“My blog was hacked” is a popular search
How confident are you that your blog is protected from being hacked? Most people don’t stop to think that this is something that could happen to them.
“If you’re lucky, you’re reading this before having your site hacked. If you’re even luckier, the tips in this ebook will help prevent you from ever getting hacked….” John Hoff from Wp Blog Host
After I read WordPress Defender, I realized that anyone can be hacked. It’s not about your prominence online or how successful your website or blog is.
I also realized the implication of being hacked. Not only are people who visit your site after it’s been hacked at risk, but your ranking on Google can be compromised if your site is down for an extended period of maintenance. This can result in lost revenue.
Why do people hack WordPress blogs?
There are a number of reasons listed in this ebook but here are just a few:
1. Because it’s there
2. For the thrill
3. It’s a challenge
Not necessarily motives I would have considered, but they pretty much apply to anyone.
Hackers will attack your blog to create countless numbers of backlinks to their spam websites; backlinks that in turn can help their own site’s search engine placement.
As noted in this ebook, each new WordPress install is basically the same. This means that intruders can easily identify your blog’s sensitive areas and apply various techniques to hack your system.
30 ways to secure your blog
In WordPress Defender, John Hoff lists 30 ways you can protect your blog against attack. I asked him if there were a smaller number of action steps he would recommend bloggers start with. The short answer is no.
However, John did come up with one answer:
“Securing WordPress comes down to 2 important things: awareness and preparation.”
He went on to recommend that you start off with these 3 steps:
1. Create a regular backup of your blog that also includes your database.
2. Set up an intrusion system so you will be alerted if someone has hacked into your blog.
3. Stop procrastinating and learn how you can protect your blog from attack.
Secure your blog with WordPress Defender
John Hoff at Wp Blog Host has put together this 150-page ebook packed full of step-by-step instructions with the intention of making blog security easier for you.
He has a knack for explaining what he knows so well, in terms that newbies and those less technologically aware can understand.
Here is what WordPress Defender offers:
1. Step-by-step instructions for 30 strategies to protect your WordPress blog.
2. Handy screen shot diagrams that illustrate the steps you need to take.
3. 14 bonus videos that will walk you through the security setups.
My favourite thing about this book is its personality — John’s personality — his wit, and the obvious care he has taken to make sure that you will understand how to apply the information.
WordPress Defender costs $39.00 and is available for $19.99 until Wednesday, March 3rd.
That’s almost a 50% discount.
Having this book is like having your own personal teacher sitting beside you to guide you through the steps.
Click here to view more details
Links in this post are affiliate links.
Evita
Hilary
Joy
Linda
Megan "JoyGirl!" ...
Patricia
Tess The Bold Life
Tony Single
vered
{ 31 comments }
Hi Davina,
Great review!
As you know, I have also read this book. It’s one of those references every blogger should have in their library.
I remember reading on John’s blog how his wife’s blog was hacked. Here she was new to blogosphere, starting to make money with her jewelry blog (business) and one day it was all gone. What saddened me more than her blog being hacked was the fact the income she received was helping to support their growing family. Hackers really don’t care who they target. They hack because they can.
I feel grateful we have someone like John who has taken time to learn all there is about blog security and is sharing it in this book/video set. He and this project rocks!
.-= Barbara Swafford´s last blog ..S-L-O-W Down – Blogging Is Not A Race =-.
Hi Davina – Great review of John’s awesome book. Confession: I never understood what all the fuss was that John was taking to secure my blog. I thought it was overkill, frankly, and I also thought it was making my life more difficult in some ways to get through all the layers of security. No more! John takes a very real problem and applies common sense solutions and safety measures. If you don’t have these in place, you’re at risk. If you don’t want to implement them yourself, then I’d highly recommend you have him do them on your behalf.
.-= Betsy Wuebker´s last blog ..Roaming Through Michigan =-.
Hmmm why do I resist reading this D? I do back up my blog thanks to my hubs!
Congratulations on the hockey game gold! My hubs watched the game and I came in just in time to see them all get gold medals together. One word, WOW!
And thanks for the pine nut and rice recipe. I’ll let you know how it goes! Happy Monday!
.-= Tess The Bold Life´s last blog ..Bold Solutions For A New World =-.
Super review of an amazingly useful, if not life-saving blog security program, Davina! It really is like having John there walking you through it, step–by-step.
John poured his heart and soul into the project, which is a true gift to any Wordpress blogger.
I cannot say enough good things about John Hoff and “Wordpress Defender!!”
We are so so lucky to have this available.
xo
Hey thanks, Davina. What an awesome review. Also, I’d like to thank you for rewriting my intro for me.
You sure have a talent for writing. It says the same thing but your rewrite sounded so much better.
@Tess – you’re probably resisting because it’s not something you know much about and well, the subject isn’t fun LOL. Just keep in mind that backups don’t protect you. Many times people who get hacked upload their backups only to find the problem has resurfaced once again. See this forum post here.
.-= John Hoff – WP Blog Host´s last blog ..Something New to Blogosphere is Coming, Thanks to a Broken Heart =-.
