WordPress Security Alert: Heightened Vigilance Against Cyber Attacks Post Ukraine Conflict
WordPress security company Wordfence has issued an advisory urging increased vigilance in the wake of the Russian attack on Ukraine. This advisory includes tips to help prevent becoming a victim of state-sponsored cyber attacks.
Additionally, the United States Government’s Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has updated their cybersecurity information, adding more details on potential cyber attacks originating from Russia.
Website Security and SEO
Many in the SEO community overlook website security as an SEO issue. However, cyber attacks can severely impact search visibility and the ability to display web pages to visitors. Therefore, website security should be a crucial part of SEO as hacking and other security incidents can harm search visibility.
Wordfence Calls for Higher Vigilance
State-sponsored cyber attacks are commonly directed at government and infrastructure-related websites. However, the current threat may extend to commercial websites. Wordfence has advised all site publishers to exercise heightened vigilance.
While Wordfence notes that it has not yet observed an increase in state-sponsored hacking activities at this early stage, it nonetheless advises publishers to stay alert in the coming hours and days.
Steps to Protect Against Cyber Attacks
The founder of Wordfence stated, "If you run a business, I’d like to advise you to enter a higher state of vigilance."
Wordfence’s advisory includes the following protective measures:
- Learn about social engineering and phishing attacks.
- Enable multi-factor authentication.
- WordPress plugin developers should be extra vigilant to avoid becoming compromised and serving as a conduit for exploits to clients.
- Monitor logs for suspicious activities.
- Be on the lookout for new and malicious files appearing on your site.
Cybersecurity Tips from CISA
The United States Government’s CISA has also issued tips and listed resources and tools to help organizations prepare against cyber intrusions and other attacks.
CISA’s preventive measures include:
- Fix known security flaws in software.
- Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA).
- Replace end-of-life software products that no longer receive updates.
- Replace any systems or products that rely on known/default/unchangeable passwords.
- Sign up for CISA’s Cyber Hygiene Vulnerability Scanning.
- Remove your data from search results using the S.O.S. (Get Your Stuff Off Search) initiative.
Free Cybersecurity Tools
CISA has provided a comprehensive list of free tools to help prevent or mitigate cyber attacks. Among these free tools and services are:
- Immunet Antivirus by Cisco for Microsoft Windows.
- Microsoft Defender Application Guard.
- Free Cloudflare Unmetered Distributed Denial of Service Protection.
- Free Cloudflare Universal Secure Socket Layer Certificate.
- Quad9 for Android – Blocks malware and virus-infected sites.
- Quad9 – Protects devices from accessing malware and virus-infected sites.
- Project Shield – A free service defending news, human rights, and election monitoring sites from DDoS attacks.
- Vane2 – A free WordPress security scanner.
Consider Enhancing Your Security
Websites face various attacks around the clock. Recent developments in Ukraine have increased the likelihood of state-sponsored hacking attempts from Russia. WordPress publishers should consider using trusted security plugins like Wordfence and enhancing security measures with the above-mentioned tips and free tools.
Citations
- Wordfence Advisory: Entering a Higher State of Vigilance – Ukraine Under Attack
- U.S. Government Cybersecurity Advisory: Shields Up
- Free Cybersecurity Services and Tools
