8 Best Practices for a Secure WordPress Site: WordPress is the world’s most popular CMS. This also brings with it hackers and other cyber dangers.
8 Best Practices for a Secure WordPress Site: We live in a world where cybercrime is on the rise.
WordPress is the preferred platform for websites and blogs worldwide, which means that there are also more and more WordPress sites that can fall victim to cyberattacks.
In this article, we’ll show you what 8 best practices you can follow to create secure WordPress sites.
1. Use a strong password for your WordPress admin account
It’s important to use a strong password to ensure the security of your WordPress site. With a strong password, potential attackers can’t easily break into your account. A strong password consists of a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Some experts also recommend using passwords longer than 8 characters. It’s wise to avoid using the same strong password for all WordPress websites so that you can better protect your accounts. There are several methods to create and store strong passwords, but one of the most commonly used is to use password managers. These tools allow you to create and save different strong passwords so that you don’t have to remember them manually.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)
Another way to increase the security of your WordPress site is to enable two-factor authentication (2FA). This feature provides another layer of security for your admin account, as you’ll need to confirm the login with a code or fingerprint. This means that even if someone finds out or steals your password, they won’t be able to get into your account without this confirmation. There are a few different ways to use 2FA – the most common method is to send codes via SMS to your phone or email. It’s important to note that 2FA only works for those who have a phone or email — so you should consider other authentication methods for users who don’t own any of these devices.
Avoid PHP version 7 and older versions
One of the most important things about the security of your WordPress website is to make sure that you’re always up to date – especially when it comes to software version. Since WordPress provides regular updates to fix security vulnerabilities and other issues, it’s important to always have the latest version installed and activated. Another piece of advice is to stop using PHP version 7 or older versions, as they are very vulnerable to hacking and can contain potentially serious vulnerabilities. Instead, you should always install the latest PHP version. This then ensures that all relevant patches have been installed and serious leaks are closed.
2. Update WordPress, plugins and themes regularly
When using WordPress, plugins and themes, pay attention to the following best practices for secure WordPress sites:
a) Update WordPress, plugins and themes regularly
Most WordPress problems result from outdated versions of WordPress, plugins, or themes. Therefore, make sure to update regularly. In many cases, this is already provided for in the settings of your WP installation. If not, you can either update manually or use a tool like WP Updates.
b) Do not install plugins or themes without an initial search on the Internet
It’s a good idea to search the internet for information before installing a new plugin or theme. This will help you know if the software is trustworthy and if there have been any issues with it in the past. If you can’t find any information, it’s better not to install the plugin or theme.
c) Pay attention to the security settings when installing plugins and themes
If you want to install a new plugin or theme, you should check the security settings. These settings can let you know what privacy, display, and other settings are associated with the plugin or theme. Be sure to adjust these settings according to your needs.
3. Use a security plugin
Another important best practice is to use a security plugin to protect your WordPress site. There are many excellent options that offer all the features you need for a secure website. This includes things like scanning for malware and exploits, blocking unwanted IPs, and protecting against brute force attacks.
It’s also important that you update your plugins regularly so that they comply with the latest security standards. Some of these plugins have additional features such as the ability to manage or change passwords, as well as block real-time notifications for potentially dangerous activity or login attempts. It is definitely worth using such a plugin. For example, we use BogVault and set it up for our customers and use it to constantly monitor our customer websites.
But it’s also important that you choose one that fits your budget plan while offering all the security features. There are free options like WordFence and Sucuri Security, as well as low-cost premium options like iThemes Security Pro or All In One WP Security & Firewall. Each of these options provides excellent protection for your WordPress site and is available as a resource for you to set up and manage your website.
4. Keep access to your WordPress backend as restrictive as possible
What is one of the most important aspects to consider for the security of your WordPress backend? That’s right, to keep access to the backend as restrictive as possible. Having a strong password and logging in regularly can help keep potential hackers out. But there are other protective measures you can take.
One of the methods is to filter access to the backend based on IP addresses. With this feature, you can restrict access to specific IP addresses and any other attempted login will be automatically rejected. If your IP address changes or you’re on the go, you can still manually start a temporary connection attempt.
In addition, you should not forget that many hosting providers provide automatic updates for WordPress. This is very important, as newer versions often close security gaps and protect you from cyberattacks. You should also check your plugins regularly and keep them up to date, as they can also serve as a gateway for attackers.
Last but not least, it is advisable to create a backup of your website and save it regularly. This way, you’ll be well prepared in the event of a cyberattack and can restore and protect your site in no time. It is also advisable to install a website security plugin – this will monitor access to the website and detect and mitigate any potential attack in a timely manner.
