When you build a WordPress site, website security might not be something you think about very often. However, it is actually a very important aspect of your website.
Did you know that in 2018, over 90,000 hacking attacks per minute struck WordPress sites and WordPress hosting around the world? Hackers not only target large corporate websites packed with sensitive data, but also sites belonging to small businesses, independent entrepreneurs, and personal blogs. For owners of WordPress sites, statistics like that might raise worries about the security of WordPress itself.
No platform is ever completely safe from malware, hacking, and other kinds of cyber attacks. But WordPress security includes protections on the source code itself. And it is the responsibility of the hosting provider and site owners themselves to take precautions when it comes to website security. In this article, we’ll walk you through the general information on website security. Then, we’ll discuss how you can make your site more secure. Keep on reading!
Is WordPress secure?
As you read this blog post, you may be wondering, “Is WordPress secure?”. The fact that WordPress is a free and open-source software makes it especially vulnerable to any skilled hacker who can insert a snippet of malicious code into the WordPress core.
Although WordPress is a product of developers and designers around the globe working to update and keep it stable, it’s quite strict when it comes to security. WordPress has a dedicated team of developers who monitor the platform for security vulnerabilities. They are responsible for developing patches as soon as an issue becomes known. WordPress releases frequent updates to the software, which includes those security patches. Hence, it’s important for users to install updates whenever they become available.
WordPress developers are the first line of defense for your website, but they aren’t the only ones. Both hosting providers and site owners have jobs to do in keeping up their WordPress site security.
The role of website hosting in WordPress security
Trusted, quality website hosting providers like Bluehost have protocols in place to protect WordPress and other sites they host. It’s the hosting provider’s job to maintain the security of hosting servers. And they also need to implement essential security monitoring features. For instance, Bluehost offers complimentary data backup and easy restoration for hosted websites.
When it comes to security, dedicated hosting designed for WordPress sites tops the list because you have the most control over your server. It allows for extensive customization, giving you the ability to optimize your server settings. But dedicated hosting is definitely not for everyone. In fact, most personal and business websites should do fine with a shared hosting plan.
So, we’ve talked about the role of WordPress and hosting providers for website security. Now, let’s discuss what site owners can do to protect their beloved websites.
Secure your website connection with HTTPS and SSL certificates
One of the basic things you can do for your website security is to secure the connection between your website and your visitor’s browser. When you visit a website with a secure connection, you’ll see a grey padlock icon at the beginning of the website’s URL. You can get this padlock on your site by installing an SSL certificate on your web server. Let’s quickly go over some definitions and discuss why your site needs an SSL certificate.
What are HTTPS and SSL?
HTTP, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol, is the protocol used to load web pages using hypertext links. It is actually a foundational element of the World Wide Web. But it usually gets ignored because not many people pay attention or understand what it does.
When you visit a website that uses HTTP, the exchange of information between your browser and the website server is done in plain text. If a hacker eavesdrop on this information exchange, they could easily steal sensitive information, including names, addresses, and credit card numbers.
Secure HTTP (HTTPS) adds a layer of encryption to that information. Hence, the conversation between your browser and the server is encrypted. That way, even though hackers can still listen in on conversations between browsers and servers, they won’t be able to make sense of the information because it’s not readable.
To create that secure connection, you need to install an SSL certificate on your website server. SSL certificates are what enable websites to move from HTTP to HTTPS. SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, and it’s the authentication protocol that encrypts the information between client (browser) and server. A majority of websites nowadays use HTTPS, which you can see with the ‘https://’ at the beginning of a website URL. Actually, most of the time, your browser hides the ‘https://’ from the address bar. Instead, you’ll see a grey padlock that indicates a secure connection.
Read more: A guide to protecting your website from 8 common website attacks
Why you need to use HTTPS
Every website can benefit from using HTTPS, even if you just run a personal blog. And HTTPS is especially critical for an eCommerce website. Customers want to know their information will stay private if they check out on your website!
A website that shows “not secure” in the address bar raises concerns from customers. They won’t feel safe on your website, and you’ll look unprofessional. Even if you don’t exchange any data, customers might feel unsafe and avoid your website.
