WordPress powers over 40% of the web, making it an incredibly popular platform for building websites. However, with great popularity comes great responsibility, especially when it comes to security. WordPress sites are frequent targets for hackers and malicious actors looking to exploit vulnerabilities for various reasons, from injecting malware to stealing sensitive data.
In this blog post, we’ll provide with 50 essential WordPress security tips to help fortify your website against potential threats. Whether you’re a seasoned WordPress user or just starting out, implementing these strategies will significantly enhance the security posture of your WordPress site, keeping it safe from cyber threats and ensuring peace of mind.
- Keep WordPress Core, Themes, and Plugins Updated:
Regularly updating WordPress core, themes, and plugins is the cornerstone of WordPress security. Developers often release updates to patch security vulnerabilities and improve performance. By staying up to date, you ensure that your site is equipped with the latest security patches, reducing the risk of exploitation by cybercriminals.
- Use Strong Passwords:
Weak passwords are a common entry point for hackers. Ensure that you and your users use strong, unique passwords for WordPress accounts. Consider using a password manager to generate and securely store complex passwords. See 7 Essential Password Security Best Practices
- Implement Two-Factor Authentication (2FA):
Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide two forms of verification before accessing their accounts. Enable 2FA for your WordPress login to prevent unauthorized access, even if passwords are compromised.
- Limit Login Attempts:
Brute force attacks involve repeated login attempts to guess passwords. Limiting login attempts helps thwart such attacks by locking out users after a specified number of failed login attempts, making it difficult for attackers to gain unauthorized access.
- Change Default “admin” Username:
Using the default “admin” username makes your WordPress site more susceptible to brute-force attacks. Create a unique username during the installation process or change it later to enhance security.
https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/how-to-change-your-wordpress-username/
- Disable XML-RPC:
XML-RPC, while once essential for remote publishing, is now a common target for exploitation. Disable XML-RPC if you’re not using it to prevent potential security vulnerabilities associated with this feature.
https://www.wpbeginner.com/plugins/how-to-disable-xml-rpc-in-wordpress/
- Enable HTTPS:
Secure your WordPress site with HTTPS encryption to protect sensitive data transmitted between the server and the user’s browser. Obtain an SSL/TLS certificate and configure your site to use HTTPS for enhanced security and user trust.
- Use a Secure Hosting Provider:
Choose a reputable hosting provider that prioritizes security and offers robust security features such as firewalls, malware scanning, regular backups, and server-level security configurations.
- Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAF):
Web Application Firewalls monitor and filter HTTP traffic between your site and the internet, blocking malicious requests and preventing attacks such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and DDoS attacks.
https://www.cloudflare.com/en-gb/application-services/products/waf/
- Enable Security Headers:
Utilize HTTP security headers such as X-Content-Type-Options, X-Frame-Options, and Content-Security-Policy to mitigate common security vulnerabilities and protect against various types of attacks.
- Disable Directory Indexing:
Prevent directory listing by disabling directory indexing, which could potentially expose sensitive information about your site’s directory structure to attackers.
https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/disable-directory-browsing-wordpress/
- Secure wp-config.php:
Protect wp-config.php, which contains sensitive information such as database credentials, by moving it to a higher directory level or using server-side configurations to restrict access.
- Harden File Permissions:
Set appropriate file permissions to restrict unauthorized access to sensitive files and directories. Follow the principle of least privilege to ensure that files are only accessible to those who need them.
- Monitor File Changes:
Regularly monitor file changes on your WordPress site to detect unauthorized modifications or suspicious activity. Use security plugins or server monitoring tools to automate this process.
- Disable PHP Execution in Certain Directories:
Prevent execution of PHP scripts in directories where it’s not necessary, such as wp-content/uploads, to mitigate the risk of arbitrary code execution vulnerabilities.
- Implement Content Security Policy (CSP):
Content Security Policy helps prevent cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks by specifying which content sources are allowed to be loaded on your site, thereby reducing the risk of malicious script injection.
