WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems in the world, powering millions of websites and blogs. However, its popularity also makes it a prime target for hackers and cyberattacks. In this article, On Digitals will discuss how to secure WordPress site effectively.
Before delving into how to secure WordPress site, you need to understand the benefits of these security procedures. Ensuring the safety of your website brings about the following benefits:
WordPress has reached its status as one of the best CMS for good reasons. Generally, it is a secure platform, but the risks are always evident, depending on how you manage it. It is your responsibility to reduce the risks of attacks by reinforcing security measures and taking precautions.
It can be difficult because nearly half of the Internet runs on WordPress. So statistically, the platform is a frequent target for attacks. However, this is, by no means, WordPress’ fault, as there are numerous methods to protect yourself from being a target.
The last thing you need to know before learning about how to secure WordPress site is the frequent issues that can affect your site’s security:
Maintaining security for your WordPress site is no easy feat judging by the number of risks your site may face. In this section, you will find a series of tips ranging from general to advanced pointers to protect your website.
These general tips can help you reduce the risks of attacks on your WordPress site. However, these tips can only go so far, as they only scratch the surface of this content management system.
Updating WordPress and PHP is a crucial step in securing your site and ensuring its optimal performance. Their latest versions may not bring about any notable changes, but they are still essential for your website’s overall functionality:
To update WordPress, log in to your dashboard, check for updates, and proceed with the update if available. Additionally, make sure to back up your site before updating and double-check all functions after.
For PHP, you will also see a notification on the WordPress dashboard. Then, you will need to head to your hosting account to update. If you do not have access to the account, contact your provider for more information.
This sounds like a no-brainer, but this basic tip has to be on the list. Securing the login process is of utmost importance to maintain the security of WordPress sites.
The login page is the primary point of entry for administrators and users, making it the first line of defense. Strong security measures will help safeguard your site and sensitive data from the get-go.
There are predominantly two types of themes available to install: official and nulled themes. While official ones are generally unproblematic, nulled themes are complete opposites. They are bootleg versions of the licensed themes, or in other words, illegally distributed.
However, they have a very strong appeal to users, especially newbies, thanks to their affordable price tags. When searching for website themes, be sure to stay vigilant and verify if they are safe to use.
It is possible to use a live demo to see the suitability of your themes. In case they are not, you may find alternatives from WordPress official repository or reputable marketplaces.
On another note, removing outdated themes and plugins is a wise move. Since you are not using them anyway, removing them will eliminate potential gateways for hackers to take advantage of.
Your website is going to welcome visitors from a variety of locations. For that reason, reinforcing the connection between websites and browsers is an absolute must. SSL will encrypt data transmitted between your users and the server to protect sensitive information. Not only will it create a perfect impression on users, but it is also a ranking factor in SEO.
With WordPress, you need to enable SSL, either manually or with the help of a plugin, more on that later. Afterward, obtain an SSL certificate from your hosting provider or other authorities. When your website’s URL displays https instead of http, you have successfully made the switch.
Everyone must have at least heard about the term “firewall,” since it has been associated with web security for ages. The way it works is exactly what its name suggests. A firewall establishes a barrier between your network and others to prevent unwarranted traffic, reducing the risks of attacks.
You may employ a web application firewall (WAF) plugin to erase that direct connection. Before installing a firewall, though, you will need to weigh your options and choose the most suitable firewall types and plugins for your website.
You can never be too safe despite all the safety precautions. Creating a site backup periodically allows you to recover after potential attacks seamlessly and minimizes the damage. Fortunately, it is possible to automate the backup process with the help of plugins.
This is a relatively general tip, but it is still an essential pointer on how to secure WordPress site. Think of it as a virus scan on your devices. Most of the time, it will detect no problem at all. Once in a while, though, you may find potential problems that you would not see without a scan.
Similar to the solutions above, you can enlist the help of plugins for these routine checkups. Regularly scanning your site will point out vulnerabilities and malware for timely repairs.
As you can see, plugins can be instrumental in keeping your WordPress site secure. Yet, choosing the appropriate plugins is another story.
First, list out all your website’s needs that require plugins. The purposes for plugins can range from security to performance and other aspects of a website. Once that is done, you can proceed to find the most preferable plugins to install.
These plugins offer a helping hand in implementing security precautions, giving you some much-needed help for otherwise strenuous tasks.
