x10Hosting Official Blog

Keeping your hosting and website secure is the number one priority when managing anything on the web.  At x10Hosting, we try to pride ourselves in making sure our clients are able to have access and information that will help keep their web hosting secure.  Here are some of our top blog post and collective links that will help you keep your web hosting and website secure!

Keeping Your Site’s Secure

WordPress Security

WordPress is the most popular content management system (CMS) available on the web.  Because of this, there are a lot of attackers looking for vulnerabilities in the core system, plugins, or even themes.  Which means keeping your website secure can be hard.  This blog post goes over some basic steps that you can take to add an extra layer of security for your WordPress site.  If you’re using WordPress for your site, make sure to check out this blog post!

 

SSL Certificates

Even if you’re not using WordPress for your site, having an SSL Certificate can be beneficial for any website.  Our blog post will go over the benefits of having an SSL Certificate for your website.  If you have a web hosting account with x10Premium, we off free SSL Certificates for any of your sites!  Once you’re done reading the blog post, go issue an SSL Certificate or two for your sites in cPanel.

 

Unverified TLS Certificates

If you’re using third party APIs for your website, make sure to read this blog post thoroughly.  When using third party APIs, you need to make sure the information that is being submitted is transferred securely without any vulnerabilities.  This blog post will go through the steps on how to verify everything is set up properly for your website.

 

 

Keeping your website secure can be hard work.  At x10Hosting, we do our best to help you keep you informed and help make keeping your site updated and secure.  Be sure you are following our Facebook and Twitter pages to stay up to date with the latest in webmaster tips, updates for web software, and more!

Creating SPF and DKIM records for your domains can help prevent spoofing, fishing, spamming, or impersonation of your emails.   You can create an SPF record that will identify your web hosting account’s mail servers as the authorized mail server for any email address created using your domain.  When an email is received, the receiving mail server will be able to check the SPF record for the domain and verify the email came from the correct servers.  If it did not, it may be rejected by the receiving mail server as spam.  Similarly, DKIM records (Domain Keys Identified Mail) is an additional way to provide validation for domain identity, and allows users to show that sent email is authorized by the domain’s administrators.

With x10Premium, you can easily set up both types of records via your cPanel account.  If you’re looking to send out newsletters, or use emails as a method of communication with clients, creating SPF and DKIM records can help prevent any emails from being marked as untrusted or as spam.  With this blog post, we’ll go over setting up these records for your domains.

 

 

Creating a DKIM Record

To create these records, log into your cPanel account and go to Email > Authentication.  On the following page you’ll be able to enable, disable, and modify these records easily, without worry about making any typos.

Setting up a DKIM record is as easy as clicking Enable under the Status section of DKIM.  Once enabled, cPanel will display the current raw DKIM record for your domains.  You will be able to disable DKIM for your account by simply clicking the Disable button.

 

Creating an SPF Record

You’ll be able to create and make modifications to your SPF records on the same page, below the DKIM records section.  Like the DKIM record, simply click on the Enable button under the Status section to have cPanel create a standard SPF record.  Once enabled, cPanel will displace your current raw SPF record below the status area.

By default, cPanel creates a record that approves the main server’s IP address.  If you need to add additional servers to your SPF record, you can easily do so under Advance Settings.  Here you’ll be able to add:

• Additional Hosts:  Adds an additional host as a verified sender for your domain.
• Additional MX Servers:  You can use this to add any additional MX servers as verified senders for your domain.
• Additional IP addresses:  Add any additional IP address as verified senders for your domain. You can also add ranges of IP addresses by adding “/$lastIP” to the end of first IP address.
• Includes:  This will “include” all SPF settings for any hosts.  If you’re using another server for your emails, it is likely you’ll want to add the service here.

