by Robert Plank 0

WordPress Security Under Attack: Backing Up Is No Longer Optional

Since early April 2013 WordPress security has been under attack by a “botnet”, which scours the Web seeking unprotected WordPress installs that it can plunder and take over. This attack has used more than 90,000 different computers to access more than 60 million sites online!

The purpose of these attacks is to infect your computer, and enlist it into a network of compromised sites. This can be used for many purposes, including sending spam email, denial of service attacks, spreading viruses and malware, and even more nefarious intents.

Who has this “BotNet” targeted and what exact can I do about it?

So far it has mainly concentrated on WordPress installs where users have neglected to change their default username from “admin” to something more unique.

The program then guesses the password using software targeting common password combinations. It’s a fairly good bet that people using the default username are just as likely to use a common password. (123456 ring a bell?)

How to Easily Enhance Your WordPress Security (Without Doing Too Much Work At All)

Obviously, one of the primary ways to secure your site is to use secure login credentials. Change your username to something that is not the default setting, and use best practices when it comes to setting passwords. This means using combinations that aren’t guessable, usually including upper and lower cases, numbers and letters, and special characters.

Also, be sure and change your passwords on a regular basis. You may have heard this advice before, but it’s what you need to do! This is easy to do, and one of the best WordPress security practices you can accomplish on your own.

Making WordPress Backups of Your Site

Now more than ever it’s absolutely essential that you make WordPress backups of your site. The easiest way to accomplish this is through the use of a WordPress backup plugin. They are easy to install, and can back up your sites automatically, with no extra action needed by you.

Make sure that you schedule backups at least once per month, and that your WordPress software install is up to date. Consider WordPress cloning so as to have a complete replica of your site in the event you need it.

Many people depend on their web hosts to back up their sites, and I’m sad to report that this isn’t a good idea. Webhosts, particularly with shared hosting, often let things slip through the cracks.

Don’t let your site be one of them! Go to www.backupcreator.com to back up, clone and secure your WordPress site right now before anything happens to it.

by Robert Plank 0

Are You Backing Up Your WordPress Site?

Many people new to WordPress have yet to grasp just how important it is for your WordPress security that you create backups of your site regularly. This can and often does help WordPress site owners avoid the mind-numbing pain of having your site disappear, with no viable copy or backup. Let’s look at some ways to avoid this doomsday scenario!

So why, again, do I need to create WordPress backups?

Should your site’s server go down, everything you’ve worked for will go with it. You’ll make no sales, get no visitors or signups to your site, and in short, you’re out of business until you get the site back up again.

And don’t make the mistake of thinking that this rarely happens. It has happened to me more than once, and I can tell you, it’s panic time.

If there are no reliable backups to get your site back up quickly, you’re back at square one. Not a pleasant thought.

Doesn’t WordPress do this automatically?

Not necessarily. There are ways to accomplish this that require a fair degree of technical expertise. If that’s not you, read on.

Also, don’t make the mistake of thinking that your web host will have your back as far as WordPress backups go. Not always. While they say they do, it’s been my experience that the hosting company may or may not be doing proper backups. Why take that kind of chance?

So what’s the best solution?

In my opinion, the best way to ensure your WordPress security is through the use of a WordPress backup plugin. This is a relatively inexpensive, elegant and easy to use way to make sure your site is available to you in the event of a disaster.

The plugin should be regularly updated to stay current with the latest WordPress release, play nice with all your other plugins and have WordPress cloning and restore capabilities. The ability to clone your site (in addition to regular backups) can be useful if you ever want to do an offline site redesign, among other things.

Strive to make regular backups of your site, at least once per month, and have them sent to your email or an offline storage of your choice. (Many people use Amazon S3.)

