How To Secure WordPress: Strong Tips For Website Protection. (2024)

To add strong security on a wordpress website, install a security plugin and enable two-factor authentication (2fa). WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (cms) today, and its popularity makes it a target for hackers.

Without proper security measures, your website could be vulnerable to cyber attacks. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to harden your wordpress security. One of the first things you can do is to install a security plugin, like wordfence or sucuri.

These plugins offer a range of features, including malware scanning, firewall protection, and login security. Additionally, enabling two-factor authentication (2fa) adds an extra layer of security to your login process. By requiring a username, password, and a unique code generated by an authenticator app, you can significantly decrease the risk of unauthorized access to your site.

Understanding Potential WordPress Security Threats

WordPress is the most commonly hacked cms, and its popularity makes it a major target for cybercriminals. A secure website is essential for both your reputation and your visitors’ data protection. Hence, website owners must know what potential threats exist and how to prevent them.

In this section, we will discuss some common ways that hackers can exploit wordpress sites and the importance of identifying and understanding potential security threats.

Common Ways WordPress Sites Get Hacked

WordPress security threats range from malicious software to human error. Here are some common ways hackers can exploit websites:

Brute force attacks: Attackers use this method to attempt to guess your password by using automated software that runs through a list of possible passwords until the correct one is found.
Outdated software: Using outdated software like wordpress or plugins increases the risk of your site being compromised. Older versions contain known vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit.
Malware: Malware can infect your website and allows hackers to spy on your site’s visitors or install harmful software on their devices.
Sql injection: Sql injection attempts to exploit out-of-date database software vulnerabilities. It can enable attackers to execute unauthorised actions on your website, such as modifying pages or stealing personal data.
File inclusion attacks: This type of attack targets the files on your website to execute arbitrary code.
Cross-site scripting (xss): Xss occurs when attackers inject malicious code into your website through 3rd party plugins or services.

Importance Of Identifying And Understanding Potential Security Threats

Identifying potential security threats is the first step in preventing them. Understanding how hackers can exploit your website and what vulnerabilities to look for can help you keep your site protected. By being aware of the most common security issues affecting wordpress sites, website owners can take proactive measures to secure their site against hackers.

Keeping your wordpress website secure should be a top priority. By familiarizing yourself with potential threats, you will have a better chance of protecting your site against malicious attacks. Stay vigilant, keep your software updated, and use strong passwords to deter attackers and keep your site secure.

Implementing Strong Passwords And User Authentication

Best Practices For Creating Strong Passwords

Creating strong passwords is the first and most basic step in securing your wordpress website. Here are some best practices for creating strong passwords:

Use at least 12 characters in your password and use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
Avoid using common words, phrases, or personal information that can be easily guessed.
Do not use the same password for multiple accounts.
Consider using a password manager to generate and store strong passwords securely.
Regularly change your passwords to keep them fresh and more secure.

Limiting Login Attempts

WordPress default settings allow unlimited login attempts, which make your website vulnerable to brute-force attacks. Here are some tips to limit login attempts:

Install a security plugin that provides login limiting features.
Set up lockdown settings to limit the number of failed attempts.
Set up a timed lockout for failed attempts to prevent bots from continuously attempting to log in.

Enabling Two-Factor Authentication For Users

Two-factor authentication is an extra layer of security that makes it harder for unauthorized users to access your site. Here are some ways to enable two-factor authentication:

Use a two-factor authentication plugin that supports authentication through email, sms or authenticator apps.
Consider using trusted authentication services like google authenticator, duo, or authy.
Encourage your users to set up two-factor authentication.

Proper authentication, strong passwords, and limited login attempts all play an important role in securing your wordpress website. Take the basic steps today to protect your wordpress site and keep your data and your users safe.

Ensuring Secure Hosting And Server Configuration

Choosing a secure hosting provider:

When selecting a hosting provider, it is critical to consider its reliability and security features. Select a web host that provides advanced security features and monitoring options to ensure secure hosting. Some primary considerations when selecting a hosting provider include:

Reputation: Conduct a thorough review of the hosting provider’s reputation. Read reviews on its website, social media platforms, and related blogs to see if there are any issues with the provider’s security policies.
Access control: Verify that access control measures are in place, such as identity authentications, access restrictions, and other compliance mechanisms.
Security protocols: Make sure the hosting provider secures its network infrastructure by implementing robust antivirus, firewalls, and intrusion detection measures.

Regular updates of server software and php versions:

Regular server updates play a vital role in ensuring secure hosting and server configuration. Server updates can include operating system updates, software patches, and php version upgrades. Here are some benefits of regular server updates:

Improved security: Close security vulnerabilities and keep hackers and cybercriminals at bay.
Improved performance: Fix software glitches or bugs that could slow down server performance.
Feature enhancements: New updates often come with new features which improve user experience, thus increasing website traffic.