And more than just security, a lack of HTTPS could also hurt your SEO efforts. Google takes HTTPS into account in its ranking process. So, you should use HTTPS protocols to get your website ranked by search engines.
Are you interested in installing an SSL certificate for your website? We have this in-depth article that walks you through how to add HTTPS to your domain. Check it out!
If you’re using Bluehost hosting, we’ve simplified this process to make it easier for you. And we also offer free SSL certificates for dedicated IP addresses.
DIY security best practices for your WordPress website
Along with efforts by WordPress itself and responsible web hosting providers, owners of WordPress sites can also take many steps to tighten security and thwart cyberattacks of all kinds. Of course, securing your website connection is just one of the steps you have to take for your website security. Below are some more WordPress security best practices:
Read more: How often should you run a WordPress security scan?
Keep WordPress updated
Many cyber attacks on WordPress sites strike smaller ones. Next to that, those running older versions of WordPress that haven’t been updated are also vulnerable. Owners of these sites might not expect that their sites might be targets, but they may be even more vulnerable than larger sites. Installing all of the frequent updates released by WordPress is a key step in keeping a website secure. And that also includes updates to themes and plugins installed from WordPress and from third-party developers.
Keep your devices secure
WordPress security won’t help if the devices used to manage the site are compromised. Security experts recommend making sure that all computers and mobile devices used for accessing and managing a WordPress site be regularly monitored and updated with effective firewalls and malware scans.
Secure passwords and permission
Hackers often attempt to get access to a site by “brute-force attack” — entering usernames and passwords again and again until one works. The default username for a WordPress website is “Admin,” which is an easy one to guess. So, you must change that to something unique as soon as possible.
Restricting permission to access the site and its directories and disabling file editing can also help. This is because WordPress code can easily be edited by anyone who can open it. WordPress has several levels of permission, so only assign the highest permission to the few people who need it. Likewise, you should limit login attempts and set notifications for excessive logins. Excessive failed login attempts is a sign that someone is trying to hack into your website using brute force tactics.
Install WordPress security plugins
There are a lot of plugins for security and site monitoring available from WordPress and from numerous third-party designers and developers worldwide. You can install these plugins on any compatible WordPress website for added security that’s specific to a site’s unique functions. Any security plugins that are installed to protect your site will need to be updated as recommended.
These security plugins can be broadly categorized into two groups: full security suites and single-issue security plugins. Full security suites encompass multiple security needs within a single plugin. Some popular options include:
These tools cover everything from bot-driven brute force attacks to manual blocking of malware injection attempts and other hacks. They represent a great choice for beginning WordPress owners who want a solution to cover multiple needs.
Backup your WordPress site
Backing up your WordPress website is always a good idea in case of accidental loss or errors when editing WordPress. It also makes good sense from a security standpoint to back up your website. You should do this at least once, and preferably multiple times. If a site is compromised with malicious code or viruses, a clean backup can be restored at any time, or the site can be moved to a new host if necessary using the backup versions.
Stay on top of spam
New WordPress sites and those that aren’t regularly maintained are prime targets for spam comments. Such spam can easily infect a site with malware. Hence, you should set tight spam filters and keep them updated with the latest version. Next to that, it’s essential to monitor comments carefully and block questionable comments from your site’s Admin WordPress dashboard.
Final thoughts on WordPress website security
Due to its nature and massive popularity, WordPress can appear vulnerable to hacking and other kinds of cyber attacks. But no worries, your WordPress site can be secured if you pay attention to it. WordPress itself and your hosting provider both work hard to bring certain levels of protection to your website. So, it’s your job to put in the effort to further improve your site’s security. Start by securing your website connection by installing an SSL certificate. Then, implementing the best security practices, regular updates and correct plugins can keep WordPress sites of all kinds secure.
If you need a reliable hosting solution for your website, check out Bluehost for affordable packages today.
2 Comments
Your guidance is very helpful sir, thanks for sharing information. But what if the site is already hacked? I mean how to solve this problem?
Greetings Nikita,
We’re sorry to hear about your site, please check out our awesome support team for assistance with your site https://helpchat.bluehost.com/