What is FTP?

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a network protocol used to transfer files between computers over the web. Users granted access can receive and transfer files in the FTP server known as the FTP host/site.

FTP provides basic, unencrypted file transfer capabilities to connect users over the internet. Developed in 1971 and thoroughly used throughout the 90s, this file-sharing option is now an archetype of the past, replaced by SFTP and SSH. 

The thing is, FTP wasn’t designed to be secure and has many security vulnerabilities like:

• Packet Sniffing. FTP is plain text which means it’s not encrypted. All transmissions, logins, passwords, and data are readable by anyone on the network. 
• Brute Force Attacks. Because FTP isn’t encrypted, it’s highly susceptible to hackers systematically checking frequently used passwords until the correct password matches.
• Anonymous FTP Vulnerabilities. Anyone can access older or anonymous FTP servers without needing a username or password. 
• Port stealing. Hackers can guess the next open port or use a PORT command to gain access as a go-between.

FTP doesn’t provide any safeguards preventing even the most inexperienced of hackers. Additionally, federally compliant organizations or networks can’t use FTP because of its lack of security. In fact, in 2017, the FBI issued a notice and warning about the potential for data breaches in the healthcare system for organizations using FTP. 

How to Secure Your Data 

Easy, don’t use FTP. Seriously. There are other protocols like SFTP, FTPS, and HTTP. SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) is the refreshed, secure version of FTP. 

Other ways to keep your data secure:

• Frequently update your protocols. Attacks over protocols occur when you slack on updating your system.
• Install an SSL (secure socket layer) certificate. SSLs encrypt the data on your website.
• Use 2FA (two-factor authentication). Minimize the chances of hackers breaching your server. 

There’s definitely a time and a place for using FTP. An FTP server allows you to organize your files, provide access to other users to download these files remotely, and also set permissions for what users can and can’t do to your files. If you choose FTP, we recommend having your own private FTP server with a strong password. This way, you can transfer your files easily, but without security concerns.

Despite its security concerns, FTP remains available for file sharing but isn’t recommended for most uses. When using FTP, ensure you’re following every security protocol possible and consider using other alternatives like HTTPS or SFTP. 

The post Is FTP Secure? The Complete Breakdown of FTP Hosting and If It’s Right for You appeared first on The A2 Posting.

Common WordPress Security Attacks

Security Attack #1: Brute-force

Brute-force: In this attack, bad actors attempt to guess login information by using automated password generators.

Basic defense: Use strong passwords. For recommendations about how to generate strong passwords, see our Knowledge Base article.

Security Attack #2: Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

This is a hacking technique where malicious code from user input is injected into web pages and then viewed by site visitors. XSS attacks can potentially extract sensitive information, affect website functionality, and more.

Basic defense: Wherever a web site receives user input, the input should be filtered as strictly as possible based on the expected or valid input.

Security Attack #3: SQL injection

In this type of attack, malicious SQL statements are injected via unsanitized user input. SQL injection attacks can be used to tamper with data, extract sensitive information, and more.

Basic defense: Scan your site for SQL injection vulnerabilities using online website scanning tools like Sucuri SiteCheck.

Security Attack #4: Backdoor

A backdoor is malicious code that contains a hidden way to bypass the login or authentication process of a website.

Basic defense: Make sure your server has antivirus and firewall protection and is kept up to date. Also make sure you keep WordPress itself and any associated plugins updated with the latest security patches.

Security Attack #5: Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks

This type of attack renders a website inaccessible or unavailable to its users. For example, a Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack sends traffic from multiple sources to a website, overwhelming its network connection.

Basic defense: Using a well-established Content Delivery Network (CDN) such as Cloudflare can help mitigate or even prevent these types of attacks.

Security Attack #6: Phishing 

Attackers use the phishing technique to impersonate a legitimate company, typically via email, in order to obtain personal information directly from the target. The attacker then uses the information to hack the site or commit fraud.

Basic defense: Spam filters can detect and prevent most malicious emails from reaching users’ inboxes.

Security Attack #7: Hotlinking

This is a technique where a website links directly to the targeted website’s assets, such as video or image files, in order to increase SEO ranking or to feature media without using their own server resources or bandwidth. For example, if website B hotlinks to website A’s featured image, and website B receives a lot of traffic on the page with the image, website A’s server resources are depleted, potentially affecting website A’s performance.

Basic defense: Use a plugin or Content Delivery Network (CDN) such as Cloudflare to help protect your media files.Conclusion

Conclusion

Now that you understand the various types of security threats to be aware of, consider the following root causes of why your WordPress site may be vulnerable to security breaches:

• Your WordPress site is out of date and requires an update to the most recent version.
• You have unused or outdated themes or plugins installed on your site, which cause compatibility issues and open up security holes.
• Your WordPress site admin login page is still set to the default /wp-admin, making it vulnerable to brute-force attacks.

Give your site a thorough security audit, or contact the A2Hosting Guru Crew if you want to improve the security of your WordPress sites.

The post 7 WordPress Security Attacks You Must Know appeared first on The A2 Posting.

Brute Force is a website attack that uses either humans or systems to target protected information, with the main goal of obtaining login information. This blog discusses some well-known methods for preventing Brute Force attacks.

1. Hide the WordPress Admin Login Page

WordPress by default has the login page as either one of the following:

•  /wp-login.php
• /login
• /wp-admin
• /admin

Gaining access to login pages, particularly the admin login, provides hackers with unrestricted access to the entire site.

There are several ways to hide the login area, including using a plugin like WPS Hide Login, which allows you to change the admin login to another URL of your choosing. When someone tries to access wp-admin/wp-login.php/login/admin, they will get a 404 error.

2. WordPress Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) 

A two-factor authentication gives you an extra layer of security by requesting additional identification factors like the following: 

• A unique password (OTP) sent by SMS/e-mail
• A phone call
• A QR code
• A push notification

WordPress supports two-factor authentication via plugins like the Two-Factor plugin or time-based authentication via Google Authenticator. The Google Authenticator plugin enables per-user two-factor authentication. You could enable it for your administrator account while using less privileged accounts as usual.

