10 Ways to Secure Your WordPress Website in 2023

Securing your WordPress website is more important than ever in 2023. With technology becoming increasingly advanced, hackers have more resources to breach a website’s security. In this article, I’ll share ten best practices to secure your WordPress website in 2023.

Install and configure a security plugin.

A WordPress security plugin protects your website from malicious attacks and intrusions. Not only does it allow you to keep your website secure, but it also can help you reduce administrative workload.

To begin, you must select a plugin that best suits your needs. Consider factors like features, pricing, and compatibility with your existing WordPress platform before deciding.

Once you have a plugin set up, you can begin configuring it to strengthen security. Generally, you will want to set up a strong password and adjust its settings to restrict access to certain features and files.

Additionally, you may want to set up security protocols such as two-factor authentication or CAPTCHA to prevent automated malicious attack attempts. Other common settings include limiting the number of failed login attempts, enforcing encrypted communication, and setting up automatic backups.

Make sure to keep all WordPress core and plugins up-to-date.

Updating WordPress core and plugins is essential in keeping your website secure. Not only is your website vulnerable to malicious attacks if you don’t keep it up to date, but you undermine security if you’re not taking advantage of the latest fixes.

Here are the key points on why updating WordPress core and plugins is essential for website security:

• Updating your website is crucial to keep it safe from malicious attacks, as outdated software can make your website vulnerable to security breaches.

• Staying up to date with the latest updates ensures that you are taking advantage of the latest fixes, which can help maintain your website’s security.

• Regularly updating WordPress and plugins adds new features and functions, which can refine the interface and improve user experience.

• Updating your website also ensures compatibility with the latest version of WordPress and plugins. If some of your plugins are outdated, your site may not run properly.

Regularly updating WordPress core and plugins is crucial for website security, as it helps maintain your website’s security, improve user experience, and ensure compatibility with the latest software versions.

Use strong passwords

Passwords are a critical component in the security of your website. Weak passwords are an easy target for malicious attackers, making it important to use strong passwords to keep your website secure.

Strong passwords should include letters, numbers, and symbols, be at least 14 characters, and not include easily guessable words such as ‘password’ or ‘admin.’ It is also important to avoid reusing passwords across multiple sites and services. An attacker can access the other accounts, too, if they compromise one of your passwords.

For security reasons, all users must have unique passwords, and you must keep the site up to date with the latest software patches and security protocols. Following these steps can help ensure your website is well-protected against malicious attackers.

Disable the file editor in WordPress

Disabling the file editor of your WordPress website can be a beneficial measure for keeping your website secure. Here are some reasons why you should consider disabling the file editor functionality:

• Full access to your WordPress files makes it easier for attackers to use vulnerabilities in your system and take control of your website.

• By disabling the file editor, you can limit file editing to those who should be able to access that functionality. (This means that an administrator account can edit only the necessary files, eliminating the possibility of hackers altering core files in your WordPress.)

• Disabling the file editor will prevent users from inadvertently making mistakes while attempting to modify files manually. This can lead to data loss or even website outages.

• Taking this precaution will help you ensure that no unauthorized changes are made to your WordPress website and that you keep it secure.

If you’re willing to accept the slight inconvenience of not being able to edit the files manually, you should disable the file editor functionality in WordPress.

Implement two-factor authentication

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is an important security measure to help protect your website against unauthorized access and malicious hacking attempts. With 2FA, your users must provide two pieces of information to gain access to their account or complete a transaction.

This could include a username and password, a one-time code sent via SMS, or an authentication app such as Google Authenticator. 2FA helps ensure that only authorized users can access your website by providing additional layers of authentication. This reduces the risks of account compromise or data theft.

Additionally, 2FA helps reduce the risk of phishing attacks, where attackers attempt to trick users into giving their login credentials. 2FA helps protect user accounts and any sensitive data stored on your website, including personal or financial information. By implementing 2FA on your site, you can guard against data breaches and help keep your customers and your website’s data secure.

“Two-Factor Authentication Statistics: First Line of Defence.” Eftsure, 12 Sept. 2022, https://eftsure.com/statistics/two-factor-authentication-statistics/#:~:text=Table%20of%20Contents%201%20Two-factor%20authentication%20%282FA%29%20statistics,statistics%2018.%20…%204%20Device%20statistics%2028.%20.

