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Digital cleanup

The Digital Cleanup Checklist Your Website Needs

Small Business Success

When was the last time you gave your website a good scrub?

We’re not talking about tweaking a headline or swapping out a stock photo. We mean digging into the digital junk drawer and tossing the stuff that’s slowing you down. Outdated plugins? Gone. Bloated pages? See ya. Broken links and forgotten tools? Adios.

Just like your home needs a spring cleaning, your online presence does too, especially if you're running a business.

Here’s your digital cleanup hit list

✅ Give your website a tune-up

Websites age fast. Maybe that promo you ran last year is still live, or your list of services is outdated. Is your contact form even working properly?

Start by reviewing all the content on your site. Update pricing, swap out old product descriptions, and make sure everything reflects your current offerings. Check your navigation too: if users have to click five times to reach something important, you're losing them. Clean, simple menus make all the difference.

Then there's performance. Run a speed test using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix. If your site takes more than a few seconds to load, it's time to optimize. Compress large images, eliminate unused scripts, and make sure your site is responsive across devices.

✅ Ditch the plugin bloat

If you’re using a content management system (CMS) like WordPress, outdated or unused plugins can add needless weight to your site and create security holes.

Audit your CMS and remove anything you're not actively using. A cleaner backend not only improves performance but also reduces the risk of conflicts and vulnerabilities. And don’t forget to regularly update plugins, themes, and the CMS itself. Running the latest versions keeps your site fast, stable, and secure.

✅ Cut the clutter from your tech stack

Take a hard look at your digital toolkit. Are you paying for subscriptions you haven’t used in months? Do you have multiple tools that do the same thing?

Time to simplify. Many modern platforms offer all-in-one solutions that cover email marketing, social scheduling, analytics, and more. In short, cutting the fat here saves time and money.

✅ Clean up hosting and email

Behind every slowpoke site is often a cluttered server. Over time, there’s a buildup of unused files, old backups, and bloated databases. Clear them out. Not only will this free up space, it can also improve site speed.

Do the same for your email. Archive or delete old messages, check for unused forwarders or inboxes, and make sure your spam filters are doing their job. And don’t forget about backups! Set them up to run automatically and store them offsite or in the cloud.

Let us do the heavy lifting. WHC’s care experts are here to keep your site in tip-top shape.

✅ Tighten up SEO and analytics

SEO is never a set-it-and-forget-it job. Algorithms change, and so should your strategy.

Review your metadata, keywords, and internal links. Are you still targeting terms that matter to your audience? Are your title tags and descriptions engaging (and within the right length)? This is also a great time to fix broken links and refresh older blog content.

Now take a peek under the hood. Check your analytics setup to make sure everything is still tracking correctly. Remove duplicate tracking codes and ensure events/goals are set up properly.

Need expert guidance for your SEO needs? We’ve got you covered.

✅ Lock it down

Security is the one thing you never want to "clean up" after it’s too late.

Update all passwords and use a secure password manager. Review user access levels and remove any accounts no longer in use. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible.

And if you’re unsure whether your site is secure? WHC offers proactive monitoring, malware protection, and regular updates to keep threats at bay.

Why bother with all this?

Because your website is your digital storefront.

If things are messy, people notice. But when your website is clean and easy to use, you win more trust, more clients, and more sales.

Not sure where to start? Let our team handle the busy work. WHC’s professional design and care plans are made for business owners who want pro-level results without the headache.

So this season, let’s keep things fresh. Your future self will thank you, and so will your customers!

This website is proudly hosted in Quebec

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This website is proudly hosted in Quebec

This website is proudly hosted in Quebec

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Phishing Alert

New Wave of Phishing Attempts

Security

At WHC, protecting our clients’ online safety and success is a top priority. We're currently addressing a security concern that may affect you.

We’d also like to thank our customers for swiftly bringing this to our attention. When we work together, we move fast.

What’s happening?

We've identified a new wave of phishing attempts where fraudulent emails are being sent to our customers, falsely appearing as official WHC communications. Some customers have reported receiving misleading domain verification notices from suspicious addresses claiming to be affiliated with us. These emails are not from WHC. Their goal is to deceive users into providing sensitive information, like login credentials, by redirecting them to a fake website designed to closely resemble ours.

Email example

How to spot phishing emails

Phishing emails often aim to trigger urgency or fear to prompt immediate action. To stay safe, be mindful of these warning signs:

  • Suspicious links: Always hover over links (without clicking) to confirm the URL directs you to our official website. In the example above, we can see that the URL does not link to whc.ca.
  • Unfamiliar sender: Emails not originating from our official domain (@whc.ca) are likely fraudulent.
  • Requests for sensitive information: WHC will never ask for passwords or confidential details via email.
  • Spelling and grammar errors: Poorly written messages can be a red flag.

To confirm legitimacy, type the URL directly into your browser. Here are some examples:

✅ whc.ca – LEGIT
 ✅ clients.whc.ca – LEGIT
 ❌ clients-whc.ca – FRAUD
 ❌ billing-whc.ca – FRAUD

Recently, some users have reported emails from [email protected] or [email protected]. Even though our name appears in these email addresses, they’re fraudulent. WHC will only contact you using official addresses ending in “@whc.ca.”

What You Can Do Right Now

  • Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): If you haven’t already, activate 2FA for enhanced protection. This security measure ensures that only you can access your account, even if your password is compromised.

  • Verify website authenticity: Always confirm you are on our official website, whc.ca, before logging in. Check for the secure lock icon beside the URL and ensure the address is accurate.