3. Cloud-Based Security Plugins

While traffic is beneficial to any website, excessive bad traffic depletes your server’s resources. Similarly, limiting the number of users who can enter your site at the same time protects you from distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. Popular cloud security plugins such as Sucuri or CloudFlare not only protect against brute force login attacks, but also other security threats such as DDoS, spam, and bots. They provide complete protection for your WordPress site. Examine the security measures provided by your hosting provider for your website.

Conclusion

As previously stated, a brute force attack is one of the most traditional attacks, but it remains the most common type of WordPress security attack. While plugins and other security tools are available to help mitigate security threats, it is always important to keep your WordPress up to date. This includes updating any plugins and themes, as outdated plugins or themes provide a good backdoor for hackers to attempt a security attack. If you have any questions or need any help protecting your site contact our support team today!

The post How to Protect Your WordPress Against Brute Force Attack appeared first on The A2 Posting.

Apache Log4j 2 is a Java-based logging library developed by the Apache Foundation. It is used by numerous enterprise applications and cloud services to provide advanced logging capabilities. If you have a managed hosting account, you can rest assured that we take care of server configuration and updates for you. If you have an unmanaged server, now is a good time to review your security configuration and make sure updates are installed in a timely manner.

On November 24, 2021, Alibaba Cloud’s security team reported a Log4j 2 remote code execution vulnerability to Apache. The exploit takes advantage of some Log4j functions that perform recursive analysis. With specially constructed malicious requests, attackers can trigger remote code execution.

The vulnerability impacts default configurations of several Apache frameworks, including:

• Apache Druid
• Apache Flink
• Apache Solr
• Apache Struts2

On December 10, 2021, this vulnerability was officially designated in the NIST national vulnerability database as CVE-2021-44228 (also known as the “Log4Shell” vulnerability).

How the Vulnerability Impacts You

Depending on the type of hosting account you have with A2 Hosting, you may or may not need to take action:

Shared, Reseller, and Managed WordPress Accounts

If you have a shared, reseller, or Managed WordPress hosting account, you do not need to do anything. These servers automatically receive frequent updates that include patches for the Log4j 2 vulnerability.

cPanel published an update to mitigate CVE-2021-44228 the same day the vulnerability was announced. For more information, see cPanel’s blog entry.

Managed VPS and Dedicated Servers

If you have a Managed VPS or Managed Dedicated server, you most likely do not need to take any action – your server is updated automatically with patches for the Log4j 2 vulnerability. The only exception is if you have installed any software utilizing log4j outside of cPanel/WHM you should ensure those installations are updated. All software installed and managed by A2 has already been updated.

cPanel published an update to mitigate CVE-2021-44228 the same day the vulnerability was announced. For more information, see cPanel’s blog entry.

Unmanaged VPS and Dedicated Servers

If you have an unmanaged VPS or unmanaged Dedicated server, make sure you keep it up-to-date with the latest security patches.

If you use Log4j 2 it is very important to ensure you have updated to the most recent version.  The first patch included another vulnerability which required a second patch.

Java 8 (or later) users should upgrade to release 2.16.0.

Java 7 users should upgrade to release 2.12.2.

More information can be found at Apache.

For information about how to install updates on unmanaged servers, please see this Knowledge Base article.

The Bottom Line

Heartbleed… Shellshock… The Log4j vulnerability is only the latest in a long line of security bugs. It isn’t the first, and it surely won’t be the last.

If you have a managed hosting account, you can rest assured that we take care of server configuration and updates for you. If you have an unmanaged server, now is a good time to review your security configuration and make sure updates are installed in a timely manner.

The post Log4Shell: 0-day Exploit in Popular Apache Logging Package Log4j 2 appeared first on The A2 Posting.

• Common signs of eCommerce fraud
• Easy ways to prevent fraud

Red Flags for eCommerce Fraud

It’s hard to believe that your business is not immune to eCommerce fraud. However, the truth is, even if you take all precautions and employ best practices, there are still risks for your company. That being said, it is always important to educate yourself on signs of impending fraud so you can work on preventing any issues as they pop up: Here are some of the most common signs of fraud to look out for:

1. More Than One Card on an IP Address

An IP address with multiple cards can be a red flag. To avoid being caught, most fraudsters will attempt numerous transactions with the same card.

2. Large Quantities of Your Product Are Being Purchased

If you offer a product with high demand, it’s expected to have larger and more consistent purchases. However, large quantities purchased from multiple locations by the same person or group can indicate fraud.

3. Shipping to Unusual Locations

If the shipping address does not match the product, this is a red flag. This could mean the person is ordering with a stolen credit card.

4. Different IP Address Compared to the Shipping Address

If the person’s IP address making the purchase differs from their location, this is a red flag. Most likely, this person uses a VPN or other service to hide their location. Also, keep in mind that the billing and shipping addresses may be different.

5. Many Transactions in a Very Small Period

Multiple transactions in a short amount of time is an indication that something could be wrong. Fraudsters usually test your business with small purchases before making larger purchases.

Ways to Prevent Fraud

As a business owner, it is your responsibility to prevent fraud in any way possible. There are many ways you can do this, and we will go over the most effective methods below:

1. Analyze and Assess Fraud Risks With Fraud Assessment Tools

Fraud assessment tools will allow you to assess your risk for fraud. This can be done in real-time and provide information about the likelihood of fraud occurring.

2. Update High-Quality Software Helping You Run Things

If you’re using software that is not up-to-date or effective, then it can open your business to fraud. You must have high-quality software that is constantly being updated.

3. Download Fraud Detection and Management Software

Fraud Detection and Management Software is the only way that you can truly protect your business. Whatever software solution you choose, make sure it’s designed to monitor transactions in real-time so that any fraudulent activity will be detected immediately.

3. Keep PCI Compliance

Disregarding PCI compliance is a huge risk. If you are not following the rules, your business can be liable for any credit card fraud on their website or store. This means that you could have legal issues to deal with and loss of revenue and reputation if it’s determined that your negligence led to fraudulent activity.

4. Use RBA (Risk-Based Authentication)

RBA is the only way that you can truly verify someone’s identity. This method ensures that all customers need to provide additional information before they purchase in order for it to be approved.

