HOW TO Improve your wordpress website security
It is almost a common knowledge that wordpress is the most popular content management system(CMS) today. As of this date when this blog was written viz 28th March 2024, approximately 43.1% of the websites run on wordpress. This proves how popular wordpress is. But unfortunately. Unfortunately, it’s popularity attracts all kind of malicious cybercriminals who want to exploit the vulnerabilities of the platform.
This however does not mean that wordpress is inherently bad or has a weak security system. Most of the times, such breaches often happen due to the user’s lack of security awareness as well . So, it’s best to apply some vital precautionary security measures before your website becomes a hacker target.
In this article, We will discuss some interesting techniques, best practices & tips to improve the wordPress security tips and protect your website from various cyberattacks. Some methods are also applicable to other platforms than WordPress.
1 . UPDATE WORDPRESS VERSION REGULARLY
WordPress releases software updates at regular interval of periods to improve it’s performance and security. So these updates are very vital in protecting your website from cyber threats and bugs. In-fact updating your wordpress version is one of the simplest ways to improve WordPress security. However, nearly 50% of WordPress sites are running on an older WordPress version, making them more vulnerable.
To check whether you have the latest WordPress version, log in to your WordPress admin area and navigate to Dashboard → Updates on the left menu panel. If it shows that your version is not up to date, then you should update your wordpress version as soon as possible.
Along with the wordpress version , it is also important to update the themes and plugins as well. Since outdated themes and plugins may cause conflict with the newly updated WordPress Core Software causing errors and being prone to security threats.
2 . USE VERY STRONG WP-ADMIN LOGIN CREDENTIALS
One of the most common rookie mistakes users make is using very simple and easy-to-guess usernames, such as “admin”, “administrator”,“test” etc. This puts your site at a higher risk of brute force attacks. Also, attackers also use this type of attack to target WordPress sites that don’t have strong passwords.
In order to avoid this mis-step , it is recommended to make your username and password extremely unique and very complex. Always incorporate numbers, symbols, uppercase and lowercase letters in your password. Also make sure your passwords length are more than 10 characters long as well.Remember, the longer the password the safer your system will be.
3 . USE TRUSTED WORDPRESS THEMES
Never use Nulled wordpress themes . Nulled wordpress themes are unauthorised versions of the original premium themes . These nulled wordpress themes are sold at a lower price to attract users . They usually have many security issues . Often these nulled wordpress theme providers are hackers who hacked the original premium theme and inserted malicious codes.These nulled themes can greatly endanger your wordpress website. And the users of the nulled themes dont receive any support as well from the authors or hackers of the nulled wordpress themes.
To avoid becoming a hacker target , it is always recommended to choose wordpress themes from their official wordpress repository or trusted developers . Alternatively, you can even check themes in the official theme marketplaces known as Themeforest, where thousand of premium wordpress themes are available
4. INSTALL SSL CERTIFICATE
SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer . SSL is a data transfer protocol that encrypts the data exchanged between a website and its visitors that will make it very difficult for attackers to steal important information. Having a SSL also boosts the SEO of the wordpress website significantly which will result in having more website visitors. Websites with SSL have a padlock symbol in its URL and is easily identified by having a HTTPS instead of HTTP in its URL.
5. REMOVE UNUSED WORDPRESS PLUGINS AND THEMES
Having unused plugins and themes on the site can be very harmful because if the plugins and themes haven’t been updated, then it increases the risk of cyberattacks as hackers can use them to gain access to your site and create havoc in your website.
6 . Enable Two-Factor Authentication for WP-Admin
Activate two-factor authentication (2FA) to reinforce the login process on your WordPress website. This method adds a second layer of WordPress security to the login page, as it requires you to input a unique code to complete the login process. The code is available only to you via a text message or a third-party authentication app.
7. Back Up WordPress Regularly
Creating a regular backup of your wordpress website is a very important risk mitigation task because it will help you recover your site after incidents, such as cyberattacks or physical damage to the data center. The backup file should include your entire WordPress installation files, like your database and the WordPress core files. With WordPress, backing up a site can also be done using a plugin like All-in-One WP Migration
8.Change the WordPress Login Page URL
Although this method might seem like an extra step, but you can never be wrong while having any amount of security for your wordpress website .All WordPress websites have the same default login URL – “yourdomain.com/wp-admin”. Using the default login URL makes it easy for hackers to target your login page. In order to change the wordpress login page URL , you have to make use of plugins like WPS Hide Login or Change wp-admin Login
9 . Log Idle Users Out Automatically
Often times, many users tend to forget to log out of the website and leave their sessions running. Hence, letting someone else who will use the same device access their user accounts and potentially exploit confidential data and website details as well. This especially applies to users who use public computers in internet cafes or public libraries.
