How to secure your WordPress site from Hackers

How to secure your WordPress site from Hackers

Let’s face it, there’s no site which is un-hackable. With bigger organizations like CIA and Sony becoming victims of hackers, the smaller websites like yours and mine too are equally vulnerable, if not more. I had, every now and then, heard about someone’s WordPress site being hacked. I had also encountered such hacked sites personally no fewer than half a dozen times. More so in the recent years!

WordPress hacked

No doubt hackers are getting smarter these days what with hacking information easily available over the internet. Thus, it is essential that we web owners and developers, should take steps to protect our WordPress sites from those with malicious intentions.

Why do hackers hack?
They hacked for various reasons ranging from stealing personal information to storing illicit material to credit card fault.

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Symptoms of Hacked Sites

WordPress is one of the most powerful content management system (CMS) applications around with built-in security system. However, this is not a guarantee that your site would not be hacked!

Because WordPress is a common CMS and is open source, its site architecture is available to everyone, including hackers. Thus, if your site is not properly secured, it takes only a few steps to uncover your username and password. Some symptoms of a hacked site are:

  1. Malicious software being installed and downloaded into your visitors’ computers
  2. Strange coding or error messages in the control panel or on your website
  3. Search results of your website shows a different title and description
  4. Search results to your website being redirected to another website
  5. Spam comments and links

Hacked website

So, how do you hacker-proof your WordPress site? Fortunately, there are actions that you can take to reduce your risk of being hacked. We have some tips below.

WordPress Firewall plugin

You can start with installing a firewall plugin like the WordPress Firewall 2. This firewall plugin will investigate your website’s web requests (including your own) and would block out the most obvious attacks that include SQL/other codes injection and executable file uploads.

This is one of the best WordPress plugins to enhance the security of your website. Download and install it today!

Keep WordPress and Plugins Updated

Hackers are constantly trying to figure out where loopholes are. Good thing the WordPress team is also constantly upgrading their scripts to fix bugs and potential security loopholes. It is recommended that you upgrade your WordPress website with the latest WordPress version whenever any updated versions are released.

The same goes for your plugins and themes. Get the latest versions. This way, you lessen the chances of being targeted by hackers.

Limit Login Attempts

By default, WordPress do not limit the number of failed login attempts. This can work against you since hackers usually take more than a couple of tries to guess your password. By installing plugins like Limit Login Attempts, you are able to limit failed logins and that these users are locked out for a specific period.

While you are at it, do change your login username. The default login username is “admin” and many do not bother to change it. Hackers are aware of this and take full advantage of it. You can change your login username in your admin control panel by setting a new user account and allocating it with administrator functions.

Check Your Hosting Provider’s Security Protocol

A common marketing phrase by hosting providers is the “your security is our priority” line. Don’t fall for that without doing your own researches. If you found lots of customers’ complaints about how their sites were hacked or the numerous times the hosting provider’s servers were hacked, then it should ring some alarm bells in your head.

Speak to your web host’s customer support and find out what their security protocol are. If the support staff is unable to give you much detail, chances are there weren’t much security in the first place. If so, then you may want to consider an alternative web hosting provider.

Backup Frequently

I am sure you’ve heard of this advice asking you to backup your database and files before. And how not to rely on your web hosting company to do this for you.

But do you do backups frequently? If you don’t, do consider starting now. Up-to-date backups allow for quick restoration of your website should you be hacked.


Millions of websites had been compromised so I do hope that you will take the above steps to secure your website or blog before it becomes a victim too. Though it takes a little more effort now but better be safe than sorry, right?

Once again, please take my security tips above and secure your website now! If you have any other WordPress security tips to add, please share with us in the comment section below.

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