Some things can be replaced—like a phone, a computer, or furniture. But when it comes to your website’s files, a single mishap without a proper backup can mean losing everything!

Many people believe their digital data is somehow “safe,” only to learn the hard way how devastating it is to lose irreplaceable work. That’s precisely why World Backup Day exists: to remind us that safeguarding our digital assets is just as important as locking our front doors. Raising awareness about the importance of backups; according to a report published by World Backup Day, 21% of people never back up anything. That’s a scary statistic, given the constant risk of data loss. Another report shows accidents cause 29% of data loss cases! Life is unpredictable, and you cannot always tell whether something will go wrong. What we can do, however, is prepare for unexpected circumstances. So, what exactly is World Backup Day, and what does it represent?

A backup is a copy of your data saved outside your primary device, which you can restore anytime. Your data can include anything from work files to personal items like family pictures, eBooks, and messages. In simpler terms, a backup is a copy of your important data saved somewhere safe where you can always access it if and when needed.

So now that you have backed up all your important data and are equipped with all the vital backup information, what next? You must also ensure your friends, family, and even strangers know backups. You can share this post with them so they understand what it means to backup. You can help those who need help understanding how to backup their files, such as your parents or kids. Lastly, you can learn the World Backup Day Pledge and recite it regularly.

What is the World Backup Day Pledge?

The WBD pledge goes as follows:

“I solemnly swear to back up my important documents and precious memories on March 31st.”

If you found this post helpful, share it with your loved ones.

Happy World Backup Day!

 

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Failure to optimize your cPanel server can lead to performance issues over time.

Thousands of website owners and hosting providers use the popular control panel called cPanel. cPanel provides a highly intuitive GUI (Graphical User Interface) that makes website management easy for users. There are many benefits attached to using cPanel to manage your websites. But these benefits only last as long as you regularly update and maintain your cPanel server. Failure to optimize your cPanel server can lead to performance issues over time. Below are the top tips for optimizing your cPanel server.

Optimizing cPanel server performance may sound like a strenuous task that requires a multifarious approach. However, upgrading hardware and software, optimizing MySQL and PHP, implementing security measures, and using caching and compression can enhance your server performance. But if these steps sound too technical, we can assist! If you don’t have enough free time to allocate to your server optimization you can hire one of our best professionals to help you. We are always ready to help!

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We started to receive an influx of complaints from clients who run Woocommerce and membership sites alongside Elementor that the client area portions of their WordPress websites were broken. The “My Account” pages displayed incorrect information or data from other customers. Of course, this is incredibly confusing to customers and could not have come at a worse time – during the busy holiday season!

Elementor has recently released version 3.26, which introduced enhancements designed to optimize website performance. This is typically a great thing; however, it has created issues for some of our clients!

The element caching feature works by storing static HTML output for individual widgets. This reduces the need to regenerate content every time a page loads. Doing this significantly decreases server load and improves page speed, especially for sites with heavy traffic. However, while it benefits static content like headers, footers, and image galleries, caching dynamic elements—such as those that rely on real-time user data—can lead to functionality issues. For WooCommerce and membership sites, careful cache configuration is critical to maintaining a seamless user experience.

This feature, originally introduced in Elementor version 3.22 in June 2024, has now been set to be enabled by default! This update caused many unexpected issues for WooCommerce users.

After updating to Elementor 3.26, WooCommerce users reported functionality issues with the “My Account” page. Precisely, an inability to load all portions of the portal, such as the Account Details or Order pages. The pages would not load or would show cached data from other users. This issue was created as a result of Elementor’s element caching. The dynamic nature of WooCommerce’s “My Account” page was impacted. These pages greatly rely on user-specific data and should not be cached, as you can potentially show the wrong data to the wrong user.

The root cause of these issues was the caching of dynamic elements, which should have been excluded from the element caching process. There does not seem to be a way to exclude specific elements with this new feature from Elementor, which is what we’d typically do with a Cloudflare, Varnish, etc. cache.

To resolve this, we have turned off the element caching feature by navigating to Elementor’s settings:

After we disabled the element caching, the “My Account” page’s functionality was restored by ensuring that dynamic content was not improperly cached.

