When you choose a web host, you are choosing an entity to trust with the details of your company and some of your financial information. Unfortunately, many people who set out to establish a website do not realize how risky this can be. There are quite a few low cost or free web hosts offering web tools that may seem too good to be true. More often than not, the reason for this is that these entities are trying to get access to your information for dishonest purposes. In this article, we will discuss some of the hazards you face if you go with a dishonest web host. Read on to learn what to look out for.
Some nefarious web hosts exist for the purpose of spreading viruses, malware and adware. This is bad for you, bad for your customers and ultimately bad for your business. People will always suspect it was you who infected their computers and caused them to forward malware to everyone in their address books. That is why it is very important to be sure any web host you choose has a stellar reputation.
Brand new web hosting companies may be inexperienced. When this is the case, they may mean no harm; however, they may be asking you to store your sensitive information and that of your clients on an insecure server. When this happens, you and all your customers can be hacked and your personal information can be sent all over the world for who-knows-what purpose. Identity theft is a tremendous risk.
Be sure to find out how long a web host has been in business and ask pointed questions about security before signing up. Additionally, check with the Better Business Bureau to be certain the web host you are considering has a reputation for honesty. You never know, a dishonest web host could just be out to get your personal information. The flip side of the experience coin is that web hosts who have not been in business long may not be in business long. If the host is inexperienced, failure is more likely. You do not want to invest a lot of time, energy and money into your website only to find your host has gone bankrupt.
Beware of web hosting companies that require you to pay for a year in advance. You will need to be very sure the web hosting company will still be around in a year before agreeing to this. In addition to checking out reviews and looking the host up with the BBB, you should also make certain the web host you choose has a physical address you can visit and an actual phone number you can call. It would be all too easy for a dishonest, fly-by-night web host to collect a lot of fees and disappear from sight.
Just as with any other service, you must do thorough homework to choose an honest and reliable web hosting company. Follow leads in good web hosting directories to get initial possibilities. Once you have a few in mind, follow up with research with the help of reading online reviews, and a check their BBB ratings to ensure that you are, indeed, dealing with an honest, well established and reputable company. Follow the tips presented here to select a trustworthy web host.
