Insights, Web Development

How To Secure A Website? Website Security Tips And Facts [2026]

  • By Ludmil Enchev
  • October 14th, 2025

As statistics show an alarming rise in cyberattacks year-over-year, we turn our eyes to the vital topic of how to secure a website. With attacks becoming more sophisticated over time, securing your website is an absolute necessity. It doesn’t matter what type of site you have – be it a personal blog, an e-commerce store, or a business website, ensuring the safety of your online presence guarantees the protection of your data and that of your visitors. Not to mention that providing a secure digital space also works greatly towards instilling trustworthiness and building a credible reputation.

So, in today’s article, we’ll explore why website security is critical, identify common threats, and provide you with the best practices on how to secure a website in 2026.

1. Why is website security so important?

Before we dig deep into how to secure a website, let’s first clarify why website security is so important.

Website security remains a top priority. A compromised site can lead to data breaches, financial losses, and damage to your reputation. Not to mention, search engines may penalize or remove compromised sites from their results, affecting visibility and trust.

Guaranteeing a website is secure is one of the best ways how to ensure your data and your visitors’ sensitive information is safe and protected. It also saves you time and money recovering from possible breaches that could result in financial loss, legal difficulties, and damage to your brand. Moreover, apart from targeting sensitive data, cyberattacks can lead to a site being inoperable, thus raising the stakes higher, as this will cost potential revenue losses and the trust of your clients.

And, did you know that a malware attack affects even your Google ranking, as the search engine lowers the places of compromised websites or removes them entirely from its search results? So there you have another reason to learn how you can make your website secure so your data is safe and you maintain user trust.

 

2. Most common security threats

Now let’s explore what the most common security threats are and how they can affect us.

  • Data breaches
Data breaches happen when unauthorized access leads to a leak of confidential information. This can include customer details, financial records, or business data. Once stolen, this information can be sold on the dark web, used for fraud, or leaked, leading to long-term brand damage or even taking a company out of business.
A curious fact is that during the past year, 93% of organizations had two or more identity-related breaches. (Cyberark) The average cost of a data breach, however, has decreased to $4.44 million in 2025, down from $4.88 million in 2024. This decline is attributed to faster detection and containment, partly due to AI and automation in security processes. (Retarus) In the public sector, the average cost has reached $2.86 million. (ThinkDigitalPartners)

 

  • Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS)
A DoS attack attempts to crash a website by overloading its servers with excessive traffic thus making the site unavailable to users. There are also DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks, similar to DoS ones, with the difference that in DDoS multiple sources execute the attack, making it harder to track and stop. These attacks can lead to a significant loss of revenue, especially for e-commerce websites, and are often used to destroy businesses.
Did you know, that the average cost of downtime from a DDoS attack is $6,130 per minute? (Viking Cloud) In the meantime, in May 2025, Cloudflare successfully blocked what is now considered the biggest recorded distributed DDoS attack, which peaked at 7.3 terabits per second. The incident lasted roughly 45 seconds, during which it generated an estimated 37.4 terabytes of malicious traffic, which is about the same amount of data as streaming nearly 10,000 HD movies. (Cloudflare)

 

  • Loss of website availability
Websites can go offline due to various reasons connected with cyber threats, including DoS, DDoS attacks, or malware infections. The downtime not only damages your reputation among visitors but can also lead to search engine penalties, loss of traffic, and reduced revenue.
Loss of website availability can truly lead to some serious damages, for the average downtime experienced after a cyberattack at organizations in the United States in 2022 was 24 days. (Statista)

 

  • Ransomware
Ransomware is a situation where your data and files are “hijacked” and you have to pay a certain amount of money to restore your access to them. It’s malware that encrypts the website’s files and site owners face the difficult choice between paying the ransom and getting their data back or rebuilding their site from scratch.
According to Purplesec, the average downtime from a ransomware attack is 24 days, translating to significant financial losses.

 

  • Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
An XSS attack means that a criminal injects malicious scripts into the code of a trusted website. Then, these scripts can be used to steal cookies and sensitive information from visitors thanks to the access and control they provide to attackers.
Edgescan reports that in 2023, Cross-Site Scripting has been the second most prevailing High/Critical Security Vulnerability, forming 10.5% of all such vulnerabilities and requiring 100 days on average to repair. 

 

  • SQL and code injections
SQL (Scripted Query Language) is used to control the data in databases. SQL injections allow hackers to insert malicious code into your website’s database, bypass the website, and access the data directly. And, unfortunately, this can lead to website defacement or theft of data, which can later be erased or sold on the dark web.
According to the 2024 Vulnerability Statistics Report (Edgescan), SQL injections continue to keep their place as a foremost critical vulnerability and a primary threat for web applications from 2022 to date.

