The most popular open-source CMS, WordPress has amazingly evolved as a web development tool from a blogging tool. It is eulogized for its various resourceful features that help proficiently manage a website. And, its best feature is that a WP site can be managed efficiently not only by those who possess technical skills, but anyone can handle it. The availability of truckloads of plugins and themes in the WP repository further adds to its credibility and make it stand ahead of its competitors.
Indubitably, WP offers a plethora of benefits, but one should not take a WP website security issue lightly. Most of us doesn’t consider a site security issue as sincerely as it should be ideally done, as we don’t want spend an extra penny on securing our sites. However, loopholes in a site’s security can ruin all your efforts and may end up losing your business. Therefore, to help provide effective and profitable tips that will allow one to secure his WP site without spending even a single penny, here is an invaluable guide. Let’s ponder into it.
1. Getting an absolute web host service is paramount
The web host service is quite essential in embracing an invaluable security to a website content. There are different types of web host services and numerous service providers out there. Thus, it is imperative to choose a secure option and improve the security of your site.
Shared servers are quite risky, as a site with shared servers will become more prone to security issues. However, investing in VPS could be an expensive choice and it might be possible that traffic which your site is generating doesn’t need such advanced features. Therefore, it is recommended to thoroughly research and invest in a suitable choice. Shared server with limited websites is a viable option. However, if you have enough budget, VPS makes a favorable choice.
2. Don’t procrastinate creating powerful passwords
One of the most essential steps for keeping hackers away from your site is to build a strong password that is hard to decipher. You can overhaul your password by considering the following key points.
- It must be at least 10 characters long.
- It must include alphabets in both lowercase and uppercase, digits and also special characters.
- Don’t set password as password123. This is the most common guess and thus, can be easily cracked.
- You can also check whether your password is strong enough or not, by using tools like Microsoft Password Checker.
3. Tweak the username and keep it something other than “admin”
In WordPress, the username is admin by default. Since, it is a default name, hackers can easily crack it. Therefore, hacking a website with a default username is an easy pie for expert hackers. This is why, it is advisable to change the default username and set a different name.
If the account with “admin” as username is the only account at administrator-level, you will need to create another user account with some suitable password (other than “admin”) and then delete the requisite account. This is because, WP needs at least one account to ensure that the administrative functions for a site can be handled conveniently.
4. Keep your WP core updated
The WordPress updates are released to offer advanced features, superior functions, bug fixes or enhanced security. If you want to get rid of the security holes, it is advisable to keep your WP site up-to-the-minute with all the latest updates.
As, the latest updates are expected to further add to the credibility of your WordPress, there is no reason to avoid them.
Many WP users are afraid that upgrading to the latest version could impact their site performance like it might hamper a plugin’s functionality or an active theme. But, the fact is that there is an equal probability that when a hacker will tinker with your WP site, your theme or other functionalities will certainly get interrupted.
It is advisable to every WP user to consider the patches for better security and functionalities, and keep your site updated with the latest updates.
5. Restrict access to other folders
There are several web hosts that by default facilitate people to access a folder when a default index.html file is missing. For the WP plugins folder and alike, it can be a great security concern. If you want to keep the prying eyes at bay, you can insert blank index.html files. Another alternative is to configure an htaccess file that can help prevent access to the folders that doesn’t exhibit indexes.
With the ever evolving web security threats, it is imperative for web hosting services and WordPress owners to make strives for a more secure and robust platform that can prevent malware vulnerabilities and secure websites from hackers.
You may consider the aforementioned tips and make your WP site more secure.
