Cybersecurity Chaos: Malware Targets WordPress. WordPress is one of the more popular blogging software programs, with thousands of active users worldwide. It is used to create professional-looking websites, and its popularity is growing. The WordPress code is “copied” by millions of other web servers across the Internet, making it vulnerable to attack from hackers. This is a big problem for those using WordPress, because it means that if you are using WordPress on a website you might not know that it is vulnerable until it has been attacked.
One of the biggest cyber threats is a so-called “malware” (malicious software) attack. A malware attack is a computer virus – or some kind of program that operates without your knowledge or consent. For example, a virus spreads through your computer system by way of Trojans and other malicious software. Once installed, the virus makes itself at home on your system and begins to do whatever it wants to do. The WordPress hosting on this machine may not be infected with the Trojans, but it is certainly at risk for attack from malware originating in other machines on the Internet.
There are several ways in which cyber criminals can attempt to penetrate WordPress and spread their malware infection to your website. The most common method is through ” backdoor ” scripts or “backchannel ” ports that are allowed by default in many web servers. These attacks are possible because WordPress websites are popular among programmers and other users who want to gain access to the inner workings of a server. Some WordPress sites allow for “open” ports, which are like the standard ports found on most PCs. These “open” ports are an open invitation to cyber criminals who can monitor your Internet connection and send any viruses they can find.
Another way to try and attack WordPress is to “crash” it, which is to use an external program to stop the server from continuing to function. This method, however, is risky and should be avoided. By using “crash” attacks, the user of WordPress will lose their current settings and have to start from scratch. You can avoid these “crash” attacks by updating your WordPress security software regularly (which automatically updates the WordPress database) and using secure external programs to upload files to your website.
Any malicious software attack will first attempt to attack your WordPress database. It then searches for information to steal from you such as username, passwords, email addresses, and other critical data. If this data is already stolen, it can be sent to another location, allowing cyber criminals to gain access and continue their illegal activities. One of the best ways to prevent data loss from such attacks is to use data loss prevention software. This software creates a barrier around your data so hackers cannot access it. By using this software, you are protecting your important data, allowing you to focus on more important matters.
When using a security program that prevents data loss, it also helps to reduce the chances of data theft. In addition to blocking hackers from gaining unauthorized access into your server, the security tool you use should also have a back up feature. This back up protects you in the event of a data loss. This way, if something happens to your server, you can restore your data using an online backup service.
Another thing to look out for is phishing scams. These are email hoaxes that use stolen identities to demand money for your website’s database. These cyber criminals are looking to either obtain your confidential data or to sell it to spammers or other criminals. If you experience a phishing scam while trying to access your website, you should block access to your website until you receive verification from the Internet provider that your email address belongs to the person who sent you the message.
Cybersecurity is serious business. Don’t let this responsibility overwhelm you. Do what you can to prevent unauthorized access to your information. By using security and other preventive measures, you can limit the risk of loss or damage to your business. It is better to take precautions than to be sorry when disaster strikes and the results are devastating.
