How to effectively secure WordPress? A comprehensive guide for website owners

The most important WordPress security rules – checklist

✅ Regular updates of WordPress, plugins and themes
✅ Strong passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA)
✅ Changing default settings (database prefix, admin login)
✅ Restricting access to the administration panel
✅ Securing system files and the database
✅ Regular backups
✅ SSL certificate and HTTPS enforcement
✅ Activity monitoring and early threat detection

How to secure a WordPress website?

1. Regular updates – the first line of defense

One of the simplest and most effective ways to secure WordPress is to regularly update the system, plugins, and themes. Most attacks on WordPress result from the exploitation of known vulnerabilities in outdated versions of the software. Therefore, every update should be prioritized.

How to take care of updates?

1. Enable WordPress automatic updates – WordPress offers an automatic update feature for major and minor versions. You can activate it in the wp-config.php file by adding the line:

define('WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE', true);

2. Regularly check and update plugins and themes – in the WordPress panel, go to Dashboard → Updates and check for new versions. Remember that not only WordPress itself, but also its components (plugins and themes) may contain security vulnerabilities.

3. Test updates before implementation – some updates can cause compatibility issues, especially if you use multiple plugins. Therefore, it is a good idea to first test the changes on a staging environment before implementing them on the production site. You can use the staging function offered by your hosting or the WP Staging plugin.

3. Create backups before each update – always make a full backup of your files and database before updating. If something goes wrong, you can quickly restore your website. You can use plugins such as UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy for automatic backups.

4. Avoid inactive and outdated plugins – if a plugin or theme has not been updated for a long time, it may contain vulnerabilities. It is advisable to regularly check if a plugin has been updated recently – if it has not been updated for over a year, it is worth looking for an alternative.

5. Use tools to manage updates – if you manage multiple WordPress websites, it is worth using tools to automate the update process, such as:
ManageWP – central management of multiple websites
WP-CLI – update WordPress and plugins using the terminal

Strong passwords and additional login security

Brute-force attacks are one of the most common attacks on WordPress websites – they involve repeatedly trying out different combinations of login and password. To protect yourself from them, you should make some key changes to your login settings.

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How to protect your website against brute-force attacks?

1. Use strong passwords – avoid simple combinations such as “admin123” or “qwerty”. The password should be at least 12 characters long and contain letters, numbers and special characters.

2. Change the default login “admin” – attackers often try to log in to an account called “admin”, so it’s a good idea to create a new user with administrator rights and delete the default admin.

3. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) – this way, even if someone gets your password, they won’t be able to log in without an additional authorization code. To implement 2FA, you can use the WP 2FA plugin or Google Authenticator.

4. Limit the number of login attempts – install the Limit Login Attempts Reloaded plugin to block IP addresses after several failed login attempts.

5. Change the login address – by default, the WordPress login page is available at /wp-admin or /wp-login.php. You can change it, for example, using the WPS Hide Login plugin, which will make automated attacks more difficult.

Securing WordPress against brute-force attacks is one of the most important measures that significantly increase the security level of a website. Strong passwords, changing the default “admin” login and enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) are absolute basics that every website owner should implement. It is also a good idea to limit the number of login attempts and change the default address of the administration panel, which will make automated attacks more difficult.

An additional step that can be taken is to secure the wp-login.php file by restricting access to it from specific IP addresses or completely blocking access for unlogged-in users. It is equally important to disable the XML-RPC interface, which is often used for brute-force and DDoS attacks. This can be done manually by adding the appropriate code to the .htaccess file or using a plugin, e.g. Disable XML-RPC.

Backups – crucial in case of a crash

No matter what security measures you implement, you can never be 100% sure that your website won’t be hacked. That’s why regular backups are essential.

How do you create effective backups?

1. Automatic backups – use plugins such as UpdraftPlus or Duplicator, which allow you to save backups automatically.

2. Store copies off-server – never store backups on the same server that your website is running on. In the event of an attack or server failure, you will lose access to the copies. It is best to store them in the cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox) or on a local disk.

3. Test backup restoration – having a copy is not enough, you need to be sure that it works and can be restored quickly if needed.

SSL certificate and secure HTTPS connections

The security of your website starts with the encryption of data transferred between the user and the server. If your website does not have an SSL certificate, browsers will mark it as unsecured, and user data such as logins, passwords or personal information may be

SSL not only protects data, but also affects Google rankings, as search engines reward websites that use HTTPS. In addition, it builds trust among users who see a green padlock in the browser’s address bar.

How to implement SSL and enforce HTTPS?

1. Most hosting providers offer free SSL certificates, e.g. Let’s Encrypt, which can be activated in the administration panel. You can also purchase an EV (Extended Validation) certificate, which displays the company name in the browser bar, which further increases credibility.

