WordPress is one of the strongest and preferred content management system site for anyone who wants to put up their own website or blog online. In fact, WordPress is the most popular Content Management System for websites, with 33.63% of the Top 1 million sites in the world using the WordPress platform.
And, of course, with that distinction, there comes complications, including security issues and breaches, especially from hackers. How do you keep make sure that your WordPress stays protected and secure?
1. Use An Uncommon Username For Your WordPress Login
Always use an uncommon username for your WordPress website. And please do not use “admin” as your username. It’s like opening the door and inviting a hacker to enter your WordPress website. Instead, pick out a username that is as unique as it can get. Instead of just first and last names, you can add a few random numbers in the middle or the end. Just be sure to make your username complex to protect your WordPress website. Hackers can use tools to randomly guess your username and password and the more the difficult you can make it for them to guess, the better it is for your website’s security.
2. Use A Strong Password And Change It OFTEN
Choose a longer password with a combination of letters, in both uppercase and lowercase, symbols (%, &, #, @, etc), and numbers. Your password should be at least nine (9) characters long to ensure better security for your WordPress website. And change it often, preferably every month.
3. Utilise Two-Step Authentication
Besides implementing a strong password, add another authentication security level that will send a security code to your mobile phone via sms. You can use different plugins for this purpose, including Google Authenticator, and Duo Two-Factor Authentication.
4. Limit Login options
You can use plugins like Login Lockdown or Sucuri Security to limit the number of logins to your WordPress website. These plugins allows accounts from the same IP to unsuccessfully log in for a maximum number of times before restricting login access.
5. Update Your WordPress Site, Plugins & Themes Regularly (And Backup!)
When you log into your WordPress website, and you see Update Available on the banner, click it to update your website. If you’re worried some data might get lost, backup first before updating. At the same time, update your plugins and themes if available. Using an outdated website, plugin or theme could be the opening hackers need to enter your control panel.
6. Download Trusted Plugins & Themes
For obvious security reasons, download only from websites you trust. When a website offers a premium plugin for free, there’s generally a catch to it. This means that compromised plugins often have backdoor access for hackers to enter your website. And, to further protect your WordPress website, be sure to delete plugins or themes that you are no longer using or no longer need. Don’t just deactivate them, delete them completely to prevent any potential security breaches.
7. Conduct Regular Security Scans
Always scan your WordPress website for suspicious plugins and code files. Try Sucuri Site Check, or Codeguard to help you scan your website.
Keeping Your Website Secure:
With these seven basic tips to protect your WordPress website, you won’t have to worry about your site’s security being compromised. You’ll be able to focus on what really matters: the content and aesthetic of your site.