Top 10 Best WordPress Security Practices

A website is often the most valuable asset for individuals and businesses. WordPress, the world’s most widely used content management system (CMS), powers over 40% of all websites globally.

That being said, this widespread use also makes WordPress a target for hackers, who constantly attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in order to compromise the security of websites (Anyone can be a target!).

Whether you are running an innocent personal blog, a robust e-commerce store, or a business website, it is crucial to implement strong security measures to prevent cyberattacks.

This article will cover the top ten best practices to keep your WordPress website safe and secure from hackers. Additionally, it will highlight a real-world case study to demonstrate the severe consequences of website hacking and emphasise why ensuring that your site is secure should be a top priority.

1. Use Strong Passwords and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

The first line of defense in securing your WordPress website is the use of strong, unique passwords.

A weak password is one of the most common ways hackers gain unauthorised access to your site. Passwords that are simple to guess (e.g., “123456” or “p@ssword”) can be easily cracked using brute force attacks.

Best Practices:

• Use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
• Ensure passwords are at least 12 characters long.
• Never reuse passwords across multiple sites.

In addition to strong passwords, implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of protection.

With MFA enabled, even if hackers obtain your password, they would still need the second form of verification (usually a code sent to your phone or email) to access your website.

Reference:

• The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) emphasises the importance of MFA in protecting accounts, citing that even with stolen credentials, MFA significantly reduces the risk of a successful attack.

2. Keep WordPress, Themes, and Plugins Updated

WordPress regularly releases updates to its core software to fix bugs, improve functionality, and most importantly, patch security vulnerabilities.

Failing to keep your WordPress site updated exposes it to various risks.

Similarly, off-the-shelf free and paid WordPress themes and plugins can have vulnerabilities that hackers may exploit if they are outdated. Always ensure that you are using the latest versions of WordPress, themes, and plugins.

NOTE: This is something that most clients don’t think about. Regular web development maintenance is possibly the most important thing you can do to keep your website secure!

Best Practices:

• Renew your annual theme and plugin licenses to keep them updated.
• Enable automatic updates for WordPress core and plugins whenever possible.
• If you disable your security and firewall plugin for some reason, do not forget to switch it back on before you log out!
• Regularly check for updates, especially after a major release or security notice.
• Remove any unused themes or plugins, as they can also serve as security risks.

Reference:

• A study by WPBeginner showed that 73% of WordPress websites hacked in 2021 were compromised due to outdated plugins and themes.

3. Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF)

A Web Application Firewall (WAF) sits between your website and the visitors trying to access it, filtering out malicious traffic before it reaches your site.

It can block common attacks like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and brute force login attempts.

Best Practices:

• Use a reputable WAF service, such as Cloudflare or Sucuri.
• Configure the firewall to block known attack patterns and prevent bot traffic.
• Regularly review your WAF settings to ensure they are optimised for security.

Reference:

• According to a 2021 Sucuri report, websites protected by a WAF were significantly less likely to be hacked compared to those without such protection.

4. Implement Secure Hosting and SSL Certificates

Choosing a secure web hosting provider is essential for the overall security of your WordPress website.

A good hosting provider offers robust security features, including firewalls, malware scanning, and regular backups.

Additionally, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates are a must for encrypting data transmitted between your site and its visitors. SSL ensures that sensitive information, such as login credentials and payment details, are securely transmitted, preventing man-in-the-middle attacks.

“Keep the good traffic, block the bad.”

Best Practices:

• Choose a reputable hosting provider that specialises in WordPress hosting and offers security features.
• Xneelo offers free SSL on all hosting packages (You can also purchase a Cloudbric license for an additional layer of security!).
• Always use SSL certificates and ensure your website runs on HTTPS.

Reference:

• According to a Google Security Blog post, websites that use SSL certificates rank higher in search results and have a lower chance of being flagged as insecure by browsers like Chrome.

5. Limit Login Attempts and Protect the Admin Area

Hackers often use brute force attacks to guess passwords by trying various combinations until they find the correct one.

Limiting login attempts and protecting the WordPress admin area can significantly reduce the likelihood of a successful attack.

Best Practices:

• Use plugins like Limit Login Attempts or Wordfence to restrict the number of login attempts.
• Rename the default “admin” username and create a unique user account for admin purposes.
• Protect the wp-admin directory by using IP whitelisting or enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) for login.

Reference:

• In a 2020 report, Wordfence found that 30% of the brute force attacks they encountered were targeting the default “admin” username, proving the importance of renaming it.

