[FAQ]

Hi everyone,

I have a WordPress website for my business, and lately, I’ve been getting more worried about security and the risk of being hacked. I want to make sure my site is as safe as possible in 2025.

What are the most important and practical steps I should take to improve my website’s security? I’m hoping for some advice on things like plugins, passwords, updates, and any other best practices that are easy enough for a non-expert to implement.

Any advice would be a big help, so my site will be safe. Thanks!

[Jeff Bullas]

Securing your WordPress website from potential threats is a critical and ongoing process. It involves implementing several layers of protection rather than relying on a single solution.

First, and arguably most importantly, you must keep everything on your site updated. This includes the WordPress core software itself, as well as all of your installed themes and plugins. Outdated software is one of the most common vulnerabilities exploited by hackers, as software updates frequently contain essential security patches.

Second, you need to enforce strong and unique passwords for all user accounts, especially for anyone with an administrator role. A password manager is an excellent tool for creating and storing complex passwords. It is also good practice to enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for your login page. This adds a crucial second layer of security, requiring a time-sensitive code from your phone or an app in addition to your password.

Third, you should install a reputable security plugin. Well-regarded plugins such as Wordfence, Sucuri Security, or Solid Security (formerly iThemes Security) provide a suite of protective features. These often include a web application firewall (WAF) to block malicious traffic, malware scanning to check your site’s files, and login attempt limiting to prevent brute-force attacks.

Fourth, your choice of web hosting provider is a foundational part of your security. A quality host will have its own security measures in place at the server level, including firewalls and malware detection, which protect your site before threats can even reach WordPress itself.

Fifth, it is wise to limit login attempts. This feature, included in most security plugins, will temporarily lock out a user or IP address after a set number of failed login attempts, which is a primary defence against brute-force guessing attacks.

Sixth, be diligent with user roles and permissions. Do not grant administrator access to anyone who does not absolutely require it. Assign users the most appropriate role with the minimum level of permissions necessary for them to perform their tasks, such as ‘Editor’ or ‘Author’ instead of ‘Administrator’.

And seventh, you must have a system for regularly backing up your website. While this will not prevent your site from being compromised, having recent and reliable backups stored in a secure, off-site location is your safety net. It means that if the worst does happen, you have a way to restore your site quickly.

A strong security posture for a WordPress site is achieved through this combination of regular updates, strict access controls, a reliable security plugin, and a good hosting and backup plan. These proactive steps are essential for protecting your online presence.

Cheers,

Jeff

[Author]

Posts