- Use a Reliable Security Plugin:
Install a reputable security plugin such as Wordfence, Sucuri Security, or iThemes Security to add an extra layer of protection to your WordPress site. These plugins offer features such as malware scanning, firewall protection, and login security enhancements.
- Enable Automatic Backups:
Regularly backup your WordPress site and database to ensure that you have a recent copy of your data in case of a security breach or data loss. Enable automatic backups with your hosting provider or use a backup plugin to schedule backups at regular intervals.
- Implement Content Delivery Network (CDN):
Utilize a Content Delivery Network to distribute your site’s content across multiple servers worldwide, improving performance and resilience to DDoS attacks.
https://www.cloudflare.com/en-gb/learning/cdn/what-is-a-cdn/
- Limit File Uploads:
Restrict the types of files that users can upload to your WordPress site to prevent potential security risks associated with malicious file uploads. Use plugins or server configurations to enforce file type restrictions.
- Monitor User Activity:
Keep track of user activity on your WordPress site by enabling user logging and audit trails. Monitoring user activity helps detect suspicious behavior and unauthorized access attempts.
- Disable PHP Error Reporting:
Disable PHP error reporting on your production site to prevent sensitive information such as file paths and database credentials from being exposed to potential attackers.
https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/how-to-turn-off-php-errors-in-wordpress/
- Protect wp-admin Directory:
Secure the wp-admin directory by restricting access to authorized users only. You can achieve this by configuring server-level access controls or using plugins to password-protect the wp-admin directory.
- Regularly Review User Permissions:
Regularly review and update user permissions to ensure that users have the appropriate level of access required for their roles. Remove unnecessary administrative privileges to minimize the risk of privilege escalation attacks.
- Enable Secure Socket Shell (SSH) Access:
Use Secure Socket Shell (SSH) for remote server access instead of unencrypted protocols like Telnet or FTP. SSH encrypts data transmission, providing a secure method for managing your server.
- Disable PHP Execution in Untrusted Directories:
Prevent PHP execution in directories where users can upload files, such as wp-content/uploads, to mitigate the risk of arbitrary code execution vulnerabilities.
- Implement Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) Protection:
Protect your WordPress site against Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks by implementing measures such as nonce verification and CSRF tokens to validate and authenticate user requests.
- Secure File Uploads:
Implement security measures to validate and sanitize file uploads to prevent malicious files from being uploaded to your WordPress site. Use file type verification, content scanning, and file size restrictions to enhance file upload security.
- Disable PHP Execution in Uploads Directory:
Prevent PHP scripts from executing in the uploads directory by configuring server settings or using security plugins to block PHP file execution in this directory.
- Use Secure File Transfer Protocols:
When transferring files between your local machine and the server, use secure file transfer protocols such as SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) or SCP (Secure Copy Protocol) instead of insecure protocols like FTP.
- Harden MySQL Database Security:
Secure your MySQL database by implementing best practices such as using strong passwords, limiting database access, and regularly auditing database permissions to prevent unauthorized access and SQL injection attacks.
https://melapress.com/mysql-database-security/
- Enable Database Table Prefixing:
During WordPress installation, choose a unique database table prefix to add an additional layer of security to your WordPress database. Avoid using the default “wp_” prefix to make it more difficult for attackers to guess table names.
- Disable PHP File Execution in wp-content Directory:
Prevent execution of PHP scripts in the wp-content directory by configuring server settings or using security plugins to block PHP file execution in this directory.
- Use Security Headers:
Leverage security headers such as Strict-Transport-Security (HSTS), X-XSS-Protection, and Referrer-Policy to enhance the security of your WordPress site and protect against common web vulnerabilities.
- Implement Password Policies:
Enforce strong password policies for user accounts, including minimum length requirements, complexity rules, and password expiration periods. Encourage users to create unique passwords and regularly update them for improved security.
