WordPress Security: 10 Ways to Keep Your Website Safe

Your WordPress site went down at 3 AM. By morning, visitors are redirected to a spam pharmacy site. This can happen all too easily. 

WordPress powers a large share of all websites with more than half a billion WordPress websites, according to the WordPress blog, making it an obvious target for attackers looking for open doors. Whether you’re running a personal blog or an e-commerce store, the incentive to break in exists, and the scanning for weak spots never stops.

Most hacks aren’t sophisticated. They exploit outdated plugins, weak passwords, and misconfigured permissions. This WordPress security guide walks you through practical steps that address real threats. You’ll learn how to secure a WordPress site using methods site owners and developers rely on, from hardening logins to setting permissions that keep malicious scripts out. 

WordPress security includes things that keep your site safe from hackers, data theft, malware, and service interruptions. It’s about keeping content safe, protecting visitor data, keeping the site up, and avoiding SEO penalties for sites that have been hacked.  

There are three parts to the security of WordPress: the core software, the themes and plugins, and the hosting environment. WordPress developers send out security patches to the core on a regular basis, but most of the vulnerabilities found in the ecosystem are in plugins. That’s where attackers focus their efforts: on old or abandoned extensions that haven’t gotten security updates in a timely manner. 

Breaches have effects that can be seen right away. When Google finds malware on your site and warns you about it, you could suffer severe traffic loss in one night. People who come to your site see messages that say “This site may harm your computer” and leave right away. Search rankings take months to get back to normal, even after you clean up the infection. 

The financial effects add up quickly. Blocked transactions cost e-commerce sites thousands of dollars every day. When customers see security warnings, they lose trust in the company. Getting rid of malware isn’t cheap either; professional services can cost anywhere from $80 to $500 or more, depending on how bad the infection is. If you don’t have any recent backups, you’ll have to start over from scratch, losing months or years of work on content and settings.  

Business risk goes beyond damage that happens right away. Under the GDPR and similar laws, having customer data that has been compromised can cause problems with compliance. Your reputation suffers, which hurts partnerships, sales talks, and long-term growth. Insurance might not pay for losses caused by security failures that could have been avoided.  

Knowing what WordPress security means will help you use your resources wisely. You’re not making your site impossible to break into; you’re just closing the doors and windows that attackers check first. This makes it harder for them to get to you than the thousands of easier targets they’ll find before they get to you. 

Is WordPress safe to use right away? The short answer is: pretty much, but not completely.  

The WordPress core is built with security in mind and gets quick updates. But security doesn’t stop with the core. Themes, plugins, and custom code add new ways to get in. Researchers found thousands of vulnerabilities in 2024, but only a handful in core – the rest were in themes and plugins.  

WordPress security holes tend to follow certain patterns. Cross-site scripting (XSS) makes up almost half of vulnerabilities, which let attackers add harmful scripts. Broken access control, which lets people who shouldn’t be able to use certain functions, is also very impactful. SQL injection directly attacks your database, while cross-site request forgery (CSRF) tricks users into doing things they don’t want to do.  

Attackers use reconnaissance patterns. They list usernames, look for known plugin security holes, and use brute force to test weak passwords. Automated bots do this work by trying millions of different password combinations. Wordfence blocks milliongs of attacks daily across its network. 

It’s not a question of whether WordPress is safe; it’s a question of whether your WordPress site is safe. Default settings don’t fill in all the gaps. Old plugins leave backdoors open. Attacks are more likely to happen with weak passwords. You have to use the tools that WordPress gives you. 

Set up your foundation before you start going through the checklist. When built on solid ground, security measures only work. 

Pick a host that cares about security. Your provider oversees the server environment and a lot of the places where you could be attacked. Look for things like automatic malware scanning, firewalls at the server level, DDoS protection, and backups that happen on a regular basis. Managed WordPress hosts often have hardened settings and proactive monitoring that stop threats before they get to your site. 

Make sure you’re using PHP versions that are still supported. Hackers often take advantage of known weaknesses in old versions of PHP. PHP 8.0+ offers suitable performance and security. PHP-FPM improves both speed and security by isolating processes and reducing the risk of one compromised script affecting others. 

