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A Comprehensive Guide to Securing a WordPress Website: Prepare Your Site

05/12/2023

In this guide, you will discover how to secure your WordPress website in a comprehensive and thorough manner. We will provide you with guidelines and tips that will help you protect your website and prevent attacks from attackers. Before we begin, it is important to make sure that the website hosting provides secure protection, we will notice how to choose safe and strong passwords, we will get to know the reliable and up-to-date plugins that should be installed, we will think about updating and improving the version of WordPress, we will focus on creating a dictionary of possible weaknesses and risks, we will choose secure plugins, we will learn how to manage access and permissions, and we will think about continuous backup and data recovery.

WordPress website hosting with secure security

Before we start talking about website security, it’s important to make sure your hosting provides secure protection for your WordPress site. We’ll share important information and provide you with guidance to help you review your website hosting and ensure it’s secure.

Key points:

  • Choosing a secure web hosting service is an important part of website security.
  • Make sure the server provides advanced security like SSL and Snippet.
  • Check out hosting plans that specialize in WordPress security
  • Make sure you have continuous backups and disaster recovery options.
  • Install the website on a protected server and open a 24/7 chat with the provider.
WordPress website security
WordPress website security

 

Choosing safe and strong passwords

One of the most important things in website security is choosing safe and strong passwords. We will provide you with tips and recommendations on options for creating secure and accessible passwords to promote your website.

Key points:

  • Use long, complex passwords.
  • Don’t use suspicious or simple passwords.
  • Use a password management tool like password managers
  • Update your passwords regularly.
  • Only share secure passwords with site staff.

Choosing safe and strong passwords is the cornerstone of website security and it is recommended to give it maximum permission.

WordPress website hosting with secure security

Before we start talking about website security, it is important to make sure that your hosting provides secure protection for your WordPress website. Secure hosting is an essential element for carrying out all the steps of website security with certainty and in the best possible way. Although there are many options for hosting a WordPress website, there are a few important points to consider.

The following details provide a valuable resource for all WordPress website owners:

  • Checking the storage software: Make sure that the storage software you use starts with a comprehensive security review and includes personal control.
  • SSL Security Certificate: Make sure the company providing you with hosting provides a free or reasonably priced SSL certificate.
  • Support for backup and data recovery: Make sure that the hosting provides a tool for performing continuous and easy-to-operate backups, and that you have the option to recover data in the event of a failure or loss of data to the site.

With secure WordPress hosting, you can enjoy peace of mind and focus on upgrading your site and the next steps of security. This is the foundation that will keep your images transparent and clean, protect your sensitive information, and prevent unauthorized access.

WordPress website security
WordPress website security

To get the most secure hosting protection for your WordPress site, we recommend choosing a friendly company that will provide you with the necessary tools and support the security process with confidence.

Choosing safe and strong passwords

One of the most important things in website security is choosing strong, secure passwords. A strong password is key to advanced protection of your information and call-to-actions on your website. Here are some tips and recommendations for creating secure passwords:

1. Password length:

The password should be long enough to thwart a potential hacking attempt. It is recommended to use a password of at least 8 characters.

2. Combining special characters:

The rule is to include a special character (like #, @, or !), an uppercase and lowercase letter, and numbers in your password. For example, “P@$$w0rd!”.

3. Uncertainty:

It is recommended not to use personal information such as full names, dates of birth, or phone numbers in your password. Also, do not include public or popular information such as advertising names or famous albums.

4. Frequent update:

It is recommended to change your password frequently, especially after exposure to danger or after a very short time since changing the previous password. To link the new and old passwords, you can change some of the characters or use a fixed pattern.

InsightsRecommendations
A strong password is key to advanced protection of information and actions on the site.Use a password of at least 8 characters.
Shilmov special characters increases the level of password securityCreate special labels, numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters
Password update mechanism can prevent security issuesChange your password frequently after a threat or at regular intervals.

You should remember that a strong password is just the beginning of securing your website. It’s always a good idea to incorporate additional solutions, such as two-step verification, login attempt limits, and suspicious detection systems, to create more comprehensive security.

 

 

Installing reliable and up-to-date plugins

Installing reliable and up-to-date plugins is an integral part of securing your website. Unlike open-source plugins, plugins are the result of active development and ongoing support from professional developers. When you install a plugin, it is important to make sure that the plugin is updated to the latest version to ensure its health and security. In addition, a plugin that is regularly developed and patched ensures innovation and accurate handling of any possible malfunction or loophole.

To review and choose reliable and up-to-date plugins, consider the following cases:

  • License and active community: Check the plugin’s license and make sure the community around it is active and provides support and quick response.
  • Rating and Reviews: Check the plugin’s rating and read reviews from previous users of the plugin to understand its experiences and features.
  • Compatibility and suitability: Make sure the plugin is compatible with the version of WordPress you are working with and that it matches your site type and needs.
  • Support and updates: Be sure to take into account the time lag between WordPress updates and plugin updates, as well as the support and response they provide.

