5 Easy-To-Do Tips to Learn Joomla

We all know Joomla has been one of the most effective content management systems over the past decade. But how does one learn it? Here are 5 tips for the same:

1. The Joomla Learning System: Through this, you can get a manual, or take Joomla training classes, attend workshops on Joomla, or simply get a package of what you can use and learn from. Whatever you choose, ensure that you’re comfortable with the quality of Joomla training and how well you’ll be able to design Joomla websites by the end of it all.

2. Apply What You Learn: This is the easiest way to learn Joomla quickly. Create a website as you continue to learn Joomla. Mastering Joomla will be possible only if you practise it constantly. Therefore, create a test site of one of your existing websites to practise Joomla on it.

3. Joomla Resource Websites: Another good way to learn Joomla is to frequent threads, discussion forums and blogs that have a mine of information on how to create content with Joomla. you can find articles, videos and lectures on how you can create Joomla websites faster and better. They also contain FAQs that help you out in your beginning stages as a Joomla developer.

4. Joomla User Groups: Almost every big city now has a local Joomla User Group(JUG) that has enthusiastic and interactive Joomla webmasters. A JUG typically meets every month, but this could vary according to the availability and needs of the members of the Joomla group. During these meetings, you can also get the latest information on what's going on in the Joomla sphere, new useful tools and extensions, latest Joomla tutorials and templates, in addition to meeting fellow Joomla webmasters. You would also receive a lot of support from your network of new found friends and fellow Joomla webmasters and learners.

5. Continued Practice: We have already seen why you need hands-on training during the early stages in order to learn Joomla quickly. However, remember that the Joomla CMS is fast-changing. It is dynamic to the extent that if you don't constantly practice it, you will lose track of it or even forget what you already.

However, if you’re regularly in creating Joomla content and also are up to date with the latest developments, you will soon find out that learning Joomla is that much more easier and fun.

How to Optimize Joomla! Security

Joomla! has become one of the most popular content management systems and is widely used by thousands of websites around the world. The rapid growth of Joomla! Makes it a good target for hacker’s attacks. For this reason, there are some things that you should know to prevent attacks and improve your Joomla! Site’s security.

1. Choose a Good Server and Host

For a website, selecting an appropriate server and host is extremely important. If you’re using a bad host, think about changing your host supplier or using a completely separate server to avoid shared security issues.

2.  Activate and Use the .htaccess File

Make sure that you change the .htaccess.txt file to .htaccess and put it in your site’s root folder. You can also add some rules to rewrite for it to prevent the possibility of unaccepted exploitation.

3. Change Your Site’s Permission and Default Administrator Account

Carefully settings permission files for CHMOD ( note that nothing must be settings to 777 which gives full rights to an account). Also, change your Joomla! Default account’s name so as to make it more difficult for hackers even if they intend to attack your website.

4. Have A Backup And Troubleshooting Plan

Remember to backup your site on a regular basis and take some time to design a plan used in case your site is attacked (prevention is better than cure).

5. Manage Your Extension Well

Keep your existing extensions installed on your site updated. Consider an extension carefully in terms of its security, its code, update version etc before installing it to your site.

6. Delete the Extension’s Version Information

By removing this type of information, you help prevent attacks since the exploitation from hackers tends to focus on the specific version of the extension.

7. Remove Unused Files

If you installed many extensions but use only some of them, you’re creating trouble for yourself. Check your site and remove all unused extensions for the sake of your website.

8. Protect Your Password

Create for yourself a good habit: Changing your password periodically with mix of upper and lowercase, special symbol, letter and number. Make sure that your database access is password protected at MySQL.