2. Force redirection to HTTPS – add the following code to the .htaccess file:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} !=on
RewriteRule ^ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]

3. Enable HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security)

HSTS prevents the accidental opening of a page via HTTP, even if the user enters the address without “https://”. Add to the .htaccess file:

Header always set Strict-Transport-Security "max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains; preload"

4. Check the correct implementation of SSL

After activating SSL, it is worth making sure that everything is working correctly. You can use SSL Labs Test (https://www.ssllabs.com/ssltest/) to evaluate the configuration and make sure that your website does not use weak encryption protocols.

5. Fix errors related to “Mixed Content”

Sometimes, after switching to HTTPS, some resources such as images, scripts or CSS sheets are still loaded via HTTP. This can cause warnings in the browser. The Really Simple SSL plugin will automatically detect and correct such cases.

6. Disable outdated TLS versions

Older versions of TLS (1.0 and 1.1) are vulnerable and should be disabled. Make sure your server only supports TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3, which can be configured in the Apache or Nginx server settings.

7. Secure the SSL private key

The SSL certificate is based on a private key, which should be stored in a safe place and have appropriate access rights (e.g. CHMOD 600 for the private key file). A leaked key can allow attackers to impersonate your website.

Monitor activity and protect against attacks

To effectively protect your website, it is worth monitoring logins, file changes and any suspicious activity on an ongoing basis. Detecting anomalies early can prevent serious problems.

How can you effectively monitor website security?

1. Keep track of activity logs – the WP Activity Log plugin records all changes to the system, such as new logins, file modifications or the addition of new users.

2. Regularly scan the website for malware – use tools such as Wordfence or Sucuri SiteCheck to make sure your website is not infected.

3. Install a web application firewall (WAF) – solutions such as Cloudflare or the All In One WP Security & Firewall plugin block DDoS attacks and suspicious requests.

To effectively secure your website, it is not enough to just monitor logs – it is worth implementing a comprehensive approach to protection. Regular analysis of user and file activity allows you to quickly detect suspicious activity and prevent potential threats. If you haven’t already, consider installing plugins such as WP Activity Log, which will allow you to track logins, system changes, and file modifications.

An additional step that is worth taking is monitoring the integrity of WordPress files. Tools such as Wordfence allow you to compare current files with their original versions and detect unauthorized changes. This allows you to quickly identify and remove any malicious code.

Also, don’t forget to restrict access to key files such as wp-config.php and .htaccess. You can do this by changing their permissions (e.g. setting CHMOD 600 for wp-config.php), making it more difficult for hackers to edit these files.

If you want to protect your website even better, monitor traffic and analyze unusual activity patterns. You can use application firewalls such as Cloudflare WAF, which automatically block suspicious requests and IP addresses known for attacks.

Remember that the earlier you detect potential threats, the better your chances of avoiding serious problems.

Also check out the article “WordPress database – what is it and where is it located?”

The most common WordPress security errors

🔴 No updates – outdated plugins and themes are the main source of vulnerability.
🔴 Using the “admin” login – makes it easier for attackers to try to log in.
🔴 No backup – can result in data loss without the possibility of recovery.
🔴 Incorrect file permissions – system files should have CHMOD 644 and directories 755.
🔴 No SSL certificate – makes the website vulnerable to data interception.
🔴 Using untrusted sources – downloading plugins from unknown websites risks installing malicious code.

What should you do if your website has been attacked?

If your website has been attacked, it is crucial to act quickly to limit the damage and restore its security. You should identify the source of the problem as soon as possible, remove the threat and implement additional security measures to prevent further attacks. Here are the basic steps you should take:

1. Isolate the website – temporarily disable the website or change the available permissions to restrict access to the compromised files.

2. Check the logs and identify the source of the attack – review the server logs to find out how the hack occurred.

3. Restore the website from the backup – if you have a backup, restore it to the version from before the attack.

4. Scan the website for malware – use tools such as Wordfence, Sucuri or MalCare to detect and remove malicious files.

5. Change all passwords – update the administrator, FTP, database and other user passwords.

6. Remove suspicious files and plugins – check the server for unknown files or modified scripts.

7. Update WordPress and plugins – make sure all website components are up to date and do not contain any known security vulnerabilities.

8. Install additional security measures – implement a firewall, restrict access to the administration panel and enable two-factor authentication (2FA).

FAQ – Frequently asked questions from WordPress users

1. How can I increase the security of WordPress?
To increase WordPress security, regularly update the system, plugins and themes, use strong passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA), restrict access to the administration panel, make backups and install a firewall and security plugins, e.g. Wordfence or Sucuri.

2. Is WordPress secure?
Yes, WordPress is secure if it is properly secured and regularly updated. Its open-source nature means that it is constantly being improved, but vulnerabilities can arise from outdated plugins, themes and weak passwords. Proper configuration and additional security measures minimize the risk of attack.