SSL/TLS certificates are non-negotiable. HTTPS encrypts data sent between your server and visitors, keeping login information, form submissions, and payment information safe from being stolen. Most hosts offer free SSL certificates through Let’s Encrypt, so there’s no reason not to do this step. Sites that don’t use HTTPS also get lower search rankings and show security warnings in browsers. 

Get secure admin access from the start. Change your username right away if you still use “admin.” Make sure that every account – hosting, WordPress admin, database, and FTP – has a strong, unique password. Use a password manager to make and keep passwords that are impossible to guess or break with brute force. 

Before anything else, set up scheduled automatic backups. When things go wrong, daily backups stored off-site give you options for recovery. Check your backups from time to time to make sure they really work. If a backup fails during recovery, it’s worse than not having one at all because it makes you think you can trust it. 

These requirements will tell you if your security measures can handle stress. If you get them right, you start off strong. 

This WordPress security checklist includes steps that stop the most common attacks and give the best results for the least amount of work. 

Outdated software is the biggest security risk on most WordPress sites. When developers discover vulnerabilities and release patches, attackers study those patches to understand what broke, then scan for vulnerable sites. You’re racing automated exploit tools. 

WordPress core updates fall into three categories: major releases, minor updates, and security releases. WordPress automatically installs minor and security updates by default – one of the best WordPress security tips you can follow. Major releases need manual approval, but don’t delay them.

Plugin updates need more attention. Plugins account for nearly all vulnerabilities, and roughly a third remain unpatched. Check weekly at minimum and, when updates appear, read the changelogs. Apply security patches immediately, even if you normally test in staging first.

WordPress theme updates follow the same logic. Outdated theme code contains exploitable vulnerabilities. Premium themes from reputable developers receive regular updates, but free themes – especially those not updated in over a year – should be replaced. 

Set reminders for Monday mornings to check your dashboard for updates. Install security updates right away. If you can, test major versions in staging. Without staging, make a backup, update during times of low traffic, and check that everything works afterwards.  

Get rid of plugins you don’t use. Every plugin that isn’t being used is code that could have security holes. Not using it? Get rid of it. The same goes for themes: keep your active theme and maybe one backup, and get rid of the rest.  

The goal is to keep a tight, up-to-date codebase where every part has a purpose and gets security updates. That makes it harder for attackers to get in. 

Weak passwords are still the main reason WordPress sites get hacked. Attackers keep lists of billions of stolen login information from data breaches all over the web. They then use automated tools to test those login information on WordPress sites. If you use the same password for more than one service, your site could be hacked if one of those services’ databases leaks. 

A strong password is more than just long; it’s also random and one-of-a-kind. At least 16 characters, including uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, make up a strong password. No dictionary words, personal information, or patterns that are easy to guess. You never use it anywhere else, which is the most important thing. 

Your WordPress admin account is the first thing you should look at. It has full control over your site. Use a password manager like 1Password, Bitwarden, or LastPass to make and secure a random password. These tools make passwords that are almost impossible to guess and keep them safe so you don’t have to remember them. 

Next, check out every account on your site. Go to Users in your WordPress dashboard and look over the list. Do you have old accounts from contractors who don’t work for you anymore? Get rid of them. Are people still using weak passwords? Make a password reset happen. WordPress includes a strength meter, but enforcing strong-password policies usually requires a security plugin or SSO policy. 

Don’t just use WordPress. All of your site’s third-party services, hosting account, database user, and FTP credentials need strong, unique passwords. An attacker can get direct access to your file system if they get into your FTP account, which bypasses all of your WordPress-level security measures. If your database password is weak, all of your site’s data, including user information and content, is at risk. 

The first step in learning how to secure a WordPress site is to assume that passwords will be hacked. When you learn how to secure a WordPress website, you need to protect all the ways people can get in, not just the dashboard login. The weakest link in WordPress security could be your admin password, hosting credentials, or database access. Password managers make this method easier by automatically creating and storing complicated passwords. 

To make your WordPress site safer, you need to assume that hackers will go after passwords. Make them strong enough so that attacks don’t work. 

