Ways To Secure A WordPress Site

Is your WordPress website secure?

Are your customers’ and visitors’ passwords, credit cards, and personal data safe from the increased amount of cyber security attacks?

Hackers are trying their hardest?

If you manage a WordPress-powered website, security should be your top priority. Hackers are constantly finding new and sophisticated ways to attack websites, no matter the size or age of the business. Having an extra layer of protection can provide peace of mind that all user information is safe and secure—not to mention, it reduces the risk of lost resources and profits associated with any potential data breach. In this blog post, we’ll explore some innovative (and surprisingly simple) ways to secure a WordPress site from unwanted attention.

In this article, we will cover:

Why WordPress Security Matters

A hacked WordPress site can cause serious damage to your business’s revenue and reputation. Hackers can steal user information, and passwords, install malicious software, and can even distribute malware to your users.

Worst, you may find yourself paying ransomware to hackers just to regain access to your website.

In the first half of 2021, there were more than 86 billion password attack attempts blocked, and it is estimated that there are an average of 30,000 new websites hacked every day.

Hackers and various types of malware are relentless in their attempts to gain access to websites and their sensitive data.

This issue affects businesses of all sizes, including yours.

In fact, 43% of online attacks now are aimed at small businesses, and only 14% of those businesses are prepared to defend themselves.

Many hackers target large companies for a bigger payoff.

However, small and medium businesses provide an easier target for hackers, due to their lack of resources and security expertise.

Thankfully, there are plenty of steps you can take to protect your WordPress website.

When setting up your WordPress site security, there are some basic things you can do to beef up your protection.

Here are some of the first things you should implement to help protect your website.

1. Implement SSL Certificates

SSL Certificates are an important tool for website security, providing secure communication between a client and a server. They allow encrypted connections to websites and applications, protecting the data transferred between them from interception or tampering. By implementing an SSL Certificate on your website, you can ensure that user data stays safe and secure and provides customers with the trust and confidence that their data is protected.

You can buy an SSL certificate, but most hosting providers offer them for free.

Next, use a plugin to force HTTPS redirection, which activates the encrypted connection.

This standard technology establishes an encrypted connection between a web server (host) and a web browser (client).

By adding this encrypted connection, you can ensure that all data passed between the two remains private and intrinsic.

2. Require & Use Strong Passwords

Along with obtaining an SSL certificate, one of the very first things you can do to protect your site is to use and require strong passwords for all your logins.

It might be tempting to use or reuse a familiar or easy-to-remember password, but doing so puts you, your users, and your website at risk.

Passwords should include a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Additionally, it is important to avoid using common words or phrases that can be easily guessed. Creating unique, secure passwords for each account will help protect your data and identity from malicious actors. Taking the time to create strong passwords now can help protect your online accounts in the future.

3. Install A Security Plugin

Installing a WordPress security plugin is essential for any website or company. It offers added protection from malicious attacks and helps to keep your site safe from hackers. A good security plugin can block brute force logins, scan for malware, set up two-factor authentication, and provide other necessary features that help maintain your website’s safety. It’s important to choose a security plugin with the best features to make sure your data is secure.

To get you started, check out this list of recommended WordPress security plugins.

• Wordfence Security – Firewall & Malware Scan
• All In One WP Security & Firewall
• iThemes Security
• Jetpack – WP Security, Backup, Speed, & Growth

4. Keep WordPress Core Files Updated

Keeping your WordPress Core files up-to-date is crucial to ensuring the security and stability of your website. Not only does this make sure that you have the latest features, but it also keeps malicious hackers away from exploiting any bugs or vulnerabilities in outdated core files. Updating regularly also makes it easier for developers to add new improvements, fix bugs, and refine existing features. Having the latest version of WordPress installed is a simple way to ensure optimal security and performance for your website.

Don’t leave yourself open to attack by using an old version of WordPress. Turn on auto-updates and forget about it.

If you would like an even easier way to handle updates, consider a Managed WordPress Hosting solution that has auto-updates built in.

5. Run Frequent Backups

One way to protect your WordPress website is to always have a current backup of your site and important files.

The last thing you want is for something to happen to your site and you do not have a backup.

Backup your site, and do so often.

That way if something does happen to your website, you can quickly restore a previous version of it and get back up and running faster.

6. Never Use The “Admin” Username

Because “admin” is such a common username, it is easily guessed and makes it much easier for scammers to trick people into giving away their login credentials.

Never use the “admin” username.

Doing so makes you susceptible to brute force attacks and social engineering scams.

Much like having a strong password, using a unique username for your logins is a good idea because it makes it much harder for hackers to crack your login info.

If you are currently using the “admin” username, change your WordPress admin username.

7. Hide Your WP-Admin Login Page

By default, a majority of WordPress login pages can be accessed by adding “/wp-admin” or “/wp-login.php” to the end of a URL.

This makes it easy for hackers to start trying to break into your website.

Once a hacker or scammer has identified your login page, they can then attempt to guess your username and password in order to access your Admin Dashboard.

Hiding your WordPress login page is a good way to make you a less easy target.

Protect your login credentials by hiding the WordPress admin login page with a plugin like WPS Hide Login.

Summary

WordPress is a popular content management system that helps users create and manage a website. Despite its popularity, WordPress websites are susceptible to hackers and other security threats. This is why it’s important to take the necessary steps to secure your WordPress site.

The good news is that there are many ways to do this. By following the tips we’ve outlined in this blog post, you can make sure your WordPress website is as secure as possible. So don’t wait – start taking action today to protect your site from potential threats.

As always, feel free to contact us by emailing at hello@dephlexcreatives.com. If you have any questions.