Is Your Website Secure?

Your website is a lot like your shopfront.

It never sleeps – it’s working for your business 24/7, welcoming customers, showing off your products or services, and building trust in your brand.

But just like your shop, it needs locks, lights, and the occasional once-over to make sure nothing dodgy is going on. Leaving a website unchecked is a bit like leaving the front door wide open after closing time – you might get lucky, but it’s a risk you don’t want to take.

The good news is you don’t need to be a tech whiz to keep an eye on things. With a few simple checks that anyone can do, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your online presence is safe, secure, and ready for business.

1. Look for the padlock

Pop your website address into your browser and glance up at the top. Do you see a little padlock next to your domain name? That padlock is your SSL certificate – it keeps the information between your site and your visitors private. No padlock, or worse, a warning sign? That’s like leaving the front door wide open. If you spot that, get in touch with me or your hosting company to sort it out.

2. Test your password

Now, log in to your website’s admin area. Be honest: is your password something short or predictable, like “Business123”? If so, change it now. A strong password is long, hard to guess, and mixes up letters, numbers, and symbols. It should make sense to you and no one else. Think of it as swapping a flimsy lock for a deadbolt.

3. Keep your site updated

If your site runs on WordPress, you’ll see those little “update available” messages in your dashboard. Don’t ignore them. Updates don’t just add new features – they close holes that hackers look for. Logging in once a week and hitting update takes less time than making a coffee, and it’s one of the best ways to protect your site.

4. Google your own site

Here’s a sneaky trick. Go to Google and type: site:yourdomain.com This shows all the pages Google knows about on your site. If you see weird pages or dodgy links you didn’t create, it could mean someone’s hacked in. Don’t panic – just get help quickly so it doesn’t get worse.

Keeping your website secure doesn’t need to be complicated. A quick glance for the padlock, a stronger password, a couple of updates, and a Google search now and then will give you peace of mind. If anything looks odd, that’s when you call me. I’ll take care of the tricky stuff so you can get back to running your business.