Index of articles

by | Jun 6, 2026

Click open the Index headers below to browse FAQ

Our support articles address the most common issues we deal with “in the field” about Windows, Microsoft 365 Business, web server support, and web design. Click open the accordion sections below to look for self-serve help. Often, issues rely on a knowledge of IT concepts and language. Also, Microsoft, cPanel, and other software houses featured in these articles often update practice notes and procedures without notice. We review our pages regulalry, however you are advised to contact us for further help about these articles especially concerning issues around sovereign account identity and Multifactor Authentication (MFA).

Microsoft Windows 11
  1. Windows Pro or Windows Home? A Practical Guide for Business Owners
  2. Windows Restart vs Shut Down, and Daily Power Management
  3. Laptop Battery Health: Tips to Prolong Your Battery’s Lifespan
  4. Windows 11 System Restore: How to Create and Manage Restore Points Safely
  5. Windows Recovery drive – why Microsoft recommends it
  6. PC recovery tools vs Windows Recovery
  7. Why BitLocker for Small Business Matters
  8. Why Small Businesses Struggle With Microsoft 365 on Windows Home PCs
  9. How to Set Up a New Windows PC to Sign In Directly with a Microsoft 365 Work Account
  10. Windows 11 Setup Guide: 1. How to Configure Your PC Securely with Microsoft Accounts
  11. Windows 11: Why One Microsoft Account Isn’t Enough for Home and Small Business Users
  12. Windows 11 Setup for Privacy-Focused Users: Why Microsoft 365 Business Matters
Microsoft 365 setup, licensing and user management
  1. How to Set Up Microsoft 365 for a Small Business
  2. Why Small Businesses Struggle With Microsoft 365 on Windows Home PCs
  3. Microsoft 365 Global Administrator: Why Business Continuity needs 2 global admins
  4. Microsoft 365 Global Administrator: Why You Need a Second Admin and How to Assign Roles
  5. How to Set Up a New Windows PC to Sign In Directly with a Microsoft 365 Work Account
  6. How to add a new employee with Microsoft 365 User Onboarding
  7. How to manage Microsoft 365 when an employee leaves
  8. Email System Audit and Recovery Review
  9. How to Set Up Microsoft Authenticator MFA for 365
  10. How to Back Up MFA Credentials with Microsoft Authenticator Backup
  11. Microsoft Authenticator iPhone backup
  12. Locked Out of Your Microsoft 365 Account? Here’s What to Do When MFA Recovery Fails
  13. What Is a Shared Mailbox in Microsoft 365 and Why Your Business Should Use One
  14. Change Microsoft 365/email password
  15. Change Office 365 credit/debit card information
  16. Why Switching PC Users to Microsoft 365 Sign-In Matters for Small Businesses
  17. How to Transition PC Users to Microsoft 365 Sign-In and Entra ID
  18. How to Use Microsoft 365 MailTips to Improve Email Performance
Microsoft 365, Exchange Online and Outlook
  1. How to Backup Microsoft 365 Outlook Email to a PST File
  2. How Outlook Categories Transform Email Management
  3. Microsoft 365: Outlook Categories
  4. How to Search by Category in Outlook
  5. How to Manage Microsoft 365 Email Signatures
  6. About Microsoft 365 Outlook templates
  7. What Is a Shared Mailbox in Microsoft 365 and Why Your Business Should Use One
  8. How to Use Microsoft 365 MailTips to Improve Email Performance
  9. How to Use Outlook Sweep to Declutter Your Outlook Inbox
  10. Email migration from cPanel to Microsoft 365
  11. How to Use Microsoft 365 Inline Email Archiving
  12. Create a Microsoft 365 Exchange Online connector
  13. 2025 Email Security Guide for Business Owners: Avoiding Scams and Attacks
Microsoft 365 configuration and user tips and tricks
  1. Why Professional IT Support Still Matters in the Age of AI
  2. How to Use Folder Color Coding in Microsoft 365 to Boost Productivity
  3. How to Set Up a Microsoft 365 SharePoint Site for a Small Business
  4. OneNote Sync Troubleshooting
  5. Create a Microsoft 365 Exchange Online connector
  6. Configure SPF, rDNS, DKIM, and DMARC for email

The following articles can be found using <Search> or scrolling through our list of articles. Procedures may have changed since and therefore this content is either being eidted or deprecated. So, although we are editing this content, you might still find useful information to help with issues.

