Your WordPress conversions have taken a hit or even worse, there’s a data breach!
This is an obvious red flag because it’s crippling your online presence.
A slow website and hidden security errors can trigger this very often and that’s a ton of lost opportunities.
According to the State of WordPress Security 2024 Report, there are a staggering 5948 new WordPress security vulnerabilities as of 2023. And this number continues to rise in 2024. So, what’s your WordPress protection plan??
What if Your WordPress Security Fails?
In this section, let’s understand why you should be mindful of the security of your WordPress website. What happens when it’s compromised – knowingly or unknowingly?
With a 62.5% CMS market share, WordPress powers over 40% of all websites on the internet, making it a prime target for hackers and malicious actors.
Understanding WordPress Security Risks
The platform is powering millions of websites, including e-commerce stores, e-learning platforms, and blogs.
However, with popularity, comes vulnerability. Hackers continuously target WordPress sites through outdated plugins, weak passwords, or vulnerable themes.
Many WordPress users running e-commerce and e-learning platforms underestimate the critical nature of security until it’s too late.
The implications of a hacked site can be devastating—stolen customer data, loss of revenue, and complete website defacement. We don’t want any of this, do we?
So, before we dive into solutions, let’s take a moment to understand what we’re up against.
The High Cost of Ignoring WordPress Security
Data Breaches: For e-commerce businesses, a data breach can lead to loss of customer trust and hefty fines for non-compliance with privacy regulations like GDPR and PCI DSS
Downtime Costs: Every second of downtime due to hacking or malware can result in lost sales and frustrated users. E-learning platforms with enrolled students will face severe dissatisfaction if the system becomes inaccessible
SEO Damage: Search engines like Google penalize sites with malware, effectively sinking your ranking and making recovery difficult
Trust Erosion: Clients and customers trust you with their data. A security breach can tarnish your brand reputation and drive customers to competitors. Your business is also exposed to potential legal issues if customer data is compromised
Imagine waking up to find your site has been taken down, your customer data privacy compromised, and your Google ranking plummeting. Scary, right?
WordPress Security Issues You Must Know
So, here’s the thing – you don’t have to be a sitting duck. Understanding the common weak spots in WordPress is your first line of defense.
I’m about to walk you through some vulnerabilities that could leave your site wide open to attacks. You can’t afford to ignore these.
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- Outdated software (WordPress core, themes, and plugins) – Old versions are like open invitations to hackers. Imagine a car that hasn’t had a tune-up for ages. Keep everything fresh!
- Weak passwords and login credentials – Using “password123” is like leaving your house open to robbers with a “Come on in!” sign
- Unprotected databases – An unprotected database is like a compromised vault. Lock it down!
- Malware infections– Malware is the digital equivalent of termites. They sneak in, mess things up, and before you know it, your site’s integrity is compromised. Regular WordPress security scans for malware are your best pest control!
- Brute force attacks – Hackers bombarding your login page with password guesses is a brute force attack affecting your WordPress website security.
- SQL injections – Imagine someone slipping a fake order into your restaurant system. SQL injection is similar – hackers insert malicious code into your database queries. It’s time to check those orders carefully!
- Cross-site scripting (XSS) – This is like someone leaving a bad review on your behalf. XSS lets attackers inject nasty scripts into your web pages, tricking your users. Don’t let others put code on your site!
WordPress Security: Essential Dos and Don’ts
Alright, now that we’ve scared you a bit (hey, it’s for your own good!), you understand the stakes. So, let’s look at how we can beef up your WordPress site security against these threats.
First, we’ll hit you with some quick-fire dos and don’ts – think of it as your security cheat sheet.
The 14 Do’s for WordPress Security
#1 Remove Version Numbers
Version numbers are a critical piece of information on your website. They allow hackers to invade your website if they have the means to detect and abuse the WordPress or theme version used.
So, it’s ideal to remove the version numbers generated by WordPress and your Theme’s CSS and JS files.
#2 Upgrade Website Regularly
This matters more than you think as the software might have bugs that can make your website susceptible to attacks! So, make sure you upgrade your WordPress and all the non-customized themes and plug-ins installed on your website.
Scheduling regular updates as part of your WordPress website maintenance would ensure you get cleaner versions of the code reducing the threat of an attack on your website. It’s good to enable automatic updates wherever possible.
#3 Update System Software
Ensure that you have all the latest versions of software such as OpenSSL, Nginx, PHP, MySQL, etc for your Windows, Mac, or Linux systems.