Once you have added any additional servers for your SPF record, you have two last options before saving your changes.  The first you’ll be able to deny all other domains/hosts that are not listed in your record.  By default, this is not checked.  If you have all hosts that you’ll be using to send emails, please select this option.  The last option is to have cPanel over write any existing entries of the SPF records.  This means cPanel will simply update any current records created for your domains.  This is checked by default.  If you do not want any changes to be saved, please make sure to uncheck this box.  Once you’ve finished making changes to your SPF record, click on the Update button at the bottom of the page.

 

Now you can easily protect your emails, and prevent spoofing, by creating SPF and DKIM records!  Be sure you are following our Facebook and Twitter pages to stay up to date with the latest in webmaster tips, updates for web software, everything x10Hosting, and more!

With x10Hosting and x10Premium, instead of modifying PHP settings with your php.ini file, you can change your PHP version and settings easily via your cPanel account.  At x10Premium, you will have more versions to choose from, and settings to modify.  With this blog post, we’ll go over how you can change your PHP version and settings without any hassle!

 

Changing PHP Version

After logging into your cPanel account, look for the Software Category.  Here you will see an icon for Select PHP Version.  Click on this icon.

On the following page, you will see your current PHP version and a drop down menu to select other versions.  By default, cPanel accounts are set to use Native (5.4) for the PHP version.  If you want to use 5.4, but would like to modify some settings, you will need to change your PHP version to 5.4 rather than “Native”.  With x10Premium, you will be able to choose between versions 5.3, 5.4, and 5.5.  You’ll only be able to choose between 5.4 and 5.5 with x10Hosting.  Once you have selected the version you want to use for your account, click on “Set as current”.  Now you will be able to enable PHP extensions and modify PHP settings.

 

Changing PHP Settings

After choosing which PHP version you want, you should see a list of extensions below the current PHP version.  You can enable or disable each extension by simply checking the box next to the extension name.  To find out more about the extension, you can hover over the name and more information will pop up by your mouse cursor.  We do not recommend enabling every single extension available to you at once, as you may break things for your website.  Because of this, please only enable extensions you need for your account.  After checking off extensions you’d like to have enabled for your account, make sure to click save at the bottom of page before making any further changes.

To change PHP settings, you will need to click the link at the top of the page, Switch to PHP Options.  On the following page, you will see a list of PHP options that you will be able to make changes to.  The options that frequently  need to be changed are:

• display_errors and error_reporting: enable these two options if your website is displaying a “500 Server Error” or a blank page.  If any scripts have a fatal error, which could be the cause of the blank page, you should now be able to see the error when you reload your web page.
• post_max_size and upload_max_filesize:  if you’re having issues uploading any files or themes to your account or WordPress websites, try increasing these two options to be larger than the file you’re uploading.

If you’re not sure what an option does for your account, simply hover over the name to get more information about it.  After you make a change to one of the options, please make sure to click on apply before changing another option and click save at the bottom once you’re completely finished making changes.

 

Now you’ll be able to modify any PHP setting for your web hosting account, and enable extensions on the fly!  Be sure you are following our Facebook and Twitter pages to stay up to date with the latest in webmaster tips, updates for web software, everything x10Hosting, and more!

We at x10Premium are happy to announce a new feature that is now available for all of our premium web hosting accounts: free SSL Certificates!  If you have a premium web hosting account with us, with a recent update to our servers, you are now able to generate your own SSL Certificate via cPanel.  The new SSL Certificates are different from the self signed SSL Certificates, and are very easy to install on your own!  With this blog post, we will go over the simple process of installing a new SSL Certificate for any domain or subdomain with our recent update.

 

Installing Free SSL Certificates

First, you will need to log into your cPanel account with us at x10premium.com.  After you’re logged in, look for Let’s Encrypt SSL logo under the Security category and click it.  On the following page you will see a list of all of the domains and subdomains you have added to your web hosting account.  If you already have an SSL Certificate installed, you will see them here at the top of the page.  You will be able to remove, view, and reinstall any existing SSL Certificates.

