How Can You Improve The Security Of A WordPress Site?

• By Sarah
• General News
• 1553 Views
• 20th May 2022

WordPress is one of the most accessible and multi-functional content management systems (CMS) out there. In fact, it is estimated that around 39% of all sites on the internet are powered by WordPress, which equates to literally hundreds of millions. There are over 54,000 plug-ins available, which accounts for its popularity with users worldwide.

WordPress is open-source, which means that it appeals to everyone from the most amateur blogger, to digital experts who are able to build highly functional and flexible websites from tried and tested software. However, one of the downsides of open-source software is that it is more vulnerable to security breaches.

Therefore, unless you hire an expert white label WordPress agency to build the site for you, you need to be extra vigilant when it comes to the security of your site. Cyberattacks are on the rise; according to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the UK experienced a record number of scams and cyber attacks during 2021.

In particular, there has been a sharp increase in so called ransomware attacks. This happens when a malicious actor identifies vulnerabilities in an organisation’s digital estate, or tricks an employee into clicking on an infected link. Malware is then used to encrypt sensitive data, such as client’s bank account details and other sensitive information.

The attacker demands a ransom in return for unencrypting the data, which businesses often see no alternative but to pay. Besides being financially devastating, a ransomware attack compromises the reputation of the business. Even if the ransom is paid, the risk of identity theft, data leaks and loss of customer trust remains.

Because WordPress is open-source and also ubiquitous on the web, its sites are a frequent target for cyberattacks. This is not to say that WordPress is inherently insecure, or that there is any flaw in the security updates.

It is simply that the nature of the open-source software means that the more plug-ins a WordPress site has, the more vulnerable it is going to be. So, what can you do about it? The most important step is to have secure login procedures. This means have a strong password that is not easily guessable, and is not saved onto your computer.

Set up two-factor authentication so that all users have to verify their identity with a second source, such as a mobile phone. Make sure that none of your user account names are ‘admin’, as this makes easy pickings for hackers. Cap the number of attempts a user can make to login; your hosting service may already do this, so double check.

Enable the auto-logout function, or add to plug-in to set one up if you don’t already have one. When choosing a hosting service, take your time to review their security procedures, and what plans they have in place should a breach occur.

Finally, make sure that you review and update the latest WordPress security releases regularly, including for all of your plug-ins. You can install security plugins to do this for you, but of course, these should be chosen very carefully to make sure they are legitimate.