How to secure a WordPress website from hacking..?

An article by Prashant Chauhan    No Comments

WordPress is extremely popular CMSs available with extensive usages in websites and online applications. Thousands of websites are using it as a viable platform to meet varied targets. Any issue in it might lead to hacking and unauthorized access to the data and valuable information, thus making WordPress websites not worthy of trust. In this article, we would discuss how to secure a WordPress website from hacking.  

Use strong password

When a strong password is in place, hackers always find it hard to make the second attempt at hacking. Using a peculiar alpha-numeric combination for password is the best strategy to confuse the hackers. A string of strange words and numerals can be used to discourage the attempts of hacking. Password generator would be of help to get some really impregnable passwords.

Data backup

Data backup is one of the most important steps to secure a WordPress website from the dangers of hacking. With the backup of data, any breach of security won’t harm in a big way. More so, if data is secure, even the hacked website could be started all over again to run the business successfully. After all, you can’t put many steps to secure the website and avoid the importance of backup.

Switching to the latest versions

Latest versions have always been a good bet in terms of security and protection, and the same holds true for WordPress. This CMS keeps coming up with newer updates in the existing versions to sort out impending concerns of security. Once the existing website is updated to the latest version, many security issues are solved automatically to allow a smooth run to the business.

Updates with themes and plugins

Themes and plugins play a major role to give websites enhanced security and improved performance. Hackers always look for these adds-on to enter the website to meet their needs. Before using any adds-on, it’s important to ensure that only the most updated or the latest version is used. It takes a lot of work and research for hackers to get into a WordPress website where latest versions of adds-on are used.

Change the ‘admin’ username

Changing the admin username of a WordPress website is a useful tick to avoid the danger of hacking. It’s not a good tactic to use ‘admin’ username, as it easily conveys the sense of vulnerability. If admin username is used, hackers don’t have to work hard and only get the password to damage the site. So let hackers try to find both, username and password to hack the site.

Install Login Lock-Down Plugin

Installing Login Lock-Down plugin is another useful tactic to temporarily save a WordPress website from the dangers of hacking. This plugin is of immense value as it informs about the IP address from where the attempts of hacking made; it also gives ideas about the exact time frame when the attempt of hacking was made. The biggest benefit of this plugin is turning down the frequent attempts and barring the hackers to use the same IP for dubious act.

Relocate wp-config.php file

Wp-config.php file is very essential for carrying information about database connection. It also carries loads of vital information related to the security of the website. It’s usually retained in the standard root folder to carry out the tasks asked of it. When it’s retained in the existing position, it can pose security issues as hackers can have an idea about it. This file has to be moved to root directory to deny its access to anyone, except an authorized person.

Changes in table prefix

Bringing changes in the table prefix is a useful ploy to escape the perils of hacking. If table prefix is kept in the standard format, it might pose security risks to a WordPress website. Therefore, it’s vital to bring changes to the table prefix at the time of installation. A secure website can’t afford to use all of codes in the standard format and changes are important to improve the security.

Not using default secret keys

Not using the default secret keys is another beneficial tactic to save a WordPress website the harms of hacking. Secret keys will always come in the default mode, still they must never be used the same. By changing them, passwords are made even stronger to pose a lot of difficulties to hackers. So never let secret keys remain unchanged to pose hacking issues later on.

Conclusion

Security is important for a WordPress website to run a business smoothly and achieve targets. If right measures are adopted, it viable steps are taken, a website can be saved from hacking. This article has listed how to secure a WordPress website from hacking, and invites users to add more to the list.