Phishing, keyloggers, and database breaches can all get around even the strongest passwords. WordPress 2FA (two-factor authentication) is now a must-have. When 2FA is turned on, a stolen password alone can’t get into admin accounts.

Two-factor authentication needs two different types of identification: something you know (like a password) and something you have (like a phone, hardware key, or authentication app). After entering the right password, users type in a code from Google Authenticator, Authy, or Microsoft Authenticator that is only valid for a short time. Every 30 seconds, these codes change, so they are useless if they are intercepted.

How to secure a WordPress login with 2FA? It’s easy to enable. Set up your plugin, turn it on, and set policies based on user role. For example, require two-factor authentication for administrators and editors but make it optional for subscribers. Before enforcing it, give users a little extra time.

Users set up WordPress 2FA by scanning a QR code with their authenticator app from their profile settings. The plugin makes backup codes so you can get into your device if you lose it. If you lose your phone and don’t have backup codes, you can’t get to the site.

For sites that are very important, think about using hardware security keys like YubiKey. These physical devices offer stronger phishing-resistant authentication than app-based TOTP.

Two-factor authentication is the best way to stop people from logging in without permission. Adding that second factor makes your login security much stronger.

By default, WordPress lets you try to log in as many times as you want. Attackers use automated scripts to test thousands of username-password pairs every minute. Brute force attacks keep going until they work or your server crashes if there is no rate limiting. Thankfully, the question of how to secure WordPress login is answered quickly and easily.

Limiting login attempts stops brute force by blocking IPs for a short time after a certain number of failed logins. Set sensible thresholds (e.g., a short lockout after several failures) and monitor false positives. 

Many security plugins like Wordfence come with built-in login protection. Go to the plugin settings and turn on “limit login attempts” or “brute force protection.” Set the threshold (usually 3-5 failed attempts) and the length of time the account will be locked out (15-60 minutes at first, longer for repeat offenders). 

If you don’t have a full security plugin, you can use WordPress Limit Login Attempts Reloaded or WP Limit Login Attempts. These small tools keep track of failed logins by IP and temporarily block them. It only takes two minutes to set up, and it stops attacks right away, lowering the server load. Check your logs from time to time to find attackers who keep coming back and add them to permanent blocklists. 

CAPTCHA is an extra layer. Google reCAPTCHA v3 works in the background, scoring users based on their behavior and only stopping traffic that looks suspicious. You can add it with Advanced noCaptcha & Invisible Captcha or your security plugin. This stops fully automated bots from trying to log in. Another way is to change the URL you use to log in from /wp-login.php to something else. You can change the name of the page with plugins like WPS Hide Login. This won’t stop determined attackers, but it will stop a lot of automated scans that are looking for the default path. 

Use rate limiting, CAPTCHA, and custom login URLs together to get rid of most of the brute force traffic. Users who are real won’t notice the change. Don’t set the limits too low. Three tries is fine for high-security sites, but five to ten might be better for sites where users sometimes type in the wrong password. To protect a WordPress login, you need to put up several barriers. WordPress limit login attempts tools turn your login page from an easy target into a strong barrier that wastes attackers’ time and money.

Not everyone needs to be an admin and have that kind of access. WordPress user roles tell accounts what they can do, and WordPress security best practices say that accounts should only have the permissions they need.

There are five default roles in WordPress: Administrators (who have full control), Editors (who manage and publish content), Authors (who write and publish their own posts), Contributors (who write posts that need approval), and Subscribers (who manage profiles and read content).

Least privilege means giving the least amount of access that is needed. If someone just needs to write blog posts, give them the title of Author. Contributor is enough if they send in drafts for review. Site owners and developers should have one or two people as their Reserve Administrator.

When hackers get into an account, they get all of its permissions. If you crack a Contributor account, they can send spam. If someone cracks an Administrator account, they can install backdoor plugins, add malware, make new admin accounts, and lock you out. Damage gets worse when account permissions are compromised.

Check your list of users often. Go to Users and remove any users who no longer work for you. Give anyone who doesn’t need higher permissions a lower level.

Enforcing least-privilege user roles only takes ten minutes, but it saves weeks of work after a breach. It’s one of the easiest and most useful security tips for WordPress.

