All Interactive Blogs Need These 4 Security Features

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As a blogger, security is a big deal. Hopefully, you’ve purchased hosting through a reputable provider that keeps their servers safe and their data centers physically secure. If you aren’t sure, it’s not too late to research the features offered by hosting providers and move to a new host if needed.

If you’re like most bloggers, regardless of your content, you’re using a popular CMS for your blog like WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal. These CMS installations require attention to detail where security is concerned. WordPress security is more vulnerable in the cPanel environment where 1-click installations are created, but there are ways to lock it down. [Read more…]

How to Assure Your Customers That It’s Safe to Shop With You

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Shopping online can be a nerve-wracking experience these days. Even when you shop with major retailers, the little voice in your head asks whether it’s safe to give out your credit card number. Between hackers stealing passwords and other data breaches, hackers breaking into routers to spy on Wi-Fi networks, and the threat of ransomware, sometimes it just seems safer to forgo the convenience of online shopping and use cash at a brick-and-mortar store.

As an online small-business owner, then, it’s especially important for you to establish trust with your customers and assure them that it is safe to share their personal and payment information with you. As consumers become more savvy about cybersecurity, they will be looking for telltale signs that your business takes security seriously, and if they don’t find them, will most likely take their business elsewhere. Take the time to review your site for these important security reassurances, and make changes where necessary. [Read more…]

Is Your Site Being Blocked?

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Currently, there at least some 22 countries that block some websites, even more that block VOIP services. China alone represents a block that can restrict access to your site to over 1 billion people.

Though there are ways around most of these Internet blocks, few within the countries impacted have the means and ability to do so, making those blocks, for the most part, at least somewhat effective at limiting communication.

The sad truth is that, though some strides have been made in promoting freedom of access online, many countries are tightening their grip. Recent news from Iran indicates the country tightening its grip and increasing its filtering. Turkey has also seen a similar tightening of Internet restrictions.

But blocking goes well beyond countries. Though less nefarious in nature, many companies and households also use blocking technology to restrict who can access certain sites. Whether the goal is to increase employee productivity or prevent minors from access adult content, the results are often the same.

So is your site being blocked? Are people who might want to visit your site barred from accessing it and, if so, what can be done about it? Here’s a quick look at the current web filtering landscape and what it means for your site. [Read more…]