5. Require CVV Numbers on All Purchases

Requiring CVVs on all transactions can be a huge deterrent for fraudsters. This is because they only tend to make purchases with stolen credit cards or through online retailers that don’t require this information.

6. Use HTTPS Protocol

Using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure will ensure that all of your transactions are encrypted. This prevents any potential hackers from gaining access to your data, and it also provides another layer of security on top of SSL certificates.

7. Use AVS (Address Verification System)

Address verification ensures that the billing information and shipping address match up. If they don’t, this can be a red flag for fraudsters who use stolen credit cards or purchase goods online without having them shipped.

Conclusion

Another great way to avoid fraud is by ensuring a high-quality web hosting company hosts your website. A2 Hosting offers secure and dependable service, so we’re here for you if something goes wrong. With 24/7/365 support and a 99.9% uptime commitment,+*969* we’re available for our customers when you need us.

Our sales teams will help you choose a plan that’s perfect for any business size. Let us take care of everything so that you don’t have to worry about anything but growing your business. Contact us today!

The post The Secret to Identifying and Preventing eCommerce Fraud (7 Easy Steps) appeared first on The A2 Posting.

CAPTCHAs are commonly used in websites to prevent hacker-programmed bots from gaining unauthorized access to a website’s services. If you suddenly received a flood of spam emails, or if your signup forms or ticket purchases received a flood of responses, your site has most likely been hijacked by a bot. This blog provides an overview of captcha, why it is required, and a link to instructions for including it on your WordPress site.

What is Captcha?

Captcha is a test tool that can distinguish between a human and a robot or bot. It begins as a series of blurred and stretched letters and words on a panel. Users are then prompted to enter the identified obscured text. Although many website owners understand the value of Captcha in reducing unauthorized access, having captcha irritates site visitors, particularly those with disabilities.

reCaptcha by Google

Google made reCaptcha available to businesses for free in exchange for using the testing data to train and improve its Google Maps feature identification system. reCaptcha improved the user experience by simply asking the user to tick the box to confirm ‘I am not a robot,’ and if there is any doubt, an image grid is presented asking the user to identify a feature for further confirmation. This was a much-preferred method rather than guessing blurred and stretched letters and numbers.

To make things even easier, Google recently launched “invisible reCaptcha,”. It assesses interaction with a page using data points to determine whether the user is a bot or a human. This tool analyzes key behavioral aspects such as typing behavior, spelling mistakes, and time to fill out a form as a form of validation. However, because no one fully understands how Google processes the data, it is still not a popular method.

Why do you need Captcha on your site?

The primary goal of Captcha is to prevent bots from submitting bogus requests! Here are some well-known reasons why you should use a captcha on your website:

• You can prevent hackers from using bots to answer your online polls, thereby compromising the integrity of your response.
• You can prevent spam, unwanted comments, and links from appearing on your content pages.
• To provide your users with a secure online shopping experience on your website, prevent hackers from stealing sensitive information such as login credentials.
• Filters automated traffic, which means you can prevent unwanted multiple email accounts from being used to hack your site.

How to add Captcha on a WordPress site?

Now that you understand how Captcha can help you stop unwanted traffic and reduce spam, it’s time to put it into action on your website. Captcha can be added to your WordPress site by using the Google Captcha plugin. Learn how to add CAPTCHA protection to a WordPress site in a few simple steps by reading our article How to add CAPTCHA protection to a WordPress site.

The post Why Does Your WordPress Site Need Captcha? appeared first on The A2 Posting.

Continue reading to explore what web hosting is and what the common types of hosting are. Learn why it is important to find a first-rate web host provider and discover which web host provider has the fastest hosting service and what kinds of plans they offer.

What Is Web Hosting?

Web hosting is an internet hosting service that hosts websites and web pages on behalf of businesses and individuals.

The backend and files of websites are stored on servers. Internet users can view a website by typing its URL address on their browser or by clicking on a link. The users’ computers will be linked to the server so that the webpage will load on their browser.

During the early days of the Internet, companies and persons were required to have their own computer or server to host a website. However, not everyone could afford to buy technological equipment or hire in-house professionals who specialize in website hosting. The need for web hosting services started to grow as the number of Internet users all over the world began to increase exponentially.

These are some of the popular types of web hosting:

• Shared Hosting: It involves the sharing of server space among various websites. The shared resources typically include the CPU (Central Processing Unit) and RAM (Random Access Memory). It is ideal for businesses that plan to build new websites because it is priced relatively low and allows for growth.
• Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting: It offers more control than shared hosting, but less control than dedicated hosting. Every website is allotted its own space and reserved resources within the parameters of the server making it a virtual private environment while still sharing hardware. It is appropriate for businesses with existing websites with low to medium amounts of traffic.
• Dedicated Hosting: It allows the webmaster, who is the owner of the website, to have almost full control of the site. The webmaster can manage the administration access, select the security features, and pick the operating system of the server. It is suitable for businesses with existing websites that have a high amount of traffic. This arrangement is usually preferred by companies with an in-house IT department that can oversee the site unless they have a managed plan which we outline below.
• Managed Hosting: This is most common type of web hosting service and can be added to Shared, VPS, and Dedicated hosting. In this scenario, the web host is in charge of server maintenance rather than the webmaster. The webmaster is freed from the responsibility of maintaining the operating system, software, and hardware related to the website. The website owner just needs to select the hosting package that will suit the needs of the business. This form of hosting is appropriate for businesses that plan to build and maintain websites with minimal effort. A2 Hosting has managed shared, VPS and dedicated hosting plans to choose from!

Why Is It Important To Have a Good Web Host?

A web host is a company that provides web hosting services to businesses and individuals. There are several reasons why any business needs to have an excellent web host:

1. Optimized Data Storage

It is critical for a business to have a dependable web host that offers ample data storage options. Proper data storage enables a website to handle more online traffic. Storage limitations can cause a site to shut down when the amount of traffic is high.

2. Secure Server

A competent web host can improve the cyber security of a business website. It ensures the safety of the network space to safeguard the website files and customer information from being accessed by outsiders. It blocks hacker attacks, phishing attempts, and other kinds of cybercrimes.