Install an SSL Certificate

An SSL certificate is one of the most important components of keeping your WordPress website safe and secure. SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer, a protocol for encrypting data sent over the internet. SSL provides a secure connection between a web server and a web browser, making it difficult for hackers to intercept and access shared data.

Having an SSL also prevents man-in-the-middle attacks. (A man-in-the-middle attack is where a hacker can intercept data sent from a website and replace it with malicious content.) An SSL certificate ensures that sensitive data from your website remains encrypted and safe from hackers.

An SSL certificate also makes your website more trusted by your users. Any website with an SSL certificate will have a visible padlock icon that denotes a secure connection. This adds extra security, trust, and authenticity for your users. (It can also help to improve your search engine ranking too!)

Create regular backups of your website

Backing up your website regularly is an essential part of website security. When we say “backing up,” we mean making a copy of your website’s files and data, including your website’s pages, posts, images, and other content. This copy can restore your website if compromised, hacked, or accidentally deleted.

Here are the key points on why backing up your website regularly is essential for website security:

• Regularly backing up your website is an essential part of website security. This involves making a copy of your website’s files and data, including pages, posts, images, and other content.

• Website backups act as a safety net for your website, just like a seatbelt in a car accident. In case of a website disaster, a backup can restore your website.

• Without a backup, you risk losing all your hard work and content, which can devastate your business or personal brand.

• Regular backups ensure that you always have the most recent version of your website available to restore, depending on how frequently you update your website. Backing up your site daily, weekly, or monthly is recommended.

• Keeping multiple copies of your backups, both locally and in the cloud, is a good idea to ensure your website is safe from disasters like a hard drive failure or a natural disaster.

• Having a website backup provides peace of mind, knowing that you can quickly restore your website in case of a security breach or hack.

To sum it up, backing up your website regularly is crucial for website security as it acts as a safety net for your website, ensures the availability of the most recent version of your website, and provides peace of mind in case of a security breach or hack.

Monitor your site regularly for malicious activity

One way to ensure your website is secure and running optimally is to monitor it regularly. Monitoring your website means checking for any changes, updates, or security breaches that could affect it. You should be doing this on a potentially weekly basis or even more frequently if possible.

Doing so can ensure you take any necessary updates or security measures quickly and efficiently. It can also mean you ensure the website’s integrity, boost user experience, and ensure good rankings in SERPs.

Additionally, regularly monitoring your website is important to ensure you remove or replace broken links or outdated images.

The bottom line? Monitoring your website helps to prevent any malicious activity, such as malware attacks, abnormal user activity, spammers, and hackers, which can otherwise go unnoticed and have huge impacts on the website and its users.

Limit login attempts

Limiting login attempts is a popular website security method that restricts the number of login attempts made to a website from a single IP address. This is a critical security measure because hackers often use brute force attacks to gain unauthorized website access. Limiting the number of login attempts can prevent these attacks and protect your website from unauthorized access.

Several plugins, such as Login Lockdown and Limit Login Attempts, allow you to configure this security feature on your WordPress website easily. With this method, you can ensure that only authorized users can access your website and keep your website safe from malicious attacks.

Use a secure website host

Selecting a secure website host is crucial for website protection. A reputable provider will have robust security measures like firewalls, malware scanners, and intrusion detection systems. They’ll monitor for suspicious activity, such as brute force attacks, and take swift action to mitigate security breaches.

Secure hosting providers keep software and hardware up-to-date with the latest security patches to prevent known vulnerabilities. By choosing a secure website host, website owners can ensure their website remains safe from cyber attacks and downtime.

Key Takeaways

In conclusion, securing your WordPress website is essential to protect against cyber threats. You can significantly reduce the risk of a security breach by implementing the tips outlined in this post. Remember, website security is an ongoing process that requires constant attention and effort. By staying vigilant and informed, you can keep your website safe and enjoy peace of mind knowing it’s secure.

References:

“Two-Factor Authentication Statistics: First Line of Defence.” Eftsure, 12 Sept. 2022, https://eftsure.com/statistics/two-factor-authentication-statistics/#:~:text=Table%20of%20Contents%201%20Two-factor%20authentication%20%282FA%29%20statistics,statistics%2018.%20…%204%20Device%20statistics%2028.%20.