WP Security Check Screenshot source: Hackertarget.com)
You will see that the test will yield a number of results and details about your site …
(website security check results. Image source: Hackertarget.com)
It should be obvious after using the tool shown above that if you are able to see all of this information, hackers can too.
(Image source: BlogDefender.com)
Being able to see which version of WordPress you are using, which plugins and themes you have installed on your site, and which files have been uploaded to certain directories can be valuable information to hackers, as this informs them about any potential security weaknesses, especially in older versions.
Fortunately, there is a simple solution to stop broadcasting all of this information about your web site and make your site invisible to hackers and bots.
Blog Defender
Product Description
The product is a suite of WordPress security video tutorials, plugins and tools, plus WordPress security documentation in PDF and DOC formats.
Matt Garrett, the developer of BlogDefender began looking for a way to develop BlogDefender after noticing that a WordPress blog he set up for his mother had been hacked into. This blog was devoid of content and so had practically nothing of value to offer, yet it still was hacked.
Matt only became aware of the event after being informed by his host and observing that a significant amount of unusual activity had occurred within his server, as well as the addition of a number of malicious files by whoever had broken into his site.
(Product image source: BlogDefender.com)
Matt’s experience is evidence that all websites are valuable to hackers.
Blog Defender scans you web site for security weaknesses …
And let’s you quickly and easily fix these …
Plugins
Blog Defender includes 3 plugins:
Plugin #1 in the product suite provides automated backups …
(Screenshot: Blog Defender)
Plugin #1 “Automated Backups” lets you do automated site, file and data backups to your server, third-party servers and leading cloud solutions using a number of backup methods, schedule full or partial backups, exclude files or tables from backups, restore backups, replace URLs (useful when migrating sites to different domains or server locations), search and replace text in your database, perform auto database scans and repairs, and more.
Plugin #2 “WordPress Security” provides WordPress security …
(Product image source: BlogDefender site)
Pro Plugin #2 “WordPress Security” provides a range of vital website security functions (see “Features” section below).
Plugin #3 allows you to scan WordPress sites to detect whether code in your files has been changed, and fix any problems detected …
(Screenshot image: BlogDefender.com)
Pro Plugin #3 “WordPress Scan & Repair” also scans content to see if any malicious scripts have been inserted into your site, bans bad bots, blocks brute force attacks and detects any content leeching (where people benefit from your work without providing any benefit in return).
Blog Defender – Tutorials Videos
In addition to plugins, the Blog Defender WordPress security product suite also includes training videos and downloadable guides that will show you exactly what you need to do to protect your website from malicious attacks …
(Screenshot: BlogDefender website)
Learn more about the plugin here:
Plugin Benefits
Below are just some of the benefits and advantages of using Blog Defender to make your WordPress site invisible to hackers and botnets on your site:
Quick And Simple To Install And Use
The Blog Defender plugins are quite easy to install. Simply upload the plugin files to your Plugin folder via your WP administrator section and activate.
Really Simple And Easy To Follow
Blog Defender can be used as a do-it-yourself step-by-step training product that takes you through the website security process and shows you what to do, including how to set everything up, and even which plugins you can use for free to get things done inexpensively.
Some additional benefits and advantages include:
- Secure your site from hackers, spammers, bad bots, data mining tools and malicious users whose aims is to ruin your business for personal and financial gain at your expense.
- Prevent Intellectual Property Theft – If you sell information products (e.g. downloadable ebooks, video training, etc.), your product can end up becoming freeware on peer-to-peer sharing sites.
- Avoid Getting Suspended By Your Web Host And Banned By Search Engines – When a site gets hacked, expect to go through a great deal of inconvenience and heartache. It can take days to uncover problems and sort through the issues these have caused. In the meantime, your, blog could be suspended by your host, or even blocked by search engines. In addition, hackers can spam your contact list and steal your business details or financial information, you could be fined or even charged with fraud, and a whole lot more.
Features
Blog Defender was created to keep your sites and your business safe and secure 24/7.