3. Zero To Minimal Downtime

Downtime refers to the timeframe when the website is not available online for various reasons. Whether it is scheduled or unscheduled, downtime can be detrimental to a business if it occurs often. It reduces opportunities for lead generation and conversion. Plus, frequent downtime makes a website seem unprofessional. That’s why it is critical for a business to select a dependable server with zero to minimal downtime.

4. Backup Protection

A business should work with a website host that offers backup options. Backup measures will allow the team to roll back the website in case of technical issues. A website must have backups so that a business will not lose important data.

5. Email Services

A business will appear more professional if the team members use customized email addresses that are related to the domain name, instead of communicating via free email accounts from popular email services.

Official work email addresses can help a business build a reputation as a credible, legitimate organization. Email hosting is one of the basic but essential features that a web host should offer in their packages.

6. Customer Service

A commendable web host should always be prepared to provide technical support to a business in case they encounter problems with their website. The company should provide alternative ways for their clients to contact them whenever they need professional assistance.

7. Flexible Pricing Options

Different businesses have varying budgets when it comes to web hosting. That’s why a business should choose a web host that offers multiple packages that they can choose from. This will allow the team to pick the plan that suits them best, based on their estimated budget and the specific services they need.

The availability of various packages also grants flexibility to a business. It allows the team to customize their plan in the future, in case they will need more server power, data speed, and storage space as their business expands over time.

8. Speed

Speed is one of the most important factors that a business should consider when choosing a web host. Slow website speeds can discourage users from spending time on a website. The user experience of website visitors will suffer if each web page takes too long to load. A business team should select a web host with the fastest hosting service to ensure swift loading speeds.

Why Is It Important To Have a Fast Website?

Having a fast website can be advantageous to any business in various ways. These are some of the benefits of having a quick-loading website:

1. Online Visibility

The website is a central marketing tool because it can increase the online visibility of a business. It has a significant impact on the marketing efforts of any company, in spite of the availability of other social media channels. The content and structure of a website should be strategic for it to be effective.

A website must feature basic information about the business, as well as its products and services. It should include compelling landing page copy that catches the attention of the audience. It ought to focus on results-driven solutions to the problems or needs of the target market.

Last but not least, a website should have fast loading times. No matter how well-crafted the content is, Internet users will not explore a website if the web pages are loading too slowly. A speedy website will motivate visitors to read the content so that they will learn more about the business and the brand.

2. Lead Generation

A fast website can result in lead generation for a business. Lead generation is the process of attracting attention and sparking the interest of future customers. Leads are people with the potential to purchase the products or subscribe to the services of a company someday.

A website that functions smoothly and swiftly can transform website visitors and prospects into leads. It can enable a business to develop connections with leads by featuring relevant content that is tailored to their wants, needs, and demographic information.

3. Lead Conversion

A website is a tool that can promote lead conversion for a business. Lead conversion is a sales and marketing procedure that converts leads into actual customers through retargeting, behavior automation, and relationship development.

A website that is quickly and easily accessible allows a business team to nourish their leads in each step of the marketing process. It can serve as a central venue where leads can morph into customers by taking concrete action, such as buying a product, utilizing a service, or signing up as a paid subscriber.

4. Sales and Profits

An official website can play a role in increasing the sales and profits of a business. Sales refer to the total amount of income that a business earns from selling its products and services. Profits are defined as the amount of income that remains after the costs, expenses, and taxes have been subtracted from the sales.

A fast website has the potential to boost the sales and profits of a business by showcasing the benefits of its products and services through text information, photos, videos, testimonials, blog posts, and customer reviews.

5. Business Growth

A website can be instrumental to the overall growth of a business. It can help the team to achieve their goals and objectives in every stage of the marketing and sales process. It can also increase brand awareness and improve the reputation of the company over time. It gives the team more opportunities to establish new professional connections and to strengthen existing customer relationships.

Nevertheless, the general efficacy of a business website in achieving optimal results is largely dependent on its speed. That’s why a business team should ensure that the web host they select can provide fast loading times for their website.

Which Web Host Provides the Fastest Hosting Service

The speed of a website can determine how effective it is in contributing to the success of a business. That’s why you must choose a web host that is capable of providing impressively swift speeds for your business website.

A2 Hosting is the ideal option for startups, reseller agencies, companies, and organizations who need the fastest hosting service for their websites.

Who Is A2 Hosting

A2 Hosting is a website hosting provider that offers up to 20X faster web hosting speeds for businesses. Our high-performance solutions are suitable for everyone in the business industry, ranging from first-timers who wish to develop new blogs to professional developers with high-traffic websites.

A2 Hosting was founded by our CEO Bryan Muthig in 2001 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He utilized his strong technical background as a UNIX systems administrator and his passion for technology to establish a global hosting company.

At present, we have more than 200 hundred teammates and various data centers in 223 countries all over the globe. Our company has provided 120,000 active services and counting to our clients. An estimated 110,000 people have already used A2 Hosting products.

Our mission is to help people to thrive in the online world so that they can succeed in the real world. We harness our skills, knowledge, and resources to make it possible for others to bring their digital visions to life.

A2 Hosting has gained recognition as a reliable hosting provider in the web hosting industry. We have received awards and accolades that highlight the accomplishments of our team as we continue to empower our customers with the best web host solutions.

What Are the Benefits of A2 Hosting Services

These are many reasons why A2 Hosting is superior to other web host providers. These are some of the important advantages of choosing A2 Hosting and our services:

• Faster Speed: We offer up to 20X faster web hosting speed for business websites.
• Better Results: We can help small businesses and agencies gain improved SEO rankings, reduced bounce rates, and increased conversion rates.
• Accessible Customer Service: We provide 24/7/365 technical assistance through our friendly, skilled, and knowledgeable guru crew support team.
• Free Account Migration: We can move your website from your previous web host to A2 hosting for free.
• Risk-free Trial: We offer you a money-back guarantee if you are interested in trying our hosting services.
• Reliable Servers: We commit to 99.9% uptime so you can rest assured about the dependability of our servers.

