WordPress's popularity makes it a target for hackers and malicious actors. Securing your WordPress website is crucial to protect your data, content, and reputation.
Essential Security Steps:
1. Keep Everything Updated: Enable automatic updates, regularly check for theme and plugin updates, and remove outdated or unsupported themes/plugins.
2. Strong Login Credentials: Use combinations of uppercase/lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid common words and use a password manager.
3. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Add extra security with plugins like Google Authenticator or Authy.
4. Limit Login Attempts: Use plugins like Limit Login Attempts Reloaded to prevent brute force attacks.
5. Change Default Admin Username: Create a unique administrator username instead of using the default "admin."
6. Secure wp-config.php: Move it to a higher directory level and add code to .htaccess to restrict access.
7. Regular Backups: Use plugins like UpdraftPlus or Jetpack to automate backups and store them securely offsite.
8. Security Plugin: Install plugins like Wordfence Security, Sucuri Security, or iThemes Security for firewall protection and malware scanning.
9. Monitor for Malware: Regularly scan for malware and suspicious activity.
10. Secure Hosting: Choose a reputable hosting provider specializing in WordPress with built-in security features.
11. Web Application Firewall (WAF): Filter malicious traffic using Sucuri or Cloudflare.
12. File Permissions: Set 644 for files and 755 for directories.
13. Disable Directory Listing: Add Options -Indexes to .htaccess.
14. Audit User Accounts: Review and delete unused accounts regularly.
15. Stay Educated: Keep informed about security threats and best practices.
Security is an ongoing commitment. Prevention is better than recovery, so prioritize security from day one.
