You run a website and would like to protect it from possible WordPress dangers protect? That's a smart decision! The Security of your WordPress website should always be a top priority to protect it from hackers, malware and other threats. In this article, we'll give you 19 exclusive tips to help you effectively secure your WordPress site. But before we dive into the details, let's first take a look at what threats your WordPress site faces and why security is so important.
What threats does your WordPress site face?
Before you worry about the security of your WordPress site, it's important to understand what threats it faces. And there are no fewer. But so as not to deprive you of all hope for the good things on the internet, I've "only" listed the five biggest threats to your WordPress website:
- Hacker attacks:
Unauthorized access attempts and attacks from hackers trying to break into your website and take control. - Malware infections:
Malicious software that can infect your website and steal or damage data. - DDoS attacks:
Distributed Denial of Service attacks, where a large number of requests are sent to your website to overload it and take it offline. - Brute force attacks:
Attacks in which automated tools are used to guess passwords and gain access. - Weak security practices:
Inadequate passwords, outdated software and a lack of updates can put your website at risk.
Why is security important for your WordPress site?
Simple answer: Because the Internet can be dangerous. But why is the internet actually dangerous? Or rather: Why is my WordPress site being attacked in the first place? Well, I can think of five points that you should definitely consider:
- Data protection:
Your website may contain sensitive information, be it personal data of your users or business-critical data. A security breach can lead to data loss or theft. - Reputation:
A hacked or insecure website can affect the trust of your visitors and customers. It can damage your image and lead to a loss of visitors. - Availability:
Attacks such as DDoS can take your website offline and thus affect your online presence. - SEO ranking:
Google and other search engines prefer secure websites in the search results. An insecure website can have a negative impact on your SEO ranking. - Legal consequences:
In some countries and regions, security breaches may have legal consequences, particularly with regard to the protection of personal data.
19 tips to secure your WordPress website
Okay, fortunately, there are numerous things you can do to effectively secure your website from potential threats. So here are 19 tips and recommendations to prevent WordPress threats:
1. keep WordPress up to date
Updating your WordPress version is one of the most fundamental steps in securing your website. New updates often contain important security improvements that close known vulnerabilities. You can update the Either apply updates yourself or the WordPress maintenance your site into external hands.
2. choose a safe WordPress hosting provider
Choosing the right hosting provider is crucial. Make sure that the provider offers security measures such as firewall protection, DDoS protection and offers regular backups.
3. use secure passwords
Use strong, unique passwords for your WordPress admin area, FTP access and databases. Combine upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters.
4. activate two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) provides an additional layer of security by requiring a second authentication method, e.g. a one-time password, in addition to your password.
You can activate two-factor authentication on your WordPress website with the "WP 2FA" plugin, for example. The free version is completely sufficient for this.
5. manage user roles carefully
Assign users only the necessary roles and restrict their access. Administrators should be the only ones with unrestricted access.
6. use SSL encryption
SSL encryption protects the data transfer between the user and your website. Make sure to use a SSL certificate to be used.
You can tell whether your website uses an SSL certificate by the "https//" in front of your URL. You can also retrieve the certificate via the small lock in the URL line.
7. activate a Web Application Firewall (WAF)
A web application firewall can detect and block malicious traffic before it reaches your website. With WPspace, your website is protected by a web application firewall by default, so you don't have to make any changes yourself.
8. use security plugins
There are a variety of Security plugins for WordPressthat add additional layers of security. Some popular options are Ninja Firewall, Wordfence, Sucuri Security and iThemes Security.
9. secure the WordPress directory
Prevent direct access to your WordPress directory by customizing the .htaccess file.
10. save the wp-config.php file
The wp-config.php file contains sensitive information. Make sure that it is protected against unauthorized access. For example, by using SSL encryption.
11. restrict file access
Restrict access to important WordPress files such as wp-login.php and xmlrpc.php to prevent brute force attacks. You can secure these files individually with passwords.
12. activate the brute force protection
Many security plug-ins offer brute force protection functions that block repeated login attempts.
13. monitor your website regularly
Keep a watchful eye on your website and monitor it for suspicious activity and unusual access attempts.
14. create regular backups
Back up your website regularly so that you can restore it quickly in the event of a data loss attack. Your host often creates daily backups for you, but I recommend that you regularly create additional backups using at least one other backup solution.
Incidentally, WPspace creates complete backups for all its customers on a daily basis.
💡 Reading tip: We show you in our blog post "Create WordPress backup" 5 secure methods for creating backups.
15. deactivate the publication of directory listings
Disable the display of directory listings to hide potential vulnerabilities.
16. deactivate XML-RPC
XML-RPC can be misused for DDoS attacks. Deactivate it if you do not need it.
17. limit login attempts
Limit the number of permitted login attempts to prevent brute force attacks.
18. remove unnecessary WordPress themes and plugins
Deactivate and delete themes and plugins that you no longer need to minimize potential security vulnerabilities.
19. monitor and evaluate security vulnerabilities
Stay up to date with security updates and track possible security vulnerabilities in your themes, plugins and WordPress versions.
Conclusion: WordPress dangers and security
The security of your WordPress website should never be neglected. By following these 19 steps to secure your website, you can significantly reduce the risk of hacker attacks, malware infections and other threats. Always remember that regularly updating and monitoring your website is crucial. Stay vigilant and keep your WordPress site secure to gain the trust of your visitors and protect your online presence.
