WordPress Security
With any website, especially database-driven websites, security is always a pressing issue. Some people may tell you that WordPress is not very secure and is frequently hacked – this is partially true in that WordPress sites are hacked all the time. However, this is largely due to the sheer volume of WordPress websites online and that they outnumber every other platform. Lack of maintenance and attention to software updates is also a factor in the majority of the sites that are attacked.
For comparison, you would not go away for a holiday and leave your front door unlocked. The same goes for your website. There are several ways to secure a WordPress website design and they are all quick and easy to manage, even for the average website administrator. After 17 years of working with WordPress, we’ve created the ultimate guide to maintaining a WordPress website – The Four Pillars of WordPress Security.
Security Plugins
If you do not use a managed WordPress hosting provider, you should ensure that you are utilizing a security plugin like Wordfence. Wordfence Security is a great option that is easy to install and setup within your WordPress install to protect your content, database and themes in WordPress. This enterprise-class security software offers top-notch malicious URL and live traffic scanning, plus two-factor authentication and a rock-solid firewall. Wordfence also boasts built-in tools to verify and repair the WordPress core, as well as any plugins or installed themes without the availability of backups.
You can also purchase a plan from Sucuri and install their WordPress plugin that helps you automatically harden your WordPress installation against attackers with the click of a button. Sucuri will also continually scan your website for real-time threats and notify you by email when action should be taken. They will also clean and restore your website for free in the event of a security breach if you are a current plan holder.
For more tips on securing your WordPress website against attacks read our article on The Four Pillars of WordPress Security.