HTTP sites send passwords, session cookies, and form data in plain text. HTTPS encrypts that traffic, so anyone who tries to read the connections between your server and visitors won’t be able to.

There is no way around WordPress SSL. Google may be lowering the search rankings of sites that don’t use HTTPS, and browsers show security warnings that scare people away. If you don’t use HTTPS, anyone on the same network (like coffee shop WiFi, corporate networks, or hacked routers) can get your login information and take over your sessions.

Most hosting companies give away free SSL certificates through Let’s Encrypt. To install the certificate at the hosting level, go to the SSL/Security section of your control panel (cPanel, Plesk, or your host’s dashboard) and create a certificate for your domain. This will take five minutes.

Set up WordPress to use HTTPS after you install it. To change “WordPress Address (URL)” and “Site Address (URL)” from http:// to https://, log into your WordPress admin panel and go to Settings > General. Make changes and save.

Next, make sure that all traffic goes through HTTPS. This will automatically send visitors who use old HTTP URLs to the secure version. You can set this up in the redirect settings of your hosting control panel, or you can use a plugin like Really Simple SSL that does it for you. Just install and turn it on – the plugin will find your certificate and take care of redirects on its own.

Lastly, make SSL required just for your admin area. Enforce HTTPS site-wide via your host or redirects. This makes sure that your sensitive data and login information stay encrypted while they are being sent.

Check the setup by going to your site as a visitor who isn’t logged in and making sure that all pages go to HTTPS. Log in to wp-admin and check that the secure connection is working.

Your database credentials and authentication keys are stored in the wp-config.php file. If hackers get into this file, they can read your database password and pretend to be any user. Hardening WordPress means protecting this file above all else.

If your hosting setup allows it, put wp-config.php in a directory above your WordPress root. WordPress checks the parent directory on its own, which stops direct URL access even if your server doesn’t set permissions correctly. Use SFTP to get to your server and make this change.

Next, securing WordPress means making sure that only the owner can read wp-config.php by setting strict file permissions. The file manager in your hosting control panel lets you set permissions to the most limited level possible.

Authentication keys and salts protect cookies and sessions by encrypting them. WordPress makes default keys when you install it, but changing them often makes things safer by ending old sessions. Go to the WordPress salt generator online to make new keys. Then, in wp-config.php, change the values that go with those keys. Rotating these keys logs out all users on the site, which means that everyone has to log in again and stolen session cookies are no longer valid. As part of keeping WordPress safe, do this every 6 to 12 months.

Hardening WordPress through wp-config.php takes 15 minutes and protects the single most sensitive file in your installation. It makes it harder for attackers to get in by adding strong hosting security and file permissions.

File permissions decide who can read, write, and run files on your server. If permissions are set up wrong, attackers can upload harmful scripts, change important files, or read sensitive configuration data. Correct WordPress permissions stop whole types of attacks at the filesystem level.

WordPress directories need permissions that let the owner manage files but not let other people modify them. Individual files need even stricter permissions – readable by the owner but not writable by anyone else. Some poorly coded plugins may ask you to set permissions to the most permissive level, but you should never do that because it creates gaping security holes.

Your uploads directory needs special care. It needs to be able to write so WordPress can save media, but it shouldn’t allow PHP execution. People who want to attack a WordPress site often try to upload PHP files that look like images. You can stop this by using the file manager or security plugin settings in your hosting control panel to stop PHP from running in the uploads folder. This makes malware that has been uploaded useless.

Make sure that the .htaccess file in your main WordPress directory has the right permissions and hasn’t been changed. Attackers sometimes change this file to make backdoors or send traffic to other places. Check who owns the files as well; files should be owned by the appropriate account for your hosting model; avoid writable-by-webserver ownership unless required. If the wrong user owns the files, get in touch with your host to fix the problem.

File permission scanners that automatically find misconfigurations are built into security plugins like Wordfence and iThemes Security. After setting permissions, run these scans to make sure everything is right.

Correct WordPress permissions keep hackers from changing core files, adding backdoors, or uploading malware that can run. When used with other security measures, they protect the filesystem level, which is where many attacks start.