Hence, it’s crucial to configure your WordPress website to log inactive users out automatically. Most banking sites use this technique to prevent unauthorized visitors from accessing their sites, ensuring that their client’s data is safe.
In order to do this, you will need to use a WordPress security plugin like Inactive Logout . It is one of the easiest ways to log out idle user accounts automatically. Aside from terminating idle users, this plugin can also send a custom message to alert idle users that their website session will end soon.
10 . Check for Malware
Malware, short for malicious software, refers to any intrusive software developed by cybercriminals or hackers to steal data and damage or destroy computers and computer systems. Examples of common malware include viruses, worms, Trojan viruses, spyware, adware, and ransomware. Hence it is extremely crucial to regularly scan your wordpress website for malware.
Fortunately, there are many amazing WordPress malware scanner plugins available that can check for malicious software and improve wordpress security. Some of the most famous security plugins for this purpose are Wordfence , Succuri Security etc
11. Disable PHP Error Reporting
The PHP error reporting displays the full information about your website’s paths and file structure, making it a great feature for monitoring your site’s PHP scripts. However, showing your website’s vulnerabilities on the backend is a serious WordPress security flaw. For example, if it displays a specific plugin on which the error message has appeared, cybercriminals could use that plugin’s vulnerabilities.
Hence it is extremely important to remember to disable the PHP Error Reporting feature of your website
12 . Restrict Access Using the .htaccess File
The .htaccess file ensures that WordPress links work properly. Without this file declaring the correct rules, you will get many 404 Not Found errors on your site. Furthermore, .htaccess can block access from specific IPs, restrict access to only one IP, and disable PHP execution on particular folders.
But, a word of extreme caution…always make sure to backup your existing .htaccess file before making any changes to it.
13 .Change the Default WordPress Database Prefix
WordPress database holds and stores all crucial information required for your site to function. Therefore, hackers often target the database with SQL injection attacks. This technique injects harmful code into the database and can bypass WordPress security measures and retrieve the database content. Over 50% of cyberattacks consist of SQL injection, making it one of the biggest threats. Hackers execute this attack because many users forget to change the default database prefix wp_.
14. Disable XML-RPC
XML-RPC is a WordPress feature for accessing and publishing content via mobile devices, enabling trackbacks and pingbacks, and using the Jetpack plugin on your WordPress website.
However, XML-RPC has some weaknesses that hackers can exploit. The feature lets them make multiple login attempts without being detected by the security software, making your site prone to brute force attacks.
Hackers can also take advantage of the XML-RPC pingback function to perform DDoS attacks. It allows attackers to send pingbacks to thousands of websites at once, which can crash the targeted sites.
To determine whether XML-RPC is enabled, run your site through an XML-RPC validation service and see whether you receive a success message. This means that the XML-RPC function is running.
You can disable the XML-RPC function either by using a plugin or manually.
15. Hide the WordPress Version
Hackers can break into your site easier if they know which version of WordPress you’re running. They can use that version’s vulnerabilities to attack your site, especially if it’s an older WordPress version.
16. Manage File Permissions
Prevent hackers from gaining access to your admin account by determining which users can read, write, or execute your WordPress files or folders.
You can use your web host’s File Manager, FTP client, or via command line to manage file and folder permissions.
Generally, permissions are set by default, which may vary depending on different files or folders. Specifically for the wp-admin folder and wp-config file, make sure only to allow the Owner to write it.
CONCLUSION
Thus, If your WordPress website gets hacked, you risk losing important data, assets, and credibility. Furthermore, these security issues can jeopardize your customers’ personal data and billing information. WordPress websites, in particular, are common targets for hackers due to the CMS’s popularity. Therefore, WordPress website owners must know how to secure their sites.
However, securing a WordPress site is not a one-time task. You need to continuously reassess it since cyberattacks are ever-evolving. The risk will always be there, but you can apply the above WordPress security measures to reduce those risks.
I hope this article has helped you understand the importance of WordPress security measures and how to implement them.
Feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions or more WordPress security tips.