Hi Davina .. you’ve certainly set the stall out & John in his description of the advantages, or disasters of not using, of using his advice and following this through seem silly, if not downright stupid, not to take advantage of .. thanks very much for highlighting this offer. And Barbaras x 2 and Jannie’s endorsements are excellent too .. also the recipe swap with Tess! Go well – have a good week …
.-= Hilary´s last blog ..Alpha, Treacle, Beta, Dogger, Snow – what do they mean to you? =-.
Thanks you, Davina! I wish I’d known about this last fall. My blog was hacked. I’m gonna’ call the hacker an IT. IT took over my index page and the message there was one of laughter, profanity, in-my-face arrogance that IT could do that to me, and some other stuff I won’t detail.
I put out an SOS to my blog mentor and she suggested it might be the index page. So I changed it back to what it should be. But wow — I had no idea what to do.
I have since spent hours in my database changing stuff so make me more secure.
I am going over to buy the book right now. (I hate being at the mercy of those who want nothing more than to destroy. So I keep arming myself, and get a little smarter hopefully.)
Barb
.-= Barb Hartsook´s last blog ..Learning Changes Us… or Does It? =-.
Hi Barbara.
I couldn’t agree more. This book rocks! Most of this kind of thing goes right over my head, but I was actually able to read and follow and make sense of what John was talking about. It’s almost like a “Secure Your Blog for Dummies” book :-D
Hackers don’t care; it’s a power trip they’re on and a joy ride at the expense of others. I’m glad that John and his wife have been able to learn from this and turn it around for the benefit of other people.
Hi Betsy.
Thanks. LOL… John does take great care in securing a blog and doing the upgrades seamlessly. I always feel well taken care of, knowing that he’s got things handled. After reading this book, now I understand more about why he is so supportive of this.
Hi Tess.
I agree with John, you’re probably resisting because it’s not something you know much about. That was a GREAT hockey game! I was on the edge of my seat clutching a pillow :-D And my voice was hoarse after from shouting.
Team USA played an excellent game — they came so close. I think actually, they played better than Team Canada (shhhh), but Crosby just took that shot at the end and in went the puck.
Hi Jannie.
“John poured his heart and soul into the project…” Well said… yes, he did! He goes that extra mile and does it with flair.
Hi John.
You’re welcome :-D I’m happy to be supporting you and WordPress Defender. And thank you too… I enjoy writing and am lucky to have found something to do that I enjoy. Congratulations on your launch John!
Hi Hilary.
You’re welcome. :-) I can’t say enough about this book. I will email you the recipe if you would like it. Just let me know.
Hi Barb.
You’re welcome. Sorry you had to go through that hacker attack. I can just imagine how frustrating that was for you! Not to mention the inconvenience of having to deal with the problem, but it’s a violation of your privacy. John makes everything very clear in this book; I have no doubt that you will be pleased and feel more confident about this.
OK, I’m backlogged on my blog reading and this is the THIRD review of this book I’ve read today. What gives? Are you all getting $1,000 checks? Can I get in on that? ;-)
PS – I bought the book after the second review.
.-= Dot´s last blog ..Comment on My 3,172 Favorite Books by Dot =-.
I am going to buy this book. I do back up my work every week and I have fairly low numbers on my blog, but after having my credit card abused and my car broken into – I do not want to feel that violated again…and with all my hard work.
I keep hoping my copy righting/ legal stuff is good.
I am buying the book and hoping my IT can get to it.
Thanks for this good job Davina
.-= patricia´s last blog ..Book Review and Cookbook Giveaway: The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone =-.
So important! Can’t wait to read this.
.-= vered | blogger for hire´s last blog ..Ten Things I’ve Learned After Two Years of Blogging =-.
@Barb – That really sucks. It just boggles my mind that people actually think it’s cool to do something like that. That line of logic doesn’t even click in my head. Hopefully we can help fix that from ever happening again.
@Dot – Just reaching out to my friends :-). I wish I had $1000 checks to hand out. That would be sweet!
@patricia – Thank you. And identity theft is definitely down to the blogger level. People use fake social media profiles to gain trust of others and get them to do things (or click things) they want them to.
.-= John Hoff – WP Blog Host´s last blog ..Something New to Blogosphere is Coming, Thanks to a Broken Heart =-.
LOL Dot.
We’re all just SUCH a supportive bunch, that’s all. — Ca-ching! :-) I quite enjoy reviewing books. Just that I don’t always have the time and space to dive in. I was lucky in this case to be able to do this for John.
If someone had told me a few months ago that I’d be reviewing an ebook about blog security, I would have laughed in their face. But this was SUCH an easy read. Glad to hear you’ve picked up a copy. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Hi Patricia.
Lots of book reviews already this week eh? :-) I’m surprised we bloggers have the time to do the extra reading… heh, heh. If you have the time to spend with this, you won’t need your IT person to do it. That’s the beauty of this book.
Hi Vered.
Very important indeed. You’ll fly through this; a worthwhile book for your collection.
@ John.