6. Backup Your Website Regularly

A good website database and content files backup strategy is essential in case of a breach or other unforeseen events.

If your website gets hacked or goes offline, having a recent backup will allow you to restore it quickly without losing valuable data.

Your hosting service provider should offer regular backups (Example: Xneelo do daily backups and store these backups for up to two weeks).

Best Practices:

• Use a reliable backup plugin, such as UpdraftPlus or VaultPress, to automate backups.
• Store backups in multiple locations, including cloud services like Google Drive or Dropbox.
• Ensure backups are performed regularly and can be easily restored when needed.

Reference:

• A recent report by Kaspersky found that nearly 60% of small businesses that suffer a cyberattack without backups go out of business within six months, highlighting the critical importance of backups.

7. Limit User Access and Roles

Not everyone who logs into your WordPress site needs full Administrator access.

Limiting user roles and permissions helps minimise the impact of a potential breach.

Best Practices:

• Assign the least amount of access necessary for each user role (e.g., Editor, Contributor).
• Regularly audit user accounts to ensure that only authorised users have access.
• Use plugins like User Role Editor to control what each user can and cannot do on the site.

Reference:

• Another report by Hackmageddon found that insider threats were responsible for nearly 25% of data breaches, underlining the importance of limiting user access.

8. Monitor Your Website for Suspicious Activity

Ongoing monitoring of your WordPress site can help you identify potential threats before they escalate.

Tools like security plugins can alert you to unusual activity, such as unauthorised login attempts or sudden spikes in traffic from suspicious sources.

Best Practices:

• Use security plugins like Wordfence or iThemes Security to monitor login activity, file changes, and other potential threats (This is a great way to regularly keep track of who has been accessing your website).
• Regularly check your website for vulnerabilities and malware using services like Sucuri SiteCheck.

Reference:

• According to Cybersecurity Ventures, a new attack occurs every 39 seconds on the internet, making constant vigilance crucial in detecting threats early.

9. Secure Your Site’s Database

The WordPress database contains all of your website’s content, user data, and configuration settings. If a hacker gains access to your database, they can potentially compromise the entire site.

Best Practices:

• Change the default table prefix from “wp_” to something more unique.
• Disable remote database access, unless necessary, to limit potential entry points.
• Use plugins like WP DB Manager to optimise and secure the database.

Reference:

• A WordPress Vulnerabilities Report showed that SQL injection attacks are among the most common types of vulnerabilities exploited by hackers, emphasising the importance of securing your database.

10. Educate Yourself and Your Team on Security Best Practices

Finally, the best way to prevent a security breach is to stay informed and educate yourself and your team on the latest security threats.

Cybercriminals are constantly developing new tactics, so staying up to date on security trends and best practices is essential.

Best Practices:

• Follow WordPress security blogs and newsletters.
• Attend free or paid webinars and workshops focused on website security.
• Train your team on recognising phishing attempts, scams, and other common threats.

Reference:

• Cybersecurity experts recommend continuous education as one of the most effective ways to reduce human error and prevent security breaches.

Case Study: The TransUnion Data Breach

The 2022 TransUnion credit bureau hack is a classic example of what can happen when unauthorised users gain access.

TransUnion is an American consumer credit reporting agency that collects and stores information on over one billion individual consumers in over thirty countries.

In this breach, a cybercriminal group from Brasil, called N4aughtySecTU, gained access to over four terabytes of compromised data which included 54 million personal records of South Africans, (Including sensitive data of President Cyril Ramaphosa!).

The hackers obtained access to a TransUnion South African server through misuse of an authorised client’s credentials and went on to demand R223 million ($15m) in randsom.

The fallout was disasterous, both for TransUnion’s reputation and for the affected individuals.

The company suffered fines, an enforcement notice from the government and a damaged reputation.

Additionally, 54 million individuals were left vulnerable to identity theft, with long-lasting consequences.

In Conclusion

Securing your WordPress website is not optional – it’s a necessity!

Cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated and frequent, and failing to take proactive security measures can lead to devastating consequences.

By following our ten best practices above, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of your website being compromised.

Remember that your website, email, and server are integral parts of your digital presence, and neglecting their security can have severe financial and reputational consequences.

Implementing strong passwords, keeping everything up to date, using robust security and firewall plugins, and monitoring your website for suspicious activity are just a few steps you can take to safeguard your online presence.

Stay vigilant, educate yourself, and invest in the best security for your WordPress website to protect it from the ever-present threat of hackers.