How to Secure Your WordPress Website from Hackers

Security for your WordPress website will keep you trusted, protect data, and ensure consistent functionality. By implementing these comprehensive security measures, you can prevent your site from common hacking attempts and potential vulnerabilities.

1. Keep WordPress Updated

Updates are crucial for fixing bugs, patching security vulnerabilities, and overall performance improvement.

• Core Updates: Always update your WordPress core to the latest version. This ensures you are protected from known exploits.
• Themes and Plugins: Third-party themes and plugins are one of the entry points for hackers. Regularly update them and delete any unused or outdated ones.
• Automatic Updates: Turn on automatic updates for minor patches and inspect major updates before applying to ensure they do not cause any compatibility issues.

2. Use Strong Login Credentials

Weak passwords and default usernames are an easy target for hackers.

• Use very strong passwords with both alphabetic uppercase and lowercase characters, numbers, and special characters, but never using dictionary words or easily guessed phrases.
• Custom usernames must be substituted for the typical “admin” name that comes by default in all setups to limit the potential chances of a brute force attempt.
• Use Two-Factor Authentication 2FA and require the use of one-time codes from authenticator apps or SMS besides passwords.

3. Install Security Plugin

• Security plugins streamline the process of protecting your site through the provision of elaborate monitoring and defending resources.
• Recommended Plugins: Wordfence, Sucuri Security, iThemes Security
• Features to Look for in WAF: Malware scans, IP blocking, limitations on login attempts and high-activity logs.

4. Set Up Web Application Firewall

A WAF sits between your site and bad traffic, a block to prevent bad visitors into reaching your site.
Categories of WAFs

• Cloud-Based: Tools such as Cloudflare and Sucuri give DDoS protection that blocks malicious traffic before reaching your server.
• Server-Level: Host-based firewalls add extra layers of protection.
• Benefits: It defends against SQL injections, XSS, and other attacks.

5. Secure Your Hosting Environment

The basis of a secure website is your hosting provider.

• Managed WordPress Hosting: automatic updates, regular backups, and built-in security.
• Shared vs. Dedicated Hosting: Dedicated hosting offers a much safer environment than shared hosting, where the vulnerability in one site may compromise another.
• Server Security: Check if your hosting provider utilizes firewalls, malware scanners, and intrusion detection systems.

6. Use HTTPS with SSL

SSLs encrypt data exchanged between your site and its visitors.

• Why SSL Matters: Secure information such as login details and payment details from getting intercepted.
• Obtaining SSL: Most hosting providers, such as Bluehost and SiteGround, provide free SSL certificates through services like Let’s Encrypt.

7. Limit Login Attempts

Limit the number of login attempts to prevent brute force attacks.

• Plugins for Limiting Logins: Login LockDown, WP Limit Login Attempts.
• More: Implement CAPTCHA or reCAPTCHA to ensure only humans can log in.

8. Regular Backups

Backups will allow you to restore your site quickly if it is breached.

Recommended Backup Plugins: UpdraftPlus, BackupBuddy, Duplicator.
Best Practices:

• Schedule automatic backups daily or weekly, depending on your site’s activity.
• Store backups in multiple locations, such as cloud storage and external drives.

9. Disable File Editing

Disabling file editing prevents hackers from making changes to your core files through the WordPress dashboard.

How to Disable: Add the following line to your wp-config.php file:

define(‘DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT’, true);

10. Monitor User Roles and Permissions

Limit access to your website by being cautious with the role assignment.

• Limit Access to Admin: Give the access of admin only to a trusted individual.
• Reviews Periodically: Review your user accounts and permissions regularly for accounts that are not necessary or obsolete.

11. Malware Scan

Regular malware scan will scan through and eliminate the malware in your code.

• Tools Used: Sucuri SiteCheck, Wordfence, MalCare.
• Scans on Schedule: Scan daily or weekly to make sure that your site is checked always.

12. Hide WordPress Version

Your WordPress version can reveal vulnerabilities that hackers may exploit.

How to Hide Version Number: Add the following code to your functions.php file:
remove_action(‘wp_head’, ‘wp_generator’);

13. Use a Secure Database Prefix

The default WordPress database prefix (wp_) is commonly targeted in SQL injection attacks.

Changing the Prefix: Modify the database prefix during installation or use a plugin like WP-DBManager to change it later.
Example: Change wp_ to mysecureprefix_.

14. Conduct Regular Security Audits

Periodic security audits will help one identify and fix potential vulnerabilities.

• Audit Tools: Use WP Security Audit Log to monitor activity and spot weak points.
• Professional Help: It is advisable to hire professionals for a more comprehensive audit.

Conclusion

It is not a task completed once, but a long-term responsibility, to ensure security on your WordPress website. Implementing these will diminish vulnerabilities and safeguard sensitive information and help your visitors surf smoothly on your site. A secure website, with the above factors considered, creates trust and promotes reputation in your digital world.