  1. – Exchange Online – room and equipment resources
  2. – Reset Office 365 password expiration policy
  3. – Exchange Email – EOP antivirus/spam
  4. – Exchange Online Protection – EOP
  5. – Microsoft 365 Exchange Email – data leakage & loss protection
  6. – Microsoft ActiveSync
cPanel - web server | email |DNS
  1. How to Change Your Email Password in Roundcube Webmail
  2. How cPanel Spam Filters Work
  3. What Is cPanel BoxTrapper And Why Email Users Should Care
  4. Email Management in cPanel: Save Space, Cut Costs, and Go Green
  5. 2025 Email Security Guide for Business Owners: Avoiding Scams and Attacks
  6. Email System Audit and Recovery Review
  7. Safeguard your .uk domain names – Nominet
  8. Email migration from cPanel to Microsoft 365
  9. How to manage a web site contact form
  10. How to configure DNS for a contact form
  11. Configure SPF, rDNS, DKIM, and DMARC for email
  12. Create a new email address with cPanel
  13. How to use cPanel Web Disk
  14. cPanel Disaster Recovery Backups: Ownership responsibility
  15. How to back up your web server with cPanel
  16. cPanel WordPress Backup: A Practical Guide for Virtual Host Owners
  17. Add SPF to your DNS zone record
  18. Configure DMARC using cPanel
  19. Configure DKIM in cPanel
  20. Configure Reverse DNS (RDNS)
  21. cPanel email account considerations
  22. Why Authoritative Nameservers Matter for Your Web Hosting Setup
cPanel - Sitejet web design software
  1. How to back up your web server with cPanel
  2. Move a Sitejet website from a subdirectory to the root in cPanel
  3. Adding background images with Sitejet
  4. Schedule your social media posts with Social Bee
  5. 5 Best Calendar Booking Widgets for Sitejet Websites in 2025

cPanel WordPress Backup: A Practical Guide for Virtual Host Owners

by | May 5, 2026

Introduction

If you manage your own virtual host, you need a cPanel WordPress backup  strategy. While you can configure cPanel a few ways to automate backups, the truth is that using cPanel Terminal or SSH is more comprehensive. It also affords maximum flexibility when restoring content.

For instance, Softaculous and other third party backup utilities impose attributes during backup/export that can obstruct access to files during restoration.

Instead, cPanel’s CLI (Command Line Interface) provides means to rename directory/file ownership and avoid WordPress ID codes that can render backups unusable.  This guide shows you how to back up and restore your WordPress site, database, and (optionally) email quickly and reliably.

Important: this article gives an overview of a backup procedure assuming conventional configurations. You may need to tailor this workflow according to your virtual host’s LAMP, PHP, WordPress (or nested WordPress), and MySQL versions. If in doubt, you should contact us especially for production web sites for professional help.

Click open the headers below to learn more about using simple command line instructions to secure maximum flexibility for data restoration. Support options are available for professional assistance. You can return to our Index of Articles by clicking here.

What You Need Before You Start

To follow this cPanel WordPress backup workflow, you will need:

  • SSH access to your server
  • Your cPanel username and password credentials
  • Basic command-line familiarity
  • Permission to run backup commands

You may need to contact us for SSH access. SSH is usually restricted for improved security, and we are happy to enable it should you want SSH on an ongoing basis.

Step 1: Back Up WordPress Files

Your WordPress site lives in the public_html directory in your server’s home directory. Use this command to create a compressed archive:

tar -czf /home/username/public_html.tar.gz -C /home/username public_html

This creates a clean file backup that includes:

  • Themes
  • Plugins
  • Media uploads
  • Configuration files

This is the first part of your cPanel WordPress backup process. 

Step 2: Back Up your WordPress Database

WordPress stores your web site’s content in a MySQL database. Credentials for your database are stored “server side” in a WordPress file called wp-config.php. You can open this file with a text editor to make a note of these credentials:

  • DB name
  • DB user
  • DB password

Next, using your SSH command line, run this command:

mysqldump -u dbuser -p dbname > /home/username/database.sql

This database dump contains:

  • Posts and pages
  • Users
  • Site settings

You can alternately export the database using phpMyAdmin. This is another efficient option, and it is secure because the database “dump” is downloaded to your local workstation. 

