This article offers a complete guide on How to Protect Website from Cyber Attacks. If you’re looking for in-depth insights, practical strategies, and expert advice on securing your website, continue reading to explore detailed information and actionable recommendations.
In today’s digital era, your website is your virtual office. Be it a blog, e-commerce site, service portal, or portfolio, it’s at constant risk of hacking, malware, or unauthorized access. According to India’s CERT-In, over 13 lakh cybersecurity incidents were reported in 2023 alone.
Cyber criminals are becoming more advanced, and they often attack websites that are not properly secured. Whether you’re a beginner, blogger, freelancer, or business owner, understanding how to protect your website from cyber attacks is not only important, it’s mandatory.
This detailed guide is specially written in Indian English style for all kinds of website owners, covering step-by-step protection strategies, free & paid tools, and security best practices for WordPress, custom websites, static sites, and e-commerce platforms.
Let’s take the first step!
Table of Contents
What is a Cyber Attack?
A cyber attack is an unlawful attempt by hackers or malicious software to breach a website, server, or online system, with the aim of stealing data, damaging operations, or misusing access for personal gain.
In simple terms, it’s when someone tries to hack your website, steal user information, or crash your online platform by exploiting its weaknesses.
Today, even small websites and startups are not spared. Attackers constantly scan the internet, looking for vulnerable sites with outdated plugins, poor passwords, or no firewall. So, if your website isn’t properly secured, it becomes an easy target.
The Main Goals of Cyber Attacks:
Here are the most common motives behind cyber attacks:
- Data Theft: Hackers steal sensitive data like login credentials, email IDs, or financial details.
- Ransom or Extortion: They lock your files or admin access and demand money to restore it (ransomware).
- Website Defacement: Attackers alter your website’s appearance to damage your reputation.
- Disruption of Service: They overload your server and bring your site down, causing loss of traffic and trust.
- Misuse of Resources: Some hackers quietly use your server to send spam, mine cryptocurrency, or host illegal content.
Types of Cyber Attacks Targeting Your Site
Before we move to solutions, here are the most common and dangerous cyber threats in 2025:
- Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS): Massive fake traffic is sent to your server to crash your site.
- Malware & Ransomware: Malicious software gets injected into your codebase, files, or server.
- SQL Injection: Hackers manipulate database queries through vulnerable input forms.
- Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Inserts scripts into web pages that steal cookies or hijack sessions.
- Phishing & Spoofing: Fake pages are created within your site to trick users into giving credentials.
- Brute Force Login Attacks: Automated bots try millions of username-password combinations until they get in.
These are just a few. Cyber threats evolve constantly, which is why your protection must be layered, automated, and updated.
How to Protect Website from Cyber Attacks?
Here’s how you can build strong security layers around your website—starting with the basics and moving to advanced measures.
1. Secure Your Website with HTTPS (SSL Certificate)
Using HTTPS instead of HTTP ensures that data sent between your visitors browsers and your server is encrypted. Without HTTPS, your login pages, payment forms, and even contact forms can be easily intercepted.
What to Do:
- Get a Free SSL from Let’s Encrypt (letsencrypt.org)
- Buy a paid SSL certificate for extended security from GoDaddy, HostGator, BigRock, or Namecheap
- Most Indian hosting companies now offer SSL in basic plans (Hostinger India, Bluehost India)
- Configure server settings to redirect all traffic to HTTPS
Tip: Use SSL Labs (ssllabs.com) to test your HTTPS security grade.
2. Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF)
A WAF acts like a bodyguard for your website, filtering out malicious traffic and blocking dangerous requests such as SQL injection, XSS, or brute force attacks.
Top Indian-Friendly WAF Tools:
- Cloudflare WAF (Free + Paid): Easy to set up, works for any site
- Sucuri Firewall: Strong for WordPress, includes malware clean-up
- Astra Security (Indian brand): Customisable firewall, malware scan, login protection
- Imunify360: Comes bundled with some Linux hosting services
Use Case: Bloggers, agencies, and businesses can use Cloudflare’s free plan for basic security, while e-commerce or high-traffic websites should go for Astra or Sucuri Pro.
3. Update Website Software, Themes, and Plugins
Hackers scan the internet for sites running outdated software. Even one outdated plugin can be an entry point.
Best Practices:
- Keep your CMS (WordPress, Joomla, Magento) always updated
- Delete unused plugins and themes
- Only install plugins from trusted developers (with regular updates)
- Enable auto-updates if available
Tools:
- ManageWP or MainWP – For managing multiple WordPress sites
- Composer, npm, or pip for code-based projects
Caution: Avoid using nulled (pirated) themes or plugins. They usually come with hidden malware.
4. Choose Secure and Trusted Web Hosting
A good hosting provider forms the backbone of your website’s security. Never go for unreliable or free hosting if you’re serious about your website.
