WordPress Security: A Guide to Keeping Your Website Secure

WordPress stands as a dominant force in the realm of content management systems, powering an impressive 43% of websites worldwide. Its unparalleled versatility and user-friendly interface make it the go-to choice for everything from personal blogs to expansive eCommerce platforms and corporate websites.  

That said, its popularity makes WordPress an attractive target for cybercriminals. While it’s impossible to achieve absolute security, implementing effective WordPress security plugin measures can significantly mitigate risks. 

In this blog, we’ll delve into the critical importance of WordPress security, explore common threats, and provide actionable strategies to protect your website from potential breaches. By understanding these elements and employing the right security practices, you can fortify your WordPress websites against evolving cyber threats. 

Why WordPress security matters? 

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 WordPress 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 

A self-hosted WordPress website should be setup with a reliable WordPress hosting provider. This is because a provider plays a role in keeping users’ sites secure, whether they’re powered by WordPress or some other content management system. 

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. 

Importance of WordPress security: 

Malware risks 

An insecure WordPress site is highly susceptible to malware infections, which can have severe consequences. Malware, such as viruses, worms, or ransomware, can compromise your site’s functionality, leading to disruptions or complete outages. This not only impacts your site’s usability but can also result in unauthorized access to sensitive data, such as user credentials, financial information, or personal details. Hackers might use an infected site as a platform to launch further attacks, spreading malware to other sites or networks. 

The repercussions of a malware infection extend beyond immediate technical issues. Search engines, including Google, may detect and blacklist your site if malware is found, leading to a significant drop in search engine visibility and trustworthiness. Visitors encountering malware might also experience degraded performance or security warnings, prompting them to leave your site in favor of safer alternatives. This can damage your site’s reputation, decrease user engagement, and ultimately result in a loss of traffic and revenue. 

Customer expectations 

For eCommerce websites and any site handling sensitive customer information, robust security is crucial. Customers expect that their personal and financial details will be securely protected during online transactions. Meeting these expectations is not only important for maintaining trust but is also essential for complying with industry standards like the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). 

Failing to protect customer data adequately can have serious implications. In the event of a data breach, you could face legal consequences, including lawsuits and regulatory fines. Moreover, the financial impact of a breach can be substantial, with potential penalties and the cost of remediation. Most critically, a security failure can erode customer confidence, leading to a loss of business and damaging your brand’s reputation in the long term. 

SEO impact 

Search engines place a significant emphasis on the security of websites as part of their ranking algorithms. Google, for example, prioritizes secure sites and considers security factors when determining search engine rankings. Sites compromised by malware or exhibiting security issues are likely to be penalized, resulting in lower rankings and decreased visibility in search results. 

A decline in search engine rankings directly affects your site’s search engine optimization (SEO) performance. Lower rankings mean reduced organic traffic, fewer visitors, and potentially less revenue. On the other hand, maintaining a secure site helps ensure that search engines view your site positively, which supports better SEO performance and higher rankings. By prioritizing security, you not only protect your site from threats but also enhance its overall search engine performance and visibility. 

Ensuring the security of your WordPress site is not just about protecting against immediate threats. It’s about safeguarding your site’s functionality, reputation, and performance. By addressing malware risks, meeting customer expectations, and optimizing for SEO, you can maintain a secure, trustworthy, and high-performing website. 

How to keep a WordPress website secure? 

Considering how popular WordPress is and how attractive it is to hackers, protecting your website proactively is essential. Strong security measures can guard your website from threats, such as malware infestations, illegal access, and data breaches. 

It’s crucial to adhere to an extensive set of best practices to guarantee that your WordPress website stays safe and secure. This section provides important steps to protect your website from possible attacks. 

Keep WordPress updated 

Many cyber attacks on WordPress sites target smaller ones, and sites running older versions of WordPress that haven’t been updated are especially vulnerable. Owners of these sites might not anticipate being targeted, but they can be even more susceptible than larger sites. 

To protect your site, it is crucial to install all frequent updates released by WordPress, including updates to themes and plugins from both WordPress and third-party developers. Additionally, installing SSL certificates is vital for securing data transmitted between your site and its users, adding another layer of protection against potential attacks. 

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. 

Enable two-factor authentication 

Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your WordPress login process by requiring not only a password but also a second verification step, typically involving a device or application that generates a unique code. This means that even if your password is compromised, hackers would still need access to your second device to complete the login. Implementing 2FA significantly enhances the security of your WordPress site by making unauthorized access much more difficult. 

Limit access: 

To enhance security, it’s crucial to limit login attempts by implementing plugins that restrict the number of attempts allowed. This helps prevent brute-force attacks, where hackers try numerous password combinations to gain access. Additionally, consider assigning relevant roles to those who can access your WordPress site, such as authors or admins. Proper role assignment ensures that users have only the permissions they need, further securing your site from unauthorized access. 

