Content has become key to any blogger. Everyone wants to ensure that their content is accessible to as many individuals as possible. Ranking as the top result in the biggest search engines like Google is the dream of any content developer. To enable content to rank higher on search engines, you should consistently publish more information.
For example, if you write an essay on your site, you need to see it ranking higher on the search engines. You should strive to have more shares and backlinks from other websites. While you want your content to reach more people, it is critical to protect your content.
Why protect website content?
You need to protect your content so that you can improve SEO & SERP Ranking. A website that contains high-quality content will generate more traffic as more authoritative websites link towards it. However, if the authoritative websites decide to copy content without giving your website credit, they will get more traffic than your website. With your content only available on your website, then your page is more likely to appear as the first search result.
Enemies of content
Coming up with great content is a tedious process that requires a lot of input. It is hence devastating to see that others can copy and paste all your content on their websites, then ranking higher than you. Individuals who do not want to put much effort into generating content want to take advantage of you especially if you are a new blogger.
In this article, you are going to discover seven (7) ways you can use to protect your WordPress website content.
- Stop right click
Disabling the right click is an effective way of preventing the average uses from copying your content. It also serves to ensure that users with technical knowledge do not check your source code and identify possible loopholes. Right-click protect is the easiest method to implement. However, the approach reduces the user experience. It disables many other features that users may want to use. It is also the least secure method of protecting content. Alternatively, you can choose to disable right click WordPress without plugin. This would apply if you have a basic understanding of coding where you can use jQuery codes.
- Set a password
You can decide to protect all the content or part of the content with a password. In this case, only users with the password can access the locked content. The WordPress password-protected pages will only be visible to individuals who have the correct password. The advantage of this approach is that it offers decent protection for content. It is also suitable when protecting general content like teaching materials. However, users can share passwords with unauthorized third parties.
- Plugin to help
Combining WordPress password protect page with membership plugin is an effective method of protecting content on WordPress. For the users to view private content, they will be required to first sign in. Users can have different membership levels depending on what they are willing to pay. The approach is more secure and comprehensive. Additionally, you can create different membership levels easily. Nonetheless, membership plugin is complicated to set up especially for non-tech savvy individuals.
- Content to lock
This method entails blocking part of the high-value content instead of protecting the entire content. It creates WordPress private pages for subscribers while blocking unauthorized users from premium content. The audience can read a portion of the content especially the first few sentences of the article. You should ensure that the visible content creates curiosity to attract the users to sign up for the blocked content. This method is appropriate given that it offers protection to your content while at the same time allowing the page to be indexed on Google search results.
- Create private links
Private links serve to prevent users from accessing content directly and also search engines from indexing the content. Rather than having the original page URL, you can have private links with certain restrictions like time or click then share them with selected users. Private links are a simple and secure way to ensure that your content reaches the appropriate users. The challenge with private links is that you have to share them manually unless you acquire an email marketing program.
- Block suspicious IP
You may note that some suspicious IP addresses are accessing your content. These could be site scrapers, bots and spammers that are continually hitting your site. Such IP addresses can adversely affect user experience by reducing the server bandwidth. When you suspect IP addresses, you should go ahead and block them from accessing your site.
- Begin a takedown
While you may use different methods to protect your content, you may find that someone has already copied and distributed your materials without permission. In this case, you need to ask search engines to remove the unauthorized materials from their search results. The search engines will consider your request in order to comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. For examples, if you offer essays for sale at essayzoo, you can request a take-down of the copied essays.
Conclusively, coming up with great content takes a lot of time. As a result, it is critical to take measures to protect your content. For instance, companies that offer essay writing help services make massive investments to come up with great content. You can choose the methods that can work for you by evaluating their pros and cons.
Online Threat Alerts Security Tips
Pay the safest way
Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.
Guard your personal information
In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.
Be careful of the information you share
Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with
Know who you’re dealing with
Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.
Check your accounts
Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.
Don’t believe promises of easy money
If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.
Do not open email from people you don’t know
If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.
Think before you click
If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.
Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond
If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.
Be careful with links and new website addresses
Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.
Secure your personal information
Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.
Stay informed on the latest cyber threats
Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are critical to online security.
Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs
Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.
Update the operating systems on your electronic devices
Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.
What if You Got Scammed?
Stop Contact With The Scammer
Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.
Secure Your Finances
- Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
- Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
Check Your Computer
If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.
Change Your Account Passwords
Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.
Report The Scam
Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.
Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:
- Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
- Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
- Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.
How To Recognize a Phishing Scam
Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.
Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might
- say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
- claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
- say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
- include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
- want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
- say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
- offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real
About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)
Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.
By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.
With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.
Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.
Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).