If you are running a site or planning to launch a new site on WordPress in the future then this blog may be helpful for you. WordPress Security is a very crucial factor for a website owner. First, Please ask these three questions yourself-
How do you rate your site in terms of security? Best, Good, Average, or Poor?
Do you think that your website is 100% safe?
What steps have you taken to secure your site?
Well, nothing is 100% safe on the internet. We should always be alert and take security steps as much as possible. WordPress is the best and most secure software. However, we add third-party codes through themes, plugins, etc.
By mistake, sometimes we also introduce some vulnerabilities to our site through some third-party themes, plugins, hosting, etc.
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Here are a few tips which may help you to improve the security of your site:
1- Change WordPress Login URL
I think this is one of the best ways to improve the security of your site (Especially to prevent brute force attacks). You should change your WordPress login URL. Default WordPress login URL is very common and any hacker can guess it very easily and try to attack your site.
But if you will change your site login URL then hackers can’t easily guess the login URL. In this way, you can prevent a lot of attacks on your site.
2- Change Default Username
My second favorite is to change the default username. You should change your default username. You must avoid using your username as Admin, Administration, or your site name. Hackers, already know these defaults and common user names.
You should create a new username and have it safe. This can help to prevent a lot of hacks and attacks.
Brute force attacks are very common on the internet. If your login URL and Username are secure then it will be good for you.
3- Hide WordPress Version
Most talented hackers, always try to innovate and find out new ways to hack the site. They just observe the security gaps and make an attempt to hack the site.
Let’s assume WordPress has introduced a new version but you didn’t find time to update it on time.
You updated it after a few hours or a few days. Now, if your site’s WordPress version is public and hackers know that you are using an older version of WordPress.
Maybe they get some idea to hack your site because of not updating your WordPress version. But if your WordPress version is not public then there may not be this kind of attempt. You should hide your WordPress version.
You can hide it through the coding and plugin as well.
4- Create a Strong and Complex Password
Having a strong password should be your top priority. In every case whether it matters to your WordPress site, Social Media Account, or any other account or software. You should always use a strong password.
You should not have a password that anyone can easily guess. Make strong and complex passwords.
You must avoid your Birthday, Anniversary, and other common things as passwords. Avoid making passwords like abcdef.. or 12345.., your mobile number, your house number, etc.
5- Use a Reliable and Trusted Hosting Company
A bad security practice of your hosting company can make your site in danger. First of all, I would like to say that whenever you purchase any hosting service, you must research them. Check the ratings, customer reviews, safety practices of the hosting, etc.
Try to use a reliable and trusted hosting service. Maybe it cost you a little higher but the safety of your site should be your priority. Here are some of the good hosting providers which I like.
Kinsta
SiteGround
You should choose a hosting provider which provides a secure and best infrastructure.
6- Updating of Plugins and Themes
Never wait to update all the plugins and themes in a shot in a week or month. Always keep an eye on the new release of your plugins and themes. Keep up to date with all your plugins and themes.
Maybe you have installed some plugins which you are not using. You should either delete your unused plugins or keep them updated.
7- Two Factor Authentication
As I earlier said that professional hackers always try to find out new ways to hack your site. Brute force attacks are common, and we must save our site from them.
Two-factor Authentication is also one of the best ways to secure your site from Brute force Attacks.
In Single Factor Authentication, you need your username and password to log in to your WordPress Site. In Two factor Authentication, you need a Username, password, and one additional unique code (Which you can generate through Authentication App on your mobile) to log in to your WordPress site.
8- Install SSL Certificate – WordPress Security
You should install an SSL Certificate on your website to make it more secure. It is a standard security technology that encrypts your site’s sensitive information. It helps and protects your information. An SSL certificate helps you in many ways but the core point is security.
9- Maintain the Latest Version of WordPress
WordPress regularly does improvements and updates. These updates are related to introducing new features and improving their security. Whenever you see an updated version of WordPress, You should update it.
You may also go through the details of it – What is new in the update. If it is related to a security update, then you should not delay updating your WordPress.
Whenever, you update the WordPress version, themes, and plugin you should take a backup of your site. You can update your WordPress manually and automatically as well.
10- Limit Login Attempts
To enhance the security of your site, You can set the Limit Login Attempt feature. It means whenever any user puts an incorrect credential for a particular time then the user gets blocked.
For example:
You have set that if someone put the wrong username three times then it is blocked. Now if anyone tries to log in to your page and put the wrong username three times then the user will get blocked. You can set it as per your choice.
11- Use CDN
You should use CDN (Content Delivery Network). It improves the security of your site in many ways. One of the most famous and best CDN is Cloudflare. It protects your site from brute force attacks, DDOS attacks, malicious attacks, etc.
You can create a free account on Cloudflare. You can upgrade it to a paid plan also. Free and paid plans have their own features and benefits.
12- Setup Email Alerts
If you are using security plugins like Wordfence then you can also easily set up an email alert of your site. You can get an email alert about your site. It is important that you be aware of your site that what is going on?
If you identify the problem on time ten you can take steps to resolve it. But what if are not aware of the problem. Small delays may be risky for your site.
Have a close eye on your site and monitor it properly. If you find anything unusual, check and fix it as soon as possible.
13- Backup of Your Site
Backup, Backup, and Backup of your site. Always have a backup of your site on regular basis. If anything happens to your site, then you should have a backup of your site to restore it.
Many hosting companies provide you with a backup facility. However, you can also do it on your own. There are multiple plugins, you can use the best suitable plugin for your website.
14- WAF (Web Application of Firewall)
A firewall plays a very important role in the security of a site. It detects and blocks attacks. You can also get the Firewall on your server level. You can also include a security plugin for the firewall.
A firewall can protect your site from SQL injection, Cross-site scripting, malicious file upload, and many other attacks.
15- Selection of Trusted and Reliable Theme and Plugins
As a self-hosted site owner, You may be using some WordPress themes and Plugins. There is nothing bad in it. But You should check the rating and reliability of the themes and plugins you install.
First of all, try to use fewer plugins. Choose the plugin which is a very important and trusted one.
Wrong and insecure and vulnerable plugins can put your site at risk. If there are vulnerable codes available then your site may get hacked. Avoid those plugins which are not secure.
16- Be Alert and Improve Your Site Regularly
Improvement and Improvement are the only ways to secure your site on a continuous basis. Security of your site is not a one-time action. You have to take care of your site on regular basis.
Secure your site as much as possible and keep tracking the activity on your site. If you notice anything problematic, then fix it.
Conclusion
The Internet world is very simple and very complex as well. You can not stop brute force attackers and hackers to make an attempt. But you have control of your site and can create strong security layers on your site.
There is no single software that can secure your site 100%. Security of your site is an ongoing and regular process. You have to take the precautionary and necessary steps from time to time.
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