Limiting access to the server:

Limiting access to the server is a critical step in ensuring website security. Here are some recommended strategies to restrict server access:

Limit root access: Only provide root access to trusted personnel as untrained personnel could accidentally modify server configurations that could result in a breach.
Implement strong passwords: Require strong and complex passwords that include uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters.
Use ssh keys: Use ssh keys for server access instead of passwords where possible. Ssh keys offer enhanced security as they require a private key stored on the user’s device to access the server.

Choosing a secure hosting provider, regular server updates, and limiting access to the server are all fundamental strategies to ensure secure hosting and server configuration. By implementing these strategies, website owners can protect their sites from cyber-attacks and security breaches.

Keeping WordPress Core, Plugins, And Themes Updated

WordPress is one of the most popular cms platforms on the internet. It is used to create all sorts of websites, from blogs to e-commerce sites. Nevertheless, it is also one of the most targeted platforms for hackers. Therefore, securing wordpress is crucial if you want to keep your website safe and online.

In this blog post, we will share some great tips on how you can protect your wordpress site. In this section, we will focus on the importance of keeping wordpress core, plugins, and themes updated.

Importance Of Updating WordPress Core, Plugins, And Themes

Updating your wordpress core, plugins, and themes is critical to keep your site safe and secure. The majority of vulnerabilities on wordpress sites arise from outdated software. Hackers can exploit these vulnerabilities to gain access to your site and wreak havoc.

In addition to security, there are numerous new features and bug fixes available in software upgrades that can improve the website’s performance and functionality.

Best Practices For Managing Updates

Here are some best practices to ensure that you manage your updates effectively:

Make sure you have a backup of your website before upgrading any of the core, plugins, or themes. In case something goes wrong, you will have a way to revert your website to the previous version.
Only update one item at a time. This will allow you to check if everything is working correctly after each update.
When upgrading, check if any plugins or themes are not compatible with the new version of wordpress. You can do this by reviewing the documentation or the official website of each item.
Update your website as soon as possible after a new version is released. The longer you wait, the more potential issues and vulnerabilities can arise.
Always use the most recent version of wordpress, plugins, and themes to avoid security gaps.
If you need help with updating your wordpress site, consult a professional.

Importance Of Using Only Trusted Plugins And Themes

It is imperative to be selective when choosing the plugins and themes for your wordpress site. Some plugins and themes may pose security risks, be outdated, or not perform as expected. Only use reputable sources and conduct thorough research on the developer, as well as reading the reviews before installing them.

This will minimize the risk of introducing vulnerabilities to your website.

Keeping the wordpress core, plugins, and themes updated is paramount to protecting your site. Be sure to follow the best practices when managing updates and use trusted plugins and themes. By following these guidelines, you will be well on your way to securing your wordpress site.

Securing WordPress Installation And File Permissions

WordPress is a popular content management system (cms) that power millions of websites globally. However, the popularity of this platform makes it a primary target for attackers seeking to exploit any vulnerability that is available. Thus, creating a secure website is crucial to keeping your data and assets safe from harm.

Securing your wordpress website involves a series of steps, including correctly installing wordpress, updating themes and plugins, setting secure passwords, taking regular backups, using ssl certificates, and much more. We will discuss the steps you can take to secure your wordpress installation and file permissions.

Securing Wp-Admin And Wp-Includes Folders

The wp-admin and wp-includes folders in your wordpress directory contain essential files that are required by wordpress to function correctly. The two folders are also the primary targets for attackers seeking to gain unauthorized access to your website. Here are the steps you can take to protect these folders:

Use a strong password – use strong, unique passwords for your wordpress admin account and all other user accounts. A strong password should contain upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters.
Activate two-factor authentication – two-factor authentication is an extra layer of security that makes it hard for attackers to gain access to your website. It requires a code generated by an application or sent via sms to a verified phone. You’ll have to enter this code in addition to the password.
Rename wp-admin or wp-includes folder – renaming the default wp-admin and wp-includes folder makes it harder for attackers to locate the login page and essential files they need to exploit. However, you should take extreme care when doing this because renaming these folders incorrectly may result in website downtime.

Disabling File Editing Within WordPress Dashboard

By default, wordpress allows users to edit files from the dashboard, including themes and plugins. This feature is useful for developers and designers, but it can be a significant security risk. Attackers who gain unauthorized access to your dashboard will have the ability to change these files and wreak havoc on your website.