To install a new SSL Certificate, find the domain or subdomain you would like to install the SSL Certificate for.  If you’re looking to install on a domain and all related subdomains, you will need to issue an SSL for each domain or subdomain separately.  Once you have found the domain, click on issue to the far right of the domain name.

Here you will have a few additional options for the SSL Ceritficate you’re about to install.  You will be able to select any aliases of your domain to also have the SSL issued for:

• domain.com:  This option is not always available.  However, we would recommend selecting this option when it is available.
• www.domain.com: If you’re looking to force www for your domain, please make sure to select this option!  We recommend selecting this if you’re using issuing the SSL for any standard domain.
• www.domain.maindomain.com: This option is not always available when issuing an SSL and is not necessary for any standard SSL installations.

After you have selected which alias you would like to have, there is one final option you can have the SSL Certificate issued for: SMTP/IMAP for your domain.  This option would only affect emails, and setting up email accounts with third party clients.

Once you have selected which options you want for the SSL Certificate, click on Issue at the bottom of the page.  It may take a few moments for cPanel to complete the request, but you will receive a confirmation of a successful install on the next page.  You have successfully installed your free SSL Certificate for your domain!

 

 

You can install more than one SSL Certificate on your web hosting account with x10Premium!  After you’ve installed one free SSL Certificate, go ahead and install another for a different domain if you need it.  Be sure you are following our Facebook and Twitter pages to stay up to date with the latest in webmaster tips, updates for web software, everything x10Hosting, and more!

Do you know the importance of an SSL Certificate?  Have you wondered if having an SSL Certificate installed on your website would be beneficial?  As the risk for fraud and security breaches rise the online shoppers are becoming aware of the risk that may be involved with online data entry and online purchases.  Potential consumers and users are now looking to make sure any data that they may enter is secured and encrypted.  Having an SSL properly installed for your website will help give your visitors a much more positive impression when using your website.  It will let the user know that your website is secure.  This will improve the chance that a visitor will trust your website and use your website to purchase items, or even enter information for you to collect and use.

 

Purchasing an SSL Certificate

At x10Premium, we’re happy to offer SSL Certificates at an industry low price of 9.95 USD per year.  Even better, installing an SSL Certificate for your website with x10 is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Contact us via the support ticket system, and let us know that you’d like to purchase an SSL Certificate and what domain or subdomain you’d like it for.  Our standard SSL Certificates cover a single domain or subdomain and costs 9.95 USD per year.
2. Pay for the SSL Certificate.  If you have a Biennial or Triennial web hosting plan with us, you will already have a free SSL Certificate and dedicated IP address.  You can always install more than one SSL Certificate on your account!
3. Our support staff will install the SSL for you!  Once installed, you will need to make sure your website redirects to “https” so that visitors are accessing your site securely.  If you need help with this, just ask support and they’ll help you with this final step.

 

So, what are you waiting for?  Contact us today and make sure your visitors’ information is secure with an SSL Certificate!  Be sure you are following our Facebook and Twitter pages to stay up to date with the latest in webmaster tips, updates for web software, everything x10Hosting, and more!

Here at x10, we’re happy to offer daily granular restore points with both our free and paid web hosting plans.  But it is always good to keep backups of your own for your websites.  This way, you can choose which dates to keep or delete, or even keep a monthly backups available for the past year!  Older backups can be very useful if you ever find your sites compromised.  With this blog post, we’ll go over downloading backups from cPanel and using these files to restore your site or databases.

 

Downloading a Backup

 

You can download backups for your website under the File > Backups.  There is also the Backup Wizard option which offers the same thing, but in a step-by-step format.  After you load the backups page, you’ll have the option to download a full backup or partial backups.  Please note that, if you choose to download a full backup, you will be unable to restore this file in cPanel.  If you’re looking to potentially use these backups in the future, please use the partial backups option.