Backing up your WordPress site is not really an option. You need to get this done. Go to www.backupcreator.com to back up, clone, and secure your WordPress site right now before anything happens to

by Robert Plank 0

5 Reasons Why You Should Use a Plugin for WordPress Backups

Taking proactive steps to ensure your WordPress security isn’t always something that leaps to the front of your mind, but one easy way to help with this is the use of a plugin for your WordPress backups.

Hadn’t thought of that, you say? Depending on your web host to handle “all that stuff”? Here are five great reasons why you should consider using a plugin to keep your site intact.

Reason #1: Protect Your Virtual Property – Your site may be a vital part of your business. Having your files backed up in the event of a problem is a necessary insurance policy to have. Don’t depend on your web host for this either! Their servers bite the dust more than they like to admit!

Reason #2: Ease of Use and Functionality – A plugin is very easy to set up and use. You can schedule regular WordPress backups that are automatically emailed to you or delivered to the location of your choosing, such as Amazon S3. You should schedule monthly backups to be most safe.

Reason #3: Control Over Your Files – When you have control of your site’s files, instead of leaving this in the hands of others not in your business, you control your destiny. This will allow you to easily move the site to another web host, change to another domain, or do some WordPress cloning and perform a complete site redesign easily without disrupting your business.

Reason #4: Easy Restoration and Portability – If, God forbid, your site’s server were to crash, and your files were lost—never fear!—because you have a complete backup, even if your host doesn’t! You can have your site back up by uploading your files in minutes, as soon as you are confident of the security of the platform.

Reason #5: Save Time and Money! – One of the most appealing factors for me in using plugins for my WordPress backups is that it saves me gobs of time, worry and perhaps money should an event occur where I would have to hire a developer to restore what would have been so easy to save with a backup plugin.

WordPress security is comprised of several elements; among them are making sure your WordPress install is current, your anti-malware software if working, and that you are backing up your site.

Go to www.backupcreator.com to back up, clone, and secure your WordPress site right now before anything happens to it.

by Robert Plank 0

Easy WordPress Backup Solutions That Can Save the Day

If you run an online site, either for fun or profit, there is very little that’s more upsetting than having your site compromised. Whether it’s by hacking, viruses, or server issues, it’s vital to have a WordPress backup handy to use should the unthinkable occur.

What’s the easiest way to implement a WordPress Backup Solution?

For me it’s a WordPress plugin. They are drop dead easy to install, have all the functions you need for a task such as this, and are relatively cheap, especially when compared to having to hire someone to get this done for you.

If you do look into using a plugin for your WordPress security, make sure it has these important features:

– First of all, that it’s compatible with the latest WordPress release. (You are updating your WordPress install, right?)

– That it has a restore capability.

– That you can schedule backups so that it becomes a set it and forget it solution.

– That it has the ability to perform WordPress cloning for you.

– That you can scan your files for security threats. This can be a great help when transferring your site to another host.

– That it is continually updated and improved.

But what about the backups WordPress itself does?

While it’s true that WordPress does some backups, that doesn’t mean your data is safe. If their servers fail, and they do, despite protestations to the contrary, you may be left at the very least without significant portions of your site (or business!) available for some time.

Your web hosting company isn’t ultimately responsible for your content, you are. By depending on your host to not only do regular WordPress backups for you, you are putting your livelihood in someone else’s hands.

Not only that, horror stories abound of hosts not updating their own systems, such as WordPress software, and other software necessary to keep your site secure. This is especially true with bargain basement hosts, and some shared plans.

Where can you find a good WordPress Backup solution?

Do your homework and some searching, but if you are pressed for time and want to get this done once and for all, try the WordPress security plugin that I use. It’s a relief to know that my site (and business!) are secure.

Go to www.backupcreator.com to back up, clone, and secure your WordPress site right now before anything happens to it.

by Robert Plank 0

WordPress Cloning: How and Why You Need to Do It!

Lest you think you’ve stumbled upon the latest science fiction thriller, you’ll be pleased to know that WordPress cloning is not a part of that galaxy.