Step 3 (OPTIONAL) Back Up Email

Email is stored separately from your website. Usually, email is handled via Microsoft 365, Gmail, or another email service. If you manage email via your web server, though, you need to back up your email. To capture this content use:

tar -czf /home/username/email.tar.gz -C /home/username mail etc

This captures:

  • Mailboxes and messages
  • Email account configuration

You can back up all accounts at once or target individual mailboxes if needed.

Step 4: Store Your Backups Safely

Once created, download your backups or move them to a safe location. For example:

scp username@server:/home/username/*.tar.gz ./

This command copies files from the server to your local machine. You can use cPanel File Explorer to do the same thing. Sometimes, using a mouse is a more familiar way to deal with files. Either way, keeping copies off the server ensures you can recover even if the original host fails.

Restoring your WordPress site

There are a few reasons backups are useful:

  • you want to restore a last known working condition
  • you want to migrate your web site to a new web server
  • you may need to re-house your web site using a different domain name

Using Linux commands using cPanel’s SSH access is the only way to allow these eventualities to happen.

Restore your WordPress site

This cPanel WordPress backup workflow makes recovery simple. If you are restoring files to your existing server, skip to step 2.

  1. Recreate the cPanel Account
    1. Set up a new account with the same username if possible.
  2. Restore WordPress Themes/Plugins/Admin files
    1. tar -xzf public_html.tar.gz -C /home/username
  3. Restore Database
    1. mysql -u dbuser -p dbname < database.sql
  4. Fix Permissions
    1. chown -R username:username /home/username/public_html
  5. Check configuration
    1. Ensure wp-config.php matches the database details.

Restore email (optional)

If you included email in your cPanel backup WordPress process:

  1. Recreate email accounts in cPanel
  2. Restore files:
    1. tar -xzf email.tar.gz -C /home/username
  3. Reset permissions:
    1. chown -R username:mail /home/username/mail

Mail clients should then resynchronise automatically.

Why This Method Works Well

There are a few ways to backup a WordPress installation. Most methods become problematic because of limitations that backup utilities offer. Sometimes, this is to suit a limited purpose in the first place. This cPanel WordPress backup approach gives you:

  • Independence from cPanel restore tools
  • Fast, lightweight backups
  • Full control over restoration
    • including file naming
    • ignoring WordPress ID codes that might prohibit import
    • renaming and credentialling WordPress databases
  • Clean rebuilds without legacy issues
Summary

A manual cPanel WordPress backup workflow using SSH is simple, reliable, and efficient. It suits users who want clarity and control during migrations or recovery.

Used alongside standard cPanel tools, our cPanel WordPress backup workflow  gives you both flexibility and peace of mind.

If you need help adopting this workflow, or you need disaster recovery planning or assistance, please get in touch, or use our contact page to organize an appointment which suits your timetable. You can return to our Index of Articles by clicking here .

What Is BoxTrapper in cPanel and Why Email Users Should Care

by | Oct 2, 2025

BoxTrapper in cPanel: A Simple Yet Effective Spam Filter

BoxTrapper is a built-in spam filtering tool available in cPanel web hosting dashboards. It works by using a challenge-response system: when someone emails you, BoxTrapper checks if the sender is on your approved list. If not, it sends a verification email asking them to confirm they’re human. Only verified senders get through.

BoxTrapper is useful for users who receive a lot of unsolicited emails or run public-facing contact forms. It is a straightforward way to reduce inbox clutter without needing advanced filtering rules or third-party tools. 

Click on the headers below to learn about BoxTrapper. Click on images to view at full-sized resolution. For guidance about BoxTrapper, please contact us for help.

Why BoxTrapper Is Useful for Everyday Email Users

Spam filters usually rely on complex algorithms or blacklists. BoxTrapper takes a different approach—putting the sender to the test.

For example, imagine you run a small business and get dozens of emails daily. Most are genuine, but some are spam bots trying to sell you things. With BoxTrapper enabled, those bots never make it to your inbox unless they reply to the verification email—which they rarely do.

This keeps your inbox clean and ensures you only deal with real people. It is especially handy for users who do not want to manage detailed filtering rules or pay for premium anti-spam services.

