WordPress security has always been a hot topic that needs to addressed responsibly. It is true that WordPress is popular and loved by millions for how easy it is to publish content. But you also need to understand that it still has a long way to go when security is concerned.
Technology is improving every year with unique innovations, but hackers are also targeting websites with advanced methods, and WordPress is one of the top web technologies that is highly targeted by hackers.
Given the popularity and the rate at which WordPress websites rank on SERPs, they are an easy target of Spammers and Hackers who want to exploit the site for their greed.
The only way to keep your WordPress safe from these “invisible attackers” is that by Securing your WordPress website by implementing the Best Security Practices.
In this article, I have discussed how you can secure your WordPress Website and keep your data as well as your customer’s data secure. The checklist is mainly ensuring how to secure WordPress Website.
Here are few tips that you need to follow to make your WordPress Website secure.
1. Install a WordPress Security Plugin
A security plugin plays a significant role in securing your Website, and it is the first step that you must apply primarily to secure your Website. WordPress Security Issues are common nowadays, but many non-technical people don’t know how to handle these issues. WordPress
How to Secure WordPress Websites Through Plugin?
The best Security Plugin for WordPress is Hide My WP. With the Hide My WP plugin, you can enhance the security features of your WordPress website.
How does it work? The first thing that you need to do is to hide the fact that your website runs on WordPress.
Yes, spammers and attackers firstly see the website technology whether the Website built-in WordPress or not? If they find that your website uses WordPress, then the chances of attacks increase for your site.
Hide My WP plugin makes it possible to hide all the means which the hacker can get hold of to export your website. Hide My WP plugin is a part of the WordPress Security Suite from WP Wave.
The WPwave Project is focused on the three fundamental plugins principles, and these are:
A free online tool that lets you find out whether the website actually runs on WordPress by entering its URL.
A Vulnerability Scanner for WordPress that lets you fix the security loopholes of your website by scanning your WordPress using industry-standard open-source tools.
A Premium Security plugin that hides WordPress from attackers, spammers, and theme detectors and blocks many lethal security attacks.
2. Good Hosting Service Provider
You need to know that hosting service providers matter a lot because your hosting is also impactful for the security of the Website. Don’t trust any cheap hosting just because of cost-saving.
Secure WordPress Hosting is vital to ensure your Website security from attackers and spammers. Many a time, clients consider affordable hosting providers for cutting the cost of website development and end up with a hacked website.
In the future, you may regret your decision of going for cheap hosting when your Website is not working just because of malware attackers and hacking activities.
Good Hosting Service Provider Can Also Improve Speed of Website
Is hosting responsible for the speed of your WordPress Site? Yes, and no doubt that your hosting is also one of the factors that affect the speed of your Website.
Hosting plays a crucial role in website speed and adds up to your website security. Hosting is a one-time investment, and you should not compromise with this investment for a business website to ensure the Website’s security.
Choosing a premium hosting service provider means you can enhance the speed of your Website as well. On the other hand, trusted hosting companies also provide 24 hours support to the clients for any concerns.
3. Update Your WordPress
Are you missing out or ignoring the WordPress update notification in your dashboard? Please don’t skip this step because it updates the WordPress core by adding necessary security patches and feature updates.
You may also receive updates for the installed WordPress themes, Free or paid both WordPress themes must be updated. The update brings new features and theme functionality from time to time. Thus, regularly update your WordPress website to be on the safer side.
Enable Automatic Updates in WordPress
On the other hand, users can also enable the automatic updates of the WordPress theme in the dashboard. With this, your WordPress updates get automatically installed. Updates make your Website up-to-date and secure.
Also Read: 9 Fast and Easy WordPress Security Hacks you need to Implement Today
4. Make Your Website – HTTPS
HTTPS it is! Regarding this aspect, users have so many doubts in their minds. How to secure a WordPress site with HTTPS? When you are also looking to address the same concern, you must install an SSL Certificate on your Website.
SSL is Also Important for Search Engine Ranking:
SSL is not only securing your Website from attackers but also improves the search engine ranking. Google or other search engines give preference in the ranking, which have SSL and are secured for the user’s experience.
