WordPress is the most popular platform for websites for a reason. It is easy to use for beginners and packed with tools and features to please experts. Plus, its popularity means you can find online guides for any aspect of WordPress that confuses you.
Did you know that nearly a third of all sites use WordPress out of the top 10 million websites? It has an almost 60% market share among content management systems. The customizability and functionality of WordPress make it the preferred platform for many website owners and developers.
However, the widespread nature of WordPress comes with one sizeable negative: cyberattacks. Its growing popularity makes it a target for many global hackers. Here’s an eye-opening statistic from 2018: Hackers attack nearly 100,000 websites every minute across the globe! As so many websites are built and hosted on WordPress, hackers understandably try to exploit the platform when possible.
Don’t panic yet; there is some good news. The Core WordPress platform is very secure due to periodic updates released by the WordPress team. These updates contain new improvements that fix security-related vulnerabilities. Popular third-party plugins and theme developers also ensure that their software is updated and compliant with the latest WordPress version. Most successful hacks happen due to other issues that can be easily prevented through appropriate measures.
We have written an in-depth WordPress Security guide to help the community understand attacks and how to protect against them.
WPArena provides a professional WordPress Security service to protect your website. You don’t have to remain defenseless against these attacks. To help protect your website from hackers and ransomware attacks, we perform various steps to secure your site. We specialize in malware removal and site restoration.
Price: $350
Vulnerabilities that cause website hacks
1. Outdated Software
In 2018, over 60% of all hacked websites were found to be running on outdated software. This percentage has significantly increased over the last three years. Outdated software includes outdated WordPress versions, plugins, and themes.
For example, WordPress version 4.7.1, released in December 2016, had the infamous WordPress REST API vulnerability. Hackers exploited this to deface thousands of websites. WordPress version 4.7.2 was released in January 2017 to fix the security issues causing this vulnerability. Those who upgraded avoided this security loophole, but those who didn’t are still facing issues.
How to resolve this issue:
- Always keep your WordPress website running on the latest version.
- Update your installed plugins/themes to the latest version.
- Download all your plugins/themes from trusted sources like the WordPress repository.
- Delete or replace all abandoned plugins/themes not actively upgraded by their developers.
Updating multiple plugins/themes across numerous websites can be long and cumbersome for WordPress administrators. Use WordPress backup plugins to manage updates efficiently from a single, centralized dashboard.
2. Web Host Problems
Your web host’s choice is a leading factor in determining website security, but most people do not realize its importance. Vulnerabilities in hosting platforms account for nearly 41% of WordPress website hacks. Shared web hosting may seem logical and cost-effective for new businesses or startups but has its complications. A shared web host is home to multiple WordPress websites belonging to different owners, meaning a hacker compromising one site can potentially access all other sites on the server.
How to resolve this issue:
- Choose a better web host provider that offers security functions and customer support.
- Consider switching to a managed web host for added security.
- If these options are not feasible, consider migrating your WordPress website to another web host provider or URL. Use a migration plugin like Duplicator or Migrate Guru for a smooth migration.
3. Compromised Login Credentials
Hackers gaining information about your WordPress login credentials is similar to thieves obtaining the keys to your house. Brute force attacks are widely used to access login page accounts, often made easier by weak credentials.
How to resolve this issue:
- Use strong passwords comprising at least eight characters, including lowercase & uppercase characters, numbers, and special characters.
- Enforce the use of strong usernames unique to each user.
- Ensure every user periodically changes their account passwords.
- Implement two-factor authentication (2FA) for securing user logins.
- Restrict the number of failed login attempts to 3.
- Use the CAPTCHA tool to distinguish between human users and bots.
- Change the default URL of your website’s login page to a different address.
- Use SSH File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) if using an FTP tool.
4. Too Many Admin Users
Every WordPress website requires users with administrative rights to manage various tasks. However, creating too many users with admin rights is a common error. If a hacker gets access to even one of these accounts, it can inflict maximum damage.
How to resolve this issue:
- Assign and manage user roles and privileges based on the requirements and responsibilities of each user.
- Use strong passwords and change them regularly.
- Give only one user “super admin” privileges.
- Assign “admin” privileges to trustworthy and reliable users only.
5. Non-SSL Certified Websites
SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certification is necessary for websites that store or transfer confidential data. Starting in 2017, WordPress made it mandatory for its websites to be SSL-certified to keep them safe and secure. However, many websites still have not switched to the “HTTPS” protocol.
How to resolve this issue:
- If your website is not SSL-certified, obtain the SSL certificate from your hosting provider.
- Use a hosting plan that includes SSL certification.
- If your current web host does not offer SSL certification, obtain one from third-party providers like GoDaddy or DigiCert.
Final Notes:
WordPress has efficient security measures and faces many hacks due to non-adherence to basic security steps and external reasons. We hope this article helps you understand the basic fixes to improve your WordPress security. Let’s quickly recap:
- Keep core files, themes, and plugins updated.
- Choose a web host with security measures.
- Use strong passwords and employ 2-factor authentication.
- Assign user roles and credentials carefully.
- Ensure an SSL certificate protects your website data.
Additionally, use security plugins to scan and remove malware and protect against Brute Force Attacks, DDOS attacks, and bots. Popular plugins for scanning include Sucuri and WordFence. Use a plugin like MalCare to find and clean complex malware for efficient malware removal.
That’s it, folks! What security measures have you implemented for your website? Let us know in the comments!