How BoxTrapper Differs from Microsoft 365 and Exchange Online Filtering

Microsoft 365 and Exchange Online use advanced filtering systems powered by AI and threat intelligence. These platforms scan email content, sender reputation, and attachments to detect spam, phishing, and malware.

BoxTrapper, by contrast, is much simpler. It does not scan content or use AI—it just asks senders to verify themselves. While this can be effective for basic spam control, it lacks the nuance and automation of enterprise-grade solutions.

For users who need granular control, reporting, or integration with security policies, Microsoft’s tools are more powerful and flexible. For small websites or personal email accounts hosted on cPanel, BoxTrapper offers a low-maintenance alternative.

Managing BoxTrapper as a Virtual Host Account Administrator

BoxTrapper is configured at server level, not email account level. If you have server admin privileges, you can enable, configure, and manage BoxTrapper from your cPanel web server control panel:

  1. Log into cPanel and go to the Email section.
  2. Click on BoxTrapper.
  3. Select the email account you want to protect.
  4. Enable BoxTrapper and customise the verification message.
  5. Add trusted senders to your whitelist.
  6. Review logs and manage queue messages as needed.

You can also set up auto-whitelisting for people you reply to, reducing friction for regular contacts. Admins can manage multiple accounts and tweak settings to suit different users. For current BoxTrapper specifications, see this article at cPanel Docs.

Summary

BoxTrapper is a simple way to reduce incoming spam. Server admins can apply BoxTrapper selectively on email accounts, or globally. However, BoxTrapper’s success depends on users white-listing approved email addresses. This means that senders may not understand that they need to respond to a verification email to successfully dispatch an email to you. Also, email users need to pay attention to their email whitelists.

Micrsoft 365 provides a more naunced approach, however this can be subject to someone understanding the intricacies of Exchange Online to micro-manage spam-filtering.

About ComStat.uk: Internet Service Provider Comstat provides IT support, web hosting, and media services including web design, Microsoft 365 setup, and audio/video production, serving businesses across Denbighshire, North Wales and Wirral from Ruthin, and Lancashire and the Northwest from Bolton.

Schedule your social media posts with Social Bee

by | Aug 12, 2025

Automate your social media management

Social Bee, available via your web server’s cPanel dashboard, helps you post your social messages at scale across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, YouTube and more to save save time and improve your brand’s online presence.

Click open the headers below to find out more about how you can reduce overheads with Social Bee to schedule and post your content across multiple platforms.

What Is Social Bee?

    Social Bee is a social media management tool. It lets you schedule posts, manage content, and track performance—all from one place. If your business uses Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram, Social Bee helps you stay active without logging into each site to manually organise posts.

    You do not need to be tech-savvy to use tools like this. Social Bee works directly from your cPanel dashboard. That means no extra software, no complicated setup, and no need for IT support. Instead, you can manage social media messaging with Social Bee to automate posts on social platforms like:

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Threads
    • X
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
    • Google Business Profile
    • Bluesky
    Why Use Social Bee?

    Social Bee is available as a standalone subscription. However, by integrating the platform through your cPanel web hosting portal, you can:

    • Share content on multiple networks at once
    • Schedule posts in advance
    • Re-use “evergreen” posts to keep your feed fresh
    • See what works and improve your strategy with analytics

    These features help you maintain a consistent online presence. This is important for building trust and attracting customers.

    Easy Access via cPanel

    Social Bee is already available through your web server’s cPanel dashboard, which is the control panel you use to manage your web hosting. Navigate to <Domains>, click on Social Media Management, and set up your account. After setting up your Social Bee account, log in to your server’s cPanel dashboard, navigate to <Domains>, click on Social Media Management, and start posting.

     

    cpanel social media management tool

    Social Bee is integrated with your cPanel web server dashboard.

    Summary

    Social Bee is a smart choice for busy business owners. It saves time, boosts your social media reach, and improves your content quality. Best of all, it is easy to use—even if you are not an IT expert.

    Ready to simplify your social media? Try Social Bee today through your cPanel dashboard.

    About ComStat.uk: Internet Service Provider Comstat provides IT support, web hosting, and media services including website design, Microsoft 365 setup, and audio/video production, serving businesses across Denbighshire, North Wales and Wirral from Ruthin, and Lancashire and the Northwest from Bolton.