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Are you aware that more than 100,000 websites are hacked daily? According to a Q3 2017 study, WordPress emerged at the top among websites, with 83% being infected. This comes as no big surprise because, if you look at WordPress’ market share, it powers over 34% of all websites. The web host has many themes and plugins, so even though WordPress maintains a tight security system, vulnerabilities exist.
If you own a WordPress website, keeping it secure should be your top priority, no matter what type of content you share. According to Small Business Trends, website-based attacks rank among the top attacks experienced by businesses.
Strategies to Secure WordPress Blogs from Hackers
Here are some valuable strategies to keep your site protected from hackers. Give your hackers a hard time!
Set Up A Website Lockdown Feature:
A website lockdown feature is of immense help regarding website security.
When a hacker attempts to log in to your site with repetitive, incorrect passwords, your site will lock out the hacker and notify you of this unauthorized activity. You can get this feature by installing security plugins.
Many such plugins exist, including the iThemes Security plugin, Sucuri Security, Wordfence Security, etc. Install a plugin and specify a certain number of failed login attempts before the plugin bans the attacker’s IP address.
Avoid Nulled Or Cracked Themes:
If you see nulled or cracked themes, know they are a hacked version of premium themes. These themes usually contain concealed codes that can destroy your website and database or log your admin credentials.
Go for the latest version of themes.
Use Hard Passwords To Guess:
If you look at SplashData’s 2018 yearly list of the most popular passwords hacked during the year, you will notice that most of them are easy to guess. Generate complex passwords, or if you are unsure how to do it, you can follow the tips provided by Google on choosing a strong password.
If you own more than one website, use different passwords. If you tend to forget them, you can store them in an encrypted database on your PC. Also, change your passwords regularly. Opt for long passphrases instead of random numbers and letters, as they are harder for hackers to predict but easier for you to remember.
Use Email Id Instead of Username To Log Into Your WordPress Site:
Using your email ID to log into your WordPress site instead of your username is more secure. While usernames can be easily predicted, email IDs are more challenging. Since your WordPress user account is created with a unique email address, you can use it to log in.
Disable File Editing Function:
Disable the code editor function in your dashboard. This function lets you edit your theme and plugin once your site runs.
You can access the feature by going to Appearance>Editor or finding the plugin editor under Plugins>Editor.
You can disable the edit plugins and the theme file function by pasting the code “define(‘DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT’, true);” into your wp-config.php file.
Backup Your Website Frequently:
How often you perform backup on your site depends on how often you update it, but at least once a week is recommended. Several WordPress plugins can help you back up your site, including Backup Buddy, Updraft Plus, etc. If your site gets hacked, the plugins can help you restore your site.
Leverage The Two-factor Authentication For WordPress Security
Even though your password is complex, it might get hacked. Two-factor authentication, which involves a two-step process, can ensure security.
Apart from providing your password to log in, you must provide details for another component. Depending on the authentication, it could be a text/SMS, phone call, a secret code, or a time-based one-time password (TOTP). It is an effective measure against forced attackers as your attacker will not possibly have your password and mobile phone.
Install SSL Certificate:
The Secure Socket Layer certificate can help secure the admin panel. Once you install SSL, you can transfer secure data between user browsers and the server, so hackers cannot easily breach the connection or steal your information.
You can consider a cheap multidomain SSL certificate to secure multiple domains and subdomains. Such certificates are cheaper because many SSL providers are on the market. However, one of the most authenticated providers, SSL2BUY, is where you can easily find a cheap multidomain SSL certificate.
Obtain DDoS Protection:
DDoS, a DOS attack that causes a Denial of Service, can take your site down for a few hours or days. When such attacks occur, your brand’s integrity is tarnished, losing traffic and resources. DDoS attacks are widespread.
According to Q3’s report, DDoS attacks increased by 91% in 2017. As per the Q2 2018 Threat Report, the average DDoS attack grew to over 26Gbps, increasing in size by 500%.
It is highly recommended that you use a third-party security service and update your WordPress version regularly to protect your site from DDOS attacks.
Avoid Using “Admin” As Your Username
Hackers can easily access your website if you use “admin” as your username, as shown in the image below.
Change your username to protect your website. If you have already installed your website, you can create another admin user by choosing “admin” as your username.
To do that, register another user and grant that user admin permission. You can then start logging in using that new admin username and delete the old “admin” username.
Wrapping-Up:
Though your WordPress website is vulnerable to attacks, there are many ways to protect your site from hackers. Check out our WordPress Malware Removal service if your site has been hacked or infected.
The strategies mentioned above are among the best. Practice the best WordPress security practices and always update your website’s version.
Getting an SSL certificate is necessary as it provides tight security to your site. Also, create a secure login password that hackers cannot guess, and don’t share your password with anyone. Though securing your site from hackers demands time and resources, it will be worth it. Take a step in the right direction today.