WordPress is the most popular content management system, it powers over 30% of all websites. As its expansion continues, hackers have taken note and now specifically target WordPress websites. Aside from mobile responsiveness, keeping your WordPress site secure is a key aspect to keep in mind. Hacks and malware can cause serious damage to your business revenue and reputation.
Google blacklists approximately 1,0000 websites daily for malware and an additional 5,0000 for phishing activities every week. You risk losing vital client information, passwords or distributing the malware to your users. Worse, you may end up paying ransomware to get your website back from the hackers.
Our web design experts have come up with five tips to keep your WordPress site secure from hackers and malware.
1. Update CMS Core Software
According to WPScan statistics, 74% of vulnerabilities are in the WordPress core. The WordPress team does an excellent job at fixings any security issues quickly, publicly declaring the patch and issuing an update. Staying up to date with the latest version can reduce the risk of your site being a target for identified loopholes. You may also need to update your plugins and themes for the same reason. Besides security, updating CMS can help improve mobile responsiveness and site speed.
2. Invest in a Secure Hosting Service
Your website hosting environment and the technologies used may also make a difference. You may need to pick a trusted hosting provider with a fast and reliable support team. Your hosting service should provide back-ups, server-level firewalls, SSL certificates, managed WordPress core updates, and proper server architecture. Cloud hosting may provide a more secure environment for your website.
3. Avoid Nulled Themes and Plugins
Four out of five consumers shop on smartphones. Themes and plugins can help improve the mobile responsiveness of your website. However, picking ‘nulled’ or ‘cracked’ premium themes and plugins can set your site for hackers to intrude. Hackers use supply chain attacks by installing backdoors on the nulled plugin code, providing an entry point for their malware.
4. Fortify the WordPress Content Management Systems with Strong Credentials
A Wordfence survey found out that brute force attacks accounted for 16% of all cases of hacked sites. Hackers can gain access to your login credentials by gaining the metaphorical key. Enforce strong passwords for all of your WordPress accounts with an additional two-factor authentication plugin. You can also limit the login attempts, locking out the hackers before they attempt different combinations on your site.
5. Enable WordPress WAF Firewalls and Security Plugins
Another way to improve your WordPress website security is through setting up auditing and monitoring systems that will log everything that happens on your site. Security plugins such as Sucuri can help with file integrity monitoring, malware scanning, and failed login attempts. Web Application Firewall is one of the easiest ways to protect your WordPress site. You can opt for DNS-level or application-level firewall plugins to secure your website.
WordPress security is one of the critical parts of website design and maintenance. Most solutions are easy to apply, while others are for advanced users. If you have any queries regarding your site’s security, reach out to MRN Web Designs. Our web designers can work with you to ensure that your website remains safe from malware attacks and hacking.
