Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Infrastructure
- Website Security
- Domain Security
- Email Security
- Data Security
- Tips and Recommendations to Safeguard Your Online Presence
- Conclusion
- FAQ
Introduction
In today's digital era, website security is paramount. With tens of thousands of websites being attacked and new malware surfacing daily, safeguarding your online assets is more critical than ever. As a website owner, ensuring the protection of sensitive data, maintaining visitor trust, and guaranteeing uninterrupted operations are essential responsibilities.
Choosing a hosting provider that prioritizes security isn't just desirable—it's necessary. At Hostinger, we provide robust security features such as resilient data centers, proactive monitoring, firewalls, malware scanners, backups, and automatic updates—all offered for free to our customers. This blog post will delve into the comprehensive security measures that Hostinger implements to protect your online presence and share actionable tips to help you secure your website even further.
Infrastructure
Ensuring the safety of your websites, emails, apps, and other digital projects begins with robust infrastructure. Hostinger's distributed physical servers across 11 data centers spanning four continents ensure not only high availability but also great physical security and operational reliability.
Physical Security
Security starts with the physical protection of data centers. Hostinger, although not owning any data centers, selects partners who meet stringent physical security standards. These standards include fenced areas, security guards, 24/7 monitoring with video surveillance, and comprehensive access controls.
Additionally, data centers feature redundant power and cooling systems, along with multiple network connections. Such redundancy ensures that even if one system fails or a network line goes down, there is always a backup to keep your websites running smoothly.
Monitoring and Maintenance
Hostinger's dedicated in-house security team performs 24/7 server monitoring to track system performance and availability. Scheduled maintenance, including operating system updates and security patches, helps preclude the exploitation of 0-day vulnerabilities. Failover systems and regular alerts enable Hostinger to address potential service disruptions before they occur, contributing to a commendable 99.9% uptime guarantee.
The hosting infrastructure is further fortified with advanced security modules like mod_security and PHP, designed to intercept malicious requests in the PHP processing phase, safeguarding websites from common web application attacks, such as SQL injection. Continuous vulnerability scanning ensures that potential issues are detected and mitigated promptly.
Website Security
While a secure infrastructure is fundamental, the specifics of web hosting add another layer of complexity. Websites sharing server resources mean that an attack on one can affect others on the same server. At Hostinger, measures and tools are provided to prevent such cross-contamination, ensuring a seamless and secure hosting experience.
Firewall and DDoS Protection
DDoS attacks are a daily challenge, with an average of 500 attacks targeting Hostinger's infrastructure each day. To counter these, a web application firewall and a DDoS traffic filter are employed, safeguarding websites against hacking attempts, data breaches, and malicious attacks. Regular penetration tests assess and enhance system resilience.
For customers using Business web hosting and all cloud hosting plans, an in-house content delivery network (CDN) adds an extra protection layer against botnet attacks, dynamically diverting malicious requests away from the origin server. Hostinger Website Builder clients benefit from these protections through Cloudflare CDN, with servers in over 250 locations worldwide.
Malware Protection
Every website, application, or service hosted with Hostinger benefits from robust malware protection. Partnering with Monarx, millions of malware instances—such as webshells, uploaders, adware, ransomware, and redirects—are identified and cleaned annually. This anti-malware protection works on both endpoints and servers, preventing malware on one website from harming others hosted on the same server. This service is free and automatically enabled for all web and cloud hosting clients.
Backups
Hostinger understands the importance of preparedness. All your data is regularly backed up, allowing website restoration at any point. This precaution ensures that even in the event of unforeseen circumstances, your website data remains secure and recoverable.
WordPress Security Enhancements
As the most popular content management system globally, WordPress powers roughly half of all websites hosted on Hostinger. Therefore, significant attention is given to WordPress-specific security measures, ensuring comprehensive protection for these widely-used sites.