While it’s an odd term, it represents a necessary task: making a WordPress backup of your site to work on offline, or in the event something should go amiss. We’re not simply being obsessive-compulsive here: servers go down every day, despite their claims of 99.9% uptime, and if you’ve had this happen to you, you know the panic is it can cause.

If parts of your database were to simply disappear, how viable would your site or business be? Let’s look at what you need to do to implement WordPress cloning, and how it can help your overall WordPress security.

What is WordPress cloning and how does it help?

Cloning your site is another level in WordPress security that can be very useful. Cloning simply means that you have backed up your site to a totally different location, (offline, as in a folder, so as not to have SEO problems) where you can access it at a moment’s notice if the need arises.

This would prove useful if you wanted to make wholesale changes to your site’s appearance or functionality before it went live, and you wouldn’t have to deal with any of the problems that a “work in progress” could bring.

Simply clone the site, make your changes, and have this one replace the old version when ready. A real time saver!

If I have cloned my site, do I still need to backup my data?

Yes. While you’ll still have a copy as a clone, you’ll want to preserve any newer data that comes in, such as comments, posts, and more. WordPress backups are something you should do at least once a month, whether or not you’ve cloned your site.

What’s the best way to accomplish this level of WordPress Security?

I prefer to use a WordPress plugin to get the job done. Just make sure the plugin you choose is able to do select backups, has restore functionality, and can clone. Also be sure that it is frequently updated to keep pace with all new versions of WordPress. There is no use in backing up your data to a plugin that’s out of date, and not working.

Go to www.backupcreator.com to back up, clone, and secure your WordPress site right now before anything happens to it.

by Robert Plank 0

WordPress Security: How to Save Yourself a Lot of Grief!

Okay, you got me: WordPress security isn’t the sexiest way to spend your time, but it could end up being one of the most profitable! Nothing is more caustic to the lining of your stomach than having your site go down, and wondering whether or not you’ve lost it all.

Far too many of us rely on our web hosts to save our bacon when disaster strikes. Speaking from experience, this is not always a good idea. While it may seem expedient and simple, you could actually be putting your site at risk, and perhaps your income too. Let’s examine a better way!

Assure WordPress security using a plugin.

Creating WordPress backups using a plugin is not only easy, but also economical and provides near instant peace of mind. Backing up your site’s files once a month provides you with many benefits, including some you may not have given much thought to before.

What are some of the benefits of backing up with a WordPress Plugin?

Here are five quick benefits of using a plugin for your WordPress security.

1. Maintain offline copies of your site – Having your site’s files sent to you via email or to a service like Amazon S3 is a terrific way to backup your site.

2. Easy scheduling of WordPress backups – A simple scheduler can help take the forgetfulness out of the equation. Set a date and time for each month, and forget about it!

3. A snap to move – If, for some reason, you need to relocate your site, such as a domain name change or a new web host, having your files at your fingertips can save you oodles of time, headache, and the need for tech help.

4. Simple to get your site back up and running – In the event of a problem, having a WordPress backup of your site’s files is a Godsend. Make sure your plugin has a working restore function.

5. Maintain control of your online assets – Nothing is worse than having your livelihood in someone else’s hands. Why take chances with something as important as your website?

Utilizing a plugin for WordPress security just makes great sense. WordPress backups need to be performed on a regular basis. Don’t become a victim as a result of not being proactive about your own site!

Go to www.backupcreator.com to back up, clone, and secure your WordPress site right now before anything happens to it.

by Robert Plank 0

WordPress Cloning and Your Website

The idea of WordPress cloning isn’t new, and it can be a great way for site owners to keep from losing information and data that really matters to them and their clients. Whether you’ve just created a site or you’ve had one for years, making a clone of it means being able to restore it easily if something goes wrong and the site is lost. Otherwise, the loss of the files needed to re-create the site can leave you devastated.

Need to Clone Your Site?