Did somebody say $1,000 cheques? Where? Who? :-D
Davina,
Thanks for this excellent review of John’s book. I have already purchased and downloaded it. While my site is not a money-making site, I still don’t want to be hacked and lose the work I have put into this site. So, I appreciate both your review and John’s kindness at making this e-book such a good deal:~)
.-= Sara´s last blog ..Picture Story: Ask and Answer =-.
My pleasure Sara. Thank you for purchasing it and if you ever come to a part you need explained maybe in a different way, you know where to find me.
.-= John Hoff – WP Blog Host´s last blog ..Something New to Blogosphere is Coming, Thanks to a Broken Heart =-.
You’re welcome Sara!
Your purchase of this book shows that your site, whether money-making or not… holds value for you. And I’m willing to go a step further and say that it holds value for your readers :-)
Thanks Davina. I trust you, I trust John and I trust Barbara (where I first ‘met’ John) so I’ve bought the book. This is the first review I’ve seen of it, but I get my email subscription alerts later than everyone else so no doubt I’m in for a landslide.
.-= janice | Sharing the Journey´s last blog ..Writing Snow =-.
Hi Janice.
That’s terrific! There are quite a few reviews of this book; you’ll see :-) You’ll be reading about even more reasons to make you glad you purchased this book. You won’t be disappointed.
Ah, Davina, you’re forcing me to look at something I never think about. My little blog? Hacked? No way! But I guess it’s more prominent than I realize, so thanks for bringing it to my attention.
.-= Patty – Why Not Start Now?´s last blog ..Meaning Mondays: The Big Rabbit Edition =-.
But why would anyone want to hijack my lil’ piggies? They done nuthin’ to no one else! Now I’m all depressed and anxious and in dire need of a trough filled with chocolate… :(
.-= Tony Single´s last blog ..In the Wildwood Air =-.
You’re welcome Patty.
This is one of those things are easy to procrastinate. And not being aware, makes that even easier.
Oh Tony, nooo. Just know that piggies hijack piggies. They don’t care about anything but power and being a nuisance.
Man, I never really knew that people could hack blogs. That would be horrible. Thanks much for the heads up. That book sounds vital.
.-= Ben´s last blog ..Quotes to Live By — A Way that Seems Right =-.
@Tony – You’re specifically one of the types of people the bad guys look for because you don’t think you’re a target. Usually it’s not an attack against you personally, it’s an attack pointed at you in an effort to make the hacker’s ultimate goal surface to a reality.
For example, they might hack your site and make it so people who come to your website automatically downloads a harmful virus to their computer which allows the hacker to gain access to their home computers.
Someone is bound to have banking information on there somewhere. So yes, you are a target because they want to use you, not because they are against you. Sucks, doesn’t it.
I’m not sure how many of you have AntiVirus programs on your computer, but mine from time to time stops me from accessing websites because it seems to be a threat.
@Ben – Years ago I knew it was possible but I did nothing in particular to prevent it, and you know what? It happened and we lost money, customers, and our minds!
.-= John Hoff – WP Blog Host´s last blog ..WordPress Defender: 30 Ways to Secure Your Blog from Attack Anyone Can Do =-.
Hi Ben.
Thanks for your comment, and you’re welcome re the review; I was lucky to have been referred to John a while ago and have never looked back. It is unfortunate that there are people who take pride in doing this kind of thing.
I believe there are two types of hackers. The first one does it for the thrill and is not trying to cause any damage, but can. The second one is just a criminal to create havoc or steal you identity.
John’s e-book is a small investment to protect your blog. The more you learn how to protect yourselves, the better off you will be. Davina got the horrible 2010 virus and we spent three hours on the phone to fix it. Google is great for help. Just type in your problem and you will find a solution. Always have an antivirus program on your computer.
Here’s a good web site for viruses. http://www.malwarw.com
For all computer problems. http://www.bleepingcomputer.com
I made a big typo. Here is the right link.
http://www.malwarebytes.org
Hi Jim.
We can never be too prepared when it comes to these kinds of things. Thanks for sharing those links. They were very helpful when we had to deal with that virus on my computer. I won’t forget that for a while, that’s for sure. And thanks for your help with all of that.
Hi Davina
Just like to add my vote of thanks to John Hoff for producing this great ebook.
Security is something we should all take seriously and John treats it seriously but in a helpul and easy to understand manner.
His videos in parrticular are comprehensive, easy to follow and professionally produced.
.-= Keith Davis´s last blog ..A helping hand… =-.
Hi Keith.
Helpful and easy to understand — WELL said. He has covered everything with this package, that’s for sure; from the videos right down to the helpful diagrams. From your comment, I can see that this book has made a difference for you. I’m sure John appreciates your support.
@Jim – An antivirus is an absolute must. I like Avast, but any good one will do. Thanks for the links, I’ll go check those sites out now. Glad to hear you were able to cure Davina’s digital virus. Even our computers and websites catch colds lol.
@Keith – hey thanks. I definitely took a lot of time making sure the tutorials were detailed every step of the way.
.-= John Hoff – WP Blog Host´s last blog ..WordPress Defender: 30 Ways to Secure Your Blog from Attack Anyone Can Do =-.
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