Additionally, there are tools and plugins that will help you test the plugin you want to install. For example, plugins that provide updates and alerts about vulnerabilities in the plugin installed on the site, as well as tools for checking compatibility and support from the plugin developers.

Updating and improving the WordPress version

Updating and improving your WordPress version is an essential part of securing your website. So what’s so special and important about updating the version? By updating to the latest version of WordPress, you not only get new features and technological improvements, but also fixes for vulnerabilities and vulnerabilities that were exposed in the previous version. With each new version, WordPress developers focus on improving security and fixing vulnerabilities in the system to protect users.

Updating the version may include automatic fixes for security vulnerabilities, which can prevent attacks and intrusion into the site. Therefore, updating the version is a key step in securing the site. In addition, updating the version may include improvements to the site’s display and appearance, updates to the platform itself, and the addition of new features that improve the system’s performance and accessibility.

To update correctly, it is a good idea to make a full backup of your site and data before updating. After that, you can update the version directly from your WordPress dashboard. Make sure that immediately after the update there is a signature event in your version control systems that the change was successful.

tipDescription
Check plugin compatibilityMake sure the plugin you choose supports the latest version of WordPress. If a plugin is not updated regularly, you may experience compatibility and performance issues.
Secure the updateMake sure you have a full backup of your site before installing the update. This will help you restore your data in case of an update problem.
Check the site after the update.After the update, check that the site is working properly and that the new version of WordPress has affected it without any problems. In case of problems or failures, you can restore the previous state from the backup you made.

Security Tricks

Often, advanced attackers try to exploit vulnerabilities in older versions of WordPress and its plugins. When you stop updating your version, you open the door to attackers looking for vulnerabilities. Therefore, to ensure the security of your site, it is important to update regularly and not neglect the maintenance of the version.

Initial updates to the new version can be particularly important and may include fixes for security vulnerabilities found in the previous version.

Additionally, the version update may include improvements in the ability to detect vulnerabilities in the site and plugins. The vulnerability detection and repair process also explains how the vulnerability is fixed. In general, you should update when possible, and if it is possible to update the new version automatically, enter the setting for automatic version update.

Creating a dictionary of possible weaknesses and risks

To best secure your WordPress site, it’s important to create a vulnerability dictionary. This dictionary is an important tool that will help you identify weak points on your site and prepare for potential risks in advance. With the vulnerability dictionary, you can analyze and decipher the security status of your site and understand which areas may be more vulnerable to risks.

Preparing a vulnerability dictionary is done by thoroughly inspecting the website and running comprehensive security tests. During the tests, information should be gathered about the website’s security vulnerabilities, installing useful plugins, using the latest version of WordPress, and any other issues related to the website’s security. The vulnerability dictionary should include any possible risks, both coordinated and uncoordinated, that could leave the website vulnerable to risk or access to sensitive information.

Possible riskHow to cope
Password weaknessesChanging a strong and secure password regularly and using tools to create complex passwords
Misleading or harmful additivesChecking the reviews and ratings of the plugins and choosing reliable plugins that have been recently updated
Weaknesses in approaches and permissionsQuestionable access and permission management and assigning permissions only to authorized users

Once the vulnerability dictionary is ready, it is important to decipher the information and decide what security measures should be taken based on it. You can schedule testing and update times, make a wise choice of plugins, and invest in performing continuous backups and data recovery. With the help of the vulnerability dictionary and the appropriate solutions, you can ensure that your website security focuses on the main weak points and is adapted to the potential risks that occur in your field of activity.

 

In this section, we learned how to create a dictionary of possible vulnerabilities and risks as part of the WordPress website security process . We recommend that you emphasize selecting the risks that are appropriate for your field of activity and focus on original solutions for them. Combined with the additional security steps in the guide, you can ensure that your website is secure and functions reliably and safely.

Using security plugins to secure the site

To strengthen your website’s security, you can use security plugins that provide advanced security capabilities and include extensions for optimal security. Security plugins include a variety of options to protect your website from potential attacks and vulnerabilities. Here are some recommended plugins:

  1. Wordfence Security A leading security plugin that offers advanced real-time protection against attacks, deep scanning, blocking malicious IP addresses, and more.
  2. Jetpack – A powerful plugin that provides advanced security, continuous backup, two-step verification, and the inclusion of high levels of security.
  3. Sucuri Security – A plugin that allows for advanced scanning, blocking malicious IPs, real-time monitoring, and protecting the site from attacks.

In addition to using secure plugins, it’s important to update them regularly to get the latest features and improvements to your website’s security. Up-to-date plugins ensure that they include patches for security vulnerabilities and are constantly monitored for additional vulnerabilities.

