The Ultimate Guide to Secure WordPress Website

WordPress is a popular content management system (CMS) used by millions of websites worldwide. It is estimated that WordPress powers 43% of all websites on the internet.

While WordPress is a secure platform out of the box, it is also a popular target for hackers because of its popularity. A study by Sucuri showed that WordPress was the most hacked CMS in 2019, with 62% of all hacked CMS websites being WordPress sites. 

To help you secure your WordPress website against hackers. This guide will cover some of the best WordPress security tips, such as WordPress permissions, two-factor authentication, WordPress backups, WordPress Firewalls, Security Scans, and more.

So let’s get started with our WordPress security guide.

Choose A Reliable Hosting Company

WordPress security is a lot like physical security. There are multiple layers (doors, locks, alarm system, etc.), and if one layer fails, the others are there to pick up the slack. The same is true for WordPress security. The simplest way to keep your WordPress site secure is to go with a hosting provider that provides multiple layers of security. 

Look for a company that offers server-level security features, such as DDoS protection and WordPress-specific firewalls. They should also have a good uptime record, as WordPress sites can be particularly vulnerable to downtime. And, of course, great customer service is always a plus in WordPress hosting.

With so many WordPress hosting companies, you shouldn’t have trouble finding one that meets your needs.

Add SSL Certificates

WordPress is a great platform for anyone looking to build a website. It’s user-friendly, versatile, and relatively secure. However, WordPress security can be further improved by adding SSL certificates. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a security protocol that helps to encrypt data transferred between a website and a user’s browser.

This is important because it helps to protect sensitive information, such as credit card numbers and login credentials, from being intercepted by third parties. WordPress websites that don’t have SSL certificates are still accessible, but they’re not as secure as they could be. 

In addition, SSL certificates can help to build trust with your visitors by showing that you are serious about protecting their data.

So if you’re looking to take your WordPress security up a notch, add an SSL certificate. It’s a simple process that could make all the difference in keeping your website safe.

Avoid Null Themes

WordPress security is only as strong as the weakest link, and one of the weakest links is nulled themes. Nulled themes are WordPress themes that have been pirated and made available for free. While saving a few dollars by using a nulled theme may be tempting, it’s simply not worth the risk. Nulled themes often contain malicious code that can leave your website vulnerable to attack. 

In addition, using a nulled theme violates WordPress’s terms of use, which could lead to your website being suspended. If you want to keep your WordPress website safe and secure, avoid nulled themes.

If you’re looking for a WordPress theme, make sure to get it from a reputable source, It may cost a bit more, but keeping your WordPress website safe from security vulnerabilities is worth it.

Use Trusted WordPress Themes and Plugins

WordPress is a great platform for building any kind of website. It’s easy to use, and there are tons of themes and plugins available to customize your site. However, it’s essential to be careful when choosing premium or free WordPress themes and plugins. There are a lot of poorly coded themes and plugins out there that can introduce security vulnerabilities to your site. So, how can you tell if a WordPress theme or plugin is trustworthy? Here are a few things to look for:

• Look for reviews from other users. If a WordPress theme or plugin has good reviews, it’s likely well-coded and unlikely to cause any security problems.
• Check the WordPress.org repository. WordPress.org only accepts high-quality themes and plugins, so if a theme or plugin is available on WordPress.org, you can be pretty confident that it’s safe to use.
• Contact the developer directly. If you have questions about a WordPress theme or plugin, you can contact the developer directly and ask. They should be able to provide answers that will help you decide whether or not to use their product.

Delete Unused WordPress Plugins and Themes

One way to help secure your WordPress site is to delete unused WordPress plugins and themes. By doing so, you reduce the number of potential vulnerabilities on your site. In addition, deleting unused plugins and themes helps to keep your site running smoothly and efficiently.

So if you’re not using a plugin or theme, be sure to delete it from your WordPress site. Doing so will help to keep your site secure and running smoothly. Removing unused themes or plugins will also help speed up your WordPress site.

Install A Security Plugin

There are many ways to secure a WordPress site, but one of the best ways is to install a security plugin. WordPress security plugins offer a variety of features that can help to secure a WordPress site, including password protection, two-factor authentication, and malware scanning. They can also help to block malicious traffic and prevent brute force attacks. In addition, WordPress security plugins can provide comprehensive activity logs that can be used to monitor activity on the site and identify potential threats.

