Table of Contents
Starting a business is not always easy. The real battle is building its digital identity, and we all know that a business’s digital identity begins with its website.
WordPress would be your ideal choice to get things done faster.
Hey! The internet runs on WordPress. At least one-quarter of websites have their roots grounded in WordPress. It is free (almost) and is user-friendly. Now, that checks all the boxes one looks for when building a website.
Or is it?
Here is the hard truth. WordPress could be the Internet’s favorite CMS (Content Management System). But, regarding security, things slide a bit, giving way to worry.
According to Sucuri’s Website Hack Trend Report 2018, over 90% of hacked websites were hosted on WordPress. Other CMS platforms like Magento, Joomla, and Drupal shortly followed suit. The study also mentions that WordPress infections rose from 83% in 2017 to 90% in 2018.
WordPress is user-friendly. Unfortunately, it is not always safe.
Below are a few tips to help keep your WordPress website secure.
It all begins with staying up-to-date
You can have the latest iPhone (or Android, if you wish), fashion wear, Nike sneakers, and whatnot. But nothing else matters if you don’t have the latest WordPress version. Your website has a good chance of being doomed.
Running outdated versions of WordPress accounts is a major reason for security hacks. Surprisingly, only 26.8% of users are running the latest version of WordPress. Previous versions—1.0, 1.6, 2.2, and others—account for the Lion’s share of WordPress users.
The trouble with older versions is that they are vulnerable to hacks. They have loopholes which a hacker can exploit to gain entry and wreak havoc.
Hence, you need to update your WordPress version regularly.
Make the right choice of add-ons and plugins
The stock version of WordPress is like a bare room with no furniture. To make it work the way you want, you should buy third-party plugins and add-ons.
While countless WordPress plugins are available on the market—many free and most premium—not all are safe to use.
Those add-ons and plugins could contain dangerous extensions or poorly coded ones that act as gateways for hackers. One poorly chosen extension is all it takes to bring down your website’s security and contents.
Below are some pointers that could help you avoid the traps of malicious plugins.
- Always download plugins/extensions/add-ons from legit sources
- Check for social proof — star ratings, reviews, marketplace reviews, etc.
- Check if the WordPress user community endorses it
Choosing safe plugins and add-ons will help close the doors to uninvited hackers.
Ensure login best practices
When you keep a simple password for admin accounts like ‘admin’, it will likely be stolen or broken. Do not write the password on Post-it notes or anywhere easily obtainable.
Someone unauthorized can access the admin panel and do some mischief, causing your website to be down for a few days.
If login credentials are somehow accessed, the first thing to establish is a hygiene login practice for all admins.
As a part of the practice, all admin accounts should be renamed to usernames that are tough to spot as admins. The passwords should also be reset and only stored in a secure location.
To further ensure the sanctity of the admin panel, limit all unnecessary admins to other roles such as editors, administrators, contributors, etc.
You can also do so by going to WordPress settings and choosing the role you want the user to enjoy.
Harden website security from within
You can easily secure your website from within. It will cost a bit, but given the benefits it will accrue in the long term, it is worth the spend. Buy SSL certificates and configure them on your website.
An SSL certificate is a bit-sized encryption file that ensures that unauthorized personnel, especially hackers, do not tap into the data sent between your website visitors and the website server.
SSL certificates bring several benefits, including tight security, SEO friendliness, and brand identity. Certificate Authorities who issue SSL certificates provide trust seals, which you can display on your website. Studies have proven this. If you have a website with a strong brand identity and the highest validation, consider investing in an extended validation SSL certificate. It will give your website the green address bar and padlock symbol, considered hallmark symbols of online security.
A study conducted by Actual Insights found that 61% of consumers didn’t purchase simply because there were no trust badges.
Of course, there are also trust seals that consumers recognize more than the rest. But that is a discussion for another time.
In a Nutshell
WordPress is an awesome CMS. But before pushing your website into the internet ocean, you should ensure it is secured from all corners.
If you are planning to create and launch a website, follow these tips to keep it safe. Remember, a minor mistake can let hackers have a feast day with your website.