How To Keep Your WordPress Website Secure (Updated for 2024)
This article covers essential steps to secure a WordPress website, from updating the WordPress core, plugins, and themes to using two-factor authentication and employing a Web Application Firewall. It also discusses the importance of strong passwords, regular backups, securing login credentials, server security, malware protection, and choosing a reliable hosting provider. If you follow these practices, you can protect your site from common threats like brute force attacks, malware, and ransomware.
Over 40% of websites worldwide run on WordPress, making it a frequent target for cyberattacks. More than 90,000 attacks happen every minute on WordPress sites, exposing them to potential data breaches, malware, and financial losses. The consequences of inadequate security include not just a breach of sensitive data, but also damage to a business’s reputation. To avoid this, site owners must implement solid security practices. These involve regular updates to the WordPress core, themes, and plugins, as well as securing login credentials and server configurations.
Outdated software is one of the most common vulnerabilities for WordPress sites. In fact, about 56% of hacked WordPress sites were running outdated software when they were compromised. Keeping the WordPress core, themes, and plugins up to date is crucial to ensure that your site is protected from known vulnerabilities. These updates often contain patches for security flaws that hackers are looking to exploit. Failing to apply them leaves your site exposed.
Automatic updates make this task easier. Most hosting providers offer this feature, ensuring your site remains up to date without manual intervention. If your site uses a large number of plugins, it’s even more critical to update regularly because each outdated plugin introduces additional vulnerabilities. Backup your site before running updates to safeguard against potential data loss in case of errors.
Think of updates as routine maintenance. Ignoring update notifications is like leaving your doors unlocked—hackers can easily walk in. Keeping your site software current helps minimize the chances of a data breach and ensures smooth functionality.
Your login credentials are the first barrier between hackers and your WordPress website. Using weak or common passwords makes your site vulnerable to brute force attacks, where attackers repeatedly try to guess your password. A simple step to reduce this risk is creating strong, unique passwords that contain a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
Password managers like LastPass can generate and store secure passwords, eliminating the need to remember them. Using the same password across multiple sites is also risky, as a breach in one place could expose all your accounts. Securing login credentials doesn’t stop at strong passwords. Adding two-factor authentication (2FA) adds a second layer of security. With 2FA enabled, users need not only a password but also a second form of verification, like a code sent to their phone.
Another method to protect your login page is by changing the default WordPress admin URL from /wp-admin to a custom path. Hackers often target this default login page, but using a custom URL makes it harder for them to locate the entry point. Plugins like Limit Login Attempts Reloaded can also restrict the number of failed login attempts, reducing the risk of brute force attacks.
Security plugins are an indispensable part of WordPress security. They offer features that protect your site from a variety of threats, including malware, brute force attacks, and unauthorized access. Wordfence Security and Sucuri Security are two of the most widely used plugins. These tools provide real-time monitoring of your site, malware scanning, and firewall integration.
These plugins scan your website regularly for signs of malicious code or vulnerabilities. In addition to scanning, they block traffic from known malicious sources. If any suspicious activity is detected, you receive notifications so you can take immediate action. Setting up automated scans helps ensure that your site is continuously monitored without manual input.
A Web Application Firewall (WAF) adds a vital layer of protection to your WordPress website by filtering incoming traffic and blocking malicious requests before they reach your site. Solutions like Cloudflare offer this service and protect against common threats like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.
Hackers use these attacks to exploit vulnerabilities in website code. A WAF identifies suspicious traffic patterns and blocks them, reducing the likelihood of a successful attack. By keeping a WAF active, you also limit the risk posed by automated bots that scan websites for weaknesses to exploit.
A firewall is a necessary barrier between your site and external threats, ensuring that only legitimate traffic makes it through. Without this protection, your site remains vulnerable to both automated and targeted attacks.
Securing the server hosting your WordPress site is equally as important as securing the website itself. Weak server configurations can expose your website to malware and other cyber threats. Start by ensuring you use Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) rather than the traditional FTP. SFTP encrypts data during transfer, preventing it from being intercepted.
Next, check your file permissions. Proper file permissions prevent unauthorized access to sensitive files on your server. For most WordPress installations, directories should be set to 755 and files to 644. These settings restrict who can read, write, and execute files, making it harder for attackers to modify them.
Regular security audits and vulnerability scans are essential for spotting weak points in your server configuration. Hosting providers often provide these services, but you can also run scans through security plugins or external services. reCAPTCHA can also be used to prevent bots from overwhelming your server by spamming forms or attempting brute-force logins.
Regular backups of your website data are essential for maintaining security. Even with the best security measures in place, breaches can happen. Having a backup ensures you can restore your website to its original state in case of an attack. Many hosting providers offer automated backup services saving you the hassle of remembering to do it manually.
Security plugins like UpdraftPlus allow you to schedule backups at regular intervals, keeping your site data safe in case of a cyber incident. You should store backups in a secure location and ensure that your site’s core files and database are backed up.
Your hosting provider plays a crucial role in your WordPress website’s security. A good provider offers more than just server space; they provide additional services like SSL certificates, DDoS protection, regular server updates, and automated backups.
SSL certificates encrypt the data exchanged between your website and its users, safeguarding sensitive information like login credentials and payment details. SSL also improves your SEO ranking, as search engines prioritize secure websites.
Additionally, a reliable host will offer protection against DDoS attacks. These attacks flood your website with fake traffic, making it unavailable to legitimate users. DDoS protection helps prevent your site from going offline during an attack, ensuring uptime and availability.
When selecting a hosting provider, prioritize one that offers comprehensive security features. It’s not enough for your provider to host your site; they must actively work to protect it from threats.
Malware and ransomware attacks can cripple a WordPress site. Security plugins, malware scans, and SSL certificates work together to prevent these threats. Regular scans identify any suspicious code, and taking immediate action reduces the risk of widespread damage.
Installing plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri adds a layer of defense against malware. These plugins block malicious traffic, scan for infections, and help remove malware. In addition, using HTTPS on your site ensures encrypted communication between users and your site, further safeguarding against man-in-the-middle attacks.
Security isn’t just about technology; it’s also about awareness. Training your team to recognize phishing attempts, avoid weak passwords, and understand basic security protocols is crucial. Human error often leads to vulnerabilities, so keeping staff aware of best practices helps minimize risks.
Running regular security training sessions can reduce the likelihood of an insider threat. Educating everyone involved with your website ensures they’re informed about potential risks and how to avoid them.
To keep your WordPress website secure you must be proactive by regularly updating your software, securing login credentials, using security plugins, and ensuring your server is well-protected. Adding layers of protection such as two-factor authentication, a web application firewall, and regular backups further fortifies your site against potential threats like brute force attacks, malware, and ransomware. Additionally, selecting a reliable hosting provider and educating your team on security best practices strengthens your defense against cyber threats. By implementing these measures, you can safeguard your website, protect sensitive data, and maintain the trust of your users.
