WordPress Hardening is taking additional security measures to protect your website from hackers, cyber threats, and attacks. With millions of websites running on WordPress, ensuring that your website is hardened and secure is vital.
In this blog post, we will discuss seven ways to harden the security of your WordPress website. By following these steps, you can protect your website and minimize the risk of potential cyber-attacks.
What Is WordPress Hardening?
WordPress hardening refers to the process of tightening the security of your WordPress website to protect it against hackers, malware, and other security threats.
It involves implementing a series of security measures that strengthen the website’s defenses, making it harder for attackers to compromise your site.
How To Secure Your WordPress Website?
Surprisingly, only 61% of WordPress websites are up to date, leaving 39% vulnerable to security risks. Safeguarding your site is crucial to protect sensitive data and build visitor trust. Businesses often inquire about WordPress security when considering this platform.
Stay tuned as we delve into seven tips to harden your WordPress security in the subsequent sections.
1. Use Strong Passwords
Using strong passwords is one of the most basic yet essential steps in WordPress hardening. Weak passwords are one of the easiest ways for hackers to access your website.
Use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols to create a strong and unique password. Avoid using easily guessable passwords such as “123456” or “password.”
Consider using a password manager to store and generate strong passwords for all your accounts. Using strong passwords can significantly reduce the risk of a brute-force attack and keep your website secure.
2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an extra layer of security that requires users to provide two forms of authentication before accessing their account. This can include a password and a verification code sent to a phone or email.
Enabling 2FA can significantly increase the security of your WordPress website and prevent unauthorized access. There are several 2FA plugins available for WordPress, such as Google Authenticator and Duo Two-Factor Authentication.
Once installed, users will be prompted to provide a verification code and password when logging in. Adding an extra layer of security can reduce the risk of a successful cyber attack and keep your website secure.
3. Limit Login Attempts
Limiting login attempts is an effective way to prevent brute-force attacks on your WordPress website. Brute force attacks involve repeatedly trying to guess a user’s password until the correct one is found.
WordPress allows unlimited login attempts by default, making it easier for hackers to access your website. However, using a plugin like Limit Login Attempts Reloaded or Login Lockdown, you can limit login attempts.
These plugins allow you to set a specific number of login attempts before locking out the user for a set period. Limiting login attempts can significantly reduce the risk of a successful brute-force attack and keep your website secure.
4. Set Alerts For Suspicious WordPress Logins
Monitoring your WordPress site for suspicious logins is crucial in the early detection and prevention of potential cyber-attacks. Setting alerts for suspicious logins will notify you when unfamiliar login attempts occur, allowing you to act immediately.
A highly recommended tool for this is the Login SMS Alert plugin. This plugin provides alerts for logins from unfamiliar locations or unrecognized IP addresses. When a suspicious login occurs, you will receive an SMS notification, allowing you to confirm whether it is a legitimate user or an attacker. This real-time alert system enables you to address potential threats promptly and effectively.
5. Auto Logout Inactive Users
Auto-logout for inactive users is another effective WordPress hardening measure. If a user forgets to log out or leaves their account open on a public computer, this feature prevents unauthorized access.
Plugins like Idle User Logout or Inactive Logout can be installed to automatically log out users after a period of inactivity, thereby enhancing your website’s security. However, inform your users about this feature and set an appropriate time limit to avoid causing them any inconvenience.
6. Remove Unnecessary Plugins
Unnecessary plugins can pose a security risk to your WordPress website, with each additional plugin increasing the risk of hackers exploiting vulnerabilities. Regularly review and remove unused or inactive plugins.
This not only reduces security risks but also improves website performance and speed. Before removing plugins, remember to back up your site and test for compatibility issues. Avoid installing plugins from untrusted sources.
7. Install Security Plugins
Installing security plugins is a vital step in WordPress hardening, providing extra layers of protection like malware scanning, firewalls, and brute force attack prevention.
Popular options include Wordfence, Sucuri Security, and iThemes Security. These plugins help monitor and track suspicious activity.
However, security plugins should not be your only defense; keeping your software up-to-date and using strong passwords are equally important.
For more tips on hardening your WordPress website security, check out the Reliqus in-depth blog.
Conclusion
In conclusion, WordPress hardening is a critical aspect of managing a secure website in an increasingly digital landscape. By implementing these seven key measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of security breaches and ensure the longevity and trustworthiness of your WordPress website. Regularly reviewing and updating your security practices will help you stay one step ahead of potential threats, providing a safer online experience for both you and your visitors.