How to Secure Your WordPress Site – The Complete Guide

As the most popular content management system (CMS), it’s no surprise that WordPress websites are a target for hackers.

Secure Your WordPress Site

While there are several actions you can take to secure your WordPress site, we’ve put together a list of the most effective methods:

1. Use a strong password

This may seem like an obvious one, but using a strong password is crucial to the security of your WordPress site. A strong password is at least 12 characters long and includes a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

If you’re using a password that’s easy to guess, you’re putting your WordPress site at risk. Hackers use sophisticated tools that can quickly crack weak passwords.

2. Keep your WordPress site up-to-date

One of the best ways to keep your WordPress site secure is to make sure it’s always up to date. WordPress releases new versions of their software regularly, and each new release contains security fixes.

If you’re not running the latest version of WordPress, you’re missing out on important security updates that could keep your site safe from hackers.

3. Use a security plugin

There are a number of great security plugins available for WordPress, and we recommend using one to help secure your site.

Wordfence is a popular security plugin offering two-factor authentication and malware scanning features. It’s a great way to add an extra layer of security to your WordPress site.

4. Host your WordPress site securely

The security of your WordPress site also depends on your web hosting provider. Make sure you choose a reputable and secure web host for your WordPress site.

A good web host will have security measures in place to help protect your site from hackers, including firewalls and regular backups.

5. Don’t use “admin” as your username

Using “admin” as your WordPress username is a security risk. Hackers know that many WordPress users choose this username, so it’s one of the first things they’ll try when trying to gain access to a WordPress site.

If you’re using “admin” as your username, change it to something else that’s unique and difficult to guess.

6. Limit login attempts

If you’re not already doing this, you should limit the number of login attempts allowed for your WordPress site. By default, WordPress allows an unlimited number of login attempts, which gives hackers an unlimited number of chances to guess your password.

By limiting login attempts, you’re making it more difficult for hackers to gain access to your WordPress site.

7. Use HTTPS

If you’re not using HTTPS, you should be. HTTPS is a security protocol that helps to protect your website from hackers.

When you use HTTPS, all information that’s exchanged between your website and your visitors is encrypted. This makes it much more difficult for hackers to steal information like passwords and credit card numbers.

8. Disable file editing

By default, WordPress allows you to edit theme and plugin files directly from the WordPress admin area. This is a security risk, as it gives hackers access to your website’s code.

If you don’t need to edit your theme or plugin files directly, disable this feature by adding the following line to your wp-config.php file:

define( ‘DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT’, true );

9. Keep backups of your WordPress site

Despite all your best efforts, there’s always a chance that your WordPress site could be hacked. That’s why it’s important to keep backups of your site so you can restore it if necessary.

We recommend using a WordPress backup plugin like UpdraftPlus to create regular backups of your site. This way, you can rest assured knowing that you have a recent backup in case something goes wrong.

10. Monitor your WordPress site for changes

Another important step in securing your WordPress site is regularly monitoring it for changes. If you notice any unusual activity or changes to your site, it could be a sign that your site has been hacked.

You can use a plugin like Wordfence to scan your site for changes and receive alerts if any are detected. This can help you catch a hack early and take action to fix it.

By taking these steps to secure your WordPress site, you can help protect it from hackers. Remember to keep your site up to date, use a security plugin, and backup your site regularly.