5 Ways to Protect Your WordPress Website (plus one bonus tip!)
WordPress is a popular platform for website development and hosting. It is open-source software that is free to download and use. WordPress is also very user-friendly, which makes it a good choice for people who are new to website development. However, because WordPress is so popular, it is also a target for hackers.
If you are running a WordPress website, it is important to take steps to protect your site from being hacked. Here are five ways to do that:
1. Keep your WordPress version up-to-date
One of the best ways to protect your WordPress website is to keep your software up to date. WordPress releases new updates on a regular basis, and these updates include security patches that help to protect your site from being hacked. If you have not done it in a while, update now.
2. Keep your plugins up-to-date
As a result of the number of plugins that can be used to operate a site and the developers of these plugins sometimes lose interest in maintaining them, these can be exploits bad actors can use to insert malicious code onto your website. If you notice a plugin has not been updated in a while, you may want to rethink if you should replace that plugin for something that offers the same capability but is regularly updated.
3. Use strong passwords
Another way to protect your WordPress website is to use strong passwords. Hackers often use brute force methods to try to guess passwords, so using a strong password is one of the best ways to keep your site safe. A strong password should be at least 8 characters long and should include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
4. Use a security and malware scanner plugin
There are many different security plugins available for WordPress, and using one is a great way to protect your site. These plugins help to secure your site in various ways, such as by blocking IP addresses that are known to be associated with hackers. Additionally, there are a number of malware scanners you can use to run scans on your website to determine if you have any malicious code injected that may cause an issue for your website and visitors.
5. Use two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication is a security measure that requires two pieces of information in order to log in to a site. The first piece of information is your username and password, and the second piece is usually a code that is sent to your phone or email address. This code changes every time you log in, so it is very difficult for hackers to access your site if they don’t have your phone or email.
One bonus tip, backing up your data is another important way to protect your website. If your site is hacked or you lose your data for any other reason, having a backup will allow you to restore your site quickly and easily. There are many different ways to back up your data, so choose the method that best meets your needs.
By following these tips, you can help to protect your WordPress website from being hacked. Don’t take chances with your site’s security – take action to secure it today.
If you’re interested in testing your site’s security use you can get a free scan of your website emailed to you for free.
