WordPress continues to be one of the most hacked sites around. Doesn’t that make you wonder about the security of your site? Can your CMS really stand up to everything hackers throw at it? Is WordPress truly secure?
In this article, we’ll answer these and other questions about WordPress security. Let’s get started!
1). Is WordPress Secure?
You may be surprised by the answer, but yes, WordPress is a secure CMS. However, there are steps you need to take to make it secure. While the CMS does contain built-in security measures, there are more things you can do to ensure the security of your websites or those of your clients.
2). How Secure is WordPress?
WordPress offers three layers of protection and security. These security layers include the following:
Core Site
This is the first layer of security provided by WordPress. This core layer includes security management, upgrades and improvements, and patches that constantly improve site security.
Plugins
Plugins are the second layer of security created by the CMS. There is a wide range of plugins offered by WordPress that can be installed to make your site safer.
For instance, you can find plugins that make purchases more secure and even encrypt shared information.
Themes
Themes are the final layer of protection within WordPress. You can choose a theme that offers more security than others. For instance, some themes can ensure the shopping experience is more secure. Other plugins may help you to provide a safe browsing and buying experience.
- Look for themes with these qualities:
- Offer regular updates
- Are compatible with your WordPress version
- Follow proper coding standards
- Don’t have common, known security vulnerabilities in the design
How to Keep WordPress Secure
Here are the steps you can take to keep your WordPress website more secure:
1). Keep Your WordPress Updated
WordPress offers regular updates that help to make your website more secure. While it can be a hassle to keep everything updated, taking the time to do so ensures your site and your clients’ sites are safer and more secure.
These updates regularly patch known vulnerabilities that hackers are using to gain access to websites.
2). Choose the Theme Wisely
When choosing your WordPress theme, look for those that are the most secure. This means staying away from free themes and those available from third parties. These themes have a history and reputation for not being secure enough.
If you would like to use a third-party theme, look for a reputable third-party provider. Look for those that regularly offer themes such as ThemeForset or TemplateMonster.
3). Use Security Plugins
Using security plugins is another excellent method to improve your WordPress site’s security. Security plugins offer another level of protection and security, which keeps your site and data safe.
Here are some examples of great security plugins:
- Jetpack
- All in One WP Security and Firewall
- SecuPress Pro
- BulletProof Security
4). Keep Themes & Plugins Updated
WordPress themes and plugins need to be updated on a regular basis in order to keep your site secure and safe from hackers. The problem is that outdated plugins or themes may have vulnerabilities, which allow hackers to gain access and make malicious attacks against the site.
You can check your WordPress dashboard for notifications about updates for plugins and themes. Check this section regularly to ensure your site is as safe as possible.
5). Create Strong Passwords
Many people fail when it comes to creating passwords for their sites. Rather than choosing a password that’s long and contains a variety of numbers, symptoms, and letters, they use a short password. What’s more, the password may not even be unique. This means the password may be used on other sites, as well as the individual’s WordPress site!
Hackers will not stop trying to crack passwords. For this reason, it’s essential to use unique, very strong passwords to keep your site safe.
If you don’t like creating passwords, then consider using a password generator. These are easy to use and provide a new, unique, safe password for all your sites.
6). Use an SFTP or FTP
Another way to improve your site’s security is to use the right file transfer protocol (FTP). An FTP works to transfer files between clients and servers. When transferring data, hackers may be able to access the information. However, if the data is protected by an FTP, hackers have a harder chance of accessing the site or stealing data.
In addition, it’s possible to use an SFTP. An SFTP is another level of security that protects file transfers. This protocol encrypts the authentication and the data files, making it more challenging for hackers. This is a better solution than just relying on an FTP.
7). Choose a Secure Web Host
Is your website host secure? That’s a great question to explore! WordPress requires a host when creating your site. This means it’s essential to choose the best host for your site. Avoid hosting companies that have only been around for a short period, have poor reputations, and more.
Instead, choose a hosting provider that has the right tools to monitor your site and protect it from attacks. Also, be sure to ask whether or not the hosting company regularly updates their hosting software to make sure it’s secure.
8). Ensure Your Wp-Admin Folder is Secure
The wp-admin folder is a common target for hackers. This is because the file contains all the files that are used to administer your website site. When security files are compromised, hackers will have “fun” with your WordPress site.
You may be able to recover the site; however, other times, the hackers leave permanent damage behind.
9). Make Sure Your WordPress Version Number is Not Publicly Displayed
Many WordPress users and developers display their WordPress version in the source code. That’s a huge problem because leaving this information public can make the site attractive to hackers. They look for specific, known vulnerabilities in your WP version.
It’s best to remove this code. You can do this in the theme’s header.php file. Look for code that looks similar to this:
<meta name =”generator” content=“WordPress <?php bloginfo( ‘version’); ?> />
<!—leave this for stats please – – >
Summing It Up
Using these and other methods can definitely improve the security of your WordPress site. Keeping your site and clients’ WordPress sites secure is crucial to keeping hackers out and adding extra layers of security to WordPress!