What Plans Does A2 Hosting Offer

A2 Hosting offers a variety of web hosting packages to suit the multiple needs of our different clients. These are the plans from A2 Hosting that you can choose from:

Shared Web Hosting

The Shared Web Hosting service of A2 Hosting is powered by our top-of-the-line servers. All our servers are optimized for speed. Each server is only limited to a certain number of clients. This industry-leading web hosting service features 20X faster page load times at an affordable cost. You can experience an excellent combination of performance enhancements, resources, and limited occupancy if you subscribe to one of the shared hosting packages.

Here are the pricing plans for Shared Web Hosting:

• Startup: $2.99 USD monthly*
• Drive: $5.99 USD monthly*
• Turbo Boost: $6.99 USD monthly*
• Turbo Max: $12.99 USD monthly*

VPS Hosting

The VPS Hosting service of A2 Hosting features dedicated resources for maximum power. Because you will be allotted your own dedicated resources, you will have the advantage of enhanced server reliability and performance. This cost-effective model allows you to experience the benefits of a BMD server without the price tag. Our plans include 24/7 Guru Support, free SSL Certificates, and free website migrations.

Here are the various VPS Hosting plans with assorted VPS features for different management levels:

Unmanaged VPS Hosting

Unmanaged VPS Hosting allows you to configure the settings and requirements of the server operating system and other software that you plan to run at the server level. Keep in mind that this level of configuration is ideal for people with a high degree of technical skills.

• Runway 1: $4.99 USD monthly*
• Runway 2: $7.99 USD monthly*
• Runway 4: $9.99 USD monthly*
• Supersonic 8: $34.99 USD monthly*
• Supersonic 16: $54.99 USD monthly*
• Supersonic 32: $74.99 USD monthly*

Managed VPS Hosting

Managed VPS features high-level maintenance service from our team. It ensures that your server is regularly upgraded, fixed, and adjusted to increase the security levels of your business website. Managed plans are worth the extra investment because we will efficiently handle all the crucial management tasks on your behalf.

• Lift 4: $39.99 USD monthly*
• Lift 8: $54.99 USD monthly*
• Lift 16: $67.99 USD monthly*
• Mach 8: $59.99 USD monthly*
• Mach 16: $89.99 USD monthly*
• Mach 32: $99.99 USD monthly*

Bare Metal Dedicated Servers

The Bare Metal Dedicated Servers of A2 Hosting will allow you to select between Intel or AMD processors. They also include advanced NVMe storage options for your business website.

Here are the available Bare Metal Dedicated Servers plans:

Unmanaged Bare Metal Dedicated Servers

• Hyper 1: $129.99 USD monthly*
• Hyper 2I: $199.99 USD monthly*
• Hyper 2 Turbo Intel: $219.99 USD monthly*
• Hyper 3 AMD: $509.99 USD monthly*
• Hyper 3 Turbo AMD: $539.99 USD monthly*

Managed Bare Metal Dedicated Servers

• Warp 1: $179.99 USD monthly*
• Warp 2 Intel: $249.99 USD monthly*
• Warp 2 Turbo Intel: $279.99 USD monthly*

Reseller Hosting

The Reseller Hosting service of A2 Hosting enables you to begin your own hosting business. Selling our white-labeled reseller solutions allows you to make income, manage your customers, and run your own hosting company. We will grant you full control of the various aspects of your business. We will utilize servers with AMD EPYC CPUs and NVMEe drives to set up your reseller package.

Here are the Reseller Hosting plans we have available:

• Kickstart: $18.99 USD monthly*
• Turbo Kickstart: $24.99 USD monthly*
• Launch: $24.99 USD monthly*
• Turbo Launch: $32.99 USD monthly*

Turbo Web Hosting

All our web hosting packages have turbo versions for increased power and speed. These are the impressive features of Turbo Web Hosting plans that you can take advantage of:

• LiteSpeed Web Server: It is a speed-enhanced, drop-in web server alternative to Apache. It allows you to experience up to 20X faster page loads.
• NVMe: It is a non-volatile memory express (NVMe) Hosting solution that generates 3X faster read/write speeds.
• HTTP/3: It is a cutting-edge web standard that enables quicker and more stable connections for APIs and websites.
• ESI: Edge Side Includes (ESI) lets you conveniently designate portions of your web page as cacheable or non-cacheable.
• QUIC: Quick UDP Internet Connections (QUIC) is a speed-enhanced alternative to TCP. It minimizes latency by forming multiplexed connections among computers in a network.

Learn more about our Turbo Plans by viewing the turbo options for each type of web hosting package that A2 Hosting offers.

Contact the A2 Hosting Sales Team to Sign Up for the Fastest Hosting Service

Whether you own a reselling agency, startup, or company, a fast website is a powerful marketing tool that allows your business to reach new heights of success. Partnership with the fastest hosting service allows you to transform your site for the better.

A2 Hosting is the best option for you if you are committed to leveling up the speed and security of your business website. Contact our sales team today if you have questions about our exponentially fast web hosting services. Sign up for our web hosting plans to start speeding up your website.

The post Who Has the Fastest Web Hosting? Matching Your Need for Speed appeared first on The A2 Posting.

We recommend security certificates for any websites that collect sensitive information like names, addresses, and credit card numbers. One example of this certificate is the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). Apart from keeping consumers safe, search engine giant Google declared SSL’s as a ranking factor in 2014. Naturally, other search engines followed suit.

This article will discuss everything you need to know about having a security certificate on your site — what it is, why you should get one, and how to keep your customers safe. Let’s get right to it.

What Is an SSL?

Until 1999, SSL was the gold standard in internet communications. SSL is a type of technology that keeps internet connections safe. It protects the transfer of sensitive data between two systems by preventing cybercriminals from modifying any information. SSLs make it impossible for hackers to read users’ information during transfer with the help of encryption algorithms that jumble data in transit. These systems can be server-to-client like an e-commerce site and a customer or server-to-server like a cloud to a printer server.

What Is an SSL Certificate?

An SSL certificate is an online verification authenticating a site’s identity, allowing a coded connection between a web server and a web browser. Companies should add such a certificate to their sites to protect customer information.