One more query in this concern of the users is “how to make my WordPress HTTPS”? First, you should purchase an SSL Certificate, and once you have done this, paste the three keys’ files in your cPanel File Manager in the file manager section by selecting the domain name on which you want to add HTTPS.
5. Update Plugins on Your WordPress Website
Adding one more layer to your Website’s security means you can’t miss updating the plugins. Plugins are worthy for your Website to add some more realistic features.
However, when you are not updating your current plugins and still running on the older versions, you may invite attackers to attack your Website with malicious activity.
Free and Paid Plugins Both Require Updates
No matter how many plugins you use on your site? Both free and paid plugins required time-to-time updates for smooth functioning and to keep the attackers at bay.
6. Back up Your Site Regularly
Site data is vital for you and when you don’t want to lose your entire Website due to malicious activities, then you must always restore the site with the backup copy.
Try to back up the WordPress Website regularly (maybe weekly or within 15 days). On the other hand, you can also take backup on the time of changes and updates.
Automatic Backup Solutions
There are so many paid backup solutions available for WordPress, which are paid. When you want an automatic backup of your WordPress website from time to time, then you can invest in these solutions. Many hosting companies are also offering backup solutions to their clients.
Also Read: Tips on How to make WordPress Secure (for non-programmers)?
7. Limit Login Attempt
It is one of the primary weapons that you can use against hackers. If your WordPress website is prone to frequent hacking, then you need to take this step and limit your WordPress Login Attempt.
When you restrict the WordPress login attempt, you can quickly get rid of the attackers and block them at the very first.
Install “Hide My WP” Plugin
Users can also download the Hide My WP plugin to benefit from Intrusion Detection System. Hide My WP is a complete Web Protection platform with a real-time wp-vulnerability scanner, login security, and brute force attack prevention.
8. Never Use Nulled Theme
Nulled themes are also one of the major reasons behind hacked WordPress websites. Premium themes of WordPress are not only impressive but also have fantastic customization features.
Hackers can easily hack the nulled and cracked themes. It is the most crucial aspect to know how to secure WordPress Website.
Premium Themes Come with Support
When you purchase a premium WordPress theme, you also get the features of 24 hours support. With this, you can make your Website more secure and prevent hackers with experienced and skilled developers’ support.
9. Use Strong Password
Pro-Tip to Secure WordPress Website
Many users use easy passwords that can easily be cracked, and this can become the reason for site hacking. Keep your WordPress Website password more strong. Don’t keep your password that matches your name or your site name.
Use Suggested Password By WordPress
When you log in to your site’s dashboard, then one strong password is also suggested by WordPress. You can also use this password to secure your Website with vital password goals.
10. Disable File Editing
Once you set up your Website and customize the current theme, you can also disable the code editor in the dashboard. The code editor is mainly used for editing themes and plugins. This option is available in appearance, where you can find the possibility of an editor.
Prevent Malicious Activity to Secure WordPress Website
If hackers access your WordPress Admin Panel and want to add malicious code in your theme and plugin, they cannot get success in this activity.
With this, you can prevent your Website from malicious activity. Through file editing, an attacker can change the plugin code or theme code easily to divert your site traffic to others, and once the code changes then the site features become non-responsive.
11. Change Admin Login URL
Attackers also attack your site by using the admin login link on your Website. The problem came into existence just because of the same format of login on WordPress Websites. Nowadays, millions of users use the same login URL in the WordPress site, which is “WP-Login” or “WP-Admin.”
Users can change their WordPress admin login URL to keep the site more secure and prevent their Website from extensive spam registrations. By changing the admin panel URL users can secure WordPress Website appropriately.
Again, Hide My WP Security Plugin takes care of this and provides you with a unique WordPress login URL that is safe and only you know it.
Bottom Line
These were the 11 Pro-Tips to secure WordPress Websites. These tips are essential to make sure your Website secure from attackers. Hackers are always looking for places that are easy to access for them.
As a non-technical user, when you are worried about your website’s security, you can use these given ideas by yourself because these are easy-to-apply WordPress Security Checklists.
You might also like to read, how to Stop Non-Stop Login Attempts on a WordPress Site.