You shouldn’t have to ask whether you need to clone your site. If you have a site that’s operated off of WordPress, then WordPress cloning is essential. While you’re using a good platform, accidents, problems, and data loss can and do happen. It’s so much better to be safe rather than sorry. That’s especially important when you’re dealing with a business’ website, because the site being down could cause a serious loss of income.

With WordPress, Cloning Can Be Easy

One of the great things about WordPress is that it’s easy to get a program that will clone the site, and you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for it. You’ll be getting a lot of value from the right program, too, because you can set it up to do cloning, security, and automatic backups. Peace of mind will be yours when you don’t have to worry about your site being lost to some kind of unfortunate data glitch.

Don’t Risk Losing Your Data

The risk of losing your data can be very real, but you don’t have to take on that risk. Instead, make sure that WordPress cloning is part of your routine. You can set the software up to back itself up automatically, so you’ll have a frequent clone of your site. Any data loss would be very minimal, and you won’t have to worry about trying to recreate an entire site from scratch. That’s good news for anyone who has a WordPress site and wants to make it work.

Many business owners use WordPress for their sites because they see how easy the platform is to use, and because the end result looks very professional. Because of the growing popularity of WordPress, the need for a good cloning option will only become more prevalent. Don’t wait, and don’t put your data at risk.

Go to www.backupcreator.com to back up, clone, and secure your WordPress site right now before anything happens to it.

by Robert Plank 0

WordPress Security: You Can Learn It Fast

One of the first things you do when you set up a WordPress site is work on the colors, font, design, and look. Then it’s time to add text and information. But what about WordPress security? Don’t let the fun of setting up a new site distract you from the goal of protecting the information you’re putting online.

Using WordPress for Your Business

WordPress is a great choice for just about any business that wants or needs a website. The platform is easy to work with, and the back end work can be done by just about anyone. You don’t need programming experience or coding knowledge to create a great-looking site. Of course, the more you know about the tips and tricks of WordPress, the more interesting your site can be.

Securing Your WordPress Site

In addition to the graphics and text you’re creating, you’ll need a backup and protection option for your new site. WordPress security is very important, and if you don’t protect and back up your site you could lose important data and information that might be very hard to restore. You don’t want to have to start over from scratch after you’ve done all that work, so make sure you’re secure.

Don’t Lose Your Files

Files can easily get lost if you don’t have good protection on your site. Some of those files might be saved on your computer and easily replaceable, but what about the rest of them? Where will you get them from again, if you lose them the first time? Especially for sites that have been in business for a long time, WordPress security is vital. Often, long-term sites have created a large number of files and have a lot of data. Recreating all of that would be a nightmare, and not something any business owner wants to do.

When your site is new, you don’t always think about needing security but you do need to protect yourself and your investment. Having a site go down and not being able to restore it quickly can mean a big loss of customers who can’t find you and probably won’t remember to look for your site again later. Don’t let that happen to you. Back your site up as soon as you get it started, and schedule frequent backups for as long as the site is operational. That way, you’ll have WordPress security and peace of mind.

Go to www.backupcreator.com to back up, clone, and secure your WordPress site right now before anything happens to it.

by Robert Plank 0

The Best WordPress Backups

If you’re looking for WordPress backups, it’s not necessary to search through a lot of options. You only need one, and that would be Backup Creator. However, before you choose any backup option, you need to understand why you’re doing it and why it’s worth having. Then you can make the best choice for you and your WordPress site needs.

Why Use WordPress?

WordPress is used by businesses that want an easy and inexpensive website that still looks very professional. The owners of these sites want to know that they can manage and work with their sites without a struggle. Building your own site is significantly cheaper than paying someone to do it, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t create your own site with WordPress. Just make sure you protect it after you’ve created it. You don’t want to lose what you’ve worked to produce.