Unlimited Free SSL Certificates
Hostinger was among the first providers to offer unlimited free Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificates with automatic, free renewals. An SSL certificate encrypts data exchanged between a user's browser and a website, protecting sensitive information like passwords and credit card details. The padlock icon in the browser’s address bar signifies this encryption, ensuring data security and enhancing visitor trust.
Access Management
Secure access management is crucial for maintaining website security. All Hostinger plans include Secure Shell (SSH) access, providing a secure, encrypted method for remotely accessing and managing website files and server configurations. The Secure Access Manager facilitates streamlined user access and permissions management, enabling smooth collaboration with team members or freelancers.
Domain Security
The domain name is the gateway to your online presence, making its integrity vital. Hostinger secures domains with Cloudflare Protected Nameservers, which offer top-tier protection against DDoS attacks, DNS tampering, and malicious redirection. Free WHOIS privacy protection for eligible domains shields personal information, reducing the risk of spam, phishing, and other hacking attempts.
Protecting your digital identity also involves proactive measures. Registering similar domain names with different endings (e.g., .net, .org) precludes abusers from impersonating your brand, safeguarding against brand dilution and potential misuse.
Email Security
Email security at Hostinger is powered by machine learning and real-time threat data updates, blocking 99.9% of malicious content, including spam, viruses, malware, and phishing attempts. This multi-level protection ensures that your inbox remains secure and clutter-free.
All email accounts at Hostinger come with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC enabled by default. These authentication methods verify email origins, preventing spoofing and abuse. Hostinger actively monitors suspicious email account activity, pausing compromised accounts and informing customers for further action.
Data Security
Hostinger makes every effort to protect client data, complying with regulations like the GDPR in the European Union and the LGPD in Brazil. The commitment to data protection is detailed in their Data Processing Addendum, highlighting the robust security protocols in place to ensure the confidentiality and availability of your information.
Tips and Recommendations to Safeguard Your Online Presence
While Hostinger provides extensive security measures, website owners play a crucial role in maintaining security. Here are some tips from Hostinger's security experts:
- Use strong, unique passwords for all accounts.
- Keep software, plugins, and themes updated.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible.
- Regularly back up your website and data.
- Monitor your website for suspicious activity and vulnerabilities.
- Educate yourself about phishing scams and how to avoid them.
By implementing these best practices, you can significantly reduce the risk of security breaches and protect your digital assets.
Conclusion
At Hostinger, your website's security is a top priority. From robust physical infrastructure to cutting-edge technological solutions, Hostinger offers comprehensive measures to safeguard your online presence. However, vigilance and the adoption of best security practices by website owners are equally critical in maintaining security.
If you have any questions or need assistance, Hostinger's Customer Success team is available to support you at any time. Invest in quality hosting with Hostinger and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with top-tier security.
FAQ
How does Hostinger protect against DDoS attacks?
Hostinger employs a web application firewall and DDoS traffic filter to counter DDoS attacks, along with rigorous penetration tests to assess and bolster system resilience.
What is the role of Monarx in Hostinger’s security measures?
Monarx partners with Hostinger to provide robust malware protection, identifying and cleaning millions of malware instances annually across all hosted websites, applications, and services.
What additional security do WordPress sites receive at Hostinger?
WordPress sites at Hostinger benefit from specific security enhancements alongside general protections like SSL certificates, malware protection, and regular backups, ensuring comprehensive site security.
How does Hostinger ensure domain security?
Hostinger secures domains with Cloudflare Protected Nameservers, providing firewall-as-a-service and WHOIS privacy protection to prevent DDoS attacks, DNS tampering, malicious redirection, and protecting personal information.
Why is email security important at Hostinger?
Email security at Hostinger is crucial for protecting against spam, viruses, malware, and phishing attempts, thereby ensuring that users' inboxes remain secure and only necessary communications are received.
By following these guidelines and availing Hostinger’s security features, you can enhance your online presence's safety, ensuring a resilient, trustworthy, and uninterrupted digital experience.