- Enable Automatic Security Updates:
Enable automatic security updates for WordPress core, themes, and plugins to ensure that critical security patches are applied promptly without manual intervention, reducing the risk of exploitation by attackers.
- Monitor File Integrity:
Regularly monitor the integrity of core WordPress files, themes, and plugins to detect unauthorized modifications or file tampering. Use file integrity monitoring tools or security plugins to automate this process and receive alerts for any suspicious changes.
- Use Role-Based Access Control (RBAC):
Implement Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to assign specific roles and permissions to users based on their responsibilities and access requirements. Limit administrative privileges to minimize the risk of unauthorized actions and data breaches.
- Protect .htaccess File:
Secure the .htaccess file, which contains important server configuration directives, by restricting access to authorized users only. Avoid exposing sensitive information in the .htaccess file and regularly review its contents for security vulnerabilities.
https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/9-most-useful-htaccess-tricks-for-wordpress/
- Encrypt Database Connections:
Encrypt database connections using SSL/TLS encryption to protect sensitive data transmitted between your WordPress site and the MySQL database server. Configure MySQL to use SSL/TLS for secure communication.
- Disable Directory Browsing:
Prevent directory browsing by disabling directory indexes and configuring server settings to return a 403 Forbidden error for directory requests without an index file. This helps protect sensitive files and directories from being accessed by unauthorized users.
- Harden wp-includes Directory:
Secure the wp-includes directory by restricting access to essential WordPress core files and preventing direct access to PHP files within this directory. Use server configurations or security plugins to enforce access restrictions.
- Monitor External Scripts:
Regularly review and monitor external scripts and dependencies used on your WordPress site, such as third-party plugins and libraries. Ensure that they are kept up to date and do not introduce security vulnerabilities or compatibility issues.
- Implement HTTP Public Key Pinning (HPKP):
Enhance the security of your WordPress site by implementing HTTP Public Key Pinning (HPKP), which helps protect against man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks and rogue certificate authorities by pinning trusted SSL/TLS certificates.
- Disable WordPress REST API:
If you’re not using the WordPress REST API, consider disabling it to reduce the attack surface and mitigate potential security risks associated with API endpoints. Use plugins or server configurations to disable REST API access if it’s not needed.
- Utilize Security Headers:
Leverage security headers such as Content-Security-Policy (CSP), X-Frame-Options, and X-XSS-Protection to protect your WordPress site against various web vulnerabilities and security threats.
- Enable Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) Protection:
Protect your WordPress site against Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) attacks by implementing measures such as URL validation, input sanitization, and whitelist-based access controls to prevent attackers from exploiting SSRF vulnerabilities.
- Disable PHP Execution in wp-uploads Directory:
Prevent PHP scripts from executing in the wp-uploads directory, where user-uploaded files are stored, to mitigate the risk of arbitrary code execution vulnerabilities. Configure server settings or use security plugins to block PHP file execution in this directory.
- Regularly Audit Third-Party Plugins:
Regularly audit and review third-party plugins installed on your WordPress site to ensure they are actively maintained, free of known security vulnerabilities, and compatible with the latest WordPress version. Remove or replace outdated or insecure plugins to reduce the risk of exploitation.
- Stay Informed and Educated:
Stay informed about the latest security threats, vulnerabilities, and best practices by following reputable security blogs, attending webinars, and participating in online forums and communities. Continuously educate yourself and your team about WordPress security to effectively protect your site against evolving threats.
Securing your WordPress site is an ongoing process that requires vigilance, proactive measures, and a multi-layered approach to defense. By implementing the 50 essential WordPress security tips outlined in this guide, you can significantly enhance the security posture of your site, mitigate potential risks, and safeguard against cyber threats. Remember that security is a shared responsibility, and staying informed, proactive, and prepared is key to keeping your WordPress site safe and secure in an increasingly digital world.