7 tips on how to make your WordPress site secure

To avoid situations like losing all your content online just because of a single security flaw you may want to check these tips.

With 35% of all websites, WordPress is definitely one of the most popular content management systems around the world. Although it is being updated with new security measures continuously, it is not enough to keep the hackers. As an administrator, you should consider extra security measures to avoid unwanted situations. Here are some of the most important tips you can consider to keep your website secure.

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How to make your WordPress site secure?

Use strong passwords

Obviously, stronger passwords are important. If you are using a short and predictable password (such as your name and last name, or something like 123456) for the admin account for a WordPress website, change it with a stronger one immediately. The majority of the attacks are happening on the WordPress login page and every WordPress site has one. You can also use plugins like WPS Hide Login as a layer of security. You can also limit login attempts against brute force attacks.

Updates

As we mentioned above, WordPress and most popular plugins are always releasing updates to patch security flaws and for performance upgrades. If you are insisting on an older version of WordPress, that means your website is prone to be hacked by an already known attack method. Shortly, whenever you see an update notification on your WordPress dashboard, apply it as soon as you can.

Web Application Firewall

Choose hosting providers that offer web application firewalls, or WAF for short. Firewalls have a set of rules defined by the server admin teams. Firewalls can detect and block requests based on those rules. It is good to know that your hosting provider’s security team is also helping with your WordPress website’s security with the firewall and the rules. If your provider doesn’t offer such a service, you may install a firewall plugin but it brings a heavy workload alongside.

Back up

As you may guess, backups are the measure of the last resort, thus, they are very important. The best method is to store your backups in at least 2 different formats in 2 different physical locations. In case of a natural disaster, you can have a backup in a completely different location that you can reach anytime to restore. Also, don’t forget to generate a new backup before and after you make any significant updates.

DNS-type CDN and DDoS Protection

Using a DNS-type CDN before your web server, can improve your site’s performance and also can enhance your web security. It can enable an active firewall against attacks like DDoS, which basically attacks the website with massive connections. It also hides the real IP of your server, thus prevents direct attacks.

Avoid illegal themes

There are some websites allows users to download nulled or cracked versions of premium themes. They are very dangerous for your website and also illegal to use. Some of those themes contain some hidden malicious codes that can simply destroy your website or log your admin credentials. Instead of taking such a risk, pay for the theme and use it legally.

Hosting provider

Choosing the best web hosting providers is also an essential step for your website’s security. Make sure your hosting company is using new software and actively maintaining the security of its infrastructure. Shortly, instead of choosing the most affordable option, check the security measures they are providing and feel free to contact them if you see any confusing information on their websites.