For any business owner, a data breach is always very unnerving. When hackers start poking around your database, it is easy for you to feel violated. Unfortunately, many people do not realize that security has been breached until the ordeal is over. Even though not all breaches are easy to detect, some signs may tell you that someone has gained access to your files. There are also many things you can do to make it harder for people to hack your website.
7 Signs That Your Database Has Been Hacked
Below are some situations you may come across when your website is hacked
1. Database has been deleted
Even though this is an obvious sign of a data breach, we still need to mention it. A very simple exploit can lead to a database being completely wiped out. In cases that this has happened, such a scenario could have been avoided if the administrator had updated the database software. A good example is the SQL slammer worm distributed in 2003, which destroyed thousands of databases in minutes. It only affected outdated SQL databases.
2. Your site has been Blacklisted
Several organizations exist on the internet that monitor and blacklist servers that are corrupted. One example of such an organization is Span Haus. Because many Internet Service Providers use these organizations to govern email, an email breach on your server can lead to your company being put on a blacklist. This means that until the breach or infection is addressed, you will not be able to send emails.
3. Unknown running processes
If you are a server manager, you must have seen a large number of running processes. Most of these processes manage the operating system and other resources. It is, however, possible for a malicious process to run in the background and steal your data. If you do not regularly monitor these processes, the malicious process may have been around for a while.
4. File edits
A look at a file’s properties will reveal a ‘date modified’ time stamp. When files that are rarely used suddenly have a recent modified date, this could signify danger. Hackers can modify the contents of a file to run code that will steal your data. This will often happen in the background and will not raise a flag because they run from a legitimate system file.
5. Long load times
The speed of retrieving information from the database greatly depends on the size of the database. Longer access times could mean that the database is experiencing too much traffic or, in some cases, signify a section of the database is corrupt. But if access times suddenly double, this could be a sign of a breach. But don’t jump to the conclusion that you have been hacked if it takes longer to access your database. Instead, take a closer look at your database to find out what the problem is.
6. Unexpected log entries
A database’s activity log can be a great tool in helping you find problems on your website. They register all activity on your website, whether the activity is through HTTP or FTP. Therefore, when unexpected or unknown entries start appearing in your logs, you should be concerned. Someone could gain access to your data, and the only trace you will have maybe in the log. Unfortunately, extremely few people go through their logs daily.
7. Unverified new users
While new users are generally a good thing, ones that cannot be verified may pose dangers. Hackers have been known to insert fake users into a database and grant them administrator control. This means that they can come and go as they please without raising the alarm. Though slow and not a hundred percent foolproof, deleting these users is a solution – but only until they are created again.
Read also: Why Your Website Has Been Hacked And How to Protect It
How to prevent breaches from happening
While it is nearly impossible to secure your data completely, there are steps that you can take to ensure that security breaches are an extremely difficult undertaking on your site. A great percentage of people looking to steal your information only look for easy targets and would not spend energy trying to beat tough systems. The measures listed below block these easy targets and greatly reduce the chances of your information being stolen.
1. Use ID protect
ID Protect can help you identify problems that may be caused by identity theft. Data about yourself or other people are constantly at risk. This system will issue a warning when it detects something amiss before the problem escalates.
2. Use SiteLock
SiteLock not only protects your database but also fixes detected threats automatically without intervention from you. It uses applications like the Removal tool and Secure Malware Alert to keep your data safe from hackers while preventing your website from being blacklisted. A feature known as TrueCode will also ensure that no malicious code exists on your website.
3. Use SSL Certificates
Secure Socket Layers or SSL is one of the most cost-efficient methods to keep your data secure from hackers. It makes use of encryption algorithms to connect users directly to your site, thus removing the possibility of hackers intercepting your data.
4. Use Cloudflare
This is another useful tool that offers a handful of features that protect your site from security breaches. One great feature about Cloudflare is that if one website on its network is attacked, Cloudflare leans on preventing this attack and shares this information with the other websites. This creates a network of highly secure websites that are impossible to attack.
5. Procedural changes
Many of the best ways of keeping your data safe are also very easy to implement. While using the services mentioned above will offer great security, altering how your website uses the internet will prove to be an advantage. The following ideas will help add a layer of security to your website:
- Routinely change user passwords
- Regularly update all your programs
- Regularly scan your website and database
- Clean up user lists frequently
- Verify the validity of all plugins and code used on your website.
Conclusion
Unless you remove all your data from the internet and use it offline, there is no absolute method of protecting your data. However, implementing the steps above will increase your website’s security and greatly reduce the losses you may suffer from a breach. Do not ever assume that your activity is insignificant to hackers. It pays to ensure that all your data is safe from the outside world.
