10 Simple Tips To Secure Your WordPress Website
Do you want to secure your WordPress website to save it from hacking and unusual cracks? If yes, then this is the article for you. Here we will discuss 10 different tips you can use to secure your WordPress website. Let’s Start:
Web security is a great matter of concern for every website owner. And if you’re a beginner then it gets more serious for you. There are many myths related to WordPress security. But just don’t run with the rumors spread. Wait for a while and think, WordPress is the most popular CMS and millions are using it. If it was an insecure platform, does it manage to stay in the first position up to now? WordPress itself is not insecure. Just its improper use makes it insecure.
However, there are paid SSL certificate options that offer many benefits compared to free SSL. A site owner needs to mull over them and decide to go with the correct type of SSL certificate. As many SSL providers offer Cheap SSL Certificates at a reasonable cost with post-sales service too.
Tips to Secure your WordPress Website
So here in this article, we are going to discuss some of the simplest and actionable steps that help you to secure your WordPress website. These steps are very easy to perform and at the same time, it ensures that your site is safe! So let’s explore and practice it.
1. Always keep your WordPress Software, Themes, and Plugins Updated
Though WordPress is free and open-source software, it is well-maintained and regularly updated. One of the prime ways to secure your WordPress website is to keep it updated with the latest software version available. Not only the WordPress software version, but the themes, and plugins you are using also update their versions from time to time. So, to avoid external attacks you should make sure your theme and plugins are up-to-date. Also, WordPress websites that are updated with the latest versions are more likely to have strong security. You must check out the themes, plugins, and Software from time to time and update it with a new version.
WordPress also enables the option of auto-update to keep your themes, plugins, and software updated after a new version without your approval. However, this might not be convenient for all users. In all, make sure that you secure your WordPress website by updating it!
2. Use Strong Username and Password
A very likely common mistake that users usually perform is using a custom username for their website. This gives hackers a chance to give a right guess about your site’s login details. Hence, you must choose a powerful/strong username and password to secure your WordPress website.
Most people use easy-to-remember usernames and passwords. This is the biggest mistake they make. A website with a weak and common password is the main target of hackers. Using a weak and easily guessable password is the gateway for hackers. Therefore, it is really important to manage your WordPress password and username. You should use a unique and difficult username and password for all your accounts. Remember, don’t use the default username “admin” instead, create a custom username. And to create a strong password, your password must be 8 characters long or more, do not use only simple letters as passwords, including numbers, symbols, and capital letters. Mixing different characters in a password makes it strong and the hackers can’t crack it.
3. Secure Hosting Company
It is important that you choose a hosting company that provides secure hosting. Usually, the chances of your site getting hacked are high if you choose unsecured hosting.
Selecting a poor hosting service is the first mistake you make to avoid securing your WordPress website. Choosing the right hosting company matters for your website security. Most people choose hosting companies based on their price range. But along with low prices comes poor services. You would not like to get your site getting hacked when it is at the peak of traffic and SEO.
This could be a thrive for you. So, think twice before you go with the cheap cost. You must research the hosting company that you are going to choose and make sure it’s safe and secure. WordPress.com itself is a secure hosting provider, whereas WP Engine, Bluehost, Godaddy, etc. are the other most preferred and secure hosting providers to ensure to security of your WordPress website.
4. Limit Login Attempts
Limiting login attempts is yet another great way to fail the hacker’s attempt to crack your password. The greater the chances the worst. If you limit the number of login attempts then a hacker may not be able to guess it at the very time.
Mostly, the hacker tries several login attempts to enter your site. So if you set the login limitation, you can protect your site from brute-force attacks. You can easily limit login attempts of your site using simple WordPress plugins. Login Lockdown, Limit Login Attempts, WP Limit Login Attempts, etc are the free and mostly used WordPress plugins for limiting login attempts.
In a few cases, limiting the number of login attempts can be a burden to the users on the site. But, it is necessary to secure your WordPress website by enabling all the security measures.
5. Activate Security Plugins
Plugins are the solutions to all the missing problems on your website. There are plugins developed and used to keep your site secure and protect it from hackers.
So, using WordPress security plugins is yet another important step to secure your WordPress websites. Security plugins secure your WordPress website by tracking the vulnerabilities and other issues happening on your website and reporting them to you. There are many free and premium WordPress security plugins available. Using such plugins keeps your website secure.
Among all the security plugins available – Hide My WP is one of the best and most trusted plugins.