As a result, installing a WordPress security plugin is essential for any site owner who wants to protect their site from attack.

You can install these essential security plugins to secure your WordPress website.

1. Wordfence: 2FA, Block malicious traffic, prevent brute force attacks, etc.
2. Limit Login Attempts Reloaded: To limit the number of login attempts and block bot IP addresses.
3. WPS Hide Login: To change Admin login URL & path

Use Strong Passwords

One of the most crucial WordPress security tips is to use strong passwords. A strong password should be at least eight characters long and should include a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. You should never use the same password at more than one site. If you do, you’re putting all of your sites at risk if one of them is hacked. 

Finally, making sure to change your WordPress password regularly or once every 3-6 months is a good thumb rule. Following these WordPress security tips can help keep your WordPress site safe from hackers.

WordPress also offers two-factor authentication (2FA) as an extra layer of security. 2FA requires you to enter a code that is sent to your phone whenever you try to log in. This makes it much harder for someone to hack into your WordPress site, even if they manage to guess your password. So if you’re looking to beef up your WordPress security, make sure you’re using strong passwords and 2FA.

Take Backup Frequently

One of the most common WordPress security issues is that people don’t take backups frequently enough. WordPress is constantly being updated, and new vulnerabilities are constantly being discovered. If you don’t have a recent backup, you could lose all of your hard work if your site is hacked. It’s also a good idea to take backups before you make any major changes to your site in case something goes wrong.

There are many WordPress backup plugins available, so there’s no excuse not to take backups frequently. Keep your site safe by taking backups frequently.

Keep WordPress Up to Date

WordPress releases new versions of its software regularly, and each new version includes security fixes and improvements. WordPress also publishes security updates in between major releases.

These updates address serious vulnerabilities as they are discovered and are usually released within a few days of the found. WordPress site owners need to install these updates as soon as possible to keep their sites safe from attack. 

Fortunately, WordPress makes it easy to stay up to date. The WordPress dashboard includes a notifications area that shows which updates are available, and installing them only takes a few clicks.

By keeping WordPress up to date, site owners can rest assured that their sites are secure from the latest threats.

Disable XML-RPC

XML-RPC is a protocol that allows remote procedure calls, or RCPs, to be made on WordPress sites. However, hackers can also exploit it to launch denial of service attacks or take over your site. If you’re not using XML-RPC, it’s best to disable it to reduce the risk of attack. By disabling XML-RPC, you can help to keep your WordPress site secure.

You can do this by adding a few lines of code to your functions.php file or by using a plugin. Either way, disabling XML-RPC is a good way to help keep your WordPress site secure.

Disable WordPress Dashboard File Editing

One of the features that WordPress offers is the ability to edit files directly from the WordPress dashboard. This can be handy if you need to make a quick change to a theme or plugin. 

However, it also represents a security risk. If an attacker can gain access to your WordPress dashboard, they can easily modify your WordPress files, which could compromise your website. As such, it is recommended that you disable WordPress file editing from the dashboard. This can be done by adding the following line to your WordPress configuration file:

Define ( 'DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true );

Doing this will help to improve the security of your WordPress website.

Hide wp-config.php File

WP config file contains sensitive information about your WordPress installation, including your database password. By hiding this file, you make it more difficult for hackers to access your WordPress site.

There are a few ways to hide the wp-config.php file. One best method is to create a blank index.html file and place it in the same directory as the wp-config.php file. Another method is to use .htaccess to restrict access to the wp-config.php file. Whatever method you choose, hiding the wp-config.php file is a simple way to increase WordPress security. 

WordPress also provides a built-in mechanism for hiding the file, which can be found in the WordPress Codex. By taking this simple step, you can help to secure your WordPress site from potential attacks.

Wrapping up

WordPress security is no laughing matter. Though WordPress is a secure platform, there are always ways that hackers can find to exploit vulnerabilities. That’s why it’s important to take WordPress security seriously and do everything you can to protect your site.

Ultimately, it’s important to remember that WordPress security is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. So don’t wait until it’s too late — WordPress security should be a top priority for every WordPress user.