Developers install these certificates server-side, but visitors will see visual cues that indicate site security. Take note of these signs:

• A website with an HTTPS address instead of HTTP has an SSL certificate.
• Check out the padlock before a website name. If you click on it, you will see this message: Connection is secure. This sign means a company guarantees that no one can intercept or modify the link between the sites. If it is not a secure site, you will see a warning symbol before the address.
• Your antivirus will prevent you from entering an unsecured site. Most of the time, your software sends red flags for websites with no SSL certificates, or expired ones.
• Brands will not likely misspell their domain name. If you notice grammatical errors, it’s probably a scam attempt. For instance, cybercriminals might attempt to steal data from amaz0n.com if they can breach the platform’s security protocols.

Reasons To Get an SSL Certificate

Having a security certificate for website use has taken the digital world by storm. According to recent SSL statistics, an impressive 82.2% of websites use valid certificates — a colossal leap from only 17.8% five years ago.

From being an additional layer of consumer protection, it has become a must-have for most site owners. Businesses of all sizes and industries will benefit from this certification. Below are some reasons why you should have one.

Ensure Visitor Protection

By providing websites with unbreakable encryption, SSL certificates ensure the safety of all site visitors. Without one, hackers can easily target customers’ sensitive data. They eliminate various threats, including man-in-the-middle attacks, phishing, and session hijacking.

Promote Subdomain Security

An SSL certificate called Wildcard enables site owners to secure their main site and all subdomains under it with one certification. This feature would greatly benefit organizations using multiple subdomains, eliminating the need to install separate certificates per site.

Provide Authentication

Certificate authorities (CA) sign and issue online certificates, including SSL. Through their signatures, other relying parties can verify a site’s credentials. Some of their tasks include domain and business verification, giving site visitors the confidence to navigate and interact with your platform.

Comply With PCI Requirements

Sites that process credit card payment should comply with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) requirements. The organization aims to elevate the standards for cardholders worldwide and has declared an SSL certificate a necessity for business websites. Non-compliance on your part may lead to lawsuits, unnecessary penalties, and revenue loss.

Boost SEO Efforts

Like any business, Google wants the best for its clients. For this reason, the company decided to make SSL certification a ranking factor. To increase your online visibility and stand out against uncertified competitors, we recommend getting an SSL certificate.

Speed Up Your Website

Contrary to popular belief, SSL certificates don’t slow websites down but speed them up. Recent technologies gave rise to web servers called HTTP2 that use single connections instead of multiple parallel ones.

Your page load speed should be anywhere between one to two seconds. If it reaches three seconds, 53% of your site visitors will leave. As page load speed is also a Google ranking factor, this feature further boosts your search engine visibility.

Pro tip: A reliable hosting solution can do wonders for your site speed.

Strengthen Brand Image

Few things in life can ruin a brand image faster than a company that doesn’t care about its clients’ safety. While SSL certificates cannot shield sites against all cyber attacks, they protect your customers’ names, addresses, and card information. If you plan on inspiring consumer trust, keep it professional by using an HTTPS site. Strengthen your brand image now with high-security standards.

How To Get an SSL Certificate

You can obtain an SSL through your hosting company! These are the SSL certificates we offer at A2 Hosting:

• Free SSL: Our plans come with free SSL certificates that offer basic website protection, allowing you to establish HTTPS on your websites. While they are just as secure as paid services, many of our clients go for the latter to enjoy benefits like warranties, extended validations (EV), and organization validations (OV).
• Basic SSL: Our Domain Validated (DV) certificates offer a practical solution for industry-standard security up to 256-bit encryption. We can complete this process via email, as long as you prove your domain ownership. These are the most affordable SSL types anywhere in the world.
• Premium SSL: With our OV certificates, you can get up to 256-bit encryption for your site. The verification process for this SSL type is more tedious than applying for a DV certificate. However, you get to enjoy more perks like third-party vouching and a trust badge for your site.
• Advanced SSL: EV certificates offer the highest level of trust and security for consumers — a feature that helps boost sales. If you want a top-of-the-line security option for your enterprise-level or multiple sites, EV certificates are ideal for you. With these certifications, you can enjoy the most recognizable trust indicators.
• Wildcard: This SSL type protects a domain and an unlimited number of subdomains with one certificate. They work like other SSL certificates do, using the same encryption and validation processes. Additionally, you can upgrade your Wildcard SSL to include domain authentication and organizational validation.

Activating SSL certificates offers an extensive range of benefits for your website. The best part is, there are now many options to choose from. Don’t miss out on the HTTPS revolution to enjoy all the advantages that these certifications bring.

Secure Your Site Now

From visitor protection to domain security to being PCI DSS-compliant, a security certificate for website use is one of the most convenient ways to take your business to new heights. It’s one of the best investments you can make to stand out in a sea of competition.

At A2 Hosting, we help clients level up their sites through award-winning hosting and SSL services. Are you ready to boost your digital leads, conversions, and revenues? Get in touch with our guru crew now to begin your journey toward growth.

The post What Happens When You Don’t Have a Security Certificate on Your Site? appeared first on The A2 Posting.

In this article, we talk about what SSL is and how it works in a nutshell. We will also go over the different types of SSLs that may be right for your business needs. Continue reading to learn more about the right SSL for you!

What Does SSL Mean and How Does SSL Work?

SSL stands for “Secure Sockets Layer”. It is a security certificate that enables you to use the HTTPS extension on your site. The use of this extension for your site’s URL is important because it ensures that traffic to and from your site is secure.

An SSL works by encrypting data that travels to and from your site. This includes sensitive data like credit or debit card details. For this reason, you need an SSL to keep transactional data from being grabbed by hackers.

What Are the Different Types of SSLs Available at A2 Hosting?

Not all SSLs are the same and there are many types of them available. Here are some of the most common SSLs available for your business site:

Free SSL Certificates

The free SSL Certificate included in our plans offers basic website protection. It allows you to set up trusted HTTPS on websites for encrypted connections. The protection offered is just as secure as paid certificate options. Having this equipped on your site can do wonders in increasing your credibility amongst your site’s visitors. Of course, because these are free, there are no warranties and they don’t come with some of the nice upgrades that the other types do.

Basic DV

A basic SSL is an easy and affordable way to protect your site. Domain Validated (DV) certificates are a fast and simple way to secure your website with industry-standard up to 256-bit encryption. The process of obtaining one of these SSL certificates couldn’t be easier and is usually handled with just a standard email. A file-based authentication method can also be used and is recommended if you have direct access to the server that hosts your domain name.