Hide My WP – Amazing Security Plugin for WordPress
Hide My WP is the #1 security plugin for WordPress. The plugin functions by hiding your WordPress from attackers, spammers, and detectors. With over 26,000+ satisfied customers, the plugin hides your WP login URL and renames the admin URL. Further, the plugin detects and blocks XSS and SQL Injection types of security attacks on your website. Hide My WP provides 3-Way protection by hiding your WordPress and providing WordPress Firewall for worry-free usage and a Robust Trust Network that protects WordPress from unknown attackers.
Further, All In One WP Security & Firewall, Wordfence Security, iThemes Security, etc. are some of the most preferred security plugins.
6. 2-step authentication
A two-step authentication also secures your WordPress website from unusual hackers and attackers. Usually when a user login to your website, he/she will have to verify yet another information to use the admin of your website. This ensures that only the right user is using the site and it is safe.
The authentication can be a verification code received through Email or Phones and such. This is another great way to protect your password from hacking attempts and keep your site safe. According to the 2-step authentication process, added to your password, a separate authentication code would be needed to enter the site. This authorization code would be sent via SMS to the account owner’s number only and hence helps a good deal in thwarting the hackers, even if they can crack your password. It is a very important step to secure your WordPress website.
7. WordPress Backup Solution
You must have a backup solution for your WordPress website in case it is hacked! Sometimes, even after applying all the safety measures and tips, your website can get hacked. But, a backup solution always works in favor to secure your WordPress website.
Though you pay lots of attention to web security and do lots of things for it, still, you are not 100% secure. In this case, a backup of your website could help. Backup lets you restore the site immediately when something went wrong. It keeps your hard work safe and secure so that if anything bad happens, you won’t have to start from scratch. Again, plugins can do this for you. There are many free and premium plugins available for WordPress backups. Just you need to install a good one and set a schedule and the rest plugin will do it automatically. UpdraftPlus WordPress Backup Plugin, BackWPup, etc. are free yet powerful WordPress plugins.
8. Protect your wp-config.php File
Protection of the wp-config.php File is a must to secure your WordPress website. This is a place where all the files and folders of your website are located. A hacker usually targets this place for hacking to steal all the information and use them for their advantage. Hence, you must protect it from hackers.
The wp-config.php file is where all the confidential details and information of your WordPress site locates. So, the protection of your wp-config.php file is a must. If this file is secure then it would be difficult for a hacker to know the important details of your site and the core of your WordPress site safely.
To protect your wp-config.php file, you just have to move it to the directory above your WordPress install i.e. above your root directory.
If your server has a .htaccess file, you can simply place the following code at the top of it and protect the wp-config.php file.
9. SSL Encryption
Using private encryption is an optimal act to secure your WordPress admin login, pages, posts, and much more. SSL encryption gives better security for you by ensuring harder password interception. Some hosting service providers offer free SSL certificates with hosting plans. So, if you are planning to launch your new website or going to change the web host of your existing website, the best idea is to go with a company that assures SSL certificates.
Security researcher Yashar Ghaffarloo says the following: “Adding an SSL certificate can mean the difference between security for not only you as an administrator but also for your users. When information is transmitted, SSL is an easy way to ensure that it is secure. With services like LetsEncrypt and Cloudflare free SSL, there’s no reason not to implement SSL. This is something I not only preach but also do myself with my product and service review website Review.org
Learn More: Why is SSL important for your website? Where to find free SSL certificate?
10. Security scanner
Prevention is better than cure, so it’s always good to be alert. You have to install a good security scanner for your WordPress site as well. The scanner option will scan the presence of (if any) malicious codes inside your core files and plugins.
The use of a strong security scanner detects an odd practice on the site and reports out immediately. In this case, even if the hacker might have hacked your website, he/she will be less likely to cause any damage. You can look out for the problem and act in case of any malfunctions. This ensures secure your WordPress website.
Wrapping Up
These are the few simple yet very important tips to secure your WordPress website. When you are a beginner or the one with no core technical knowledge, security is what frightens you. But considering all these easy tricks helps you to overcome security related issues. There are lots of other technical and nontechnical ways to make your WordPress website secure. But here I have just discussed some of the common and simplest things to do targeting WordPress beginners.
In order to learn more about WordPress Security and Tips you can check out wpWave. The site has very useful articles that will be helpful for you to learn more about WordPress securities and its importance.
Hope it was useful for you.
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