Follow these steps to disable file editing:

Open wp-config.php – locate the wp-config.php file in the root directory of your wordpress website and add the following line of code at the bottom: Define( ‘disallow_file_edit’, true );
Disable theme and plugin editors – you can also disable the theme and plugin editors by adding the code below to the functions.php file of your theme: Remove_submenu_page( ‘themes.php’, ‘theme-editor.php’ ); remove_submenu_page( ‘plugins.php’, ‘plugin-editor.php’ );

Setting Proper File Permissions

File permissions determine who can read, write, and execute files on your website. Incorrect file permissions can lead to critical website vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit. Here are a few tips for setting proper file permissions:

Set permissions to 644 – this permission code allows the owner to read and write files and everyone else to read the file.
Set permissions to 755 – this permission code allows the file owner to read, write, and execute files, and everyone else to read and execute the file.

Securing your wordpress installation and file permissions is crucial to keeping your website safe from attackers. Take time to implement the tips discussed and you will be well on your way to creating a secure website that is well-protected from cyber threats.

Enabling Ssl And Https

Understanding The Importance Of Ssl And Https

If you’re running a wordpress website, then website protection should be a top priority on your to-do list. Website security is necessary to protect your website against any cyber attacks. By enabling ssl and https on your website, you are adding a strong layer of protection to secure your website from hackers.

Here’s what you need to know:

‘ssl’ stands for secure sockets layer that creates an encrypted connection between the server and the user’s browser.
Https stands for ‘hypertext transfer protocol secure’. Https is the secure version of http. When a website uses https, visitors can trust that their data is safe and that they are communicating with the actual website and not some impersonator.

Setting Up Ssl And Https

Setting up ssl and https may seem daunting, but it’s fairly simple. Follow these steps to enable ssl and https on your wordpress website:

Purchase an ssl certificate: You will need to obtain an ssl certificate from a trusted certificate authority like let’s encrypt, sectigo, or comodo.
Install the ssl certificate: Log in to your website’s cpanel, access the ssl wizard, paste the certificate into the provided slot, and follow the verification steps.
Update your website url: Change the website url in the settings> general menu to https:// instead of http://.
Implement internal link updates: Rewrite all the internal links to the new website url. You can use a plugin like ‘velvet blues update urls’ to accomplish this task.

Updating Website Urls And Internal Links

After setting up ssl and https, you need to update all of the website urls and internal links, and ensure that they’re https enabled. Any http links will make your website insecure and cause ssl certificate errors to appear. Follow these steps to update the website url and internal links:

Update links in content: Update all website links on the website’s content pages. You can use the ‘velvet blues update urls’ plugin to update previous links to your new website url automatically.
Update any built-in urls in the theme: Update any hardcoded links such as internal links, logo urls, and footer urls in your website’s code.
Check the media links: Check and update image links or any media file links in your website’s media library with the updated website url.

With these tips, securing your wordpress site with ssl and https should be straightforward and manageable.

Implementing Security Plugins

Overview Of Popular Security Plugins For WordPress

Are you concerned about the security of your wordpress site? Implementing security plugins is essential to protect your website from hackers, malware, and other cyber threats. Here are some of the popular security plugins for wordpress:

Wordfence security: This plugin is a comprehensive security suite that detects and blocks malware, enforces strong passwords, and conducts regular scans to ensure that your site is secure.
Ithemes security: This security plugin offers 30+ ways to protect your website including two-factor authentication, brute force protection, and malware scanning.
Sucuri security: This plugin provides firewall protection, security audits, and malware removal to keep your website safe from cyber threats.
All in one wp security & firewall: This security plugin provides advanced firewall protection, file system security, and login security to secure your wordpress site.

Best Practices For Selecting And Configuring Security Plugins

Selecting the right security plugin and configuring it correctly is crucial for website protection. Here are some best practices that you must consider when selecting and configuring security plugins:

Choose a reputable security plugin that offers regular updates and support. This ensures that your website’s security stays up-to-date and is protected against new cyber threats.
Enable two-factor authentication to add an additional layer of security to your website login.
Configure regular scans to detect and remove malware, viruses, and other security threats.
Optimize security settings such as enforcing strong passwords, blocking ip addresses, and limiting login attempts.
Conduct backups regularly to ensure that even if your website gets hacked, you can restore it to a previous state.

Importance Of Regular Updates And Monitoring

After implementing security plugins, it is crucial to maintain regular updates and monitoring to ensure optimal website protection. Regular updates ensure that your website remains secure against new and evolving cyber threats. Monitoring your website for any suspicious activities ensures that any security breaches are detected early, minimizing potential damage.

To sum up, implementing security plugins is essential to protect your wordpress site from cyber threats. It’s crucial to choose the right security plugin, configure it correctly, and maintain regular updates and monitoring to ensure optimal website protection.

