How secure is this house?  Do you know by this photo?

The house looks beautiful.  Maybe a dream house.  So how secure is it?  There is no way to tell unless you look at the door to see what type of door knob and lock it has.

Web site security is exactly the same.  Do you know that less than 10% of web sites are written to help avoid hacks or abuse!

Look at this door knob......

A very fancy door knob -- some may say it's stylish.  However if it does not offer security then your family could be at risk.

Now look at this door knob......

Obviously more secure right?  You would think so.. However if the door frame (jamb) is weak then even this impressive looking lock could be useless.

My point....   Most of us are not qualified to determine how well secured a home is.  How many of you are going to know if your web site was developed with security in mind?

It's one thing to make a web site look good and appear to be secure.  It's an entirely different thing to build your web site with security as a primary concern.

Website Forge has and always will help keep your site secure. 

Web site security comes in many forms:

• Secure programming practices to help resist abuse, attacks and hacks
• Remove motiviation from potential hackers by deleting sensitive information after processing orders
• Knowing what to secure and what not to secure
• Informing our customers the best way to protect themselves
• Active firewall and hack detection software
• Have a plan WHEN you have a security breach (VERY IMPORTANT)
• Constant backups
• Constant security education of our development team

What is a hack?

-  Usually a hack is defined as an unwelcomed intrusion.  Somtimes hacks are kept secret or the hacks are displayed by the defacement of your web site.  Sometimes hackers are trying to steal something from you or your customers.  Other times they are just trying to get noticed.

What is an attack?

-  Attacks are usually something designed to disable your web site or annoy you.  Often your web site or web services can be used to attack another web site.  A DOS (Denial of Service) attack is a popular one.  Someone could simulate millions of "visitors" to your web site simultaneously causing your web site to stop responding.

How can your web site be abused?

-  Abuse is when someone figures out how to use your web site other than how it was intended.  For example -- a poorly programmed contact form can be exploited to send millions of anonymous spam or email.  You would be surprised how many web sites are vulnerable to this type of abuse.

This email is designed to help you,  the every day business owner, understand the difference between building a web site and investing in a proven web site system like Website Forge.

Nobody would purchase a home that has a weak foundation, unsecure locks or bad plumbing.   Most of us can protect ourselves by hiring a home inspector.  It's much harder to determine if their web site is properly secured.

I hope this helps everyone think.. We take security very seriously.  You should too.

Thanks, Shane