WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that allows you to create a website or blog from scratch, or improve an existing one. It’s estimated that WordPress powers 34% of the internet, which means that if you don’t already have a website, there’s a good chance you’re considering using WordPress to create one. But before you do, it’s important to understand how to secure a WordPress website. With so many high-profile hacks in the news, it’s clear that no website is safe from attack. But by taking some simple steps, you can make your WordPress site much more secure and less likely to be hacked.
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Why WordPress websites need security
There are many reasons why WordPress websites need security. WordPress websites are often targeted by hackers because they are easy to exploit. Hackers can gain access to your website through vulnerabilities in your website’s code or by using malicious plugins or themes. Once they have access to your website, they can wreak havoc by deleting your content, adding malicious code to your website, or redirecting your visitors to another website.
WordPress websites are also often targeted by malware. Malware is malicious software that can infect your website and cause damage or steal information. Malware can be injected into your website through vulnerabilities in your code or by installing malicious plugins or themes.
If you don’t take steps to Secure a WordPress Website, you could end up being the victim of a hacking attack or malware infection. That’s why it’s important to understand how to protect your WordPress website from these threats.
How to check if a WordPress website is secure
There are a few things you can do to check if a WordPress website is secure. First, you can check the source code of the site. If you see any code that looks suspicious, or if there are any links that don’t look right, you can assume that the site is not secure.
Another way to check if a WordPress website is secure is to look for an SSL certificate. This certificate should be visible in the footer of the website. If it’s not there, or if it’s expired, then the site is not secure.
Finally, you can also use a WordPress security plugin to scan the site for security issues. If you find any problems, then you know that the site is not secure.
The most common WordPress security vulnerabilities
One of the most common WordPress security vulnerabilities is an SQL injection. This is where an attacker can inject malicious code into a WordPress database, which can then be used to take over the site. It is very important to implement SQL injection prevention to Secure a WordPress Website.
Another common vulnerability is cross-site scripting (XSS). This is where an attacker can inject malicious code into a webpage that is displayed to other users. This can be used to hijack user sessions or to redirect users to malware sites. It is very important to implement XSS security to Secure a WordPress Website.
Other common WordPress security vulnerabilities include:
- Unauthenticated file uploads: This is where an attacker can upload a malicious file to a WordPress site, without needing to login first.
- Privilege escalation: This is where an attacker can exploit a flaw in WordPress to gain access to features or data that they should not have access to.
- Denial of service (DoS): This is where an attacker can make a WordPress site unavailable by overwhelming it with traffic or requests.
How to Secure a WordPress Website
We have crafted the following steps that will help to Secure a WordPress Website:
Use a strong password for your WordPress admin account
Make sure to use a strong password for your WordPress admin account. A strong password should be at least 8 characters long and contain a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
Install an SSL certificate
Installing an SSL certificate on your WordPress website will help to protect your site from attacks. SSL certificates encrypt information that is sent between your website and visitors’ web browsers, making it difficult for hackers to intercept and steal data.
Keep your WordPress site up-to-date
One of the best ways to secure your WordPress website is to keep it up to date. Whenever a new version of WordPress is released, make sure to update your site as soon as possible. This will help to close any security holes that may have been discovered in the previous version.
Use a security plugin
There are many great security plugins available for WordPress, which can help to secure your website in various ways. Some plugins can scan for malware and block malicious traffic, while others can help you strengthen your passwords and manage user permissions.
Backup your WordPress site regularly
Backing up your WordPress site regularly is one of the best ways to protect it against attack. If your site should ever be hacked or become corrupted, you’ll be able to restore it from a backup with ease.
WordPress security plugins
There are many security plugins available to Secure a WordPress Website. Some of the most popular ones are:
Sucuri Security
This plugin offers website security scanning, malware removal, and blacklist monitoring. It also includes a firewall and brute force protection.
Wordfence Security
This plugin provides malware scanning, real-time traffic monitoring, blocking of malicious IP addresses, and two-factor authentication. Wordfence includes an endpoint firewall and malware scanner that was built from the ground up to protect WordPress.
BulletProof Security
This plugin offers features such as website security scanning, malware removal, .htaccess file management, and database backups. BulletProof Security Pro protects your website files and database with multiple overlapping outer and inner layers of website security protection. The most powerful innermost countermeasure website security layer is AutoRestore|Quarantine Intrusion Detection and Prevention System (ARQ IDPS).
iThemes Security
This plugin provides features such as two-factor authentication, user activity logging, password strength checking, and malware scanning. Allows anyone to secure their WordPress website in under 10 minutes.
Malcure Malware Scanner
Scans entire WordPress files & databases for malicious redirects, viruses, malware, infections, security threats, trojans, backdoors, code injections, and over 50,000+ security threats & vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
If you are serious about securing your WordPress website, then you need to take some extra steps to ensure that your site is as secure as possible. By following the tips in this article, you will be well on your way to protecting your site from attacks and keeping your data safe. So what are you waiting for? Start securing your WordPress website today!
