WordPress, the number one content management system (CMS), powers millions of websites globally. So much so that, in 2023, WordPress was used by 45.8% of all websites on the internet, increasing by an average of 12% per year since 2011 (W3Techs).
However, this also makes it a popular target for cyberattacks. In 2022 alone, Wordfence, a leading security plugin for WordPress, blocked over 159 billion password attack requests (Wordfence). This staggering number of attempted attacks serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of safeguarding your data and maintaining your site’s integrity by taking every step possible to secure your WordPress site. Today, we’ll walk you through essential practices and tools to improve your WordPress security.
1. Activate Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
By requiring a second form of authentication, such as a code sent to your mobile device, two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to any website and/or platform. This, in turn, reduces the likelihood of unauthorized access, even if your password is compromised by, for example, a hacker obtaining it.
Plugins like Wordfence, Google Authenticator, and Two Factor Authentication make it easy to implement this feature effectively.
2. Manage User Roles and Permissions Carefully
An often overlooked aspect of WordPress security is managing user roles and permissions, which is a problem, since controlling who has access to your site is fundamental to its security.
WordPress offers different user roles – such as Administrator, Editor, Author, Contributor, and Subscriber – each with varying levels of access. To keep your site secure, you need to make sure to assign these roles carefully, ensuring users only have the access they need to perform what is necessary. What you’re doing here is applying the principle of least privilege, meaning users are granted the minimum permissions necessary to complete their tasks.
It’s also important to regularly audit, review and update user accounts and roles; remove inactive accounts and update permissions as roles change. Tools like User Role Editor can help you manage and customize user roles, ensuring that only trusted users have access to sensitive areas of your site.
3. Limit Login Attempts
Login pages are frequent targets for brute force attacks, where hackers try to guess login credentials by testing multiple combinations of usernames and passwords. To reduce this risk, you can limit the number of login attempts a user can make before being temporarily locked out. Plugins like Login LockDown or WP Limit Login Attempts make this easy by allowing you to set limits on failed login attempts and even block IP addresses that show suspicious behavior. Doing this creates a critical defense mechanism against unauthorized access via brute force attacks.
4. Implement SSL/HTTPS
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and its successor, TLS (Transport Layer Security), are protocols that encrypt the data exchanged between your website and its users. It’s a great tool for protecting sensitive information like login credentials, personal data, and payment details from being intercepted by hackers. What’s more, beyond security, having SSL/HTTPS on your site also boosts your credibility, as users are more likely to trust a site with the padlock icon in the address bar.
Plus, Google uses HTTPS as a ranking signal, so implementing SSL can also have SEO benefits. It’s a win-win-win situation! Many hosting providers offer free SSL certificates through services like Let’s Encrypt, and plugins like Really Simple SSL can help you easily configure your WordPress site to use HTTPS.
5. Keep WordPress Updated
As updates often include patches for security vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit, regularly updating your WordPress core, themes, and plugins is one of the most straightforward yet effective security practices. Outdated software is a common entry point for attacks, as vulnerabilities in older versions are well-known and easily targeted. By keeping your site up to date, you close these security gaps.
If you feel like you may forget to do this, enabling automatic updates for minor releases while also regularly checking for major updates is advisable. However, always make sure that updates are compatible with your site’s configuration to avoid potential conflicts or downtime.
Regularly Backup Your Site
The same as updating your website, regular backups are your safety net in the event of a security breach or other data loss incidents. This is because they allow you to quickly restore your site to a previous state, minimizing downtime and a potential impact on your business.
You can use automated backup solutions like UpdraftPlus, BlogVault, or VaultPress to enable you to set up a backup schedule that fits your needs. Another great tip is to store backups in multiple locations, such as on the cloud and locally, ensuring you can access them if needed. And last but not least, don’t forget to test your backups: you need to verify that they can be restored effectively.
6. Secure Your Hosting Environment
Believe it or not, the security of your WordPress site is heavily influenced by your choice of hosting provider. Choosing one that offers strong security features – such as firewalls, malware scanning, and intrusion detection systems – can significantly reduce the risk of attacks.
It’s also wise to look for hosts that offer regular backups as seen above, so you can quickly restore your site if something goes wrong. But beyond selecting a secure host, you should also ensure that your server-side security settings are properly configured. This includes setting secure file permissions and using SSH and SFTP protocols to keep your hosting environment as secure as possible. Remember: It’s never too much.
7. Advanced Security Measures
If you have read every tip we’ve listed and want to go beyond basic security measures, we have a couple more tips to further strengthen your site’s defenses.
Disabling file editing in the WordPress dashboard: this prevents hackers from injecting malicious code into your site if they gain access.
Securing your wp-config.php file: this file contains sensitive information about your WordPress installation, so it’s crucial to secure it and avoid any data leaks. Moving this file above the root directory or restricting its permissions can keep it out of reach of attackers.
Preventing PHP execution in directories to block any unauthorized scripts from running: for instance; /wp-content/uploads/.
These techniques help protect your site from sophisticated attacks and ensure that even if one layer of security is breached, others are in place to mitigate the damage.
Final Thoughts
Securing your WordPress site is not just a one-time task but requires continuous effort and vigilance. By implementing these practices and tools, you can significantly reduce the risk of cyberattacks and protect your site’s integrity.
Stay proactive by keeping your site updated, regularly reviewing your security measures, and being prepared to adapt to new threats as they emerge. With the right approach, you can ensure your WordPress site remains a safe and trusted space for your users.