WordPress has become synonymous with ease of use. But with its convenience comes certain issues like being the target of online hacks. If your site falls victim, site traffic will be affected while you recover and you will lose money in the process as well just to get everything back in order.
Yes, online security threats have become more sophisticated with each passing year. However, practicing and implementing good security measures can help you out a great deal. Here’s a few ways to keep your WordPress site secure:
1) Pick a username that isn’t obvious
An administrator account on WordPress is given the username “admin” by default. While it may have been alright to keep it in the past, hackers have taken advantage of that and they get access to those sites. You see, you’ve already given them one key, all they need is to crack the password and they’re in. Choose a username that you would easily remember but one that isn’t easy to guess.
2) Choose an even stronger password
It’s quite tempting to just go for “password” or the name of your dog because they are easier to remember. But keep in mind that the easier your password is, the faster it is to crack. Plus, basic information about you can easily be accessed online thanks to social media platforms. To avoid getting hacked, go for a password that is a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters as well as a number and a special symbol.
3) Put a limit on login attempts
Hackers will take all the time they need until they crack your account’s security details. One way to avoid them guessing your username and password is limiting the number of login attempts. And yes, there is a chance that it might take you more than the set number of tries as well but in your case, you have all the answers in case you’re asked security questions and such.
4) Choose a good host
While there are certain things you can do on your end, picking a high-quality web host also helps limit security threats. Yes, you might even have to shell out money just for a better host but it will all be worth it. Keep in mind that 41% of WordPress sites were attacked because the host was vulnerable. For this reason alone, you’re better off choosing a host that has good recommendations.
5) Keep everything up to date
Updating takes time, sure. However, updating when you’re told to update saves you trouble down the road. Security patches are frequently rolled out and it’s in the best interest of your site to keep WordPress, the theme you are using as well as plugins up to date. After all, flaws in any of those mentioned can lead to your site getting hacked.
6) Make sure to backup religiously
The importance of having a backup of your site cannot be stressed enough. Whether you got hacked or lost a file, turning to your backup files saves you a lot of time. Plus, if you can’t do it manually, there are automatic backup options available.
A lot of the sites on the web run on WordPress and that is a thought not lost on hackers. Rather than give them what they want easily, why not make it extremely hard for them? Security threats will and always will be there but protecting your site from the most basic threats saves you trouble down the road. Need help securing your site? We offer different security packages to fit your needs, contact us now!
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