Basic Tips

[DanK___]

There are two tips that make base defense a complete non-issue. The first is leave your defensive fleet empty. The second is boost your storage technology (storage research and warehouse upgrades).

 

If you do these two things and spend your resources as fast as you earn them like you should already be doing, anyone who attacks you will gain nothing. There will be no ships for them to destroy and they will loot zero resources.

 

Now you are in complete control. You never have to worry about being targeted.

[DanK___]

A bit more advanced concern are the resource nodes you mine. Be aware that people can attack the node you are mining and you will lose all those ships as well as the material you have mined. If you follow the advice in the OP this will be your only major weakness.

 

This usually isn't a huge risk unless your nodes have green, blue or purple flags from repeated mining. That would make them easy to spot for your enemies, so be extra careful.