Backing Up WordPress Website

WordPress is one of the most widely used content management systems, powering about 40% of all websites globally. It provides a versatile and user-friendly platform for web developers to create beautiful websites. However, security threats exist in every corner of the internet, and wordpress is not an exception.

Therefore, it is imperative to safeguard your wordpress website from potential harm. One of the best ways to secure your website is by regularly backing it up. In this section, we will discuss the importance of regular backups, best practices for wordpress backups, and the importance of offsite storage and testing backups regularly.

Importance Of Regular Backups

Regular backups are a vital aspect of website security. No website is entirely safe from hacking attempts, malware, or server failures. Losing your website content can have devastating results on your business or brand. Regularly backing up your website ensures that you can restore all content and functionalities in case of a security breach.

When you back up your website regularly, you safeguard yourself from hours of work or development time loss. Every website owner should make backing up their website a routine task.

Best Practices For WordPress Backups Backing Up Your Website Might Seem Like A Daunting Task, But With The Right Approach, It Can Be Stress-Free. Here Are Some Of The Best Practices Every User Should Follow When Creating Backups:

Choose the right backup plugin: The simplest way to back up a wordpress site is by using a backup plugin. Several backup plugins are available in the marketplace. Some of the best include updraft plus, jetpack, and vaultpress.
Save at least three backup copies: When creating backups, it’s wise to store at least three copies. This will ensure that you always have a recent version of your website. The ideal locations to store the backups are on external storage devices, cloud storage, and on your computer.
Set a backup schedule: Create a backup schedule that works for your website. Depending on the website’s size and the amount of content added, different sites require different backup schedules. You can schedule backups to run daily, weekly, or monthly.
Check your backups regularly: It is vital to test backup restoration regularly. Ensure that your backups are updated, functional, and can restore your website successfully.

Importance Of Offsite Storage And Testing Backups Regularly

Offsite backups are critical because they safeguard your data from server hacks and failures. It would be best to store your backups in multiple locations, including cloud storage, external hard drives, or other online storage services.

Testing backups is crucial since it ensures that the backups are working, and your website can be restored successfully. The worst thing that can happen is having backups that can’t restore your site to its former state. Regular testing confirms that your backups can restore your website, and you won’t lose any critical data.

Backups are crucial for your website’s security. Regardless of the sector you operate in, losing your website can result in a massive blow to your business. By following these best practices, you guarantee the safety and availability of your website in case of any incidents, helping you avoid costly losses and unnecessary stress.

Frequently Asked Questions Of How To Add Strong Security On The WordPress Website

Why Is Strong Security Important For WordPress Website?

A strong security is important for wordpress website to protect it from online threats. Hackers can steal personal data, inject malicious code and harm the website reputation. With strong security measures in place, you can safeguard your website from cyber-attacks.

How Can I Add Strong Security To My WordPress Website?

You can add strong security to your wordpress website by using reliable security plugins like wordfence, sucuri, ithemes security, etc. Also, you can enable two-factor authentication, use strong passwords, and keep wordpress, plugins, and themes updated to the latest versions.

What Are The Benefits Of Adding Strong Security To My WordPress Website?

Adding strong security to your wordpress website has many benefits, such as safeguarding personal data, avoiding website downtime, protecting reputation, boosting seo, and improving website performance. Moreover, it gives peace of mind and ensures that your website is not an attractive target for hackers.

How Can I Choose The Best WordPress Security Plugin?

When choosing a wordpress security plugin, you should consider factors like reputation, features, user experience, compatibility with other plugins, updates and support. Read reviews and compare different options to choose the best one that meets your needs and budget.

Can I Add Strong Security To My WordPress Website Myself?

Yes, you can add strong security to your wordpress website yourself. However, it requires some technical knowledge and experience. If you’re not tech-savvy, consider hiring a professional to do it for you. It can save you time, reduce the risk of errors, and ensure that your website is well-protected.

Conclusion

Considering the rising security concerns for wordpress websites, it’s essential to take necessary measures to secure sensitive data. You can enhance your website security by focusing on different aspects like installing security plugins, limiting login attempts, updating wordpress version and themes, among other measures.

Regular maintenance and a strong password policy should be implemented to ensure optimum security for the website. Conducting regular security audits and monitoring unusual activities by using security software can prevent potential security breaches. Adding an ssl certificate can also boost security by encrypting data transfers between the server and client browsers.

By adopting these security measures, you can keep your website safe from malicious attacks and provide a secure environment for your website visitors. It’s crucial to take security measures seriously and implement them without delay to ensure website safety and avoid any potential loss.