Securing a website is extremely important because an open source script is prone to attack from different sources. Bu t in most instances, observations reveal that hacking of websites has something to do with the carelessness of the website owners. Usually, because of the fault of the user, the website gets hacked. To avoid all this, the website owner needs to adopt certain responsibilities.
The important things that you need to know to save your website from getting hacked are as follows:-
Securing the login page is important as this often is beneficial in preventing brute force attacks. The standard Word Press login page URL is common to most Word Press users. The backend of the website is accessed using the login page URL and it is because of which there are enough reasons why brute force website hacking’s can occur. Securing the website often involves customizing the login page URL, and also the page’s interaction.
There are some additional methods of securing the login page that are discussed as follows:-
15 Basic Tips to Protect Wordpress Website from Hackers
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Set up Website Lock-down and Ban Users
Secure a website by setting up website lockdown, subsequently banning users. Sometime, hackers use user id or passwords in an attempt to log in. If the login attempts are unsuccessful then the presence of a lockdown feature can solve a huge issue. This prevents repeated brute force attempts. The hacking attempt with wrong password combinations locks a website notifying the website owner of any unauthorized activity. The iThemes Security plugin is popular software which allows the website owner to specify the number of unsuccessful login attempts after which the plug-in automatically blocks or bans the hacker’s IP address.
2. Use 2-factor Authentication
The two factor authentication at the entry page is another way to boost security. Also known as the 2FA, in this method of authentication the user provides the login details for two different components. It is up to the website owner to decide upon the type of components to be used. Regular passwords followed by a secret question, a secret set of characters, a secret code are some of the components used for authentication purpose.
3. Use email as login
By default username is required for logging in purpose. But for more secured login, an email ID instead of a user name is required. User names should not be considered as a safe login approach as they are easy to predict, email ids are not. Smaller email id is used to create WordPress user account so that a valid identifier logs in into the WordPress website. The WP Email Login plugin has smart features. It starts working as soon as it is activated without any configuration.
4. Rename the login URL
If hackers know the login page URL then they try to hack the website forcefully. They try to log in guessing user names, passwords combinations. As a website owner, you can continuously replace the login URL then you can avoid 99% of the forceful attacks. The iThemes Security plugin is important software that helps to change the login URL you can also use HC Custom WP-Admin URL wordpress plugin.
5. Adjust the Passwords
It is important to do password adjustments. Changing the password on a regular basis is important to ensure website security. In this context, it can be said that password strength can be enhanced by adding upper and lowercase letters, special case characters and numbers.
6. Protect the Wp-admin Directory
The wp-admin directory is important in any WordPress website. Therefore, it becomes absolutely important on the part of the website user to ensure that the website security does not get breached. There are ways to enhance website security. Password-protecting the wp-admin directory is an option. This security measure allows the user to access the dashboard by submitting more than one password usually two, one that protecting the login page, the other for the WordPress admin area. The AskApache Password Protect plugin is useful software used to secure the admin area.
7. SSL Usage to Encrypt Data
The SSL or the Secure Socket Layer certificate implementation is a good move to boost the security of the admin panel. The use of SSL ensures secured transferring of data between the user browsers and the server. This makes it a difficult job for the hackers. Procuring an SSL certificate for the WordPress website is not that difficult. A website owner can purchase it from some dedicated companies. Alternatively, the website owner can ask the web hosting firm about one. A proper choice of the SSL certificate affects the website’s rankings at the Google. This implies more website traffic, more business.
8. Add User Accounts With Care
Those who run a WordPress blog or multi-author blog, they require dealing with more than one individuals accessing the admin panel. And this practice can make them vulnerable to security threats. Pluggins like the Force Strong passwords helps to boost safety and security to the WordPress websites. The website users require adding the user accounts with care.
9. Change the Username of Admin
During the installation of WordPress, “admin” as the username and other easy to guess names should be avoided in totality so that hacking can be prevented. The iThemes Security plugins can stop such attempts by banning the IP address that attempts to log in with the username.
10. Monitor Your Files
For extra security, the website Wordpress Security plugins like Acunetix WP Security, iThemes Security, Wordfence prove to be useful.
11. Change The Prefix of WordPress Database Table
The WordPress website requires the WordPress database at the backend. The WordPress database uses the wp- table prefix and it is advised to change it to something unique. Once having installed the WordPress website, the use of suitable plugins can change the prefix. Plugins like the iThemes security or the WP-DBManager aid you change the table prefix at the click of the button.
12. Back up Web Site on a Regular Basis
The website can be secure but still there is always room for making it better. It is therefore recommended to keep a backup of the website. With the backup, the WordPress website can be restored to a working state whenever you like. Often best wordpress security plugins are helpful in this regard. As a premium solution, the VaultPress by Automattic is a good option. For more information on the relevant plugins and related software, browse online.
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Setting Strong Database Passwords is Important
Giving a strong password for the main database is important for the overall security. To set the password, it is useful to use uppercase and lowercase along with special characters, numbers.
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Ensure That the wp-config.php File is Protected
The wp-config.php file holds important information pertaining to the installation of the WordPress. The file is hailed as the most significant one and is placed in the website’s root directory. File protection is the core of the WordPress blog. If the wp-config.php file is not accessible to the hackers then it is difficult for them to breach the security of the website. By taking the wp-config.php file to an elevated level than the root directory, the website’s security can be boosted. If the file is stored elsewhere then how does the web server have access to it? The WordPress architecture is such that the configuration file settings are set at the top priority list. Therefore, despite the file is stored one fold above the root directory, WordPress still sees it.
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Disallow Editing of Files
If the WordPress website user has admin access then that individual can access the dashboard, edit the files. Disallowing editing of the files resolves the issues. But in many instances it has been observed that even after disallowing file editing, despite a hacker’s obtaining admin access to WordPress dashboard they are not able to modify the files.
Final Words
If you are the owner of a WordPress website then going through the content is helpful in boosting the security of the website. There are many other related articles and blogs that you can browse online in order to enhance the security of your WordPress website. It is important to understand that better the security, difficult it is for the hacker to hack into. With respect to the WordPress, it is pertinent to say that it is one of the CMS or content management tools. Besides the WordPress, there are available, Magento, Drupal which are equally popular among the users. To comprehend the security aspect of the various websites made using the CMS tools, the users require visiting suitable links available on the web. The hackers use different strategies, often involving password combinations to enter websites, check website information. But the use of appropriate security features aid to keep website secure.
