8 Tips to Secure your WordPress Website
We are going to share most important 8 tips to secure your WordPress website. WordPress, the top CMS, offers many advantages but can be vulnerable to many threats and malware attacks, leaving many website owners worried. Based on a general understanding of the security of a WordPress website, you may consider it is pretty challenging while it is not.
We’ve helped many clients in Singapore learn the basics of website security, especially WordPress and maintenance. We’ve also enriched their understanding of WordPress security. Many of our clients in Singapore can now apply some of the security enhancements or measures on their own. For example, you can go through this article if you want to remove malware from your WordPress website.
But we are happy to have the chance to help anyone concerned about their site security. In this article, we’ll present 8 tips to secure your WordPress website
8 Tips to Secure your WordPress Website
This article may not look what we call a full list of required actions, but this concise WordPress security checklist explains the key measures that you can take to secure your WordPress site.
Implementation of SSL Certificates and Installation of a Security Plugin
SSL certificates are not only an industry-standard technology but also a ranking factor that Google considers. These certificates establish an encrypted connection between a web browser and your web server, helping to protect user data as it passes between the two. Like WordPress websites, millions of other websites use SSL certificates to ensure the privacy of their customers’ information.
Installing an SSL certificate is one of the primary measures when launching a website. If the SSL on your WordPress site has expired, you need to take action. Renew it or install a new one immediately. Additionally, to provide extra layers of online protection, use a security plugin. WordFence Security is one of the most popular plugins, but other efficient tools are also available.
Updates to the WordPress Core Files, Themes, Plugins, and PHP Version
As of 2023, 62.5% of all websites powered by a familiar and recognised CMS use WordPress, which makes it the design and development platform for 43.4% of all websites running. This piece of statistics confirms the popularity and relevance of WordPress to the development community.
However, this also makes WordPress a prime target for hackers. Hackers continuously attempt to breach the security and stability of the CMS. Therefore, it is essential to take action. You must always keep the WordPress core files up to date. Additionally, ensure that your WordPress theme and plugins are also updated. This will help protect your website with the latest security patches and updates.
The WordPress web development community has been working tirelessly. Their goal is to offer support to those who choose WordPress for their websites. A key part of this effort focuses on updates and security improvements. These updates help enhance the platform’s security. Sometimes, even a small update can be crucial. In fact, the absence of such an update may lead to major concerns.
You may have heard that WordPress is written in PHP. PHP is arguably the most popular programming language in the world. For this reason, we always recommend that our valued clients in Singapore use the latest PHP version. This is important to avoid potential issues. These issues may include stability, security, and performance problems. By updating PHP, you can help protect your website.
Use of Unique Username and Strong Password
Using a unique username instead of ‘admin’ is important. Additionally, having a strong password is crucial. At first, these changes may not seem like a big deal. However, they play a critical role in your WordPress website’s security. In fact, these two details can significantly reduce your website’s vulnerability.
Sometimes, web designers, developers, or administrators may choose to keep the default username, which is "admin." They might also use a password that is easy to remember. While this may feel convenient, there are certain risks involved. Hackers often target such setups. They try to gain access to your WordPress website. As a result, this approach can lead to security vulnerabilities.
We always advise our clients in Singapore. We recommend avoiding the use of ‘admin’ as the username. This is because it can be easily guessed by hackers or scammers. Instead, we suggest choosing a unique username. Ideally, it should be linked to the client’s brand or business. This approach adds an extra layer of security.
Keeping the WP Admin Login Page Inaccessible
If a WordPress web developer keeps the login page accessible, anyone can find it. They can do this by adding “/wp-login.php” or “/wp-admin” to the site URL. These slugs are very common. As a result, keeping them accessible increases your risk. Scammers can easily identify the login page. Consequently, they won’t need to work hard to launch an attack.
Protection of the wp-config.php File
The file in discussion contains essential and sensitive information. This information is crucial for the WordPress installation running on your website. Some of the critical details include WP database connection information and WP security keys. These are pieces of information you definitely don’t want anyone to access. To address this concern, you can take action. Specifically, you can protect the file called wp-config.php. This can be done through the .htaccess file.
WordPress Website Backups
Keeping backups on a scheduled basis is always a good practice. Our WordPress designers and developers begin by taking a backup of the website. This is an important step. By doing so, you ensure that you still have a backup available. If something happens to your WordPress site, the backup can help you restore it. Therefore, regular backups provide security and peace of mind.
Use of a Security Scanner
Security scanners are an excellent tool. They bring peace of mind. With these scanners, you can be aware of any issues. Additionally, they help you identify potential vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities may not be very obvious. Furthermore, if you simply don’t want to check everything manually, security scanners are a helpful solution.
Cooperation with a Reputable Hosting Company
One of the best things you can do is choose the right hosting company. This is crucial for protecting your site from the very beginning. When looking for a hosting company, consider a few key factors. First, find one that is fast. Additionally, ensure that it is reliable and secure. Lastly, the company should offer great customer service. These qualities will provide the support you need for your WordPress website.
Not choosing a reliable and resourceful hosting provider is common. However, it is important to ensure that the services from the provider you use are well-planned. This way, your site can achieve an uptime of 99.5%. In addition, certain security measures must be employed to work effectively with the server.
That is all about our concise WordPress security checklist. Are you worried about the security of your WordPress website? Do you suspect it’s infected with malware and you want to clean it? Good news! We’ve the right service to offer. Feel free to call us today or request a quote.