WordPress powers the world. More than 35.1% of all sites on the internet run on the famous content management system. It’s easy to use, customizable, and compatible with any website.
Unfortunately, this popularity makes WordPress susceptible to a variety of cybersecurity threats. Whether you’re new to WordPress or a longtime user, here are six easy ways you can spruce up your site security in no time.
Why WordPress Security is Vital ?
Forget about the pressing issues like data breaches that could harm both you and users. You need to remember that your site is your window to the world.
Once hackers take down a website, Google flags it for suspicious activity. Visitors will receive a warning if they try to visit your site. Your site may be blocked entirely, depending on their web browsers. After that, it can take weeks or even months to get your site back to normal. In the meantime, you may have lost a considerable part of your audience to competitors.
It’s no understatement that WP security can make or break a platform. The statistics back it up too. More than 60% of small businesses fold after a cyber-attack.
Don’t let this happen to you. Follow these steps instead:
1. Create a Unique Username
All WordPress sites use “admin” as the default administrator name. It’s easy for hackers to see it too. If the content is posted by “admin,” then they target you from there. All fraudsters have to do then is to get your password using brute force attacks or other techniques.
It is one of the most straightforward fixes you can do. Create a new username with admin privileges. At the same time, change your display name to show your name or “editor” or anything else. Make sure the real admin username isn’t anywhere on the site.
2. Ensure WordPress is Up to Date
WordPress is a massive platform. Its developers know it’s always under attack. So, they often patch and update it to protect against vulnerabilities. But you need to install those updates yourself.
WordPress only automatically updates for the major releases. Once a week, you need to check to see if any minor updates are available and hit “Update Now” on your dashboard. It’s that easy.
3. Improve Your Password Strength
It’s 2020. You better not be using anything on the 10,000 most common passwords list. You need a unique, robust password for WordPress that is at least 12 characters long. Instead of trying to remember something like that, use a password manager.
It allows you to generate, manage, and store robust passwords. Check out other tools like two-factor authentication and biometrics to boost your security further.
4. Beware of Public WiFi
Who doesn’t love free public WiFi? It’s usually quite fast, doesn’t need you to set up a hotspot, and it’s free! Public WiFi is fantastic, but it’s often riddled with security risks.
You never know what could be sitting on these networks. They may be laced with malware or a snooping admin or connected to an unethical ISP. Whatever it is, you need to be careful. Enable a VPN service anytime you connect to a public network.
Best VPNs shield your connection to make sure nobody can track your internet activity and gain access to your WP Site.
5. Vet Your Plugins
Plugins are one of the best WP features. You can use them to build better templates, improve SEO, engage your audience, and more. But, they are often a commonplace for fraudsters to attempt to access your site.
Keep an eye out on suspicious developers with few or bad reviews. Next, vet the plugin to make sure it doesn’t contain any security risks. Be sure to check whether you’re using the newest versions available. Reputable developers often patch plugins to reduce the risk of them getting hacked.
6. Educate Your Team
It doesn’t matter whether you run a Fortune 500 company or you are a dream team of one. You need to make sure you’re up to date about the latest digital hygiene practices. With cybersecurity, common sense goes a long way.
You can protect your WP site and everything else you do online through:
- Recognizing suspicious emails and websites
- Scanning all files and links before clicking
- Updating all software routinely
- Using the latest anti-malware software
- Enforcing strict device policies
- Backing up data weekly or daily
- Keeping up with tech news
Conclusion
WordPress is the leading content management platform for many reasons. And even if you decide to defect to Squarespace or Wix, the same lessons apply. Beef up your site security and start using these tips now.
