Why Do Websites Get Hacked?

In today’s era, a website is not just a page on the internet; it is the digital identity of an organization, business, or personal brand. Websites often store company services, information, customer data, payment systems, employee records, and confidential files, making their security extremely sensitive. Unfortunately, most websites, in Nepal and worldwide, operate without basic security standards.

The primary reason websites get hacked is weak or poorly maintained servers. Using cheap or unknown hosting services often means missing essential security features like updated firewalls, DDOS protection, and server-level scanning. Hackers exploit these weaknesses to gain easy access to systems.

Additionally, an insecure backend system makes hacking even easier. Many websites still use default usernames (like admin) and simple passwords (12345). Hackers exploit this with brute force attacks, guessing passwords until successful. Running outdated versions of a Content Management System (CMS) exposes known vulnerabilities that hackers already know how to exploit.

Unnecessary or poorly managed third-party plugins, open directory access, and misconfigured file permissions also increase hacking risk. In some cases, FTP access is left open, or databases are stored unencrypted, further compromising security. These factors make website hacking almost inevitable if proper precautions are not taken.

Hacker Motivation: Not Just Money, but Data, Influence, and Messages

When a website is hacked, the most significant impact is on the data. Websites often store:

• Personal information of users (names, addresses, emails, phone numbers)
• Financial data (credit card numbers, bank accounts)
• Confidential documents
• Business strategies
• Critical configuration files

Hackers treat this information as valuable assets. It can be sold on the dark web, leading to billions in cybercrime revenue. Beyond selling data, hackers may use phishing, spam, blackmail, or damage the company’s reputation.

Hackers Release Personal Data Stolen in Harvard and UPenn Cyberattacks

Hackers have released personal information stolen during recent cyberattacks affecting Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania, according to reports and statements from the institutions. The incidents have raised renewed concerns about data security and third-party risks across the higher education sector. The leaked data reportedly includes personal details belonging

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Some political hackers target websites to post protest messages, spread anti-government or anti-national content, or defame rival parties or nations. Others hack simply to demonstrate skill, complete challenges, or gain recognition online. These are known as Grey Hat Hackers.

Black Hat Hackers, on the other hand, plan attacks with the purpose of financial or political damage. Hacker groups sometimes collaborate with national intelligence organizations for cyber warfare.

Hacking a website affects not only the owner but also thousands of users, compromising privacy, financial security, and trust. For example:

• E-commerce hacks can steal customer credit cards.
• School or clinic website hacks can expose student or patient records.
• DNS manipulation can redirect users to fake sites, risking fraudulent payments or malware installation.

How to Keep Your Website Secure: Vigilance, Strategy, and Technology

The most effective way to prevent hacking is to adopt security strategies from the start. Security should be a top priority when building a website:

1. Choose a reliable hosting service with active firewalls, managed updates, and DDOS protection. Using a CDN like Cloudflare adds extra security, speed, and DNS-level protection.
2. Implement SSL certificates to enable HTTPS, encrypting user data.
3. Backend protection: Use two-factor authentication (2FA), reCAPTCHA, IP whitelisting, geo-blocking, and login alerts.
4. Keep CMS platforms (WordPress, Joomla, Drupal) updated, remove unnecessary plugins, and use Web Application Firewalls (WAF) like Sucuri or Wordfence to block unknown attacks.
5. Use malware scanners, automatic file checkers, and brute-force protection mechanisms.

Regular security audits are crucial:

• Weekly website scans
• Reviewing access logs
• Applying session expiry policies in the admin panel

All data should be encrypted, whether in the database or user input. Sensitive files like config.php, .env, and .htaccess must be stored securely. Regular full website backups should be kept on the cloud or a remote server, allowing quick restoration in case of a breach.

Conclusion

Website hacking is often the result of neglect, weak infrastructure, outdated systems, or user carelessness. However, with timely use of proper technology, protective strategies, and regular monitoring, websites can be effectively safeguarded from these threats.