WordPress has a bad reputation for security; an incredible 90% of websites that are hacked are WordPress sites. The platform, on the other hand, powers over 40% of all websites on the internet, putting it far ahead of its nearest competitors.
The issue isn't with WordPress; it comes with all of the tools needed to build extremely secure websites and is used by some of the world's most well-known brands, like Bloomberg, Disney, and Sony.
The problem is that many WordPress users do not follow simple security best practises to keep their websites safe from cyber threats. Here are some strategies to improve the security of your website so it doesn't fall into that category.
Invest in a reliable WordPress hosting service.
Before you start working on safeguarding your WordPress website site, ensure sure you're using a safe hosting service. Investing in WordPress security can only go so far if hackers can take advantage of flaws in your hosting provider.
Choose a reputable web host that offers numerous layers of security; not only will this help safeguard your website, but a good web host can also increase its speed.
Use the Latest Version of WordPress, Plugins, and Themes
There are a variety of reasons why organizations continue to use outdated WordPress, plugins, and themes. They may be concerned about downtime or incompatible plugins, or they may just not see why their website needs to be updated at all — why change something that isn't broken?
Unfortunately for such people, one of the most common reasons of WordPress website hacking is using outdated software.
According to Word fence, a top-rated WordPress security plugin, outdated plugins are directly responsible for 55.9% of WordPress website hacks. Keeping your software up to date can protect you from over 70% of website vulnerabilities, including those exploited because they were running older versions of WordPress and outdated themes.
The use of nulled themes and plugins is a much more dangerous issue than software that is no longer supported because it is out of date. Some organizations, whether purposefully or unintentionally, choose nulled or cracked versions of premium WordPress themes and plugins to save money. Not only is this a technically unlawful behavior, but it also exposes your website to potentially harmful code.
You get what you pay for when it comes to themes and plugins. Real WordPress themes are created by professional developers and provide your website with a unique look and feel. They're also updated and monitored for security vulnerabilities on a regular basis.
There are, however, some excellent free plugin solutions available. There are many of free plugins and themes available for WordPress, but if you're going to use them, make sure they're from a reputable source.
Install a security plugin for WordPress.
When it comes to plugins, there are a handful that every website should use. A WordPress security plugin is one of them.
Scanning a website for vulnerabilities or viruses on a regular basis takes time, even for someone who knows how to do it. As a result, a WordPress security plugin is essential. WordPress security plugins like Sucuri Security, Wordfence Security, and iThemes Security are all highly regarded. They provide a number of free and paid services to defend your website from cyber attacks.
These plugins can scan for malware, provide real-time live traffic and analytics monitoring, build IP blacklists, send security notifications, provide brute force defence, and provide firewall protection, among other things.
Anti-Malicious Login Attempts: Protect Your Login Procedures
Making it more difficult for unscrupulous groups to access your website in the first place is an excellent method to defend it from them.
Make a Secure Password
Using a strong password to protect your website from internet attacks is a simple but effective method. Despite this, a staggering proportion of people use passwords that might be cracked in seconds by even a modestly skilled hacker.
While a password like "password123" is simple to remember, it is also simple to guess. Instead, pick something with a mix of alpha, numerical, and symbolic characters and symbols, as well as upper- and lower-case letters. If you're stuck for passwords, WordPress has plugins that will generate them for you.
Two-Factor Authentication should be enabled.
Users who utilise two-factor authentication must confirm their sign-in with a second device, usually a mobile text message. This technology is quite successful at preventing brute-force attacks and securing your login; even if a hacker guesses your password, it's highly rare that they also have your phone.
Change the name of your user account
When you name your admin account "admin," hackers have an easy target for attempting forced logins. Simply changing your administrator account's login can go a long way toward securing your website. You can create a new admin user with a better name and delete the old one if you have already named your user account admin.
Limit the number of times you can log in.
WordPress' default settings allow for an unlimited number of login attempts. While this is useful when trying to enter in long passwords, it also opens the door to brute force attacks.
You may prohibit an account after a certain number of failed login attempts, establish lockout durations, and even build IP whitelists and blacklists using some WordPress plugins.
Encrypted connections should be made via HTTPS - SSL Certificate
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) ensures that all data transmitted between your website and a user's browser is encrypted rather than transmitted in plain text. This makes it considerably more difficult for hackers to read information and adds an extra layer of security. An SSL certificate is required for websites that take payments, but it also has a number of other advantages in addition to protecting sensitive information on eCommerce sites.
HTTPS is a feature that Google considers when generating search results, according to the company. An SSL certificate may help enhance your business' SERP rating, even if it isn't a fundamental part of your SEO plan. HTTPS also gives your website a more trustworthy appearance, improving the number of visitors and user interaction.
Security is critical for any website, and basic maintenance errors are frequently the source of vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. The expert staff at Nirvana can assist you in developing a secure website or providing security solutions for your current WordPress site. We recognise the importance of cyber security for your users and your business's survival; we ensure that both are safe from online dangers so you can focus on expanding your company.