It is essential to be mindful of cache management for dynamic portions of e-commerce websites, such as user accounts, shopping carts, and checkout pages. While caching can significantly enhance performance for static content, applying it indiscriminately can lead to functionality issues for components that require real-time updates.

To avoid similar problems, e-commerce website owners should:

The release of Elementor 3.26 and its automatic activation of the element caching feature underscores the double-edged nature of performance optimizations. While these updates aim to improve speed and efficiency, their impact on dynamic content must be carefully managed.

Here at Clarkes.Team, we take a more proactive approach to WordPress core and plugin updates. We test updates, do smoke checks when complete, and quickly troubleshoot any issues before they impact your business.

Check out our WordPress maintenance plans if you need assistance with proper WordPress monitoring, security, performance optimization, and ongoing care.

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Losing data backups can do tremendous damage to your reputation and your finances.

We would like to share an unfortunate story to inspire you to ensure proper disaster recovery backup measures are in place. We have a client – let’s call him James for the sake of this piece. James can’t help but remember disaster every time August comes around. Two years ago, before he discovered Clarkes.Team, James nearly lost his thriving, highly profitable business when a devastating fire destroyed his office. This incident claimed a chunk of all onsite storage and backups. He lost thousands of essential files. This painful experience could have been mitigated if he had offsite backups or implemented the 3-2-1 backup strategy. And that is why the rest of this article will focus on the importance of effectively protecting your business data.

Your business data is one of your most valuable assets. Smart businesses know this and implement strategies to protect their data. We have saved several businesses from going extinct at Clarkes.Team by helping them set up adequate backups. One way to ensure that your data, files, and content are safe in case of any mishap is onsite backups. Onsite backups, stored within your business premises (like on internal drives or external hard drives), are an excellent first step. They provide instant access to your data and are relatively inexpensive to maintain. However, relying on onsite backups leaves you vulnerable to disasters like fires, theft, or security breaches. According to WebTribunal,

• Forty thousand hard drive crashes happen weekly in the US.
• Every five years, 20% of small and medium-sized businesses suffer data loss due to a significant disaster.
• 60% of businesses going through a data loss incident will shut down within six months.
• 93% of entities will lose their data center for 10+ days and file for bankruptcy within one year of the incident.
• 96% of businesses don’t back up their workstations.
• More than half of businesses don’t have enough budget to recover from data incidents.
• 75% of small businesses need a disaster recovery plan.

Losing data backups can do tremendous damage to your reputation and your finances. It could even put you out of business. This is why you need to be one step ahead. You need a secondary backup site so that if any ills befall your business location, you will have an alternative to restore them. The best strategy to consider when planning backups is the 3-2-1 strategy, which consists of three copies of your data: one original and two backups. The original and one backup copy are stored onsite, and the second backup and third copy are stored off-site/off-premises.  The 3-2-1 strategy helps minimize the risk of failure. We highly recommend offsite backups in addition to onsite backups. You need a combination of both for more potent security. So, what exactly is offsite backup?

What is Offsite Backup?

Offsite backups are stored outside your business environment. The servers and storage devices holding your backups are not within the physical reach of your business and will be unaffected by any disasters that hit your onsite backups. This can be in a cloud-based storage system or a tape system. Offsite backups should contain your most crucial backups. There are different offsite backup options that you can explore, some of which we will cover in the next section.

Types of Offsite Backups

Deciding what kind of backup to employ when storing your data offsite can be difficult. Especially when you have to consider factors like data volume, your budget, recovery time, and the cruciality of the data. Offsite backups fall into three main categories:

Benefits of Storing Offsite Backups

Onsite and offsite backups have pros and cons. For this reason, we advise you to keep both as a supplement for situations where one fails. Below are some of the benefits of storing offsite backups.

You now understand that backups are a huge necessity for any business, but proper backup is even more essential. With offsite backups, your data is more secure, protected, and accessible. Don’t wait for a disaster to strike—secure your business’s future today with Clarkes.Team’s cloud backup & disaster recovery solutions. If you are just starting and need clarification about which backup option to pick, we hope this article has helped make your decision-making easier. If you already use onsite backup services, we advise creating a hybrid storage system to store onsite and offsite backups.

