Most website owners think about security only after something goes wrong: a warning in the browser, a site that suddenly redirects visitors somewhere strange, or an email from a hosting company about suspicious files. By then the damage is already done. SiteLock is a website security service built to catch those problems early, and in many cases fix them for you. This article explains what it does and how to decide whether your website needs it.
What is SiteLock?
SiteLock is a security service that watches your website for malware and weak spots. It scans your site on a regular basis, looks for harmful code and known vulnerabilities, and tells you when something is wrong. Depending on the plan, it can also remove the malware it finds, block malicious traffic with a firewall, and speed up your site through a content delivery network (CDN).
It works from the outside as well as the inside. That means it can help protect a website even when you are not watching it, which is when most attacks happen.
What problems does it deal with?
A website can be infected without showing any obvious sign. Visitors may only notice when something goes wrong. Common problems include:
Malware hidden in your files that sends visitors to other websites
Spam pages or links added to your site without your knowledge
Hackers using your website to attack other websites or send spam email
Search engines or browsers warning visitors that your site is unsafe, which quickly costs you trust and traffic
Automated bots that probe your site for outdated software and easy ways in
Cleaning up after an attack takes time, and a site that has been flagged as unsafe can take a while to recover. Finding the problem early makes the cleanup much smaller.
How SiteLock protects your website
The protection comes in layers, and the number of layers depends on the plan you choose:
Scanning: your website is checked for malware and vulnerabilities, so you find out about a problem without having to look for it.
Malware removal and repair: higher plans clean up infected files for you instead of only reporting them.
Firewall and traffic filtering: blocks bad bots and malicious visitors, and higher plans add protection against DDoS traffic.
CDN: delivers your pages from servers closer to your visitors, which can make the site faster as well as safer.
Vulnerability patching: the top plan helps fix weaknesses in your content management system (CMS) and protects your database.
Does your website need it?
SiteLock is most useful if any of these describe your website:
You run an online store or collect customer details, such as names, phone numbers or orders
Your site runs on WordPress or another CMS with plugins and themes, which need regular updates
Your website brings in customers or income, so a day offline would cost you real money
Nobody on your team looks after security full time
Your website has been hacked before
A small website with a few static pages, no logins and no customer data has less to lose. It can still be targeted, because attackers often scan thousands of sites automatically and do not choose their victims by size. For a business website, though, the cost of protection is usually small compared with the cost of a hacked site.
Which SiteLock plan should you choose?
SiteLock Scanner: entry-level malware and vulnerability scanning. A light option if you mainly want to be told when something is wrong.
SiteLock Basic: malware detection and removal, with a 2 GB website backup. A good fit for personal websites and blogs.
SiteLock Pro: everything in Basic, plus malware repair, DDoS traffic blocking and CDN acceleration. Suited to professional and small business websites.
SiteLock Business: everything in Pro, plus CMS vulnerability patching, database protection and an advanced CDN. Built for corporate websites and larger online stores.
Does it work if my website is hosted somewhere else?
Yes. You can buy SiteLock from TechInHost as a standalone service for a website hosted anywhere. After checkout, you provide FTP access so it can be set up for your site.
SiteLock is one layer, not the whole answer
No single tool makes a website unhackable. Good security also means strong and unique passwords, keeping WordPress, plugins and themes updated, regular backups, and an SSL certificate so visitors connect to your site securely. SiteLock works best alongside those habits, and it catches what they miss.
Protect your website with TechInHost
If you are not sure which plan suits your website, tell us what kind of site you run and we will help you choose. You can see all four plans and order online on our SiteLock page.