How To Secure WordPress Website From Hackers
Whether you’re running a business site, an online store, or a hobby blog, WordPress offers the flexibility and ease of use to make your online presence a success. However, with great power comes great responsibility — to ensure your WordPress website is secure from hackers, you need to protect it from potential threats. Ensuring the security of your WordPress site is crucial to maintaining trust with your users and preventing harmful breaches.
Your website is more than just a digital presence—it’s a reflection of your brand, a hub for your audience, and often, a vital part of your business operations. A security breach could damage your reputation, lead to financial losses, and even cause your site to be penalized by search engines. Therefore, investing time in website security is not just a good practice; it’s essential for maintaining trust and ensuring long-term success.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through essential steps to secure your WordPress websites from hackers.
Common Causes Of WordPress Security Issues
To effectively secure your site, it’s important to understand the main security vulnerabilities:
- Compromised passwords: hackers often use brute force attacks, where bots try thousands of username and password combinations until they find the right one.
In 2012, LinkedIn suffered a major data breach where millions of user passwords were compromised due to weak encryption methods. Hackers were able to crack many of the passwords using brute force attacks, leading to widespread unauthorized access to accounts.
- Insecure plugins and themes: outdated or poorly coded plugins and themes can serve as entry points for hackers.
In 2021, a vulnerability in the popular WordPress plugin Fancy Product Designer was exploited by hackers. The outdated plugin allowed attackers to upload malicious files, potentially gaining control of websites that had not applied the security patch. Thousands of websites were affected before the issue was resolved.
- Weak security policies: giving access to unnecessary users or using weak passwords can make your site more vulnerable.
In 2014, a major data breach occurred at Sony Pictures when hackers exploited weak security practices. Employees used easily guessable passwords, and excessive access was granted to WordPress users without strict security policies in place. The breach led to the theft of confidential information, including emails and unreleased movies.
11 Essential Steps To Secure Your WordPress Site
1. Choose a Secure Hosting Provider
Your hosting provider is your first line of defense. Opt for a host with a strong reputation for security, ensuring that your web server is properly configured and protected. Look for features like regular backups, SSL certificates, 24/7 support, and a built-in firewall. While it might be tempting to go for a cheaper option, remember that the security of your site is worth the investment.
2. Keep WordPress Core, Themes, and Plugins Updated
One of the simplest yet most effective steps you can take to secure your WordPress site is to keep all software updated. This includes the WordPress core, plugins, and themes. Outdated software is a common vulnerability that hackers exploit to gain access to websites. Neglecting updates can lead to various issues, including security breaches, the dreaded WordPress white screen of death, or other common errors that could disrupt your site’s functionality. Regular updates are essential to keep your WordPress secure. You have two options when it comes to managing updates: manually updating or enabling automatic updates.
3. Use Strong Usernames and Passwords
Create a unique username and a strong password that includes at least 20 characters, combining uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. For WordPress sites with multiple users, ensure each person has appropriate permissions and that you remove access when it’s no longer needed.
4. Set Up Off-Site Backups
Backups are your safety net. Ensure your backups are stored off-site, such as in the cloud, to protect against server failures or hacks. With a reliable backup in place, you can quickly restore your site if the worst happens.
5. Implement Brute Force Attack Protection
Prevent brute force attacks by protecting your WordPress login. Use tools that block suspicious IP addresses after a certain number of failed login attempts. This significantly reduces the chances of hackers guessing your login credentials.
6. Regularly Scan for Malware
Malware can cause significant damage if left unchecked. Use a reliable security plugin to automatically search for malicious code, alerting you immediately if something is found. This allows you to take swift action before any serious damage is done. Check this blogpost for more info.
7. Monitor for Downtime
If your site goes down, you need to know right away to fix the issue. Set up downtime monitoring to receive instant alerts, so you can address the problem immediately, minimizing the impact on your visitors.
8. Delete Unused WordPress Plugins and Themes
Remove unused WordPress plugins. Regularly audit your site and remove anything you’re not using. This not only reduces potential vulnerabilities but can also improve your site’s performance.
9. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification, such as a code sent to your phone, when logging in. This makes it much harder for hackers to gain access, even if they have your password.
10. Install a WordPress Firewall
A web application firewall (WAF) helps protect your site by blocking malicious traffic. It acts as a barrier, preventing hackers from reaching your site. Make sure to choose a firewall that is regularly updated to stay ahead of new threats.