Do you need help with effective cloud backups or tackling other technical challenges for your business?

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If you’re using Adobe Commerce or Magento to run your e-commerce shop, you need to be aware of a new and severe security threat called the CosmicSting exploit. Security researchers say nearly 5% of all Adobe Commerce and Magento stores have already been compromised. 5% is a massive number of websites, considering Magento is used by over 670 million websites. This is affecting store owners worldwide, and the number of attacks continues to grow every day.

Magento is a very popular, open-source e-commerce software platform used by many businesses to build and manage online stores. Think Shopify or Woocommerce—it’s competing software to power your e-commerce brand. Magento is part of Adobe Commerce, which helps businesses with everything from handling payments to managing customer accounts. Many online retailers prefer Magento because of its flexibility and wide range of features.

Unfortunately, just like any other system, Magento is also vulnerable to attacks if not properly updated and maintained. We stress routine maintenance here at Clarkes.Team to ensure you don’t have these issues.

A dangerous flaw (labeled CVE-2024-34102) was discovered in Adobe Commerce and Magento, which hackers are now exploiting. Malicious attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain access to your store’s most sensitive information, including customer payment details. Once inside, they can use this information to steal data or even take over your entire store.

In fact, this flaw is so critical that the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added it to their list of Known Exploited Vulnerabilities, urging all store owners to take immediate action.

If you run a Magento or Adobe Commerce store, simply updating your system isn’t enough to fix the issue. You also need to take extra steps to ensure your store is secure. Here’s a simple guide on what you should do:

Need Help?

Securing your store can be time-consuming and overwhelming, especially if you’re not familiar with the technical side of things. That’s where we come in! At Clarkes.Team, we specialize in keeping your online store safe and running smoothly. If you’re concerned about this Magento vulnerability and need assistance making sure your store is fully protected, read more about the details here or reach out to us for professional help. We can handle all the technical work for you, ensuring your store stays secure.

Don’t wait until it’s too late—take action today to safeguard your business and protect your customers from potential data theft. Contact us today.

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We have discovered that complaints about cPanel-related issues often stem from a common source: maintenance neglect. Software is not immune to neglect and decline. As with many technological systems, ignoring regular maintenance and updates can lead to performance and security issues for your cPanel server. In this post, we will explore the essential role of routine maintenance in preserving the usefulness of your cPanel server.

CPanel is a popular control panel in web hosting designed to make managing your website and hosting packages easier. Whether you’re overseeing email accounts, managing databases, or monitoring server performance, cPanel simplifies these tasks, making them accessible for non-technical users. Like any other software, it becomes vulnerable if it lacks regular maintenance. Weak websites are the delight of internet criminals. If your business possesses sensitive information, especially about your customers, these may get leaked. Your website may also develop performance issues, e.g., slow loading time, freezing, and status code errors. Lack of maintenance also compromises your security. We understand how important your business and website are to you. So, to help you avoid these vulnerabilities that can potentially threaten your profession, we have put together several reasons why you should take cPanel server maintenance more seriously.

Benefits of Regular CPanel Maintenance

Regular maintenance and updates of your cPanel server are critical to ensuring its security, stability, compatibility, and performance. By staying current with the latest releases, you can take advantage of new features and improvements that enhance your website’s functionality and user experience. Moreover, you can rest assured that your website is protected against cyber threats and is in compliance with applicable regulations.

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The best way to secure your business data is by preventing unauthorized access.

Security is paramount when it comes to online business. These days, we have passwords for almost everything. You possess sole rights to your web accounts and the associated information with password data. Passwords are an excellent way to secure your account, especially if you use a password manager. However, passwords are not 100% safe. In fact, with technological advances, hackers are finding smarter ways to get around passwords and hack into unsuspecting accounts. This is where the SSH key comes in handy. In this article, we will define an SSH key and help you understand why it is a better security and privacy option than plain text passwords.

SSH stands for Secure Socket Shell. It is a security protocol that employs an asymmetric key-based encryption system. In other words, a set of keys are used to encrypt and decrypt data. This is also known as asymmetric cryptography, which uses a pair of keys: private keys and public keys.