 

  • Stolen passwords
Like everything else on this list, the passwords that protect websites are targets of attacks, too. Weak or reused passwords are a common vulnerability. Hackers often use software to break them and sadly sometimes these attempts are way too easy, for too often admin accounts use their default passwords. This can result in loss of information or total control over your site. That’s why changing the passwords you receive is so important.
A weird fact is, that even with all the information we have nowadays, people still don’t take passwords seriously. For example, according to an ITPro 2024 report, 71% of working adults have reused or shared their passwords, paving the way for cybercriminals to hack into organizations. In addition, credential theft has surged by 160% in 2025, constituting 20% of data breaches, with 14,000 cases reported in a single month. (IT Pro)

 

3. Best practices in website security

So, how to secure your website when there’s such a rise in cyberattacks?

  • Keep your software and security patches up-to-date

The first and maybe most important thing you can do to secure a website is to keep all your software and security patches updated. Hackers often take advantage of outdated software. And, while there usually is a quick response and a release of preventative security patches, if you’re not regularly updating all your software, plugins, and themes, you won’t be able to patch the known vulnerabilities.

Doing everything you can to prevent a cyberattack means keeping your site updated because Microsoft suggests about 600 million cyberattacks per day, (Exploding Topics) while others point to around 2,200 unique attacks per day. (Tech Jury)

 

If you’re using WordPress, you know it can be tricky when it comes to updates and, still, it is essential to keep your site, themes, and plugins up-to-date with their latest versions. If that seems like too much of a hassle for you, you can always contact our experts at HTMLburger for help.

 

  • Add SSL and HTTPS

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) creates an encryption that ensures the data shared between your website and its visitors’ web browsers is safe. When you have an SSL certificate your URL will start with HTTPS meaning HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure or the session on this website is secure. Moreover, beyond providing security, HTTPS also boosts your site’s search engine rankings, which is a bonus for SEO.

Here’s an interesting fact,  Check Point Research finds that in Q1 2025, organizations saw about 1,925 weekly cyberattacks, a 47% increase year-on-year. (Checkpoint)

 

  • Require complex passwords and their frequent changes

Another extremely important yet easy step towards enhancing your site’s security is enforcing a strong password policy. This, along with regular password changes significantly minimizes the risk of brute force attacks. So, better embrace the best practices and start using unique combinations of letters, numbers, and symbols.

If you’re still not certain about the importance of a complex password, just trust the numbers – during the past year 46% of Americans have reported having their password stolen. (Forbes) And another shocking report shows that 81% of hacking-related breaches in companies were due to weak or reused passwords. (BND)

 

  • Restrict administrative privileges

The next thing you might like to do is limit the number of people who have admin access to your website. This minimizes the possibility of human factor mistakes and reduces the risk of accidental or malicious actions. Remember, only trusted individuals should have a high level of control over your website.

Did you know that in its 2024 Data Breach Report, IBM states that 74% of detected breaches involved a human element? Still, the more shocking number is 68%, signifying that over two-thirds of breaches have their roots in non-malicious insider errors. So, yes, limiting admin privileges proves to be a good idea.

 

  • Change default settings

A common mistake people make is using the default settings for their software, content management systems (CMS), or plugins. Default settings are easily exploitable by hackers, so taking the time to customize them adds an extra layer of protection to your data.

Wanna hear a curious fact – the larger the data breach, the less likely the organization will have another breach in the following two years (IBM). Still, it’s better to take some precautions than learn from your mistakes, so go change these settings.

 

  • Backup your files

The importance of backups can not be underlined enough. Always backup your files, no matter what you do. Doing regular and frequent backups ensures that you can quickly restore your website in case of a security incident, minimizing downtime and data loss.

If you’re still not certain that backing up your files is mandatory, know that only 4% of institutions reported recovering 100% of their data after paying the ransom for an attack. (Sophos)

 

  • Have a recovery plan

Another must-have is a recovery plan. Knowing what to do in case of a malicious attack or an emergency can be so beneficial and help you recover more quickly. That’s why it’s good to create and regularly update a comprehensive recovery plan that details how to respond to different security incidents, ensuring you’re prepared if something happens.

Seems like a simple and helpful thing to do but it turns out that not a lot of people take care of it. The stats show that 56% of Americans do not know the steps to take after being a data breach victim. (Varonis) And, in the same vein, 43% of SMBs do not have a cybersecurity plan in place. (Forbes)

 

  • Use a web application firewall (WAF)

Using a web application firewall (WAF) can help you filter and block malicious traffic before it reaches your website. This is a strong step to increasing your security as it protects your site from common attacks like XSS, SQL injections, and DDoS.

If you’re wondering if that’s truly important check out the stats. A single cyberattack cost U.S. companies an average of $8,300 in 2023 with the average number of attacks per organization rising from three in 2022 to four in 2023. (Hiscox Cyber Readiness Report 2023)

 

  • Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Multi-factor authentification, or MFA, is so useful because it adds an extra layer of security beyond using only passwords. While some passwords can be easily broken by hackers, MFA ensures that even if someone succeeds in doing it, they would still need a second form of verification to gain access.

87% of large organizations (over 10,000 employees) use MFA.(Expert Insights) For smaller companies, that drops to around 34% or less. (Jump Cloud) However, globally, about 65% of SMBs don’t use MFA, often due to cost or lack of awareness. (Cyber Readiness Institute)

 

  • Regularly monitor logs and conduct security audits

Keeping an eye on your website’s logs is a good idea because it helps you identify suspicious activity early. Conducting routine security audits can point out any vulnerabilities and issues that need addressing.