#4 Take Site Backup
Install an appropriate plug-in to take regular backups of files and databases on your website. You do not want to take a risk with precious data on your website right? Ensure you take daily or weekly backups and store them in a separate, secure location.
#5 Secure Directories
It is important to secure wp-includes and uploads directories in your website folder so that direct access to files present in those directories can be prohibited.
#6 Secure wp-config.php File
The wp-config.php file in your WordPress website folder contains a lot of sensitive information. Hence, it is important to make it secure.
#7 Scan Site with Malware Monitoring Service
Scan your website periodically with malware monitoring software. This will help you get notifications when there is a potential hazard to your website.
#8 Practice the Principle of Least Privilege
Restrict access to folders on your website to users who can be trusted. Set the appropriate read and write permissions on the folders depending on your requirements.
#9 Use Strong Passwords
Implement a password policy requiring long, complex passwords. Another best practice is to use a password manager to generate and store unique passwords.
#10 Implement Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Set up 2FA for all user accounts, especially admin accounts. Use authenticator apps or hardware keys for 2FA when possible
#11 Use SSL Encryption
Install an SSL certificate on your site and strictly force HTTPS for all pages and content.
#12 Limit Login Attempts
Install a plugin to block IP addresses after multiple failed login attempts. Set up notifications for failed login attempts.
#13 Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF)
Implement a WAF to filter and monitor HTTP traffic. Regularly update and fine-tune WAF rules.
#14 Educate Yourself and Your Team
Stay informed about the latest WordPress security threats and best practices. Provide security training for all team members with WordPress access.
| Expert Advice:WordPress security is not a one-time thing, it requires maintenance. You have to be vigilant about updating your plugins & themes and security scans. Regular scans are crucial for identifying malware & security issues.Then once you’ve identified these issues, you also have to patch them up. And of course, take regular backups in case something goes wrong. All these activities need to be planned for.So, it is a good idea to make them a part of the monthly maintenance plan for your WordPress website.
Recommended Reading: |
The 13 Don’ts for WordPress Security
#1 Do Not Send Update Notifications to all Users
Update notifications that are made available on the website’s dashboard will not be made available across all user levels. While updating WordPress core, themes, and plugins are essential it should be a well-researched step. Unrestricted updates could mean disaster for your website.
#2 Do Not Take Passwords Lightly
Do not set your website password as admin as it is easy to guess. Also regularly change the password on your website. If you use the same password for a very long time, you’re giving hackers more time to try and crack it. If you change it frequently, you shorten the window of attack
#3 Do Not Allow File Edits in the Dashboard
File edits in the dashboard are a big fat NO! Users who are meant to make changes to the website should not be allowed to make changes to the code. Allowing file edits in the dashboard screams Danger!!! for your website.
#4 Do Not Allow Hotlinking on the Website
Prevent hotlinking on the website. People should not be able to hotlink any images or content from your website. After all, in the web world content is a goldmine and should be secured.
#5 Do Not Allow Directory Browsing
Do not allow directory browsing access to all users. It is important to secure wp-includes and uploads directories in your website folder so that direct access to files present in those directories can be prohibited.
#6 Do Not Use “admin” As a Username
Change the default admin username to something unique. Also, it’s advisable to create individual accounts for each admin user instead of sharing one.
#7 Do Not Use Nulled or Pirated Themes/Plugins
Always download themes and plugins from reputable sources. Avoid using “free” versions of premium plugins, as they often contain malware.
#8 Do Not Leave Unused Plugins or Themes Installed
Remove any plugins or themes that aren’t actively being used. Deactivated plugins can still be vulnerable to exploits.
#9 Do Not Use Default Database Prefixes
Change the default “wp_” database prefix during installation or using a plugin. Use a unique, random prefix for your database tables.
#10 Do Not Ignore File Permissions
Set proper file permissions for WordPress directories and files. Don’t set permissions too openly (e.g., 777 indicating unlimited access) as it can be a security risk.
Note: It’s advisable to set files to 644 (read, and write access to only file owners, strictly read access to others) and directories to 755 (read, write, and execute rights exclusively to file owners. Others are restricted to read & execute access)
#11 Do Not Use FTP for File Transfers
Use SFTP or SSH instead of FTP for more secure file transfers. Avoid storing FTP credentials in plain text files on your server.
#12 Do Not Neglect Error Logs
Use SFTP or SSH instead of FTP for more secure file transfers. Avoid storing FTP credentials in plain text files on your server.