Checklist for Secure Hosting:
- Free SSL Certificate
- Daily backups
- Real-time malware scanning
- DDoS protection
- 24/7 support (preferably with Indian timezone support)
Trusted Hosts for Indian Users:
- Hostinger India
- Bluehost India
- MilesWeb
- Cloudways (for advanced users)
- Kinsta (premium WordPress hosting)
5. Strengthen Admin Logins and Authentication
Most hackers don’t hack websites using advanced techniques. They simply guess your password using bots.
To Do:
- Use strong, unique passwords for every login
- Avoid usernames like “admin”
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for admin accounts
- Limit login attempts
- Use CAPTCHA on login forms
Helpful Tools:
- Wordfence Login Security
- Google Authenticator + WP 2FA plugin
- iThemes Security
6. Backup Your Website Regularly
Backups are your insurance. If your site gets hacked or corrupted, you can restore it quickly.
Backup Plan:
- Take daily or weekly backups, depending on website activity
- Store backups in remote locations (Google Drive, Dropbox, S3)
- Keep at least 3 versions of your latest backups
Plugins for WordPress:
- UpdraftPlus
- Jetpack Backup
- BlogVault (Indian brand)
Use cron jobs + tools like Rclone, rsync, or Cloudberry for custom websites.
7. Scan for Malware and Vulnerabilities
Don’t wait until your website is blacklisted by Google. Scan regularly.
Top Malware Scanners:
- MalCare – Indian scanner for WordPress
- Sucuri SiteCheck
- Quttera Web Scanner
- Wordfence
What to Scan:
- Theme/plugin files
- Database injection
- Hidden redirects or iframe scripts
- Obfuscated JS or PHP code
8. Defend Against DDoS Attacks
A DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack can bring your website down by sending thousands of fake requests.
How to Stop:
- Use Cloudflare DDoS protection
- Install a CDN (Content Delivery Network) to offload traffic
- Enable rate limiting on forms and logins
- Use hosting with auto-scalable bandwidth
9. Secure File and Folder Permissions
Permissions control who can read, write, or execute files.
Recommended Permissions:
- Files:
644 - Folders:
755 - Config files:
600
Use your cPanel, FTP, or terminal to fix permissions. Misconfigured permissions allow hackers to upload malicious files easily.
10. Use Security Headers
Security headers protect your site in the browser from various attacks.
Must-Use Headers:
- Content-Security-Policy
- X-Frame-Options
- X-XSS-Protection
- Strict-Transport-Security
- Referrer-Policy
Check securityheaders.com to know your current rating.
11. Monitor Website Activity
Keep an eye on what’s happening on your website and ensure robust device security to protect against unauthorized access.
What to Track:
- Failed login attempts
- Plugin/theme updates
- New user creation
- File edits
Monitoring Tools:
- Wordfence (Live traffic view)
- Jetpack
- UptimeRobot (for downtime alerts)
- New Relic / Loggly (for custom sites)
12. Disable Unused Features
The fewer entry points, the better.
Disable:
- XML-RPC if not using Jetpack
- File editing via the dashboard
- Directory browsing
- Old or unused themes, plugins, and scripts
Code Snippet to Add in wp-config.php:
define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true);
13. Educate Your Team and Clients
Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. Your team must know basic safety practices.
Teach Them:
- To avoid using public Wi-Fi for logging into the admin
- Do not click suspicious email links
- To report any unusual website behaviour
Run quarterly training or send them checklists.
Common Website Security Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Risk |
|---|---|
| Using ‘admin’ as a username | Easy to guess |
| Weak passwords | Brute-force attacks |
| Ignoring plugin updates | Vulnerabilities |
| No backups | Permanent data loss |
| Free nulled themes/plugins | Hidden malware |
| No firewall | Open to external attacks |
FAQs:)
A. Yes, free SSL certificates (like Let’s Encrypt) are just as secure as paid ones. The difference lies in customer support and extended validation.
A. Yes. Many tools like Cloudflare Free, Let’s Encrypt SSL, and Wordfence offer solid protection.
A. Yes, hackers often target small sites due to their weaker security setups.
A. For high-revenue or enterprise sites—yes. For small businesses or blogs, the above tools should suffice.
A. Daily backups are recommended, especially for dynamic or transactional websites.
A. Yes, if you update regularly, use reputable plugins, and secure logins.
A. SQL injection, XSS, and brute-force login attacks are among the most common.
A. While rare, yes. Mostly via poor passwords or third-party apps.
Conclusion:)
Website security is not a one-time setup—it’s an ongoing commitment. As cyber threats evolve, your defense must adapt. Whether you’re running a basic blog or a high-traffic online store, the steps above provide a solid foundation to protect your website from cyberattacks.
Start by securing what you can today: install a WAF, enable HTTPS, update your software, and perform a vulnerability scan. Every layer of protection adds up to a safer, more resilient website.
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We’d love to hear from you! Drop your thoughts or queries in the comments below and let’s make the internet a safer place—together.