With over 40% of websites worldwide powered by WordPress, it’s no surprise that this popular content management system is also a prime target for hackers. Its open-source nature and vast plugin ecosystem make it incredibly flexible, but also vulnerable to cyber threats if not properly secured. From small personal blogs to large e-commerce sites, any WordPress website can fall victim to brute force attacks, malware, or unauthorised access. Understanding how to secure your WordPress website is crucial in today’s digital landscape. Whether you’re a solo blogger sharing your passion or a business owner managing an online store, protecting your site is essential to maintain trust, safeguard data, and avoid costly downtime. A compromised website can lead to serious consequences, including stolen customer information, SEO penalties, and even complete data loss.
At Creta Themes, we specialise in crafting WordPress block themes that deliver high performance, lightning-fast speed, full responsiveness, and built-in SEO optimisation—empowering you to create seamless and engaging websites with ease. This comprehensive guide walks you through 10 proven strategies to keep hackers out and ensure your site remains secure.
10 Proven Strategies to Keep Hackers Out
From using strong passwords and enabling two-factor authentication to installing the right security plugins, these actionable steps will help you build a strong defence against cyber threats and keep your WordPress site safe.
1. Keep WordPress Core, Themes, and Plugins Updated
One of the most effective ways to secure your WordPress website is by regularly updating the WordPress core, themes, and plugins. Each update not only introduces new features or performance improvements but, more importantly, patches known security vulnerabilities that hackers actively exploit. If you're just starting out online, learning how to use WordPress to make a website is one of the easiest and most effective ways to build a professional online presence.
Outdated software is one of the most common entry points for cybercriminals. Developers frequently release updates to fix bugs and address security loopholes. If you delay or ignore these updates, your site becomes an easy target for automated bots and malicious attacks.
Enable Automatic Updates
To simplify the process and minimise risks, you can enable automatic updates for your WordPress core, themes, and plugins. WordPress automatically applies minor updates by default, but you can extend this functionality by adding a few lines of code to your wp-config.php file or by using plugins like Easy Updates Manager. This ensures you stay protected without needing to manually check for new versions.
Update Safely: Always Backup First
Before applying any update, always create a full backup of your site. This includes both your files and database. Use reliable backup plugins like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy to save your data off-site. This way, if an update causes conflicts or breaks your site, you can easily restore it to a working version—an essential step in how to secure your WordPress website.
2. Use Strong Usernames and Passwords
Using strong, unique login credentials is one of the most basic yet powerful steps you can take when learning how to secure your WordPress website. Many security breaches occur simply because of weak or predictable login details that are easy for hackers to guess.
Avoid Default Usernames Like “admin”
One of the biggest mistakes site owners make is keeping the default username “admin.” This is the first username hackers will try during brute force attacks. If your username is “admin,” you’ve already made the hacker’s job halfway easier. Instead, create a unique username that’s not easily associated with your website or personal identity.
Create Complex, Unique Passwords
Your password should be a strong combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid using common words, names, or simple sequences like “123456” or “password.” A strong password significantly reduces the chances of unauthorised access and keeps your website safer.
Use a Password Manager
Managing multiple complex passwords can be difficult. That’s where password managers like LastPass, 1Password, or Bitwarden come in handy. These tools securely store your credentials and generate strong passwords, helping you maintain top-notch security without the hassle. Using strong login credentials is a foundational step in understanding how to secure your WordPress website and protect it from common hacking attempts.
3. Install a Security Plugin
Another essential step in learning how to secure your WordPress website is installing a reliable security plugin. These plugins act as your site’s first line of defense against cyber threats by offering powerful features like malware scanning, firewalls, and brute force protection. Popular options such as Wordfence, Sucuri, and iThemes Security are trusted by millions of WordPress users for their comprehensive protection tools. Wordfence provides real-time threat detection and login security, while Sucuri offers excellent firewall and malware cleanup services. iThemes Security helps prevent automated attacks and strengthens weak user credentials. When choosing a security plugin, look for features like daily malware scans, IP blocking, login attempt limits, and two-factor authentication to ensure complete site safety. By adding one of these trusted plugins, you gain peace of mind knowing your WordPress site is actively monitored and protected around the clock.
4. Limit Login Attempts
Limiting login attempts is a simple yet powerful way to secure your WordPress website from brute force attacks, where hackers use automated scripts to guess your username and password repeatedly. By setting a limit on the number of failed login attempts, you can block these attackers before they gain access. WordPress doesn't include this feature by default, but you can easily configure it using plugins like Limit Login Attempts Reloaded. This plugin allows you to specify how many failed login attempts are allowed before an IP address is temporarily or permanently blocked. You can also set lockout durations and receive email notifications when suspicious activity occurs. By actively monitoring and controlling login attempts, you drastically reduce the chances of unauthorized access and keep your site more secure.