Blog Defender helps you fix the following areas:
- Host Security Advisory
- Plugin Security Audits
- Theme Security Audits
- Anti Brute Force Security
- Anti Cross-Site Scripting
- WordPress Database Security
- Nefarious Traffic Blocking
- Hide WordPress ‘Tell Tale’ Signs
- Anti-Comment Spam
- File Monitoring
- Track Links
- Blocking Known Offenders
- Automate WordPress Updates
- WordPress Security Audit
- Tightening Server Security
- Kick Out Policy
- Reputation Checking
- And More …
Blog Defender uses a logical process to help protect your web site, addressing potential hosting security issues, using tools to identify risky themes and WordPress plugins, and then implementing website-wide security using the tools and plugins provided.
(Blog Defender website security process. Screenshot source: BlogDefender.com)
User Feedback
Below are just some testimonials and comments that users have written about the Blog Defender product suite:
”This is probably one of those times you ask yourself ‘do I really need this product?’ Let’s face it, on the surface it’s not going to immediately put more money in your pocket or even add some cool new gizmo to your site… The truth is yes you do and you need it now. I’ve been in the online business for 10+ years and had my fair share of hacked sites which have cost me time and money (lots of it)…I’ve also seen a good number of people have their reputations and entire businesses left in tatters when their sites have been hacked. Right now is the time to act, because when it’s too late, well basically you’ll be screwed (and you’ll regret the day you passed over such a great opportunity to protect yourself for so little). And by the way, if you think your web host will come to your rescue think again, you’ll be on your own, paying to put things right and suffering the cost of lost sales and business. This is a seriously good product and if you rely on WordPress to make you money online then it’s nothing less than essential. Buy it, follow Matt’s expert advice and don’t end up another victim!” Simon Hodgkinson, www.hodgkinsonpublishing.com
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”My business is built around the WordPress platform and I’m embarrassed to admin I’ve been slack in the security department. However, Matt’s training soon put that right! I followed each detailed video to the letter and discovered some incredible security tricks and plugins I’d never heard of before. Better still, all the plugins were free to download too! The end result? My WordPress membership site is now locked down tighter than Parkhurst at midnight and if anybody tries hacking it, I’ll be the first to know! thanks again Matt, I’m off to secure the rest of the blogs in my portfolio!” David Walker – www.inboxrockstar.com
Useful Tips
According to the plugin developer, since the release of Blog Defender, no Blog Defender-secured sites were hacked.
Matt Garrett, the product developer states on his site, however …
“With the volume of attacks nowadays … we probably won’t hold forever, so we’ve been busy creating even tougher WordPress security.”
The war on hackers is is a perpetual game of cat and mouse and all security solutions are only as good as the information and tools that developers presently have access to. The latest release of Blog Defender creates an easier WordPress security solution that doesn’t need constant attention, is quite inexpensive and it’s as good if not better than most web security products or services currently being offered at a higher price.
Product Support
The product is well-supported, can be used by both Mac and PC users, is compatible with the latest WordPress release and is backed by a risk-free, 30 day, full refund guarantee.
Product Pricing
Blog Defender is normally available for personal use only on unlimited sites. When we last checked, however, it was also being sold with Developer rights, allowing users to secure client sites as well.. Price = $47.00.
Note: The cost of purchasing Blog Defender depends on whether there are any promotions or limited-time special offers. Currently, the plugin is being retailed for the prices shown above. This may not be the actual price set by the product author when you visit the plugin website and there may be additional upsells or one-time offers after you’ve purchased.
Check the plugin’s website for the current price here:
Additional Info
For installation instructions and tutorials, FAQs, support help desk, contact details and more, visit the Blog Defender website.
Get This Product
Regardless of the type of business you run or plan to run online and how small you think your web presence is, you simply cannot afford to ignore the importance of securing your sites.
WordPress is a very secure web platform, but neglecting essential maintenance tasks like ensuring that your WP software, plugins and WP themes are kept updated to their latest versions, tightening file and data protection and taking other necessary precautions can have disastrous consequences.
Blog Defender helps you learn what’s going on in your site and where the vulnerabilities are, what hosting companies can and can’t do to help prevent your sites being attacked, what security features to look for in a webhost, and which tools can make the task of securing your WordPress site easier.
For more details, check out the plugin here: Blog Defender
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