Your hosting environment is in charge of things like server settings, firewalls, PHP versions, and backups. No matter how carefully you set up WordPress, weak hosting leaves you open to attack. WordPress hosting security is not an option; it is the base on which everything else stands.

Managed WordPress hosting companies make security a part of their infrastructure. They secure the WordPress site by catching threats before they reach WordPress, automatically updating PHP to patched versions, keeping an eye out for malware and intrusions, and offering free SSL certificates and daily backups. This cuts down on a lot of manual work.

Look for firewalls at the server level that block known attack patterns and bot traffic at the network edge, stopping bad traffic before it gets to your site. Automatic malware scanning finds infections early on. DDoS protection stops traffic floods that are trying to crash your server. Isolated environments keep attacks on nearby sites from affecting yours, which is very important for shared hosting.

Make sure that your host is using the most recent versions of PHP. PHP 8.0 or higher makes things a lot safer and runs faster. If you host PHP 5.6 or older, you are at risk of known vulnerabilities that can be exploited in public.

Make sure that your host backs up your data automatically every day and stores it off-site. These should be full-site backups of your files and database, kept in a different place than your main server. If hackers get into your account, backups on the same server will be deleted. You can always get your data back with off-site backups.

If you currently use shared hosting, you might want to upgrade to a VPS (Virtual Private Server) or managed WordPress hosting. With shared hosting, a single server hosts dozens or even hundreds of sites. If one gets hacked, attackers may move on to other targets. VPS keeps your environment separate, and managed WordPress hosting adds security monitoring that is specific to WordPress.

WordPress website security extends to your hosting control panel. If your host offers it, use strong, unique passwords and turn on two-factor authentication. When you can, only allow known IP addresses to access files.

Security for WordPress sites starts at the server level. Pick a hosting company that sees security as a necessary part of its business, not just an extra. Find out more about Contabo’s WordPress VPS plans for secure, performance-optimized WordPress VPS hosting. 

Security plugins put all of the protection, monitoring, and hardening features in one place. A web application firewall (WAF) stops bad traffic from getting to WordPress by automatically blocking exploit attempts, bot attacks, and requests that look suspicious.

What is the best WordPress security plugin? It depends on what you need. Wordfence Security is still very popular, with more than 5 million installations. Its WAF checks requests for harmful payloads and stops known attack patterns. The malware scanner compares core files, themes, and plugins to the official versions on WordPress.org to find any changes that weren’t made by the owner.

The cloud-based WAF from Sucuri Security sits between visitors and your server and filters traffic at the network edge before it gets to your site. This lowers the load on the server and keeps DDoS floods from happening. Additionally, Sucuri offers services for cleaning up after a hack and getting rid of malware. The downside is that all traffic goes through their servers, and you have to pay for full WAF.

MalCare’s main focus is on finding malware automatically and cleaning it up with just one click, without needing to do anything else. It runs on servers outside of the site, which makes it less busy. It’s a great choice for site owners who want protection without slowing down their site.

Jetpack Security bundles practical protection features like brute force attack prevention, downtime monitoring, and spam filtering. Depending on your plan, it can also include automated backups and malware scanning. It’s easy to set up and integrates smoothly with WordPress.com, but the free version comes with limited features and storage.

Which security plugin is best for WordPress? Pick based on what matters most to you: Wordfence has a lot of features, MalCare is easy to use and clean up, Sucuri helps you recover from a hack and protects you from DDoS attacks, and Jetpack has built-in backups and is easy to set up.

To install the plugin you want, go to Plugins, find the plugin by name, and then activate it. Most of them come with setup wizards. Turn on the WAF, set up login protection, schedule regular malware scans, and turn on email alerts for important events like plugin installations and admin logins.

Be careful when you set up WAF rules. Most threats are blocked by default settings, but real traffic is allowed through. However, false positives can happen. If visitors say they can’t get in, look at the firewall logs and add legitimate requests to the whitelist if you need to.

Check the dashboards of your security plugins once a week to see if there are any blocked attacks, failed logins, or changes to files. Most show graphs of attack traffic over time, which can help you understand the threats you face.

Don’t stack multiple all-in-one security plugins. Use one primary suite, then add targeted tools only when necessary.

