Did you know WordPress is used by more than 455 million websites? The web hosting company holds 35% of the global website market. Each month, WordPress websites are accessed by at least 400 million people. You can see why WordPress sites are increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats.
Although WordPress may not be a top 50 SaaS company, it is still one of the most widely used content management systems (CMS) in the world. What good is a great CMS if it’s vulnerable to cyberattacks?
In 2018, WordPress was responsible for 90% of all hacks on CMS websites. But, only 2% of data breaches were caused by a weakness in WordPress’s core security. It was the users who made their sites vulnerable to various threats, often through vulnerable plugins.
If you’re using a WordPress-powered website, It’s safe for you to assume that your site is not going to be found in the chaos caused by a cyberattack. Security is an important aspect of any website project due to the increasing threats that are available online today.
Here are seven best practices and strategies to protect your WordPress website. Continue reading to learn more about protecting your website and data.
7 Ways to Secure Your WordPress Website
Here are 7 tips to keep your WordPress website secure: These hacks are intended to increase the security of your WordPress website.
1. Choose a Secure WordPress Host
One of the most important risk management decisions for your project is choosing a secure WordPress host. You cannot afford to choose any hosting provider because your WordPress host is a key component of the security of your website. It is important to select a hosting provider that offers multiple layers of server-level security.
It is important not to rush when choosing a WordPress host. Instead, take your time and explore all options. You should avoid hosting companies that seem cheap. If they offer their services at a lower price, it is usually indicative of hidden problems. A personal VPS is not the best option for hosting your WordPress website, especially if it’s not something you are familiar with. It is better to choose a host capable of handling security issues, such as a hosting provider you can trust.
You can rest assured that your website is protected when you subscribe to the services of a top-notch web hosting company. These hosting companies offer remote support at various levels.
A WordPress host that runs malware scans daily and provides 24-hour support is the best. To ensure that their clients are taken care of, most 24-hour support providers employ an automated call distributor. Make sure you check to make sure your potential WordPress host offers round-the-clock support.
Also read: 14 Proven eCommerce Security Tips to Protect Your Online Store
2. Always Update Your PHP Version
Your WordPress website is complete without the Hypertext Preprocessor (or PHP). Always use the most current version of your site server.
Each PHP release is typically fully supported for two years before getting an upgrade. There may be occasional fixes or patches to security issues that the developer discovers over those two years.
PHP 7.4 is the current version. PHP.net supports PHP 7.2 and PHP 7.3. This means that WordPress users who still use PHP 7.1 or less are more at risk from cyberattacks.
WordPress stats show that 32% of WordPress users use outdated PHP. It is frightening to consider the cybersecurity risks that their websites are exposed to each day. While it may take business owners and website owners time to verify their code compatibility with the latest PHP versions, that doesn’t mean you should not have security support.
Building a responsive website requires more than a design template. An outdated PHP version can negatively impact the performance and efficiency of your website, in addition to security. It is always a good idea to use the most recent PHP version for your WordPress site. You can find out more here. Communications platform as a Service (CPaaS), solutions allows you to access the service providers you need more easily.
3. Use Secure Passwords
This tip may sound condescending, and it might even sound like a broken record. However, you will be surprised at how many people forget to use secure passwords.
SplashData reported that ‘123456 was the most used password in 2018.’ It shouldn’t surprise you that ‘123456’ was the most popular password in 2018.
You don’t necessarily need to be a web developer in order to know that such passwords make WordPress sites easy targets for hackers. Mobile device management (MDM), is essential for many projects. This means that you will have a dedicated device, and a team to secure it. You can contact a digital customer support team if you need assistance in choosing a secure password to your website. Digital customer service, if you aren’t familiar with it, is a service that answers your questions via digital platforms like chat messaging, social media, and texts. It’s not a VoIP phone system.
Anyone trying to protect their digital systems should use a unique and difficult-to-guess password. Although a secure password is the best way to protect your WordPress website from possible hacks, many people find it difficult to remember their password. There are two options. You can either store your WordPress password in an encrypted file on your computer or use online password managers. This ensures that your passwords are safe in cloud storage.
Whatever choice you make regarding your WordPress website password, make sure it is secure and unique.
4. Use Two-Factor Authentication on Your WordPress Website
Two-factor authentication (or 2FA) is an additional layer of security on the web. It requires two methods of authentication to verify identity. This usually includes a code sent by email or phone to verify identity.
Two-factor authentication is a great way to strengthen your WordPress website’s security. This is useful for secure file sharing and other things. You can choose between two authentication options.
Many people prefer to use Google’s Authenticator app. This sends a unique code via text message to their phones. The app makes sure that you’re the only one who can receive these texts.
5. Only install Secure Plugins
Installing plugins to enhance your web activity and make you stand out is one of the most popular design trends for WordPress websites. This freedom can lead to security breaches.
Wordfence estimates that vulnerable plugins were responsible for almost 60% of WordPress users’ data breaches in 2016. Your website could be at risk if you use a plugin without security verification. It is best to only install trusted and secure plugins on your site.
This can be done by looking at the popular or featured categories of the WordPress platform or downloading directly from the developer. To ensure that security policies are clear, always read the fine print.
Some plugins offer access to built-in firewalls, malware scanners, and automated database backup. This is a great sign to look out for. You should ensure that you are always up-to-date, even after installing security plugins. You can expose your plugins to hackers by not downloading security updates, bug fixes, and version upgrades.
Also read: 5 Best Plugins To Speed Up WordPress Websites
6. Limit the number of login attempts
You can log in to your WordPress account no more than once per day by default. You can still log in to your WordPress account even if you forget it. This may sound like a positive, but if you are prone to forgetting passwords it can put your WordPress website at risk.
Hackers are also aware of this loophole and exploit it. They often compile a list with popular usernames and passwords, along with stolen or purchased user data. They then visit WordPress websites and use bots that attempt hundreds of password combinations in less time than a minute. It works sometimes, but it can fail at times. This type of hacking is called a brute-force attack.
You can deter, if not completely eliminate, such cyberattacks by setting a limit to the number of login attempts that your website allows. If you limit your maximum attempt to three login attempts, then the site will lock out the user (or bot), for a specified duration.
7. Encrypt Your Website Data With SSL
A secure socket layer (SSL) is the final and best way to protect your WordPress website. An SSL certificate will ensure that all data between your server’s visitors and your website is encrypted. This certificate also changes your website’s HTTPS to HTTPS. An SSL certificate is essential if you want to enhance your eCommerce strategies.
You see, with HTTP sites, Hackers can view the data transmitted to the server by visitors to your website using a man-in-the-middle attack. This could lead to data breaches or other cyberattack consequences. An HTTPS website encrypts all data traffic and site information so that no one can see them.
It is easy to obtain an SSL certificate. It is easy to purchase an SSL certificate from a Certificate Authority, and then install it on your WordPress site. Next, configure your website to display the HTTPS prefix. Certificate Authorities are cloud-based software that can help you purchase and install SSL certificates. You should immediately get an SSL certificate for your website.
Stay ahead of Cyberbullies
Cyberattacks on WordPress websites have increased. However, with the right technological resources and tips, it is possible to prevent your website from being compromised. You’ve been given great insight into how to protect your WordPress website’s cybersecurity. Now you just need to put them into practice.
Auditboard has more information about the various security incidents that you may face.
You should still be vigilant for suspicious activity on your site, even if you have security measures in place. Your site will be secure if you have a good monitoring system and maintain a high level of security.