 

 

In this section, you will be able to download backups of:

• Your home directory; this will include all of your website files and directories.  If you’re backing up your websites, you will need to download this option.
• Any databases you have; you will be able to download each database separately.  If you’re only using one database, you will only need to download a single database.  If your websites do not use any databases, then you won’t need to download any at all.  To download a database backup, simply click on the database name and cPanel will serve the correct file for you.
• Email forwarders and email filters; if you’ve set up any forwarders or filers for your emails, you can create a backup of these here as well.  This is useful if you need to remove a domain and read it later on.

Make sure to download backups for your website periodically, or before you make any big changes to your website.  It is always good to have a few available somewhere, just for good measure!

 

Restoring a Backup

 

 

To restore your website, you will need to have backup that you have downloaded from cPanel available.  You will be able to restore the backup via cPanel under File > Backups.  Under the Partial Backups section, you will be able to upload previously downloaded backups and have cPanel restore these files or databases.  Simply choose the file that you’re looking to restore from, and click “Upload” and cPanel will do the rest for you!  Once cPanel has restored the backup, you’ll be able to restore any additional backup you may have under the correct section.

 

 

Now that you’ve finished backing up your website’s files and databases, you’re ready for anything!  Be sure you are following our Facebook and Twitter pages to stay up to date with the latest in webmaster tips, updates for web software, everything x10Hosting, and more!

After creating some email accounts with x10Hosting, you may want to start forwarding the received emails to your main email account.  This way you don’t miss any important emails for any email accounts you do not check daily.  With this blog post, we’ll go over setting up email forwarders for your email addresses from your web hosting account.

 

Setting up an Email Forwarder

Setting up Email Forwarding is made easy with cPanel.  All you will need is the two email addresses you would like to use.  To set up forwarding, please make sure you have at least one email account created on your cPanel account.  You will be able to forward an email account to any email address, even if it is not set up with your cPanel account.  After logging into your cPanel account, you’ll be able to access your forwarders under Mail > Forwarders.

 

Here you’ll be able to see any existing forwarders you may have set up.  You will also be able to delete any email forwarders that you may have created here, by simply clicking “delete” under the Functions column.  There are two types of email forwarding you can create from here, the top section is for forwarding a single email address.  Whereas, below that you’ll be able to create a rule for forwarding all emails for a single domain.  To create a new forwarder for a single email address, click the add forwarder button below the list of existing forwarders.

 

On the following page, you will fill out the information for your new email forwarder:

• Address to forward:  You will be able to choose any email address for any of your domains that you have added to your web hosting account.  Select the domain from the drop down menu, and fill out the name of the email account.
• Desination:  You can choose to either forward to an email address, or discard and send an error.  If you’re looking to forward to your own email address, simply type in the address in the blank field.

Once you’ve filled out the information you’d like to use for your email forwarder, click on Add Forwarder at the bottom of the table.  Now you’ve created your first email forwarder!  Any emails that come in will now be forwarded to your main email address, ready for you to read as soon as they come in.

 

 

If you want to create forwarders for other email accounts, just follow the process again for each email account.  You can also try setting up a rule for forwarding all emails for a single domain.  Be sure you are following our Facebook and Twitter pages to stay up to date with the latest in webmaster tips, updates for web software, everything x10Hosting, and more!

After creating a web hosting account at x10Hosting or x10Premium, you’ll probably want to connect to your account via FTP to upload your website’s files.  If you’ve never used an FTP client, don’t fret!  We’ll go over a few free options that you can try out to find one that fits your preferences perfectly.

 

FileZilla

FileZilla is the leading free FTP client, and is often the first choice of many users.  It is an open source software with a two pane layout that is easy to use for beginners.  The interface allows users to view files in any directory, and explore your files with ease and speed.  You can edit files remotely with FileZilla, connect quickly with past logins, and simply drag and drop files to upload or download quickly.  Another great thing about FileZilla is that it is available on Windows, Linux and Mac OS X.  So if you’re using more than one computer with different operating systems, you can easily switch between computers without having to learn a new program.