A WordPress security plugin or WAF stops thousands of automated probes and attempts to exploit your site every day. They turn reactive security into proactive defense, stopping threats before they can do any damage.

Once you’ve implemented the core checklist, think about using these advanced hardening methods to make your WordPress site even safer.

Turn off XML-RPC unless you really need it. The xmlrpc.php file lets people connect to WordPress from afar, but hackers use it to launch brute force attacks and DDoS attacks. Most of the time, modern WordPress doesn’t need XML-RPC. You can turn it off in the settings of your security plugin or by blocking access to the file through your hosting control panel.

Stop editing files from the WordPress dashboard. This stops attackers who get into an admin account from using the theme or plugin editors to add harmful code. You can permanently turn off these editors by adding one line to your wp-config.php file. You can still use your hosting control panel’s file manager or FTP to update themes and plugins.

When you first set up your database, change the default prefix from wp_ to something else. This is security through obscurity. It doesn’t stop SQL injection if your code has holes, but it does stop automated attacks that try to use default table names. You should only change this during installation. Changing it on sites that are already up and running is dangerous without the right backup and knowledge.

Use Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to decide what resources browsers will load and run on your pages. By limiting inline scripts and defining trusted sources for JavaScript, CSS, fonts, and images, CSP stops a lot of cross-site scripting attacks. You can set up CSP through the security settings in your hosting control panel or through a security plugin.

Turn off directory browsing so that hackers can’t see what’s in directories that don’t have index files. This keeps them from finding out how files are organized and finding possible targets. You can turn on this setting in your hosting control panel or security plugin.

Before putting updates into production, test them in a staging environment. A lot of hosts have one-click staging sites that copy your live site. First, test plugin updates, theme changes, and WordPress core updates in staging. This will help you find compatibility problems before they break your live site.

These advanced methods add layers of protection that catch threats that get past the main defenses. You don’t need all of them on every site, but knowing what your options are lets you customize WordPress security to fit your specific needs.

Security isn’t something you set up once; it’s something you keep an eye on, respond to threats, and make your defenses stronger based on what you learn. To know WordPress security best practices, you need to use both technical controls and constant monitoring.

Set up activity logging to keep track of what happens on your site. Plugins like Jetpack and WP Activity Log keep track of user logins, changes to content, new plugin installations, and administrative actions. Set up alerts for risky actions like creating new admin accounts, installing plugins, and spikes in failed logins. These logs help find suspicious activity early and give investigators a way to keep track of what happened.

Keep an eye on failed login attempts as early warning signs. When there are sudden spikes, it means that brute force attacks are happening. Check the logs once a week to see how attacks are happening and to find attackers who keep coming back from certain IP ranges. To keep your WordPress login safe, you need to keep an eye on it all the time, along with your rate-limiting and 2FA protections.

Set up uptime monitoring to find out when your site goes down unexpectedly. UptimeRobot and other services ping your site every few minutes and let you know right away if it goes down. Downtime could mean that an attack was successful, an account was hacked, or a DDoS attack is still going on.

Before you need it, make an incident response plan:

• Triage: Check logs for malware and figuring out how bad the damage is. What has been compromised? Are hackers getting into admin accounts? Scan right away.
• Containment: If you need to, take the site offline. Change all of your passwords, including those for WordPress, your hosting account, your database, and your FTP. Immediately turn off or delete any accounts that have been hacked. 
• Investigation: Review logs to find out how the attack happened. Was it an old plugin? Password that was brute-forced? Knowing where to enter stops things from happening again. 
• Cleanup: Use security plugins to get rid of malware and close backdoors if necessary. If the infection is widespread, restore from clean backups.
• Recovery: Get the site back up and running, test it thoroughly, and keep an eye on it for a few days to make sure the attackers haven’t stuck around.
• Lessons Learned: Write down what happened and change your WordPress security best practices based on what you learned. 

Set up test restorations in staging environments every three months to check your backups. Set a timer so you know how long it takes to recover. Make sure you can easily find records of your settings, plugin versions, and recovery steps in the future.

Keep up with new threats. Sign up for security newsletters from Wordfence, Sucuri, or the WordPress security team. If a major vulnerability is revealed, check to see if your site is affected and fix it right away.

