How to Secure WordPress? - Complete Guide

How to Secure WordPress Website?

“How to Secure WordPress?“ is one of the top topics in WordPress and CMS society. Recent statistics show that over 30% of website administrators across the web use WordPress. Then almost 30% of Internet website security is based on the security of WordPress. This means WordPress security is important.

The security of WordPress depends on the security of itself like functions, codes, configurations, themes, and plugins installed on it.

If you are serious about your website, then you need to pay attention to WordPress security best practices. Security in WordPress is taken very seriously, but as with any other system, there are potential security issues that may arise if some basic security precautions aren’t taken.

After implementing these tactics and following up with continual WordPress security checks, you’ll be well on your way to securing your WordPress website for good.

WordPress Security

Your website tells your visitors who you are, what kind of content and services you offer, and what they can expect from your brand. It’s a place to make a great first impression and build trust and loyalty with existing fans.

That’s why it’s so important to make sure that your website is up and running at all times. If it suddenly includes links to malware, starts running very slowly after a hack, or goes offline altogether, it will impact your reputation.

Most of the time websites are targeted by malicious hackers and spammers who seek to leverage insecure websites to their advantage.

WordPress itself is secure enough (but not 100%). The problem will be inside the themes and plugins. Some plugins or themes use risky codes or sometimes do not secure codes at all. Here best themes and plugins will be shining.

Security never will be 100%. Because there will always be a risk, securing your WordPress site will remain a continuous process, requiring frequent assessment of these attack vectors. At this level, we can just update WordPress to increase security and fix bugs.

When it comes to WordPress security, there are a lot of things you can do to lock down your site to prevent hackers and vulnerabilities from affecting your e-commerce site or blog. In the following, we are going to discuss how to secure your WordPress website and its methods and ways.

WordPress Security Checklist

Keep your site up to date.
Use secure wp-admin login credentials.
Set up a safelist and blocklist for the admin page.
Use a trusted WordPress theme.
Install an SSL certificate for a secure data transfer.
Remove unused WordPress themes and plugins.
Enable two-factor authentication.
Create backups regularly.
Limit the number of failed login attempts.
Change your WordPress login page URL.
Automatically log out idle users.
Monitor user activity.
Regularly scan your site for malware.
Disable the PHP error reporting feature.
Migrate to a more secure web host.
Disable file editing.
Use .htaccess to disable PHP file execution and protect the wp-config.php file.
Change the default WordPress database prefix.
Disable the XML-RPC feature.
Hide your WordPress version.
Block hotlinking from other websites.
Manage file and folder permissions.

Update WordPress

WordPress is an open-source software that is regularly maintained and updated. WordPress releases regular software updates to improve performance and security. Keeping your WordPress up to date at all times is critical to maintaining the security and stability of your site. These updates protect your site from cyber threats.

Every time a WordPress security vulnerability is reported, the core team starts working to release an update that fixes the issue.

By default, WordPress automatically installs minor updates. For major releases, you need to manually initiate the update.

If you aren’t updating your WordPress website, then you are likely using a version of WordPress that has known vulnerabilities.

To check whether you have the latest WordPress version, open 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, we recommend updating it as soon as possible.

1. How to Update WordPress?

The most important thing you need to do before updating WordPress is to create a complete WordPress backup.

A complete WordPress backup includes everything.

Your WordPress database
All your images and media uploads
Your WordPress plugins and themes
Core WordPress files

You can do this from your host admin panel.

To update, log in to the admin panel of your WordPress website and go to Dashboard > Updates.

You will see the notice that a new version of WordPress is available. Now you just need to click on the “Update Now” button to initiate the update. WordPress will now fetch the latest version of the software and install it for you. You will see the update progress on your screen during the update.

Theme

Themes are the interface of a WordPress website. They are made with PHP codes. Then, themes can be vulnerable and cause a WordPress secure thread. Using a safe theme for a website is as important as WordPress because if there is a bug in the theme, hackers and attackers can corrupt WordPress itself.

1. How to Choose a WordPress Theme?

Choosing the right theme is important. You must choose a suitable and secure theme.

Consider these steps when you want to install a theme.

Does the theme have a large install base?
Are there a lot of user reviews, and is the average rating high?
Are the developers actively supporting their theme and pushing frequent updates or security patches?
Does the vendor list terms of service or a privacy policy?
Does the vendor include a physical contact address in the ToS or from a contact page?

If the theme has these questions’ answers, you can choose one of them but remember it, even the best themes may have bugs.

2. How to Install WordPress Themes?

Log in to your WordPress admin page, then go to Appearance and select Themes.
To add a theme, click Add New.
If you know the name of the theme you want, search for it in the Theme directory. If you don’t know your preferred theme’s name, use the Feature Filter to hone down your selection, check any tags and click Apply Filter for a screen filled with themes that meet your search criteria.
To unlock a theme’s options, hover over it; you can either choose Preview to see a demo of the theme or install it by clicking the Install button once you’re ready. Once installed, click the Activate link.
You’re all done, now preview your site to see how it looks.
If you have downloaded a theme on your system, click on Upload Theme and browse it on your system and click the Install Now button.

3. How to Update the WordPress Theme?

Sometimes themes can become deprecated. Check them to be sure, you are using the right theme. If there is an update for it, update it.

Go to Appearance > Themes. In this section, you can see which theme needs an update. If you are not using a child/parent theme for customizations, you’ll need to copy your modifications to a new theme folder.

Plugins

Plugins are some codes to increase the capability of WordPress websites. These days every WordPress website uses plugins.

1. How to Choose a WordPress Plugin?

Like themes, choosing the right plugins is important. If there is a bug in one of the plugins, your website is at risk.

Consider these steps when you want to install a plugin.

Does the plugin have a large install base?
Are there a lot of user reviews, and is the average rating high?
Are the developers actively supporting their plugin and pushing frequent updates or security patches?
Does the vendor list terms of service or a privacy policy?
Does the vendor include a physical contact address in the ToS or from a contact page?

If the plugin has these questions answered, you can choose it but remember, even the best plugins may have bugs.

2. How to Install WordPress Plugins?

Browse to the plugin archive and select it. Then click Install Now and the plugin will be installed shortly.

3. How to Update the WordPress Plugin?

Log in to the WP admin section. Go to Plugins. If there is an update for the plugin, you will see the update now link in the plugin area. After clicking, the plugin will be updated shortly.

Tips about themes and plugins

1. Remove Unused WordPress Plugins & Themes

If you don’t need a plugin or theme, remove them. By default, there are themes on WordPress that they install with WordPress, if you don’t want to use them and use another theme, remove them.

2. Keep WordPress, Theme, and Plugins Updated All the Time

You should always apply updates as soon as possible to keep your WordPress site safe & secure.

What are common WordPress Security issues?

Here are some of the most common types of cyberattacks that WordPress sites face and may cause leak secure websites.

Brute-Force Login Attempts

The brute-force login attempt is one of the simplest forms of attack. It occurs when a hacker uses automation to enter as many username-password combinations very quickly, eventually guessing the right credentials.

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

This type of attack occurs when an attacker “injects” malicious code into the target website to extract information and wreak havoc on the site’s functionality.

SQL Injections

This form of attack happens when an attacker submits a string of harmful code to a website through some user input, like a contact form. The website then stores the code in its database or retrieves data from the database.

Backdoors

A backdoor is a file that contains code allowing an attacker to bypass the standard WordPress login, ultimately accessing your site at any time. Attackers tend to place backdoors among other WordPress source files, making them difficult to find inexperienced users. Even when removed, attackers can write variants of this backdoor and continue using them to bypass your login.