#13 Do Not Forget About Security in Development Environments
Apply security measures to development and staging sites, not just production. Don’t use production data in non-production environments without proper safeguards.
Remember, WordPress security is an ongoing process. I’d advise you to regularly review and update your security practices to stay protected against evolving threats.
A Comprehensive Approach to WordPress Security
Now, let’s walk through developer-curated and DIY solutions to resolve both major and minor WordPress security issues.
These solutions will address the pain points faced at some point by e-learning, e-commerce, and other WordPress-powered business owners.
1. Password Security: A Weak Password Is a Hacker’s Dream
Problem: Many WordPress users use weak or reused passwords for convenience. Brute force attacks thrive on this vulnerability.
Impact: If a hacker gains access, they can easily exploit your admin panel and wreak havoc.
Solution:
- DIY: Use a password manager like LastPass or 1Password to generate and store complex passwords.
- Developer Solution: Implement Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) using plugins like Google Authenticator or Authy for all admin logins.
2. Keeping WordPress, Plugins, and Themes Updated
Problem: Outdated themes and plugins are one of the most common entry points for hackers.
Impact: Hackers specifically scan for outdated versions with known vulnerabilities. Delayed updates leave your site open to attack.
Solution:
- DIY: Enable automatic updates for minor WordPress core updates. Regularly review installed themes and plugins to remove any that are outdated or no longer supported.
- Developer Solution: Set up a staging site where updates can be tested without affecting your live site, especially for e-commerce sites.
3. Securing the Admin Panel
Problem: The default /wp-admin URL and username “admin” are easy targets for brute-force attacks.
Impact: Leaving the login URL as-is means bots can target your site in a matter of seconds with endless login attempts.
Solution:
- DIY: Change your login URL with a plugin like WPS Hide Login to something unique.
- Developer Solution: Implement IP Whitelisting so only certain IP addresses can access your admin panel.
4. Securing e-Commerce Transactions
Problem: E-commerce sites handle sensitive customer data, including payment information. If compromised, your business can face severe legal and financial penalties.
Impact: A breach could result in your customer’s financial data being stolen, resulting in distrust and lawsuits.
Solution:
- DIY: Install an SSL certificate to ensure encrypted transactions. Most hosting providers offer free SSL with Let’s Encrypt.
- Developer Solution: Ensure PCI DSS compliance by using secure payment gateways like Stripe or PayPal.
5. Backup Your Website Regularly
Problem: If your site is hacked or crashes, you could lose all your content, customer data, and sales records.
Impact: Without a backup, recovering from a hack could take days, if not weeks, potentially costing you thousands in lost revenue.
Solution:
- DIY: Use a plugin like UpdraftPlus to schedule automatic daily backups and store them off-site on services like Google Drive or Amazon S3.
- Developer Solution: Set up incremental backups on the server to reduce load times and ensure no data is lost.
6. Malware and Firewall Protection
Problem: Malware infections can slow down your site, compromise customer data, or deface your website.
Impact: Malware infections often go unnoticed until significant damage has been done, affecting performance and customer experience.
Solution:
- DIY: Install Wordfence Security or Sucuri Security to monitor and block malicious IP addresses.
- Developer Solution: Set up a Web Application Firewall (WAF) like Cloudflare or Sucuri to filter traffic before it hits your server.
7. Monitoring & Auditing Site Activity
Problem: Unauthorized changes or unusual activity on your site often go unnoticed.
Impact: Without tracking user activity, you may not realize that an unauthorized user has logged in and is tampering with your website content.
Solution:
- DIY: Use plugins like Activity Log to track user activity, especially important for e-learning platforms where multiple admins or instructors may have access.
- Developer Solution: Configure server logs for detailed insights into file changes and access attempts.
Conclusion: Having No WordPress Security Plan Can Be Your Hacker’s Paradise!
Don’t wait for a disaster to happen as there’s a lot to lose!
By focusing on proactive WordPress security solutions, you not only protect your business but also build trust with your audience, ensuring long-term success.
Whether you’re running an e-commerce store, an e-learning platform, or a small blog, taking the right steps now will save you from major headaches later.
Start implementing these developer-curated and DIY solutions today to protect your WordPress website and your customers.
Tell us if you’re stuck at any point and need expert help to handhold you through the process.
You can schedule a free consultation with us or take a free trial. These are great starting points for identifying potential blind spots on your WordPress website.
| Recommended Reading: |
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