Monitor and detect: 

Security Plugins: Utilize WordPress security plugins like CodeGuard and Sitelock to monitor your site in real time. These tools offer features such as intrusion detection, firewall protection, and security alerts that help you stay informed about potential threats. 

Regular Scanning: Schedule regular scans of your site to check for malware and vulnerabilities. Regular scanning helps detect issues before they become severe problems, allowing for timely intervention. 

Backup regularly: 

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. 

Best practices for effective backups: 

By following these practices, you ensure that your WordPress site remains secure and resilient, providing peace of mind in the face of unexpected issues. 

Secure hosting: 

Choose a Reputable Hosting Provider: Select a hosting provider known for robust security features. Managed WordPress hosting services often offer enhanced security measures, such as automatic updates, daily backups, and advanced firewalls, compared to shared hosting options. For even greater protection, Bluehost offers two exclusive add-on products: SiteLock and CodeGuard. 

SiteLock: Enhance your website’s security with SiteLock, an exclusive Bluehost add-on designed to provide comprehensive protection. SiteLock includes: 

• Malware Scanning: Regularly scans your site for malware and vulnerabilities, ensuring potential threats are identified and addressed before they can cause harm. With advanced features like SMART File Scan, certain malware can be automatically removed from infected files. 
• DDoS Protection: Shields your website from Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, which can overwhelm and disrupt your site’s availability. 
• Vulnerability Patching: Automatically applies security patches to fix known vulnerabilities, keeping your website secure against emerging threats. 

By integrating SiteLock, you gain peace of mind knowing your site is continuously monitored and protected from various cyber threats. 

CodeGuard: Secure your site’s data with CodeGuard, another exclusive Bluehost add-on that offers: 

• Automatic Daily Backups: Regularly backs up your website data to ensure that you can restore it quickly if needed. 
• One-Click Site Restoration: Easily restore your website to a previous state with just a click, minimizing downtime and data loss. 
• Safeguard Customer Data: Prioritize the security and encryption of backups to protect sensitive customer information, including personal and payment details. However, the effectiveness of these measures partly relies on the security measures of the customer’s website. 
• Change Monitoring: Detects changes made to your site and alerts you to any unauthorized or unexpected modifications. 

With CodeGuard, you benefit from reliable data protection and easy recovery, ensuring your website remains operational and intact even in the event of issues or attacks. 

Check Security Features: Ensure your hosting provider offers essential security features such as malware scanning, DDoS protection, and regular security patches. 

Firewall protection: 

Web Application Firewall (WAF): Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to filter out malicious traffic and prevent attacks before they reach your site. A WAF can protect against various threats, including SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks. 

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 the login page of 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. 

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. 

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. 

Additional security measures 

While the fundamental steps for securing your WordPress site are crucial, there are additional measures you can take to further enhance your site’s protection. These measures address more advanced security concerns and help ensure a comprehensive defense against potential threats. 

Secure configuration: 

Protect Critical Files: Certain files within your WordPress installation are critical for its operation and security. Ensure that files like wp-config.php, which contains sensitive configuration details, are properly secured. Use appropriate file permissions to restrict access. Additionally, configure your .htaccess file to enhance security by blocking unauthorized access and preventing common vulnerabilities. 

Modify Default Settings: Changing default settings can improve your site’s security. For example, modify the default database prefix (e.g., wp_) to something unique to make it harder for attackers to guess. Disable file editing within the WordPress dashboard to prevent unauthorized changes to your site’s code. 

Response and recovery plan: 

Incident Response: Prepare for potential security incidents by developing a comprehensive response and recovery plan. This plan should outline the steps to take in the event of a breach, including communication protocols, containment strategies, and recovery procedures. Regularly review and update this plan to ensure it remains effective as your site and security landscape evolve. 

Consider hiring a WordPress maintenance service: 

To ensure ongoing security and site health, consider investing in a WordPress maintenance service. These services offer continuous monitoring, regular backups, updates, and security management, providing peace of mind and comprehensive protection for your site. 

By implementing these additional security measures, you can further strengthen your WordPress site’s defenses and reduce the likelihood of security breaches. 

Conclusion 

Due to its nature and massive popularity, WordPress can appear vulnerable to hacking and other kinds of cyber attacks. However, with the right measures, you can significantly enhance your site’s security. Both WordPress and your hosting provider work diligently to offer foundational protection for your website. It’s crucial, though, to take additional steps to safeguard your site. 

Begin by securing your website connection with an SSL certificate, which encrypts data transmitted between your site and its visitors. . Next, adhere to best security practices, including regular updates to the WordPress core software, themes, and plugins, to fortify your WordPress site against potential threats. If you need a reliable hosting solution for your website, check out Bluehost for affordable packages today. 

Common questions related to WordPress security