10 Essential WordPress Security Best Practices

Introduction

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems, powering millions of websites worldwide. However, its widespread usage also makes it a target for malicious actors seeking to exploit security vulnerabilities. As a WordPress developer, being well-versed in the best practices for securing WordPress websites to protect your clients and their users is crucial. This article will explore ten essential WordPress security practices that every WordPress developer should know.

Keep WordPress Core, Themes, and Plugins Up to Date

Regularly updating WordPress core, themes, and plugins is one of the fundamental WordPress security practices. Developers should stay vigilant and promptly apply updates to ensure they have the latest security patches, bug fixes, and feature enhancements. Outdated software versions are more susceptible to known vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit.

Use Strong and Unique Passwords

Encourage website administrators to use strong, complex, and unique passwords for their WordPress accounts. Weak passwords are an open invitation to hackers. Implementing two-factor authentication (2FA) can further enhance security by requiring an additional verification step during login.

Limit User Privileges

Assigning appropriate user roles and limiting their privileges is crucial for reducing the impact of potential security breaches. Only grant necessary permissions to each user based on their role and responsibilities.

Regularly Back Up Your WordPress Website

Performing regular backups is essential to mitigate the impact of potential security incidents. Implement a robust backup strategy, including the database and the entire website files. Store backups securely on an off-site location and test their restoration periodically.

Secure Your WordPress Login Page

The login page is a common target for brute-force attacks. Implement measures such as limiting login attempts, using unique login URLs, and employing security plugins to detect and block suspicious login attempts.  Additionally, to further enhance WordPress security, remove all generic logins such as “admin”.

Use Secure Hosting and Server Configurations

Choose a reputable hosting provider that prioritizes security and follows industry best practices. Ensure your server configurations are optimized and secure, including using SSL/TLS certificates, implementing firewall rules, and disabling unnecessary services.

Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAF)

A web application firewall adds an additional layer of protection by filtering malicious traffic and blocking common attack patterns. Consider implementing a WAF solution through a plugin or a dedicated firewall service.  Additionally, consider geographic blocking and throttling when DOS attacks occur.

Sanitize and Validate User Input

Implement proper input sanitization and validation techniques to prevent common vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and cross-site request forgery (CSRF). Use secure coding practices and WordPress-sanctioned functions to process user input securely.

Protect Sensitive Data

Ensure that sensitive data, such as user credentials and personal information, is properly protected. To prevent unauthorized access, utilize encryption mechanisms for data storage, including passwords and database entries.

Regularly Monitor and Audit Your WordPress Site

Implement regular monitoring and auditing practices to detect potential security issues or unusual activities. Utilize security plugins or external services to scan for malware, monitor file integrity, and review server logs for suspicious activities.

Conclusion

WordPress security is a vital responsibility for developers. By following these ten essential security practices, you can significantly reduce the risk of security breaches and protect your clients and their users’ integrity and privacy. Remember to stay updated with the latest security trends and threats to ensure you consistently implement the most effective security measures for WordPress development.

 

 

WordPress Security Plugins

We encourage you to check here for information regarding WordPress security updates.  At Technotions.com, we take website security very seriously.  In this regard, we subscribe to many security-related services to ensure we are constantly updated.  Additionally, we can advise you on what we think are the best WordPress security plugins and WordPress security plugin best practices.

Regularly checking for WordPress security updates is essential to ensure your website’s safety and WordPress security updates to ensure the safety and security of your website. WordPress regularly releases security updates to fix vulnerabilities and prevent malicious attacks. You can check for updates in the WordPress dashboard, and keeping your website updated to the latest version is recommended. In addition, using strong passwords, limiting login attempts, using a security plugin (firewall), and maintaining website backups in case of any security breaches are essential.

Here are some best practices for some critical factors in WordPress website security.

Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF)

A WAF is a software firewall that sits between your website server and the internet, monitoring and filtering incoming traffic. Various WAF plugins such as Wordfence, Sucuri, and iThemes Security are available for WordPress. These plugins can help protect your website from common security threats like SQL injections, cross-site scripting (XSS), and brute-force attacks.

Restrict access to wp-admin

Your website’s wp-admin directory is the heart of your WordPress site, where you manage everything from content to plugins and themes. It is essential to restrict access to this directory by allowing only authorized users to access it. You can use a plugin like Wordfence to add two-factor authentication or limit access to specific IP addresses.

You can secure your website with HTTPS

HTTPS is a secure version of HTTP that encrypts the communication between your website and the user’s browser. By installing an SSL/TLS certificate and enabling HTTPS, you can protect your website from man-in-the-middle attacks, where an attacker intercepts the communication between the user and the website.
Disable file editing in WordPress: By default, WordPress allows users with admin access to edit PHP files directly from the WordPress dashboard. This can be a security risk, as an attacker can access your website by exploiting vulnerabilities in these files. You can disable file editing by adding the following line of code to your wp-config.php file:

define( ‘DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT’, true );

Regularly update your plugins, themes, and WordPress core

WordPress and its plugins and themes are constantly updated to fix security vulnerabilities and bugs. Keeping your website up-to-date with the latest versions is essential to ensure the best security. You can enable automatic updates for WordPress core, plugins, and themes to ensure they are always up-to-date.

These are some best practices to secure your WordPress website with a firewall. However, it is essential to remember that security is an ongoing process that requires continuous monitoring and updates to avoid potential threats.  Contact Technotions to get an immediate free consultation.

These are some best practices to secure your WordPress website with a firewall. However, it is essential to remember that security is an ongoing process that requires continuous monitoring and updates to avoid potential threats.  Contact Technotions to get an immediate free consultation.

We recommend Wordfence as a primary firewall.  Below are updates from the Wordfence Intelligence Group.

 

Wordfence Intelligence Weekly WordPress Vulnerability Report (Mar 27, 2023 to Apr 2, 2023)

How Much is your Hacked Site Worth?

Do you have a hacked site? While contemporary threat actors primarily coordinate and conduct business through Telegram channels, compromised services and accounts are effectively a commodity, and access to them has become fundamental to the operation of many illicit online activities. As a result, “shops” offering these commodities have proliferated. Many of the shops in question make no effort to hide their purpose or discourage indexing by search engines and as such are technically on the “clearnet”. Many shops even use legitimate CDN and CAPTCHA providers.

From remote desktop instances providing cheap anonymity for attackers, to web shells used to proliferate SEO spam, to full access to webmail accounts used for social engineering and identity theft, these shops offer crucial tools for cybercriminals. As such, it’s equally important for defenders to have an overview of the capabilities available to even the most rudimentary adversaries, as well as some basic data about the economics involved. This is why, in today’s post, we’re publishing a white paper investigating six of these shops and providing an overview of their functionality, pricing, and the core goods and services they offer.