WordPress is the largest content management system (CMS) in the world and underpins millions of websites. However, it’s also one of the most popular targets for hackers. Your WordPress website should have best practices and proper security measures to ensure it remains secure. In this post we will discuss WordPress security tips and techniques that you should know to keep your site safe from hackers.

• Keep WordPress Updated
• Use Strong Passwords
• Install Security Plugins
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication
• Limit Login Attempts
• Secure Your wp-config.php File
• Backup Regularly
• Use SSL Certificates
• Monitor Your Site

Keep WordPress Updated

One of the most important aspects of WordPress security is ensuring that core software, themes and plugins are up-to-date. WordPress frequently patches security vulnerabilities and bugs. If you keep everything up-to-date, you avoid exploitation.

To update WordPress go to Dashboard, click "Updates". You can install your WordPress core, themes, and plugins here. You can try turning on automatic updates to keep your site up to date without any need to manually update it.

Use Strong Passwords

For your WordPress admin account and other user accounts, you’ll want to ensure that you are using secure, unique passwords. Schwacked passwords make perfect targets for brute force attacks. A strong password must be at least 12 characters in length and should consist of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.

Try to use a password manager to create and save complicated passwords. Also, change your passwords regularly to increase security.

WordPress security plugins

WordPress security plugins include various tools to safeguard your site, including malware detection, firewall, and login protection. Some popular security plugins include:

• Wordfence Security
• iThemes Security
• Sucuri Security

These plugins will help you track suspicious traffic to your site, thwart malware, and protect your login process. If you need more information, visit our detailed guide on the best WordPress security plugins for your site.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) also makes things more secure because it requires two levels of verification beyond your password. It may be a code sent to your phone or one generated by an authenticator app.

Most security plugins include 2FA, but you can use separate plugins such as Google Authenticator or Duo Two-Factor Auth. Using 2FA makes it much more difficult for hackers to get into your site.

Limit Login Attempts

By restricting the number of login attempts, you can avoid brute force attacks where the attacker uses multiple passwords to unlock your account. You can block an IP address after a given amount of attempted logins.

You can use plugins such as Limit Login Attempts Reloaded or Login LockDown to accomplish this and offer additional settings to customize the blocking rules.

Secure Your wp-config.php File

wp-config.php is the file that contains all your WordPress database credentials, so it’s pretty private. This file should be encrypted to keep unauthorized access at bay.

Put the wp-config.php file somewhere higher than the public_html folder to make it unreadable to attackers. Lastly, add the following code to your .htaccess file to block access:

<files wp-config.php> order allow,deny deny from all </files> 

Backup Regularly

Backups on a regular basis ensure that you can recover your site easily in case of an attack. Backups should contain everything that’s on your WordPress installation — the database, files and so on.

Backups can be automated with plugins such as UpdraftPlus, BackWPup, or VaultPress. Take backups offsite to avoid losing data if a server gets compromised.

Use SSL Certificates

SSL certificates encrypt data sent between your website and its users, ensuring the security of login details and payment information. An SSL certificate also enhances your website reputation and ranking on search engines.

Most hosts provide free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates. Make sure that your website uses HTTPS rather than HTTP.

Monitor Your Site

By regularly scanning your website for suspicious behavior, you can recognize and attack security threats quickly. Security plugins can provide tracking capabilities, or you can use specialist services such as Google Search Console that inform you of possible security problems.

Create alerts for suspicious events like multiple failed logins, core file changes, or new user accounts. By checking these warnings promptly, you can stop attacks before they spread beyond your control.

Conclusion

Securing your WordPress site requires proactive maintenance. If you abide by these WordPress security best practices, your website risks will be minimized and your site will remain secure. Always keep everything updated, make sure to use secure passwords, security plugins, enable two-factor authentication, limit login attempts, encrypt your wp-config.php, backup frequently, use SSL certificates, and constantly check your site. This will ensure that your WordPress site stays protected and robust against attack.