cPanel Security Best Practices for Beginners

Categories: cPanel

Making sure your website is secure should be your first concern, and cPanel offers a number of features and tools to assist you in doing so. You can protect your website and data from dangerous assaults by adhering to a few fundamental security procedures. To get you started, here are some crucial cPanel security recommended practices for novices.

1. Use Strong Passwords

A strong password is your first line of defense against unauthorized access. When setting up passwords for your cPanel account, email accounts, and databases, make sure to use a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Consider using the Password Generator in cPanel to create strong and random passwords that are difficult to crack.

2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your cPanel account. By enabling 2FA, you'll need to enter a unique code from your smartphone in addition to your password to log in. To set up 2FA, go to the Security section in cPanel and click on Two-Factor Authentication to enable it.

3. Keep Software Up to Date

If your website uses content management systems like WordPress, or any third-party plugins, make sure to keep them updated. Outdated software is one of the most common ways hackers gain access to websites. Use Softaculous in cPanel to easily manage updates for any installed applications.

4. Enable SSL/TLS Certificates

Having an SSL/TLS certificate is essential for encrypting data transmitted between your website and visitors. It helps secure sensitive information and provides trust to your users. Use cPanel’s SSL/TLS feature to install an SSL certificate. You can also enable AutoSSL to automatically issue and renew SSL certificates for your domain.

5. Set Up IP Blocker

The IP Blocker tool in cPanel allows you to block specific IP addresses from accessing your website. If you notice suspicious activity from certain IPs, you can add them to the block list to protect your site. Go to the Security section and click on IP Blocker to add IP addresses that you want to block.

6. Use Hotlink Protection

Hotlink Protection prevents other websites from linking directly to the files on your server, such as images and videos. Unauthorized linking can consume your bandwidth and slow down your website. To enable Hotlink Protection, navigate to the Security section in cPanel and configure it to prevent external sites from using your media files without permission.

7. Enable ModSecurity

ModSecurity is a web application firewall (WAF) that can help protect your website from common attacks such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). You can enable ModSecurity in cPanel by going to the Security section and turning it on for your domains. This helps filter malicious requests before they reach your website.

8. Regular Backups

Regularly backing up your website is essential for disaster recovery. Use the Backup Wizard in cPanel to create full or partial backups of your website, databases, and email accounts. In the event of an attack or data loss, having a recent backup will allow you to quickly restore your website.

9. Limit Access to cPanel

Restricting who has access to your cPanel account is crucial for security. Only share login credentials with trusted individuals, and consider creating separate accounts with limited privileges for team members who need specific access. This minimizes the risk of unauthorized changes or access.

10. Monitor Account Activity

Use the Raw Access Logs and Error Logs in cPanel to monitor activity on your server. These logs can help you detect any suspicious activity, such as repeated login attempts or unauthorized access to your files. By keeping an eye on these logs, you can act quickly if you notice anything unusual.

Conclusion

By following these security best practices in cPanel, you can significantly reduce the risk of your website being compromised. Strong passwords, two-factor authentication, regular backups, and active monitoring are all simple but effective steps that go a long way toward protecting your site. Remember, website security is an ongoing process, so it's important to stay vigilant and make use of all the tools available in cPanel.