Let’s break this down further…

With asymmetric cryptography, you can send a message without the concern of it being leaked. This security system requires two keys to work: public and private. The public key is often used to encrypt the data, and the private key is used to decrypt (unlock) the encrypted data. When a message is encrypted using a public key (one key in the pair), only the corresponding private key (the other key in the pair) can decrypt it.

Like the password system, an SSH system is used to authenticate login and can even be used with password authentication. It offers a higher layer of security when you remotely log in to a server from anywhere or your computer. What is important is knowing what command to use to generate an SSH pair. If you are wondering what an SSH key may look like, it usually consists of binary ciphers – a long string of digits. An SSH key might look like this:

BAAAB3NzaC1yc2EAAAABIwAAAQEA879BJGYlPTLIuc9/R5MYiN4yc/YiCLcdBpSdzgK9Dt0Bkfe3rSz5cPm4wmehdE7GkVFXrBJ2YHqPLuM1yx1

CUxIebpwlIl9f/aUHOts9eVnVh4NztPy0iSU/Sv0b2ODQQvcy2vYcujlorscl8JjAgfWsO3W4iGEe6QwBpVomcME8IU35v5VbylM9ORQa6wvZM

DrPECBvwItTY8cPWH3MGZiK/74eHbSLKA4PY3gM4GHI450Nie16yggEg2aTQfWA1rry9JYWEoHS9pJ1dnLqZU3k/8OWgq

JrilwSoC5rGjgp93iu0H8T6+mEHGRQe84Nk1y5lESSWIbn6P636Bl3uQ== your@email.com

As mentioned earlier, plain text passwords are great but not entirely safe. They can be hacked, especially if you log into a clone site with your password. If you use one password for everything, it is even riskier because once hackers get a hold of your password, they can use the same password to easily access your other accounts.

Another thing about password authentication that makes it less secure is that when you use your password for authentication, it is sent directly to the server, making it more vulnerable to hackers. Additionally, system administrators in the companies you work for can see your passwords, and sometimes, they might even be stored in the company’s database. If a hacker gains access to this database, they would most likely have access to your password, too.

What about having to create unique passwords for everything and struggling to remember them? SSH keys, on the other hand, are not without cons. However, compared to password authentication, they are more secure and much more complex. Let’s look at some pros of SSH authentication over plain text passwords.

Now that you know what an SSH key is, will you be trying it? Remember that plain text passwords have a higher risk of exposure. Your business depends largely on efficient security. If you have more questions or are looking for solutions on how to harden your website’s security, contact us today, and we will assist you immediately.

CentOS version 7 reached its end-of-life (EOL) on June 30, 2024, yet our support team continues to see many new clients still using this outdated operating system. Don’t let potential security issues impact your business. If you’re still running CentOS 7, read on.

This news is crucial for the operating system community, particularly after the EOL status of CentOS 8 in December 2021. With many hosting companies, businesses, and technical administrators relying on CentOS 7, the need to migrate to a new system is immediate. Despite this inconvenience, it is the best route for a CentOS user. To make your imminent transition easy, we have put together this post to educate you on what this change means and the best alternatives to CentOS from which you can choose. In this article, we will discuss:

CentOS, short for Community Enterprise Distributed Operating System, has been a widespread open-source Linux distribution since its launch in 2004, and it has provided its users with a versatile and secure operating system. After CentOS 7 reached EOL on June 30th, 2024, users who have not migrated will stop receiving support, security patches, and updates. As a result, they will become highly susceptible to vulnerabilities. However, before jumping straight into the migration process and the alternatives we recommend, we must understand the urgent need for migration to supported alternatives like AlmaLinux and Ubuntu.

Every product has a life cycle: development, introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. When a product enters its final phase and begins to decline, it is said to have reached its EOL. This indicates that the software will cease to receive updates, bug fixes, security patches, or technical support from its provider. This transition can pose significant challenges for both businesses and individuals. Using unsupported software exposes you to security risks and restricts your ability to leverage new features and advancements.

Implications of CentOS 7 reaching EOL.