Routine audits are such a useful tool because you never know where the attack can come from. For example, in 2023, devices like edge gateway devices (used to connect different networks) were the most common way for attackers to get into a network unnoticed. (National University)

 

  • Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN)

A CDN – Content Delivery Network, is a great thing. It distributes your website across multiple servers globally to deliver the service spatially relative to your end users. As a result, this not only improves performance by speeding up webpage loading times but also makes it harder for hackers to take your site offline.

Using a CDN can significantly help you against DDoS attacks, which are certainly no joke. Their numbers spiked in 2023, with Netscout reporting approximately 7.9 million DDoS attacks in the first half of the year. (TechTarget)

 

  • Limit the amount of personal and sensitive information collected and stored

This is important because the less data you store, the less valuable a target your website becomes to hackers. So, it’s better to limit the sensitive data you keep and only collect the information necessary for your business operations.

Keeping people’s data safe is not such an easy job to do as an independent, Apple-commissioned study shows. It states that over 2.6 billion personal records were compromised by data breaches throughout 2022 and 2023.

 

  • Educate and train employees on best practices for website security and data handling

Human error is a major factor in many security breaches so it’s best to minimize the possibilities of human mistakes. Providing regular training helps your employees recognize phishing attempts. And, it also teaches them how to use strong passwords and adhere to security protocols.

To stress how important that is, let’s just say that 63% of all organizational internal data breaches are a result of compromised usernames and passwords. (Techjury) Imagine now what could happen in a financial services company if some accounts were hacked, when as of 2022, over 60% of them have 1000+ sensitive files accessible to all employees. (Varonis)

 

4. What are the components of internet security?

To learn better how to secure a website, it’s important to understand the components of internet security. So, let’s take a closer look at them.

  • Cyber security: Cyber security is the overall protection of systems connected through the internet. This includes the protection of hardware, software, and data from cyberattacks, and ensures the safety of online operations.
  • Phishing protection: Safeguards against attempts to trick users into revealing sensitive information, often through fake websites, emails, or messages. Strong phishing protection includes email filtering, URL scanning, user awareness training, and multi-factor authentication to reduce the impact of stolen credentials.
  • Internet security: This includes a broad range of measures to protect against online threats like malware, phishing, and data breaches. It ensures the safety of browsing and transactions online.
  • Data encryption: Data encryption is critical for safeguarding personal information and secure communications. Encryption of sensitive data means its transformation into a secure format that is only readable with a decryption key.
  • Secure payment: Payment gateways that follow strict security protocols, such as PCI DSS compliance and encryption, to safeguard financial transactions and reduce the risk of fraud or theft.
  • Online Privacy: Maintaining online privacy means controlling the amount of personal information you share online. This includes reviewing site privacy policies, using privacy-focused browsers or extensions, and ensuring sites protect data through encryption and access controls.
  • Mobile Security: With mobile browsing and transactions increasing each day, protecting mobile users is essential. This involves securing mobile apps, using encrypted connections, enabling biometric authentication, and keeping devices updated.
  • Password: Passwords remain a key aspect of security. Strong, unique passwords combined with MFA provide reliable protection against unauthorized access. Password managers help create and store secure credentials without the need to remember them all.

 

5. How to stay up-to-date with the latest security threats?

Since new threats are constantly evolving and emerging daily, businesses, organizations, and individuals must stay informed.Fortunately, there are reliable resources to help you keep up:

CISA Cybersecurity Alerts & Advisories

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) provides timely alerts and advisories on emerging threats and vulnerabilities. Their Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog is a valuable resource for identifying and addressing actively exploited security issues.

CrowdStrike 2025 Global Threat Report

CrowdStrike’s annual report offers insights into the latest cyber threat trends, including adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). The 2025 report highlights a 160% increase in credential theft incidents, emphasizing the importance of robust authentication measures.

Daniel Miessler’s Blog

Daniel Miessler provides in-depth analysis on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and technology trends. His blog is a valuable resource for staying informed about the latest developments in the field.

Dark Reading

Dark Reading is another trusted source for cybersecurity news and information. It offers articles, blogs, and forums covering a wide range of security topics, helping professionals stay updated on current threats and best practices.

Conclusion

Learning how to secure a website is a continuous process and requires keeping yourself updated with common security threats. Following recommendations for implementing the best practices in cyber security can help you significantly reduce your site’s vulnerability. After all, securing your website is not just a choice, it is an essential step towards keeping it healthy and safe in a world where more than half of the world’s population has access to the internet and not everyone uses it with good intentions.

Still, if you’re feeling lost in internet security and wondering how to secure your website and create a safe digital space, you shouldn’t worry. Reach out to our team of professionals to see how we can help you implement the security solutions your site needs.

We hope we helped you gain a better understanding of how to keep a website secure! Before you go, you can check out our other insightful articles, too:

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