More on Advanced Blogger’s Security: What Is a Dedicated IP and Why Use One

Everyone’s personal data is flowing around the web for any devious character to reach out and grab it. And that’s not paranoia speaking; it’s simply the way of the world wide web. People spend hours online each day – sharing info on social media, buying shoes, or reading up on the latest news. All of that information goes through many data points and ends up being stored on servers across the globe. An average blogger shares even more information than an average internet user, which opens them up to even more risk.

Here are some tips on how to blog with safety in mind, including more advanced techniques like using a dedicated IP.

How Blogging Increases Safety Risks

It’s natural that people want to share details about their life, but sometimes oversharing could lead to danger. One of the risks associated with blogging is people finding out too many details about the blogger’s personal life. Whatever the reason, people can and will go to great lengths to harass someone online. Sometimes these vendettas can even lead to stalking in real life. Which is why it’s good to always think about the potential risks when blogging.

Here are some other sneaky tactics malicious people use to target bloggers.

Hosting companies not keeping their security software up to date, which opens up holes for attackers to get through.

  •     Attackers who target vulnerable WordPress Plugins.
  •     People creating fake WiFi hotspots in coffee shops that steal data when someone connects to them.
  •     Hackers who work to gain access to the blog for various reasons, including for vandalism or extortion.
  •     Phishing from attackers who post in the comments section of the blog.

Bloggers who use simple passwords or the same password for everything also expose themselves to increased security risks. There are many potential risks to bloggers out there, but it’s possible to minimize them with some careful planning and care.

Tips on Blogging Security

Some of these suggestions might seem obvious to some, but more advanced methods, like a dedicated IP, can also be used to secure a blog’s safety.

Pick the host carefully

Some hosts are better than others. It’s important to start by checking if they update their security software frequently and have good reviews. Bigger hosting companies are also better than the less popular options. They’re more likely to have strong security measures in place and have the resources to keep up to date with current cybersecurity trends.

Back up the website

While it’s a bit of a hassle, it’s worth it to create a backup of the blog. Backups protect against hackers and malware because they allow the blogger to restore a previous version of the blog. That means the site needs to be backed up regularly to ensure the latest version. Luckily, there are plenty of secure backup services that make this process easy and quick.

Use unique passwords

Most people know that they should use a unique password for everything. Yet many forgo that advice and still opt to use the same password for most of their accounts. The problem with this is that it allows hackers access to all of a person’s personal information. And there’s no need to expound on the long list of dangers attached to that. So stick with a unique password for every site. It’s also a good idea to change passwords for the most important sites or applications every few months.

Use a separate email for comments

Spear phishing campaigns are still successful in this day and age when boundless scam warnings are making the rounds. Which means it’s a good idea to get a separate email account set up for just this issue. That way, when a scammer tries to send an account reset message or something similar, the lie will be obvious.

Get a dedicated IP address

One major decision any blogger should make is whether they will use a dedicated or shared IP address. Both these options have their advantages and disadvantages, but when it comes to security, the dedicated option wins out. A dedicated internet protocol (IP) address is a unique internet address that’s associated with a single account. Meaning no other hosting accounts share that IP address. On the other side, someone with a shared IP address will share a server’s IP address with all of the other websites on that server.

There are some risks associated with a shared IP address. Like other accounts running less than honest scripts or business practices, which puts the whole server at risk. Because there’s always the chance of them getting blacklisted for spam or something else which would potentially affect the entire server. With a shared IP, other accounts could also possibly try to hack into the blog’s website through the shared internet protocol. But a blogger using a dedicated IP wouldn’t need to worry about risks like these.

Dedicated IPs are more secure than shared IPs as well because only people who use the dedicated IP address will be able to gain access to the blog. This also works well for bloggers who travel around a lot and may use public WiFi. Another big advantage of dedicated IPs is that they also provide security to online transactions. Websites with online stores that allow credit card purchases are required to have SSL Certificates installed. To get a certificate, the website must have a dedicated IP.

No one wants their personal info, passwords, or banking details to become compromised. Which is why it’s of paramount importance that blog owners always follow stringent security measures. These 5 tips will help any blogger host a well-maintained blog that won’t bend to any wily hackers or harmful characters that prevail on the wide web.

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