WordPress Hardening: A Complete Guide

WordPress powers more than 350 million websites today. With a market share of over 38%, it has especially been a boon to newbies who can create a blog or any other website in just a matter of a few clicks.

With its ready-to-use features and simple interface, WordPress has surely revolutionized the way we create and manage websites. No wonder, this has also thrown it before the lurking eyes of malicious actors. In this blog, we explain how you can ensure your WordPress website’s security through WordPress hardening.

The dire need for WordPress security is further proved by the fact that over 90% of all website attacks target WordPress websites. This is way too high compared to its successor, Magento, which suffers only 4% of these attacks and stands at second in the list.

One reason behind this disproportional targeting is of course! the vast usage and data that WordPress websites hold. Another is the fact that more than 70% of all WordPress websites are ill-manged and super vulnerable; thus a gold mine for hackers. This is because the average WordPress user is either a blogger or a hobbyist website owner who is either unaware of security know-how or is not so hands-on with the technicalities of website security and conveniently avoids indulging in that. This needs to change and we explain how in this blog. Read on to find out.

What is website security?

Website security does not mean a completely secure system, which is practically impossible to create or maintain. It is more risk reduction than risk elimination. It includes using all resources at your disposal to improve your position to reduce the chances of getting hacked and make your online assets secure.

There are no quick fixes to achieve complete website security. However, you can take basic precautions and safety measures to keep your website safe from attackers. Most of the cyber-attacks exploit basic security lapses within websites which could be avoidable. This guide will help you understand the basics of WordPress security and steps to WordPress hardening. Read on to find out how you can better protect your website.

Steps to WordPress hardening

1. Get a good host

Choosing a  secure hosting provider will ensure that their servers are properly secured and so your hosted website/s. While, opting for a cheaper or a shared hosting provider might only offer your website a basic security protocol and also you will be sharing the server with the multiple sites hosted. In such a case, any vulnerability in the server can impact all websites hosted on it, leaving a single-point-of-failure for your site.

It is always advised to invest in a dedicated hosting provider for your website for better security options so that will also help in providing WordPress hardening for your site. A good dedicated hosting provider takes care of the physical security of your data, cabling, power, and cooling of infrastructure, routers for the network, server applications, and virtual machines.

The primary goal of a hosting provider is generally to provide hosting to their customers but not taking blame of any security incidents happening on the hosted website. Basically, it takes care of everything below that layer. You will still need to maintain security protocols and steps for your WordPress hardening. This complete guide will help you to do that.

2. Be up-to-date: For your website’s security

More than 54% of WordPress vulnerabilities are due to outdated plugins and older versions (source?). Whenever vulnerabilities are discovered in core WordPress code, the WordPress team provides patches and updates to fix those issues. If you are using older versions, then it is at risk of getting hacked through known or discovered security gaps. Updating your WordPress versions will protect against such known security threats and attacks.

Plugins can become vulnerable if they are not updated regularly. Most of the premium plugins provide regular security updates and patches which ensure that they do not become security liabilities for your WordPress website. It is advised to avoid using plugins that are not updated periodically, as they will not have proper support and security features. Majority of the time they are potential entry points for attackers.

Keeping everything up-to-date is an important step in WordPress hardening. You will find the latest version on the official website of WordPress here. After version 3.7, WordPress updates automatically. You can also use the dashboard to get the status of updates for plugins and extensions. Additionally, to configure automatic updates, insert this code into the “wp-config.php” file:

3. Strong Passwords: A basic in WordPress hardening

It can’t be stressed enough how important a strong password is for WordPress hardening. Always change the default passwords from all accounts, since they can be easily guessed and compromise your account. A good practice is to have a strong phrase with alphanumeric characters. Passwords are generally cracked using brute-force techniques. Attackers use programs that can churn out numerous combinations and check if they are correct. Longer the password, more time will it take to guess, as it increases complexity and number of combinations exponentially.

Try using different passwords for different accounts and change your passwords periodically. Two-factor authentication has become the new security standard, as it provides additional levels of security. Enforce it for all accounts, i.e., for website users too.

           Call +1-857-342-2365 for help and support of Hardening WordPress.