Cybersecurity is of utmost importance, most especially in this age of information and technology. Cybercriminals are lurking on the internet, always ready to victimize users who are less careful in making downloads and surfing unsecured sites. WordPress is not an exception. It’s as vulnerable to any cyber attack and hacking as any blog website. You wouldn’t want your personal information to get stolen or your blog site used by hackers to victimize other users.
To ensure the security of your WordPress website, here are some tips you have to take note of:
Beware of Malware
One of the most vicious threats to cybersecurity is malware. It’s short for malicious software. Malware is a computer program designed to infiltrate and damage computer files, servers, and networks. Any computer virus falls under the malware category. Your website is most vulnerable to a malware attack when you install plugins and themes. To prevent this from happening, be sure to check for malware first and install plugins and themes only from secure websites. You can also use anti-malware software to detect or prevent you from making a risky installation.
Keep Firewalls Up
Your computer may already have its firewall. All you need to do is to keep it up-to-date so it can detect any new forms of malware and spyware. If you don’t have it yet, download one from a trusted anti-virus provider. Also, install security tools and plugins on your WordPress site such as:
- Sucuri
- Wordfence
- iThemes Security
- BulletProof Security
- Acunetix WP SecurityScan
Use a Strong Password
Your first line of defense against cyber attacks is your password. A strong password is one that doesn’t use given or readily available information about you. It has to be one that’s not easily decrypted. This is why you’ll notice that most websites recommend that you use an alphanumeric combination in your password.
Change Passwords Frequently
To make your password even more hack-proof, one sure way is to change or update it frequently. Avoid sticking to a single password for a long time. You’ll give cybercriminals a harder time if you make password changes as often as you can.
Use Two-Factor Authentication
You may have encountered the two-factor authentication process recently. Many websites have adopted this two-level security verification process to add another layer of defense in the login process. Users have to provide verification codes sent to linked and authorized devices, or have a security question answered correctly before a successful login.
Limit Website Access
The more people can get their hands into your website, the more it becomes vulnerable to cyber attacks. If you have an associate or a team who also maintains the upkeep of your WordPress website, identify the key persons whom you can grant complete access to. And then, give limited access to other members who are in charge of tasks that don’t necessarily involve modifying or improving the website. Also, add a limit to the number of login attempts to keep intruders out.
Modify Your URL
Your WordPress site comes with a default URL. This is also one of the ways that hackers can infiltrate your website as the default URL is also linked to a default username and password. Have your URL modified or customized instead. This will give hackers a hard time.
Make Use of SSL
SSL or Secure Socket Layer certification is a way of encrypting the admin panel of your WordPress site. It allows the secure transfer of data between the browser and the server. You can get an SSL certification from third-party SSL providers, or you may ask your web host service provider if they have this feature.
Keep wp-config and wp-admin Protected
Both wp-config and wp-admin are important root directories of your WordPress website. If hackers get a hold of these, your entire website will be jeopardized. You can protect these directories by moving it in a safer storage file that hackers won’t be able to access easily.
Always Backup
When all things fail, it’s always good to backup your WordPress site. You can save all the present data that’s important to your website and create a restore point. When a reformat is necessary, you can confidently do it and revive your website later on from its restore point.
Nowadays, it’s always best to take necessary security parameters for your virtual properties, such as a WordPress site. Security features are becoming more sophisticated, but cybercriminals are also becoming more intelligent. You have to do your part in monitoring and maintaining the security of your website.