  • Be aware of fake SSL certificates: Although attackers may use SSL-secured sites, you can review the website’s certificate to ensure it’s valid. Click the padlock icon and verify our name is displayed under the organization field.

How we’re responding

  • Active monitoring: Our security team is continuously monitoring this situation to minimize risks and prevent further incidents.

  • 24/7 support: Our bilingual support team is available around the clock, in English and French, via chat, phone, or tickets to assist you with any concerns or questions.

What to do if you've been targeted

If you suspect you've fallen victim to a phishing attempt, don’t panic. Acting quickly can help limit potential damage:

  1. Change your passwords: Update passwords for your Client Area, email, WordPress logins, and any other services you use. Always opt for strong, unique passwords and use official password reset methods.
    When resetting your passwords, always use official password reset methods. Never click on any links received from an untrusted email.
  2. Enable 2FA: Adding two-factor authentication to your accounts will make unauthorized access significantly harder.

  3. Check for suspicious activity: Review your accounts for any unfamiliar actions or files. Phishing attacks can sometimes involve malware uploads. If you detect anything unusual, contact our support team immediately.

Report fraud: If you believe your site or organization has been targeted, use the Canadian Competition Bureau reporting guide to file a formal report.

Stay Protected

If you receive a suspicious email, do not click on any links or provide any information. Instead, report it to our support team right away and mark it as spam. We also recommend conducting regular reviews of your accounts and updating your passwords periodically as an added precaution.

Toronto Servers

New WHC Servers Now Live in Toronto

WHC News & Events

WHC is expanding with brand-new servers in Toronto! This gives you the flexibility to host your websites and emails even closer to your Central Canadian users, who can enjoy even faster speeds and a smoother experience than ever before.

Now with datacenters across Eastern, Western, and Central Canada, WHC puts you in control so you can host nearer to your audience and deliver premium performance from coast to coast.

Why hosting in Canada matters

If your business serves a Canadian audience, keeping your data on Canadian soil ensures:

✅ Faster website and email performance – Hosting closer to your audience means quicker load times.
✅ Stronger Canadian hosting – Secure, high-performance datacenters across the East, West, and Central regions.
✅ Real support for the Canadian economy – Choosing a local hosting provider keeps jobs, investments, and infrastructure in Canada.

WHC is proud to keep it Canadian

Canadian-owned and operated

Unlike foreign hosting giants, WHC is built for Canadians, by Canadians, and we've cultivated a deep understanding of the unique needs of local businesses.

Data protected under Canadian privacy laws

Hosting with WHC means your business data stays in Canada, shielded from foreign data regulations and unpredictable legal requirements.

24/7 Support

Enjoy expert support from a team that cares about your business and is dedicated to helping your business succeed online.

Choose your preferred hosting location

New to WHC? Choose between Eastern (Montreal), Central (Toronto), or Western (Vancouver) servers when signing up.

Already with us? If you want to change your server location, our expert support team can help with the migration!

More options, more performance, still Canadian

This is about more than just adding servers. It’s about providing even more choice and performance for Canadian businesses. With more options and a better experience for users, now is the perfect time to discover premium Canadian hosting.

Data Sovereignty

Why Data Sovereignty Matters for Canadians

Security

Ever wonder where your online data actually lives? If you’re a Canadian business or individual, that’s a bigger deal than you might realize. And in a world where privacy, security, and digital control are hot topics, keeping your data on Canadian soil is more important than ever.

Let’s break it down.

What is data sovereignty, anyway?

Put simply, data sovereignty means that data stored in a country falls under that country’s legal system. Sounds straightforward, but the implications are huge.

Different countries have different laws on data access and privacy. To put it mildly, some offer more peace of mind than others. If your data is stored elsewhere, it could be acquired by foreign governments or subject to regulations that don’t align with Canadian privacy standards.

Act now:

If your data is sitting outside Canada, it’s at risk. Make the switch today.

Why should Canadians care?

Canadian privacy laws, like PIPEDA, offer strong protections and align with our expectations around how personal and business data should be handled. Hosting your data in Canada helps:

Protect your privacy

Data stored abroad may be subject to foreign surveillance and looser privacy rules.

Simplify compliance

Staying within Canada means working within one clear legal framework: ours.

Support local 

Choosing Canadian-hosted services strengthens our tech sector and keeps jobs and investment at home.

Make an impact:

Choose local hosting and help build a stronger, more innovative Canada.

The risks of storing data outside Canada

Still thinking about hosting your data abroad? Let’s dive a bit deeper into the possible consequences:

Foreign surveillance and legal loopholes

Take the United States, for example. Under the CLOUD Act, authorities can access data stored by American companies—even if that data is outside the U.S. That’s a huge privacy risk for Canadian businesses and individuals.

Global uncertainty

Regulations shift, governments change, and international tensions rise. Storing data in another country could lead to unexpected restrictions, data access issues, or compliance headaches down the road.

Slower speeds

The farther your data has to travel, the slower your website, apps, and services perform. If your customers are in Canada, storing your data elsewhere could impact latency, compliance, and security.

WHC: Your data, your country

At WHC, we take data sovereignty seriously. With datacenters right here in Canada, your websites and emails stay on home turf, and we’ll always proudly support businesses that invest in our economy, create jobs here, and don’t answer to foreign interests.

Let’s keep it Canadian, eh?

When your data’s here in Canada, expect stronger privacy, better security, and a more resilient digital economy.

Make the smart move. Choose WHC’s Canadian web hosting solutions to protect your data and keep it where it belongs: right here in Canada.

Explore our hosting plans today!