This discontinuation of support and security patches for CentOS 7 can give rise to various issues that profoundly impact your business. These implications include:.

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The lifespan of CentOS 7 has reached an end, so it is high priority to migrate as soon as possible to an equally functional alternative. We highly recommend AlmaLinux. AlmaLinux is an open-source, community-driven project designed to serve as a drop-in replacement for CentOS. It is very similar to CentOS and amplifies the same Red Hat Linux infrastructures on which CentOS depends. It offers a smooth transition for users who want to migrate from CentOS 7. Not only does AlmaLinux provide great support, but it also boasts a robust community of users where you can get unlimited resources on how to navigate the operating system. Below are some of the critical features of Almalinux:

However, migrating to AlmaLinux is a challenging task that requires experience. If you lack the technical expertise to migrate successfully, complications may arise, potentially jeopardizing your systems. To avoid this, consult our professionals in operating systems migration, and let us assist you as soon as possible.

Ubuntu is another viable option we recommend as an alternative to CentOS. Ubuntu is an equally efficient operating system designed on the Debian system. Similar to CentOS, it has many unique features that can make working seamless and easy for you. Below are some key features you can access when you migrate to Ubuntu:

Ubuntu and AlmaLinux are both great alternatives to CentOS 7. Whichever you choose, we guarantee that your server will function as it should. The best time to start your migration is NOW, so don’t delay further. Embarking on an operating system migration, especially under duress and within a limited time, can affect you. The technical process can be tedious, especially when ensuring backups are intact. There are many factors to consider, such as compatibility, software, and hardware requirements. Things can get dicey if you are not cautious. At Clarkes.Team, we specialize in facilitating seamless transitions to Ubuntu and AlmaLinux from CentOS, offering expertise and assistance every step of the way.

Do you have questions about migrating to Ubuntu or AlmaLinux? We are here to answer your inquiries. ASK US.

Have you ever wondered why some emails go directly to your SPAM box whenever you receive a new email?

In this article, we will give you insight into why and how it happens. In the world of business, a good reputation is everything. From delivering premium products & services to running a functional website, your reputation is the security dog of your business.

One area of online business where your reputation can easily get soiled is Email Marketing. Once it is tainted, it can be difficult to redeem it. If email is a key part of your operations, understanding RBL blacklists and how they work is crucial.

What is an RBL Blacklist?

RBL is an acronym for Real-Time Blackhole List. It is also synonymously referred to as DNSBL (Domain Name System Blacklist). RBLs are bases that blacklist IP addresses and email domain names suspected of spam. If your IP address is blocked on an RBL directory, the emails you send from your email server will end up in your customers’ spam or junk folder.

Do note that it is the receiving end (recipient’s mail server) that is responsible for deciding to accept or block your mail if you’re listed on an RBL. When your email is sent from your email server, the receiving end checks your IP address on RBL databases and flags your email as spam if found. The receiving server must be using RBL services to carry out this action.

How Can You End Up On an RBL Blacklist?

Your IP Address can end up on a RBL list for different reasons, and you may be blacklisted without your knowledge. This is because spam can either be intentional or accidental. The primary reason RBL exists in the first place is to prevent harmful content from being shared with users.

So, if your email server or website is suspected of sending inappropriate content, this could lead to you getting blocked. Internet Service Providers, as well as government agencies, actively use RBL to regulate content. Let us discuss in detail several reasons why you could end up on an RBL list:

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How Do You Know If You Have Been Blacklisted?

As mentioned above, your IP or domain name may already be on an RBL spam list, and you may not even be aware. One of the ways to undoubtedly know that you have been blacklisted for spam is to use tools designed to help you check RBL databases on your behalf. With these tools or websites, you can type in your server address or IP address and click on search.

If you are blacklisted, it will show up. Below are some tools you can use to check if you are on RBL Blacklist:

How Can I Get Delisted from an RBL Blacklist?

Being blacklisted sucks, but it is certainly not the end of the world. While it may require a tedious process to get it back, it can be done. Of course, the best approach is always prevention – taking proactive steps to manage your email servers and avoiding actions that could lead to blacklisting in the first place. Such measures reduces the risk of being blacklisted thereby boosting your Email Marketing.