So, there are many ways to protect your WordPress backend from cyberattacks – but the most important thing is still to keep access to the backend as restrictive as possible! By making regular updates, updating your plugins and using proper backup strategies, as well as installing a website security plugin, you can keep potential hackers away. So you always stay safe!
5. Protection of your own files
Another important aspect that plays a role in the security of your WordPress site is protecting your important files from unauthorized access. Most common hacking techniques try to access and manipulate your files. That’s why it’s a good idea to restrict permissions on your files so that only you can access them. This can be done using an FTP client or an SSH session. If you already have security vulnerabilities, change the permissions for all your files and folders to 644 (for files) or 755 (for folders).
In addition, it is highly advisable that you perform regular backups of your website. This allows you to quickly access a previous version of your website in an emergency and quickly repair any damage. Many hosting providers offer automatic backups and there are also plugins that can be used to create backups. However, if you want to be on the safe side, we recommend using third-party backup software or services like BlogVault.
Finally, we recommend using firewall software and other security measures such as anti-malware and anti-spam solutions. These tools help prevent unauthorized access to your web server and block malicious activity. To further increase the data security of your WordPress site, you should also regularly update and install new security patches as soon as they are available. This way, your WordPress will always be protected from emerging threats and attack attempts.
6. In the event of an attack: How to react correctly
In some cases, intruders may break into a WordPress site despite careful security measures. In this case, it is important to react correctly. Here are some tips to minimize the consequences of a possible attack:
a) Investigate the damage:
The first step after a suspected hacker attack is to investigate the damage. This means that you need to check the affected files as well as your user accounts. If you see that your accounts have been hacked, you should also change the passwords for each account.
b) Remove all harmful elements:
If you find that there are malicious elements on your WordPress site, they must be removed immediately. This can be done manually or with the help of anti-malware software. It is important to completely remove all malicious elements to ensure the safety of the site.
c) Check your plugins:
Another important step is to check all the plugins on your WordPress website and only install and activate those plugins that come from well-known developers and are updated regularly. This way, you can make sure that you don’t have any outdated or insecure plugins installed.
d) Update WordPress and all themes/plugins regularly:
Regular updates ensure the security of your website and effectively prevent hacker attacks. Therefore, you should always stay up to date and update all themes/plugins regularly.
e) Use a strong password:
Always use strong passwords for your account and any other user account on the website – ideally at least 12 characters long with numbers, special characters and capital letters.
f) Manage your user roles:
In order to limit access to sensitive data, it is important to properly manage the different user roles and allow each user access only to the necessary areas of the site (for example, administrator, editor, etc.).
g) Check your security settings regularly:
It is very important to conduct regular security audits and ensure that all settings are configured correctly – especially for sensitive settings options such as PHP settings files or privacy policies.
h) Use professional tools:
There are professional tools such as Sucuri or Wordfence Security Scanner that you can use to protect your website from hacker attacks – so it should always be seen as a last resort.
7. Secure WordPress Hosting
If you want to install WordPress on a secure website hosting solution, there are a few things you should pay attention to. First, you should make sure that your hosting provider provides the latest security patches for WordPress. You should also make sure that your hosting provider offers SSL encryption for your website. This is especially important if you want to have an HTTPS SSL site (which is already standard today).
Another important aspect of choosing the right hosting is the availability of the support team. There are many low-cost hosting providers that don’t offer 24/7 support. This can be an advantage if you don’t want to be constantly available via the Internet. However, there are also many low-cost providers that offer 24/7 support and thus provide more security.
8. Backup
Backups are another important factor in backing up your WordPress site. A backup is a copy of files and databases that can be used to restore the state of the system after an attack or other event. It is important to create regular backups so that you can access the data in case of an emergency.
There are several ways to create backups: you can create them manually or automatically with tools like BlogVault, BackupBuddy, or WP Time Capsule. No matter which method you choose, it is advisable to create a complete backup of all files and databases at least once a week.
Another good tip is to store the backups in the cloud. As a result, data remains securely stored even in the event of local issues such as hardware failures and system crashes. Cloud backup services such as Amazon S3, Dropbox, and Google Drive offer quick and easy solutions for storing backups.
Conclusion:
In order to protect your WordPress site from hackers, you should consider at least 8 best practices – from installing a firewall to updates to securing it with backups. By making regular backups and storing them in the cloud, you ensure that the data is protected even in the event of system issues. With this combination of measures, you are well prepared for all eventualities!
