Inselkampf Community

Hello, Does anyone have any advice to new players to avoid being looted by stronger players when they are just starting up? I have been trying to build up my island but I just recently found the game so the players around me are significantly ahead of me. I tried to build up defenses and army but they were not even close to helping. I understand that this is kind of the purpose of the game and am assuming that i am kinda screwed but thought i would ask anyways