Finding the Right Backup

The right backup is the one that works for you, that’s easy to use, that’s reliable, and that doesn’t cost too much. You want your backup to have staying power, so that you don’t have to update and change it all the time. While you’re looking for the right one, make sure you don’t get sucked in by companies that promise you the moon for free. That’s not a good way to back up your WordPress site, and you aren’t going to get the reliability you’re looking for.

How Much Should It Cost You?

The cost of your WordPress backup has to be up to you. You shouldn’t have to pay a high price to get something good, but you don’t always have to choose the least expensive option, either. Instead of looking at cost, take the time to look at value. In other words, consider not just how much you’re paying, but what you’re getting for that money. If you’re getting a lot and not paying a lot, you’re receiving a lot more value than if you are paying a high price for a product that doesn’t give you very much.

Take the time to learn about what the WordPress backup you’re considering offers to you, so you can see if you’re getting what you need. The price should be fair, and the convenience factor should be high, in order to get the most value for your money and really have the site protection you need.

Go to www.backupcreator.com to back up, clone, and secure your WordPress site right now before anything happens to it.

by Robert Plank

Your WordPress Dashboard, Theme and Plugins Explained

Whenever you’re dealing with anything slightly technical, there are going to be many terms you’ll need to know about. But luckily, with a blogging platform such as WordPress, there are not too many terms and once you know them, you won’t have to remember them. You’ll just be able to use them. And with WordPress, you log into a dashboard. You choose a theme and you might add additional plugins to your blog so let’s talk about what all those things do and why they’re all very important for you.

First of all, when you have a website, when you have a WordPress blog, people see the front end of it. They see the content that you have already written. The comments have already been posted. But how do you write that content in the first place? You log in to what some people call the back ends or the control panel or the administration area. But WordPress keeps it simple and calls it the dashboard. You log in and it shows everything you need to know right there. It shows the post that you’ve written. It shows comments that might need to be approved or any kind of problems with blog. It’s the WordPress dashboard and you can log in to it by going to whatever the address of your WordPress site is and add /wp-admin to the end of it. Once you go there, you will be able to do anything. Add new post, delete post, rearrange post, change navigation. Do any of that stuff from your WordPress dashboard.

But if you have a brand new site, the first thing you’re going to want to do is to set up the design or appearance or what’s called the theme of your WordPress blog. Now, your theme is the whole template, the layout which means that if you decide you want to have a blog with a black background and white text, go and find a theme that has that already assigned for you. If you want to have a design with a huge header graphic then find a theme that does that for you. If you want a design with one sidebar, one sidebar on the left, on the right, with 3 sidebars, find a theme that’s already done that for you. And there are literally thousands of free WordPress themes and even more paid ones where you can click a few buttons by going to Appearance, Themes, Install a new theme and you can search their huge directory of WordPress themes to install right away. You install the theme and it changes the entire look and feel of the design of your website.

So you’re thinking, “That’s great. I go in my dashboard, I can change posts. I can edit themes. Now, what are plugins?” Well, plugins are more of the functionality, what the blog actually does. For example, have you seen blog posts where there’s button for someone to retweet it, to retweet your blog post to send it to Twitter to tell your friends about it? Well, that is due to a plugin. Someone installed a Twitter plugin that added a button to every post on that site. And so now, even if you change your theme from a black background to a blue one, that Twitter button will still remain. You might have seen some WordPress blogs where they add a discussion area or a forum to it. Well, that’s a plugin. There are plugins that will actually allow you to add a message board, discussion forum to your WordPress blog. There are plugins that will allow you to add a pop up box to your WordPress site. That is also a plugin. So you can see that the theme controls the way the blog looks. The plugin controls what the blog actually does.

So I hope that when you log in to your WordPress dashboard, in addition to saying what kind of content, what kind of post you can add or change or edit or delete, you also get that youc an change the theme or the design or the look of your blog with a few clicks and install or move or change plugins which add additional functions to your blog. So go ahead right now, log in to your WordPress dashboard and have fun.

Make sure your WordPress blog is safely and securely backed up at www.backupcreator.com.