In order to receive a DV certificate from one of our trusted Certification Authorities (CAs), all you have to do is prove that you own the domain that you wish to protect. Since no extensive validation process is required, DV certificates are the most affordable type of SSL on the planet.

Premium OV SSL Certificate

If you run an eCommerce business, a premium SSL certificate is an excellent choice. They offer reliable security with organizational validation. Organization Validated certificates, or OV certificates, are a type of SSL technology that offers up to 256-bit encryption to websites of businesses and other registered organizations. The difference between OV certificates and domain validated (DV) certificates is that a little extra vetting is required to confirm that you own your domain and that your organization is registered and real.  As long as your business is registered, the validation process is simple and in most cases only takes a couple of days to complete the validation.

They also offer third-party vouching. The biggest differentiator for an OV certificate is that when you have your organization validated, a trusted third-party online security company is verifying you are a legitimate business. This level of trust that is bestowed on your business means visitors and customers can have trust in your business.

Another added benefit is their trust badges. The purchase of an OV certificate comes with a dynamic site seal that contains verified and time-stamped information about your company. This is an additional measure to ensure consumer confidence and build an extra layer of trust in your site.

Wildcard SSLs

These SSL certificates are generally more affordable than premium SSL certificates. Nonetheless, the protection they give your site data is still comparable to that of a premium SSL certificate. Wildcard SSL certificates allow site owners to register more than one subdomain on a single certificate. They secure your site and each of your subdomains just like a normal SSL certificate while using identical encryption and validation methods for enhanced security. In addition to being able to consolidate all of your subdomains under a single SSL Certificate, our Wildcard SSLs offer a number of additional options including Domain Authentication and Organizational Validation.

The functionality and affordability of wildcard SSLs have made them a popular choice for startups and larger online businesses.

Advanced EV SSL Certificates

Get the highest level of trust and security to boost your sales and stay protected with advanced EV SSLs. EV certificates are the top-of-the-line SSL option. In addition to encrypting your website and safely protecting user information, they also come with a variety of premium features that boost trust and give your presence legitimacy.  EV certificates do this is by displaying your verified company details in all major browsers, giving visitors and customers immediate trust in your site. Before an EV certificate is issued, your Certificate Authority (CA) must first complete a thorough validation process to ensure that you’re a legitimate business.

One top feature is their dynamic trust indicators. With an EV SSL certificate, your product comes with the highest-valued, most recognizable trust indicators.  Your visitors will instantly recognize that you’re a legitimate and verified business. Users on major browsers will see the Verified Company Name when clicking on the padlock symbol with your browser showing a green address bar for EV SSL.

With immediate visibility, anyone on your site will know that you’re safe to do business with – resulting in higher trust and more conversions and sales.  Procurement of an EV SSL on your site is a demonstration to your customers that you’re investing in the best possible protection.

Get the Right SSL for Your Site at A2 Hosting!

Your site needs the right kind of SSL certificate. But, which one is right for you?  If you are not sure about which to get, reach out to us at A2 Hosting! Our plans include all of the mentioned SSL certificates above and we can help walk you through choosing the right one for your site!.

The post What is an SSL and Which One Is Right For You? appeared first on The A2 Posting.

Your domain name is really important to your business as it’s the address your potential clients will type to find your website. If it’s easy to remember, resonates with your audience, and enhances your brand, it instantly boosts your credibility. A quality domain name attracts clients, while a bad one can send them running.

If you’re in the process of picking a domain name, we recommend choosing a short, branded, easy-to-type one. You can even add a keyword if it’s possible. Feel free to use a domain name generator to come up with fresh ideas.

The good news is, when you find the perfect domain name, you can keep it forever by taking steps to renew and protect it.

Choosing the right domain name is just the beginning, though. It’s also critical to select the ideal host for your website. Your hosting provider affects your website’s load speed — a factor that influences search engine optimization (SEO), conversion, and bounce rates. If your page load time exceeds three seconds, you can say goodbye to 57% of your site visitors.

Don’t worry if you didn’t get these components right on your first try. If your current host isn’t working out, you can renew your domain name with a different hosting provider. This article will serve as your guide for how to renew your domain name and how to change hosting providers.

A Guide To Renewing Your Domain Name

Many of our clients wonder if they own a domain name when they purchase it. The answer is a resounding no!

When buying a domain name, consider it a lease that you have to renew before it lapses. If you don’t, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) will suspend and eventually cancel it. If this agency scraps your site, you lose all the information on it and any associated email addresses.

Now, if you miss your renewal date, a third party can buy it. When this happens, you can’t renew your domain name anymore, and you might not even have the option to buy it back.

Naturally, it’s better to renew your domain name than face the consequences of such a scenario. It could lead to revenue losses, a drop in site traffic, and a damaged reputation.

So, When Should You Renew Your Domain Name?

There’s no universal period for domains, but they often last anywhere between one and ten years. If you’re ready to renew your domain name, you can choose a longer lease so you won’t have to go through the renewal process every year.

In some cases, registrars contact organizations before a domain name expires. They typically will help you update your information, transfer your domain name, or move to a different registrar if you want.

So, How Do I Renew My Domain Name?

Renewing your domain varies slightly with different hosts. However, you often have two choices: auto or manual renewal. Whichever you choose, we guarantee that renewing before your domain expires will minimize business interruptions.

With an auto-renew option, you can select your preferred number of registered years and set reminders for your renewal.

On the other hand, you can also opt to renew your domain manually. You should find details like status and remaining days until expiry on your hosting platform.

Can I Transfer My Domain Name to a New Host?

Yes, absolutely! To register a domain name, you need a registrar or a host that offers such services. However, if your current host charges too much, lacks support options, or often experiences technical difficulties, you can always move to another one.

You need two things to transfer your domain name: an active domain and an account with your new host. Follow the steps below to complete this process.

Step 1: Remove Your Domain Lock

Many registrars and web hosts use a domain lock feature to tie your domain to a service until you disable it. This attribute allows you to protect your site from any unauthorized transfer attempts.

