Tips and tricks to help secure your WordPress website:
Keep WordPress Updated: Regularly update your WordPress installation, themes, and plugins to the latest versions. This helps patch security vulnerabilities and ensures you have the latest security enhancements.
Use Strong and Unique Passwords: Choose strong, complex passwords for your WordPress admin account and all user accounts. Avoid using common or easily guessable passwords. Additionally, consider implementing two-factor authentication (2FA) for an extra layer of security.
Limit Login Attempts: Install a plugin that limits the number of login attempts, such as Loginizer or Wordfence. This protects against brute force attacks by blocking IP addresses after a certain number of failed login attempts.
Disable File Editing: Prevent unauthorized changes to your website's files by adding the following line to your wp-config.php file:
define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true);<br>This disables the file editing functionality within the WordPress dashboard.
Use Secure Hosting: Choose a reputable hosting provider that emphasizes security and keeps their server software up to date. Look for hosting environments that offer features like firewalls, regular backups, and malware scanning.
Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF): Consider using a WAF plugin or a cloud-based WAF service to protect your website from common security threats and other malicious attacks.
Secure the wp-config.php File: Move the wp-config.php file, which contains sensitive information, to a higher-level directory than the default location. Update the file permissions to restrict access to it:
chmod 600 wp-config.php<br>
Use HTTPS: Enable an SSL certificate and use HTTPS for your WordPress website. This encrypts the data transferred between the user's browser and your website, enhancing security and protecting sensitive information.
Regular Backups: Perform regular backups of your website's files and database. This allows you to restore your website to a known secure state in case of a security breach or data loss.
Use Trusted Themes and Plugins: Only install themes and plugins from reputable sources, and regularly review and update them. Remove any unused themes or plugins to minimize potential security risks.
Limit User Privileges: Assign user roles and permissions appropriately. Avoid giving unnecessary administrative access to users who don't require it. Use the principle of least privilege, giving users the minimal permissions needed for their specific tasks.
Monitor and Scan for Malware: Install a security plugin to regularly scan your website for malware, suspicious files, or vulnerabilities. This helps detect and mitigate potential security issues.
Hide WordPress Version: Remove the WordPress version number from your website's source code to avoid disclosing potentially outdated software. Add the following code to your theme's functions.php file:
add_filter('the_generator', 'remove_version');