With the general tips out of the way, it is time to dig deeper and explore what else you can do to ensure security for your WordPress websites. For some of the precautions listed below, you may have to require help from professionals. Make sure to seek help from reputable establishments since you will need to disclose some of your site’s information.
This is one of the features of a web application firewall (WAF) plugin. It enables you to create a safelist of trusted IP addresses that can access the WordPress admin page. Simultaneously, establish something called a “zone lockdown rule” for your admin page. This essentially puts your admin page in a bubble that only specified IP addresses may enter.
There is another solution available. Refer to your .htaccess file at the root directory to limit access to your login page.
PHP error reporting is a helpful feature if you do not look too deeply into it. However, it becomes a rather significant security flaw of WordPress due to it showing your site’s weaknesses on the backend.
If we put aside the major flaw, the report is perfect for you to keep an eye on PHP scripts. Since you can learn about PHP errors from the report, the attackers will have little trouble accessing that same information.
To disable the reporting feature, edit your PHP file and add the following code:
error_reporting(0);
@ini_set(‘display_errors’, 0);
Ensure that user inputs are free of special characters to mitigate the risk of code injection attacks. By filtering user input, you minimize the chances of malicious code being executed on your site. A plugin can assist you with this procedure so you need not worry about digging through all the entries manually.
Specific areas on your website that require your attention regarding this are forms. It can be a contact form, payment form, newsletter signups, and even the comment section.
Most WordPress sites undoubtedly have more than one user account. Let’s say you have three, with each having full permissions on the site. If attackers target one account at random for a brute-force attack, they will have access to everything when succeeded. Assigning different roles appropriately to each user account will likely reduce the damage of a compromised account. You can choose from six pre-determined roles: super admin, administrator, editor, author, contributor, and subscriber.
Logging user activity allows you to address any problematic or suspicious activities from all accounts. As a precaution, it helps you respond swiftly to any suspicious activities and reinforce site security measures.
In an unfortunate event of an attack, you can refer to the activity log and find affected areas. This can save you valuable time for recovery and let you resume activity swiftly.
WordPress permits administrators to edit their files without much difficulty. On the surface, it is convenient for webmasters as they can quickly rewrite codes effortlessly.
In turn, attackers can do the same thing should they gain control of your user accounts. A plugin should be able to disable this feature easily, if not, you can do it manually.
Find the wp-config.php file and enter this code to prevent hackers from altering critical information on the site:
// Disallow file edits
define( ‘DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT’, true );
If these security measures have a pattern, it is changing all default configurations if possible. The database prefix begins with “wp_” and hackers can easily exploit this opening for a breach.
Patching this hole should be easy, all you need to do is change it to something else. Another good news is that there are plugins to do the job for you. It is the supreme choice compared to doing it manually because any configuration mistakes will be detrimental.
XML-RPC was once the protocol to help your WordPress sites interact with external web and mobile apps. After the implementation of REST API, the protocol sees significantly less usage. Unfortunately, that does not take away its capability to initiate attacks.
This technology is an extremely proficient catalyst for brute-force attacks, letting hackers input hundreds of commands. It is also not as safe as REST API, which explains its inferiority.
So, if XML-RPC is not necessary for your site, consider removing it altogether. Check if your site is employing the technology before using your security plugin to disable it.
One of the basic tips was updating your WordPress to its latest version. It is difficult, however, to stay on top of things at all times, so you may not be able to install the update immediately.
Your WordPress version number is relatively public information, at least for professionals. If individuals with malicious intent find out that your site is vulnerable, they will turn their attention toward you.
In order to fly under the radar if you are running an outdated version, you can hide the indicator. Tinker with PHP files if you wish to do so by yourself or install a plugin, whichever is feasible.
The final solution is also the absolute last resort for security issues. Preemptive methods can only take you so far if your hosting environment is dangerous.
Keep your eyes peeled for potential cyberattacks on your sites and others with the same provider. If it reaches an alarming number, consider moving your site to a less hostile space.
There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a hosting provider with four notable ones being: web hosting type, security, features, and support. Remember, unless it is critical, give the other solutions a try before opting to migrate your website.
On Digitals hope that you can learn a thing or two about how to secure WordPress site from the article. Security is an indispensable aspect of a successful website, so you must maintain a safe online environment for both yourself and your visitors. Remember, safeguarding your site is an ongoing process, so regularly update your measures to stay ahead of evolving threats.
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