 

WinSCP

WinSCP is a free open source software FTP client that also offers SSH access.  It has a built in terminal, allows remote file editing, and can limit download speed rates.  WinSCP has a simple interface, and can save login information for a quick connection to your account.  It is a lightweight program that loads up quickly, while allowing users to transfer files quickly with drag and drop.   WinSCP only supports the Windows operating system, and may not be a top choice by users who use multiple operating systems.  Otherwise, it’s simple layout may be great for users who may get overwhelmed with too many options or windows, as well as users who may want to use SSH access to their website.

 

Cyberduck

Cyberduck is another free FTP client that also supports WebDAV and Amazon S3 browser.  Cyberduck is popular amongst Mac OS X users as it supports many Mac technologies such as Spotlight, Bonjour, QuickLook and Keychain.  It offers a simple single pane window that is easy to explore and use, as well as the ability to edit files with your preferred file editor.  You won’t have to worry about being overwhelmed with Cyberduck’s single pane interface.  Cyberduck is available for both Windows and Mac OS X, and is a great option for Mac users.

 

 

Now that you have a few clients to try out, you’re probably wondering what information you should use when trying to connect via FTP.  We have a blog post that goes over creating new FTP accounts, as well as accessing the FTP information that you’ll need.  If you want to use the default FTP account, you will simply use your cPanel username and password as your login information, and your account’s IP address for the host.  Be sure you are following our Facebook and Twitter pages to stay up to date with the latest in webmaster tips, updates for web software, everything x10Hosting, and more!

If you find your website is running slow for you, you’re probably wondering if it is just on your end or if it is slow for everyone.  You can find out if your website is running slow for everyone by running website speed tests to check the speed of your website from other browsers and locations. There are plenty of free speed test tools that you can use for your website.  We will go over two that are free to use with this blog post.

 

Google PageSpeed

Google PageSpeed is a free website speed test that will check your website on both desktop browsers and mobile browsers. Simply type in your website’s address and click Analyze. Once PageSpeed is finishing analyzing your website, you will see two tabs: Mobile and Desktop. Under each of these, you will have a list of suggestions for your website.

Each suggestion will have more details, and will list specific files or links in your website that could be improved. Along with the details, there are links to Google’s knowledge base that explains in better detail each suggestion.

When optimizing your website, try working on the higher priority items that are listed here first. These items will have the biggest impact for your website’s speed and so making the changes for these will be more noticeable.

 

Pingdom

Pingdom is another free website speed test that will check your website on desktop browsers using Chrome. Pingdom also offers other tools that you can use for your website, and it may be beneficial to look at their other services for future use. With Pingdom’s speed tests, you’ll be able to test your website from specific servers, so you can see how your website loads for people in different areas of the world.

After you type in your website’s address, Pingdom offers a quick run down about your website with your Performance Grade, Requests, Load Time, and Page Size. You can get more information about your website under Performance Grade and Page Analysis. Under the Conformance Grade tab, you will see your website’s “grade” for each section.

Like Google’s PageSpeed, each section will have a list of URLs or files that your website uses that could be improved. There is also a link to Google Developers for more information for each section. Work on optimizing from the top down with this list, as the top items have the most effect on your website’s speed.

Under the Page Analysis tab, you will see a more detailed information about the load for your website. Looking at this information can help you see what file types are taking the longest to load, and which are the largest. Consider compressing your website’s largest files, particularly images.

At the bottom of the page, Pingdom gives you more information regarding their speed test and what each icon means. Be sure to check this out if you have any problems or questions when looking at your website’s results!

 

 

Now that you have tested your website’s speed, work on optimizing it the best you can!  Make sure to run a speed test periodically to see if any changes are effecting your website.   Be sure you are following our Facebook and Twitter pages to stay up to date with the latest in webmaster tips, updates for web software, everything x10Hosting, and more!