In the modern world of Artificial Intelligence, I have see many people struggling with the idea that their content may be used in search engines such as ChatGPT.
And in all honesty, any online activities come into risk if you fail to keep things safe and secure.
And you may already know that every so once in a while, the cyber creeps come out in droves and start hacking into WordPress, or at least try to.
What is Cybersecurity?
So, let’s start with what cybersecurity is. Cybersecurity generally means keeping safe online. While that can mean website security, it also means securing any online activities you do, whether it is through email or even your phone.
Always prioritize online security because if a black hat hacker (the term for online bad guys) wants to get in to create malice through an open coding doorway, he or she will try. The geek world calls them Bad Actors.
The short of it is that if you use an antivirus program on your devices then, likewise, you need to use a website security program to keep your website secure. So, essentially, website security is the best option to keep your site safe, just like an antivirus program keeps your computers and devices safe.
How do you know if your site is hacked?
Well, usually, when you first start blogging, and you are dishing out all of those posts, you start missing a few things. But, what I will tell you is that something goes wrong in your blog on the site or your dashboard. It might be something small, but if it is off, you need to start sleuthing.
Here are some clues a hacker got in:
- You find a bad link on your blog.
- Further, your blog stats drop for no obvious reason
- A new email that does not belong to you, shows up in your Users section
- You get excessive hacking attempts to log into your blog
I am sure there are more, but the point remains that once these things are off your blog, you figure out how to keep them out.
Think of it this way. You lock up your house, but someone knocks on your door. When you don’t answer, they ring your doorbell. If you accidentally leave the door open, they get in. Once they are gone, you up your security around your home to keep them out.
So, while it seems scary if someone gets “in,” breathe because they didn’t get in all the way. Breathe out. Once you find out how they got in, you shut them out of your website. It really is that easy.
What About your Online Content?
As a writer, this issue has come into view as we launch into the new A.I. order. Writers and publishers share a concern that their content may be stolen, especially when A.I. gets involved.
However, while you may be able to ask ChatGPT many things, including book outlines and such, this does not come from your online or offline content.
In fact, when you launch into questions posed to A.I. you receive different content each time. What this says is that as Chat learns both from you and others online, it shifts its content responses.
In fact, rest assured that when you ask Chat things, you may even receive a uber legalistic response.
For example, if you ask Chat about a psychology content, you may receive an empathic and therapeutic response instead of facts. Chat may even ask you if you would like to talk about it…
Obviously, when you research information and facts, this is not a time for therapy, at least from a chat bot.
Remember, that your name or brand is on all of your content, and no one can re-create you; your content and voice remain personal.
What to do if you get hacked
So, while the things I listed above are hacks, the bad actors (the cyber term for black hat or bad hackers) actually have not usually overtaken your website. They just created an open doorway into your website so they can slip in and out undetected.
So, what you need to do is put on your spike heels and move those computer keys to lock them out. You need to do the following if you get hacked.
- First, delete any bogus emails in the User section of your dashboard.
- Second, delete any bad links you find on your website from the Dashboard. Then check for any other bad links and delete them.
- Third, look for any plugins that give you too many popups to install another plugin, and delete them.
- Finally, log out of your Dashboard and change your password.
After you finish those steps, read the steps below to keep your website safe and up your website security immediately, so it doesn’t happen again.
Finally, if you are super concerned, the FBI has set up a cybercrime site, and if your issue becomes extreme, seek their guidance.
How to improve (and clean up) your website security
While I realize that there are geeks out there charging you fees (expensive fees too) to help you get your website cleaned up. However, there remain better options.
These tips below will help you not only give hackers the boot from your blog but also help you keep them out.
Get a security plugin
No matter what you do, get a security plugin first thing.
The top WordPress plugin for website security is Wordfence. You can search for others, but this one can be used to detect which files or programs may have been hacked. You can get the basic plugin for free, but the paid version is even better and worth every penny.
Also, you can download Wordfence’s Patchstack to locate security breaches as well.
Search WordPress.org for more security plugins, if you like, but look for the number of installs and the rating to find the best plugins.
Just beware of the plugins that ask for exorbitant prices to “clean up” your website. From my perspective, they are unnecessary.
Keep your website email separate
While it may seem obvious to long-time bloggers and online workers, using a completely separate email from say your everyday shopping emails helps keep your content secure.
There are cybercrime agents who work diligently at trying to figure out passwords, and if they have your email address to your blog content, they already have done have the job.
So, if that is you, change it NOW.
Use second sign on
You know how you sign in using your email and then use either a phone number or your Authenticator App? This is a superb line of security for any online account you own. But, adding in a code from an authorization app is the safest.
Check with WordPress for yet another security line, making it three!
Another feature that Wordfence has is an extra secure sign-in as well, which would make four locks on your website door!
Use Awesome Passwords
You hear this over and over again, and it is true. Use great passwords, and keep them regularly updated.
Either use your password apps, or create your own unique one, whatever works.
Keep plugins updated
Make sure that your plugins stay updated. If you log in to your Dashboard, update the plugins that request it. It is commonly known that many hackers use poorly updated software to hack into servers and websites.
Just like criminals spend too much time trying to find open doors so they can steal from you, black hat hackers spend all of their time looking for what is called a “zero-day vulnerability” in other people’s software.
What this means is that they find a way to get into the code of a plugin and use it as a doorway into your website.
So, keep things updated. And, if a plugin has not been updated in a year or more, it is not safe, so delete it and find a different one.
Check plugin credibility
This goes hand in hand with plugin updates. While WordPress does watch the plugins on their platform, that does not mean all plugins are safe. Make sure the company is reputable and has a high rating.
If the plugin offers you something that really seems too good to be true, then skip it. Further, if you download a plugin and the website seems to be acting up all of a sudden, delete it.
Add posts regularly
Another thing that helps keep your website secure is updating posts and images regularly. It doesn’t have to be every day, but if you blog full time, you need to keep up with updates and change things you add to your sidebars as well.
One way to give hackers a doorway is to let a website sit too stagnate for too long.
Be careful who you let into the dashboard
Sometimes it seriously does not pay to have someone in the back end of your blog unless you absolutely trust them.
If you simply have to allow someone into your dashboard, backup your blog, and then use the plugin, Controlled Admin Access.
What this does is allow you to give the tech person or designer, a unique username and password, along with specific access to targeted areas of your dashboard. You choose what they can change on your blog.
Then, after anyone gets into your dashboard, double-check behind them. Delete their access and update your blog again. Unfortunately, even though companies may be reputable, not all of their techs are.
Check your URLs
I recently read this issue when one mom was shocked to find out that someone had taken her URL and stolen her blog. So, my word of caution is this. Check the registration of your URL.
One thing I always recommend to people is to separate the domain registration from your blog hosting company. That way, you make it twice as difficult for hackers to get any control.
Website security must be a priority
Finally, just because you go through this list and say, well, I did it all, does not mean that human error cannot occur. Some days we miss things, and this is why we back up our site and keep our codes and passwords unique and secret.
When it comes down to running a good, solid blog, or running one that sort of runs, your website security must be a priority, though. So, if you miss something, fix it.
Finally, If you want to build a business from your blog, then improving website security helps you do this. Keep your plugins and themes updated. Get a good security plugin.
These two things alone, keep most bad actors out and keep your website running smoothly so you can do what you do best: blogging. 🙂
1 thought on “How to Up Your Online Security Game in the A.I. Age”