Luckily, disabling it is a simple process. All you have to do is log in to where you registered your domain and look for the unlock option.

Step 2: Initiate a Transfer

Log into your new host or registrar and find the option to transfer your domain. Usually, you can find it in your dashboard.

Your host will then ask you to confirm your new destination with an authorization code. Afterward, your new platform will begin the process.

Step 3: Verify the Transfer

When you initiate a transfer, you will receive an email asking you to confirm it. The message should contain your new domain and registrar. Once you click the confirmation link and signify your agreement, the process is almost complete.

After you transfer your domain, you won’t be able to do it again for at least 60 days. The exception to this rule is if you go back to your old registrar.

Step 4: Pay Your New Host for the Transfer

Most platforms allow free domain transfers but will require renewal fees afterward.

After payment, all you have to do is wait. Some registrars take days to complete this process, while others can do it in less than a day. When the transfer is complete, you can view your domain in your new host’s management screen.

Can I Renew My Domain Name After It Expires?

Yes, you can renew your domain name after it expires.

We’ll let you in on a secret. Forgetting to renew domain names is not as uncommon as you think. It happens to the best of us.

So when you’re facing domain expiration, don’t panic. You have a few days to save it.

With ICANN using the Expired Registration Recovery Policy, here are a few pointers to follow:

• Renewal grace period: Your domain name will be on hold up to 30 days after expiration. During this time, potential clients cannot access your website. If you renew your domain name by this time, you will only have to pay the standard fees.
• Restoration grace period: From day 31 to 60, your website is close to the brink of deletion. You can still renew your domain name during this time, but you will incur additional charges.
• Day 61: If you still haven’t renewed your website two months after expiration, it will be available for others to buy. Don’t let your renewal reach this point.

If you’re too busy to manage such tasks, we recommend setting your account to auto-renew. Doing so will help save your site from potentially catastrophic consequences.

Benefits of Renewing Your Domain Name

If you’ve established a solid customer base, they associate your business with your domain name. It’s part of your online authority. Losing your domain name impacts your relationship with your clients negatively.

Below are some reasons why it’s best to renew your domain name instead of changing it.

Protect Your Brand

We recommend renewing your domain name to protect your brand.

If you don’t do so, it becomes available on the market. Anyone can claim it — including your fiercest competitors. You don’t want any of them controlling your previous domain name.

Also, organizations often link their domain names to their social media accounts. Losing your domain name will disrupt the flow of traffic to your website and create uncertainty for your followers and subscribers.

Guarantee Higher Uptime

In the web hosting world, uptime means the amount of time your website is operational. Failure to renew your domain suspends all services connected to your account, including email addresses.

The longer your downtime lasts, the more visitors you lose. This scenario will leave search engines and consumers alike doubting your website’s authenticity. Renewing your domain on time will help to prevent all these challenges.

Preserve SEO Efforts

A parking page takes your domain’s spot when it expires, impacting your search engine optimization (SEO) strategies. Your marketing team might need months to undo the damage that the expiration causes.

Search engines don’t check if your site is down, but they will crawl your site repeatedly. The longer the parking page stays, the more your search result rankings will drop.

Also, one of the risks associated with changing your domain name is your ranking. We recommend working with a professional if you don’t know how to change your domain name without damaging your ranking position.

Avoid Fraud

Domain name owners sometimes fall victim to scammers. When you become too busy to pay attention to your URLs, you may become vulnerable to con artists.

If you don’t renew your domain, you might find yourself dealing with official-looking notices sent via snail mail or email. The individuals behind the attacks will send fraudulent instructions and exorbitant renewal rates.

Sometimes, unsuspecting entrepreneurs pay the fines instead of dealing with an expired site. By the time they realize their mistake, the hustlers will be gone.

Elevate Your Site With a Trusted Web Hosting Company

Once you’ve renewed your domain name, it might be time to consider a new web hosting company for your site, like A2 Hosting! Doing so can help you stand out in a sea of competition.

What makes A2 Hosting so great? Check out some of the factors below.

Enhanced Security

We apply various best practices to ensure client safety.

• HackScan: 24/7/365 running on your account to block attacks BEFORE they can happen
• Reinforced DDos Protection: Our (distributed denial of service) DDoS defense solution provides high scale capacity, instant attack detection and mitigation. This improves the likelihood that your site will remain online during even the most sophisticated distributed denial of service attacks.
• Dual Hosting Firewall: Your A2 Hosting account includes an overall network firewall with an additional server firewall to block unauthorized users and secure vulnerabilities. Your server’s firewall deflects threats that manage to penetrate our network’s firewall.
• Server Hardening: A2 Hosting disables non-mission-critical server components to decrease potential server exploits. We further reduce potential exploits by maintaining the most current security patches and updates on your server.
• Plus much more that you can read about here!

Unmatched Support System

If your web host isn’t there for you 24/7/365, it’s time to reconsider your options. Recent statistics show that businesses lose an estimated $26.5 billion annually from IT downtime, making every minute online count. A2 Hosting has a team of web gurus that are around all the time by chat, ticket system, and phone!

World-Class Speed

You should choose the best hosting plan for your business, even if it’s not the free kind. The speed of the remote server your host uses will affect the load time of every visitor that tries to access your site. Our Turbo plans from A2 Hosting are built for speed. Limited occupancy, upgraded server hardware, advanced caching software, optimized configurations, and a variety of performance add-ons combine to give you one of the fastest web hosting experiences out there. A2 Turbo’s enhanced performance and speed improves your user experience and reduces page load times to help you increase your conversion rates.

• Up to 20x faster page loads
• Handle up to 9x more traffic
• 2x faster to first byte
• 3x faster read/write speeds

Renew Your Domain With A2 Hosting

Most of our clients have kept the same domain name for decades. Renewing your domain name can be the difference between impressive growth and massive losses  —  so don’t overlook this process.

At A2 Hosting, we have the security, support, and speed you need to dominate the digital world. We’ve been empowering businesses of all sizes and industries with practical hosting solutions for almost 20 years.

For as low as $2.99 per month, you can enjoy a 99.9% uptime commitment, a dedicated guru crew, and 20X faster load speeds. Renew your domain name with us now to propel your business toward growth.

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