As part of your WordPress hardening routine, plan to do security audits every three months. Check user accounts, delete any plugins and themes that aren’t being used, make sure file permissions are correct, change passwords, and look for software that is out of date. Ongoing WordPress protection and hardening practices turn security from a checklist into regular maintenance.

Planning for incidents and making things better all the time make you more resilient, so when something goes wrong, you can get back on your feet quickly with as little damage as possible. This discipline in hardening and securing WordPress makes sure that WordPress security tips stay useful for the entire life of your site.

What is WordPress security? 

WordPress security includes steps to keep websites safe from hackers, malware, data breaches, and service interruptions. It means keeping software up to date, using strong authentication, setting up secure permissions, choosing hardened hosting, and looking for threats. Effective security works in layers. No one measure can fully protect a site, but a combination of defenses makes it harder for attackers to get in. 

Is WordPress secure? 

The WordPress core is built with security in mind and gets regular updates. But plugins and themes, which are where 96% of vulnerabilities happen, can be risky depending on how well they are coded and maintained. How you set up your site, what extensions you add, how quickly you update, and where you host it all affect how safe it is. Sites that are well-maintained and follow good practices are very safe. Sites that are not well-maintained and use old plugins are not safe. 

How to improve WordPress website security? 

To get started, make sure your core, themes, and plugins are up to date; use strong, unique passwords with two-factor authentication; limit login attempts; enforce least-privilege user roles; enable HTTPS; harden wp-config.php; set the right file permissions; choose secure hosting; and install trusted security plugins or a WAF. In addition to the basics, turn off features you don’t use, set up monitoring and alerts, keep backups off-site, and make plans for how to respond to incidents. Layered defenses make security better by making up for any weaknesses in each measure. 

What is the best WordPress security plugin? 

It depends on what you need to find the best plugin. Wordfence has a lot of features, such as WAF, malware scanning, and real-time threat intelligence. Sucuri offers WAF and post-hack cleanup services that are hosted in the cloud. MalCare is great at finding malware automatically and cleaning it up with just one click, with little effect on performance. Jetpack Security makes things easy by combining backups, monitoring downtime, and brute force protection. Pick the one that best meets your needs: Wordfence for a lot of features, Jetpack for ease of use, MalCare for automated cleanup, or Sucuri for professional support. 

How to harden WordPress site security? 

Hardening means adding extra layers of protection on top of the usual settings. Put wp-config.php above the web root and give it limited access. If you don’t need to edit files in the dashboard or XML-RPC, turn off that feature. Use security headers like CSP and X-Frame-Options. Turn off directory browsing. Use the least amount of privilege for user roles. Turn on audit logging. Create staging areas where you can test updates. For defense-in-depth protection, use these advanced techniques along with the basic checklist, which includes updates, strong passwords, two-factor authentication (2FA), HTTPS, security plugins, and secure hosting. 

It’s not hard to keep WordPress safe, but it does take time. Most breaches take advantage of simple flaws, like old plugins, weak passwords, and default settings. This guide talks about those weaknesses and gives you useful steps you can take right away.

Secure hosting, up-to-date PHP versions, SSL certificates, and reliable backups are all important parts of the foundation. Then put into action the ten core practices: updating software, requiring strong passwords with two-factor authentication, limiting login attempts, applying least-privilege user roles, enabling HTTPS, hardening wp-config.php, setting correct file permissions, securing your hosting environment, and deploying security plugins or a web application firewall (WAF).

Add advanced hardening techniques to these where your risk profile calls for them, and set up monitoring systems to find threats early. Make plans for how to respond to incidents before they happen, and test backups often to make sure they work.

Making your site harder to hack than the thousands of other targets attackers look at every day is what security is all about. If you follow these steps carefully, your WordPress site will go from being an easy target to one that attackers skip over.

How to secure WordPress comes down to consistent practices and informed decisions. When you do your quarterly security audits, use this guide as a reference. Remember that spending time on security now will save you from terrible problems later.

If you want hosting that includes security features like server-level firewalls, automatic malware scanning, optimized configurations, and daily backups, check out Contabo’s WordPress VPS hosting options that are made for both security and performance.