Improving the security of WordPress is crucial due to its popularity and the potential for cyber attacks. WordPress users should take several steps to ensure that their sites remain secure against known and emerging threats. This guide will delve into the intricacies of WordPress security and outline the steps you can take to protect your site (and your visitors) from hackers and malware. These steps can be categorised into threat elimination and risk reduction.
Threat elimination involves measures to eliminate cyber attacks and other threats. For instance, users can install firewalls to filter malicious traffic and prevent distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.
Risk reduction focuses on proactive security practices. For instance, users should change the default WordPress database prefix to make it harder for attackers to locate. Enforcing strict user access requirements and conducting regular security scans are also effective measures.
Keep in Mind: It is important to remember that WordPress security aims to minimise risks rather than completely eliminate them. Because there will always be risk, safeguarding your WordPress site necessitates ongoing efforts, requiring frequent assessment of attack vectors and threats.
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How Secure is WordPress?
It is important to note that while WordPress is a powerful and flexible tool, it is not immune to cyber attacks or vulnerabilities. The core platform itself also represents only a tiny fraction of security vulnerabilities. The abundance of plugin and theme library in WordPress, along with its extensibility, is the main cause of the majority of security issues encountered by WordPress sites. In the first 6 months of 2023, Wordfence Threat Intelligence had already added 2,471 individual vulnerability records to the Wordfence Intelligence WordPress Vulnerability Database. These vulnerabilities affected 1,680 WordPress software components. This means in the first 6 months of 2023 the number of individual vulnerability records had already surpassed the total number of vulnerabilities disclosed in 2022, which was 2,395 based on unique vulnerability records. Therefore, taking steps to improve WordPress security and how often you patch and maintain your site’s software is essential for website owners.
How to Improve WordPress Website Security
There are several steps that users can implement in order to safeguard WordPress websites against prevalent cyber threats and known vulnerabilities. These measures can generally be classified into the following categories: site configuration, proactive security functionalities, user access control, user permissions, and site security updates.
WordPress Security Configurations
Ensure the security of your WordPress website by following these steps:
1. Change the default WordPress login page URL
By default, the login page URL ends in /wp-login.php and the admin page URL ends in /wp-admin, making them easy targets for attackers. Renaming these URLs can help deter brute force attacks and other targeted threats.
2. Relocate the wp-config.php file
The wp-config.php file contains sensitive information about your WordPress installation, including security keys. Unfortunately, it is easily discoverable. To make it harder for attackers to locate, move the file above the WordPress root directory.
3. Make sure your WordPress theme is secure
Some themes may not be updated to support the latest WordPress version or may not comply with security standards. Such themes can be exploited by attackers. Choose a theme from the official WordPress theme directory or validate it using a WordPress theme validator before installation.
4. Hide the WordPress version in use
Many WordPress attacks target specific vulnerabilities in different versions of the platform. By hiding the version of WordPress you are using, you can potentially evade these threats or make it more challenging for attackers to identify weaknesses in your website.
Implement Proactive Security Measures
1. Utilise an SSL/TLS certificate
Employing an SSL/TLS certificate, which encompasses both SSL and TLS security protocols, aids in safeguarding and encrypting data transmitted over the internet. These certificates can be acquired from hosting providers or third-party security services.
2. Deploy a firewall
By installing a web application firewall (WAF), you can fortify your WordPress sites against unauthorised traffic by filtering and blocking it. This proactive measure helps mitigate the impact of DoS and DDoS attacks, ensuring uninterrupted site service.
3. Restrict HTTP requests utilising the XML-RPC protocol
XML-RPC is frequently exploited for volumetric cyber attacks or brute force attempts. To counter this, you can opt out of the XML-RPC feature by implementing a plugin or firewall rule.
4. Prevent hotlinking
Hotlinking enables third parties to embed content from your WordPress sites without hosting it themselves. However, repeated instances of hotlinking can escalate bandwidth costs for the original content host. Taking preventive measures against hotlinking is crucial to maintain control over your site’s resources.
Strengthen and Secure User Access
1. Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Enhance user access security by enforcing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of identification verification before granting access to a protected system or account. By requiring users to provide additional identification, even if an attacker manages to crack a legitimate user’s username/password combination, it becomes more challenging for them to infiltrate a WordPress site.
2. Limit the number of failed login attempts
Strengthen login security measures by limiting the number of failed login attempts. Attackers are more likely to succeed when they have unlimited tries to input credentials on a login page. By restricting the number of failed attempts, the risk of unauthorised access is significantly reduced.
3. Automatically log out inactive users
Enhance user session security by automatically logging out inactive users and to mitigate the chances of unauthorised access and snooping. This is particularly important for users who access their WordPress accounts from public computers or engage in unsafe browsing habits. By automatically logging out users after a specific period of inactivity, the risk of unauthorised third-party access is minimised.
4. Remove inactive user accounts
Even if a user is no longer actively using their account to access a WordPress site, their account and login credentials can still be targeted by attackers. It is essential to regularly delete inactive user accounts to eliminate potential vulnerabilities and reduce the risk of unauthorised access.
Manage User Permissions
1. Limit admin-level privileges unless absolutely necessary
User permissions should be better managed by implementing restrictions on file and folder access. It is advisable to limit admin-level privileges for users unless absolutely necessary. By controlling the functions that users can perform on a WordPress site, the risk of unauthorised data sharing can be reduced, and the impact of a breach can be minimised.
2. Disallow file editing
To enhance security, disallow file editing within WordPress. The default file editor in WordPress allows users to easily edit PHP files. However, in the event of a breach, this feature can be exploited by attackers to make significant changes to the site’s code. By disabling this functionality, the risk of unauthorised code modifications can be mitigated.
3. Monitor user activity
It is crucial to monitor user activity to safeguard against WordPress attacks originating from both external and internal sources. Regularly logging and reviewing user actions enables the detection of any suspicious behaviour, such as unauthorised file alterations or the installation of unapproved plugins. By staying vigilant and proactive in monitoring user activity, potential security threats can be identified and addressed promptly.
Ensure your WordPress Security Features are Up to Date
1. Regular updates
Keep your WordPress installation current by updating to the latest version. Regular updates are essential to protect against known vulnerabilities. Keep an eye out for the notification on your WordPress dashboard that alerts you to new versions.
2. Regular patch management
Update your WordPress themes and plugins with regular patch management. Attackers often exploit outdated themes and plugins to gain access to your site. By keeping them up to date, you minimise the risk of such attacks.
3. Regular website vulnerability assessments
Take proactive measures by conducting regular website vulnerability assessments. Utilise a trusted and reliable provider to scan for malware and other potential security risks.
4. Regular backups
Create regular backups of your site data. In the unfortunate event of a successful attack, having recent backups will allow you to restore any lost data and get your site back up and running quickly.
Conclusion
By implementing strong security configuration for your WordPress site, as well as proactive practices to keep your website secure, you can help safeguard it against both common and uncommon cybersecurity threats and reduce your risk of being attacked by hackers and malicious software.