11. Keep an Activity Log
Tracking activity on your site allows you to spot any unusual behavior quickly. If your site is hacked, an activity log will help you pinpoint when and how the breach occurred, making it easier to secure your site and prevent future attacks.
Advanced WordPress Security Techniques
In addition to the basic steps outlined above, there are several advanced techniques you can implement to further enhance your WordPress security.
Install an SSL Certificate
Another critical aspect of WordPress security is the installation of an SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificate. If you’re partnered with a reliable hosting provider, a free SSL certificate might be included in your plan. However, there are instances where you’ll need to install one yourself. Most hosting providers, like SiteGround, offer free SSL certificates that can be installed within minutes.
But why is an SSL certificate so important? SSL converts the standard HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) into HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure), which adds an extra layer of encryption to the data transferred between your website and its visitors. For example, without HTTPS, a customer’s credit card information could be vulnerable when making a purchase on your site. With HTTPS, their data is encrypted, making it much harder for hackers to exploit. Installing an SSL certificate is a crucial step in protecting both your site and its visitors.
Conduct Regular Security Audits
Once you’ve taken initial steps to secure your site, it’s essential to conduct regular security audits. Cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving, with new malware and hacking techniques being developed daily. Securing your WordPress site isn’t a one-time task; it requires ongoing vigilance.
Schedule regular security checks and be on the lookout for signs of trouble, such as slow loading times, unexpected drops in traffic, unfamiliar links appearing on your site, or excessive login attempts. If you notice any of these red flags, it’s a good idea to run a security scan to check if everything is functioning properly and avoid potential issues.
Harden the wp-config.php File
The wp config.php file is one of the most important files in your WordPress installation as it contains critical information about your site’s database, including the name, host, username, and password. Leaving this file vulnerable can be detrimental, so it’s a good idea to move and hide it.
You can move the wp config file to your site’s root directory (outside the public_html folder) to make it harder for hackers to access. Additionally, you can protect this file further by modifying your .htaccess file to deny access to it with the following directive:
<Files wp-config.php>
order allow,deny
deny from all
</Files>
Change File Permissions
By default, the files in your WordPress root directory have permissions set to 644, meaning they are readable and writable, which can leave them vulnerable. For added security, change these permissions to 440 or 400, which will prevent other users on the same server from reading them. However, before making these changes, check with your hosting provider to ensure it won’t disrupt your site’s functionality.
Disable XML-RPC
XML-RPC is a WordPress API that allows your site to connect with third-party apps and tools. However, it has been exploited by hackers for brute force attacks, making it a potential security risk. If you’re not using XML-RPC for any purpose, it’s advisable to disable it. This can be done through your .htaccess file, by adding a code snippet, or by using a plugin. For beginners, using a code snippet or plugin is often the safest approach.
Hide Your WordPress Version
Finally, consider hiding your WordPress version number. By default, WordPress includes a footprint in your site’s code that reveals which version is installed. Hackers can use this information to target vulnerabilities in outdated versions of WordPress. To prevent this, you can add a simple function to your theme’s functions.php file to remove the version number from your site’s source code.
What To Do If Your WordPress Site Is Hacked
If your WordPress site does get hacked, don’t panic. Follow these essential steps to recover your files and secure your site:
- Identify the breach: start by determining what happened. If you have an activity log in place, review it to see who accessed your site and what changes were made. This will help you identify the compromised accounts and affected files.
- Run a malware scan: use a reliable WordPress security plugin to check your site for any malicious code. These plugins can help you quickly identify and fix issues with just a click, providing effective protection against security threats.
- Restore from backup: if you’ve been taking regular backups, restore your site to a clean version from before the hack. Ensure your backups are stored off-site to avoid any compromise.
- Reset passwords and remove suspicious users: change all your passwords immediately, including those for your WordPress site and hosting account. Delete any suspicious user accounts that you did not create.
- Consult a security expert: if you’re unable to resolve the issue on your own, or want to ensure your site is thoroughly secured, consider hiring a professional security expert.
- Update everything: After cleaning up your site, make sure to update all your plugins, themes, and WordPress core to their latest versions to close any security gaps.
- Request a google review: if your site was blocklisted by Google, use Google Search Console to request a review once your site is clean and secure.
Remember, the best way to deal with hacks is to prevent them in the first place by following best practices for WordPress security. By staying proactive and using the right tools, you can protect your website and ensure it continues to run smoothly and securely.