5. Implement Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your login process and is a crucial step in learning how to secure your WordPress website. With 2FA, users must provide not only their password but also a second verification code—usually generated by an app on their smartphone—before gaining access. This means that even if a hacker steals your password, they still can’t log in without the second factor. It’s highly effective in preventing unauthorized access, especially in cases of phishing or weak passwords. You can easily enable 2FA on your WordPress site using plugins like Google Authenticator, WP 2FA, or Two Factor Authentication by miniOrange. These tools integrate seamlessly with WordPress and allow you to enforce 2FA for all users or specific roles, enhancing your site's defense against attacks.
6. Use HTTPS and SSL Certificate
Using HTTPS with an SSL certificate is a fundamental part of how to secure your WordPress website, as it encrypts the data transmitted between your visitors and your server. This ensures sensitive information like login credentials, contact forms, and payment details remain protected from hackers. Beyond security, HTTPS is also a ranking factor for Google, which means having it enabled can improve your SEO and build trust with visitors. Fortunately, you can get a free SSL certificate through Let’s Encrypt, which many hosting providers like SiteGround, Bluehost, and Hostinger offer with one-click installation. After installing the certificate, it's important to make sure your entire website runs on HTTPS—this includes updating internal links, media files, and enforcing redirection from HTTP to HTTPS using plugins like Really Simple SSL. Securing your site with HTTPS not only protects user data but also boosts your credibility and search engine visibility.
7. Change the Default Login URL
Changing the default WordPress login URL is a smart move when learning how to secure your WordPress website, as it helps protect against automated hacking attempts. Hackers often target the standard login paths like /wp-login.php or /wp-admin using bots that repeatedly try to gain access. By changing this URL to something unique, you make it significantly harder for attackers to even reach your login page. Plugins like WPS Hide Login make this process easy, allowing you to customize your login URL without altering core files. When choosing a custom URL, avoid obvious names like /login or /admin123. Instead, opt for something unrelated to your site’s content but easy for you to remember. This simple change acts as a stealthy barrier, keeping your login page hidden from most common attacks and reducing the chances of a successful breach.
8. Regularly Backup Your Website
Regular backups are a critical part of how to secure your WordPress website, as they act as your safety net in the event of a cyberattack, server crash, or accidental data loss. If your site gets hacked or corrupted, a recent backup allows you to quickly restore everything to normal without starting from scratch. Plugins like UpdraftPlus, BackupBuddy, and Jetpack Backup make it easy to automate the process by scheduling regular backups of your files and database. To ensure maximum security, always store your backups offsite—either in cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Amazon S3, or have them emailed to you. Keeping backups on the same server as your website defeats their purpose if that server is compromised. With a strong backup strategy in place, you can recover from almost any issue and maintain business continuity with minimal disruption.
9. Set File Permissions Correctly
Setting proper file permissions is a behind-the-scenes yet vital aspect of how to secure your WordPress website. File permissions control who can read, write, or execute files on your server, and incorrect settings can leave your site vulnerable to malicious code injection or unauthorized access. For optimal security, WordPress recommends setting directories to 755 and files to 644. These permissions ensure that only the site owner can modify content, while others can only view it. You can set these permissions through your hosting control panel’s File Manager or by using FTP clients like FileZilla. For advanced users, command-line tools like chmod can also be used to assign proper permissions quickly. Ensuring your files and folders have the right permissions reduces the risk of exploitation and helps maintain a secure WordPress environment.
10. Disable XML-RPC if Not Needed
XML-RPC is a WordPress feature that allows remote access to your site, enabling actions like publishing posts via mobile apps or external services. While useful in specific cases, XML-RPC is often exploited by hackers to launch brute force or DDoS attacks, making it a hidden vulnerability in your site’s security. If you’re not actively using services that depend on XML-RPC, it’s best to disable it to reduce risk—a key step in how to secure your WordPress website. You can easily do this using plugins like Disable XML-RPC or by adding a snippet of code to your .htaccess file to block access completely. For example:
<Files xmlrpc.php>
Order Deny,Allow
Deny from all
</Files>
If you still need remote access functionality, consider using the WordPress REST API, which is more secure and better supported. Disabling XML-RPC eliminates a common attack vector and strengthens your site’s overall defences.
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Conclusion
In today’s digital landscape, website security is more important than ever. By applying these 10 proven strategies, you can greatly enhance your site’s protection and keep hackers at bay. From updating your site regularly to implementing two-factor authentication and backing up your data, each step plays a vital role in defending your online presence. Remember, learning how to secure your WordPress website isn’t just a one-time task—it’s an ongoing commitment. While no system is entirely immune to threats, these best practices will significantly reduce your vulnerabilities and give you peace of mind as your site grows. Stay safe, stay proactive!