The importance of using safe additives

Using security plugins is one of the most important steps to secure your website. Plugins provide the most advanced tools and capabilities to protect your site from malicious requests and attacks. They enable early detection of vulnerabilities and immediate alerts on suspicious requests, allowing you to quickly defend yourself and respond to attackers.

AdditiveAdvantages
Wordfence SecurityAdvanced protection, vulnerability scanning, malicious IP blocking
JetpackTwo-step verification, continuous scanning, continuous backup
Sucuri SecurityReal-time monitoring, advanced scanning, malicious IP blocking

Recommendations for the use of safe additives

When choosing a security plugin for your website, we recommend considering the advanced features and capabilities the plugin offers. The importance of support and continuous updates of the plugin are also key factors in making the right choice. In addition, it is worth checking the plugin’s rating and user reviews for an informed choice.

Access and permissions management

Managing access and permissions is an important part of securing your website. When multiple users access your website, you need to ensure that each user is set up with the correct access and permissions, while taking care to prevent access to unwanted materials and information.

With WordPress, you can define, manage, and customize the access and permissions for users on your site. Through the WordPress control panel, you can create users with various permission levels, from system administrator to regular users. Each level of user can only access a certain part of the site’s content and work only with its permissions. This is especially important when you have multiple authors and editors, whose access needs to be filtered and managed in order to maintain maximum control and security of the site.

Custom and correct permissions provide us with a more protected set of security on the site. By giving each user the correct access, we can prevent malicious, misuse or any unwanted action on the site. The risk of requests for access to materials or to an unwanted level is reduced and control is maintained in our hands. Through the WordPress team, we can determine the correct access and permissions for each user and check the acceptable actions according to the permissions and settings we have set.

Table 8: Managing Access and Permissions in WordPress

UsernamePermission level
adminSystem administrator
editoreditor
authorauthor
contributordonor
subscribersubscription

This table shows examples of the permission levels that can be set in WordPress. Each permission level relates to specific tasks and actions on the site, and can be more or less comprehensive, depending on your needs. Choosing the right permission level for each user ensures efficient and secure use of your WordPress site.

Continuous backup and data recovery

Continuous backup and recovery of data is an important part of securing your website. Without them, you may be bombarded with attacks that can cause serious damage. Therefore, it is important to avoid losing data and be prepared to recover it in the event of a failure or attack.

To perform continuous backup, you can use advanced tools and plugins that are used to create automatic backups for your website. You should plan the backups according to the frequency of site updates and keep the backups complete and accessible.

Additionally, it is important to review the processes for recovering data if necessary. When recovering, ensure that the data is returned accurately and that no damage has been done to the site’s infrastructure. This can include recovering databases, content, media, and various files.

The continuous backup phaseStage description
Choosing a continuous backup toolSelecting and installing a backup tool that includes automatic and flexible backups for the frequency of site updates.
Backup frequency planningPlanning and maintaining continuous backups according to the frequency of site updates and the size of the information.
Data recovery testTesting and verifying the recovery and data recovery processes in the event of a failure or attack.

To ensure backup and recovery performance, it is important to regularly review processes and update tools to the latest versions. Additionally, testing and isolation should be performed to verify the ability to accurately recover data.

conclusion

During the WordPress website security guide, we learned about the great importance of website security. We covered important topics such as secure storage, choosing strong passwords, installing up-to-date plugins, updating and improving the WordPress version, creating a vulnerability dictionary, using secure plugins, managing access and permissions, and continuous backup and recovery.

Without a doubt, these are important values ​​that must be adhered to in order to improve the security of your WordPress-based website. With the tips and recommendations we have provided in the guide, you can protect your website and prevent potential attacks from attackers.

We hope this guide will help you address your website’s security challenges and take the most informed approach to preventing potential attack opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I secure my WordPress website?

We recommend taking several important steps to secure your WordPress site. First, make sure your site is secured with secure hosting. In addition, choose strong and secure passwords, install reliable and up-to-date plugins, and always update your WordPress version. It is also recommended to create a dictionary of possible vulnerabilities and risks and use security plugins to secure your site.

How do I choose secure and strong passwords?

Choosing strong, secure passwords is an important part of securing your website. Try to use long, complex passwords that include uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. It’s also important not to use easy passwords like dates of birth or personal backgrounds. And just as importantly, try to use different passwords for each system or service you sign up for.

How can I ensure that the plugins on my site are reliable and up-to-date?

When installing plugins on your WordPress site, it is important to review and choose plugins correctly. Look for plugins from trusted sources and check their demand and usage. It is recommended to use tools that will help you receive updates and alerts about vulnerabilities in the plugin installed on the site.

What is the advantage of updating and improving the version of WordPress?

Updating and improving your WordPress version is essential in securing your website. Each new version brings updates and fixes to security vulnerabilities in the software. It is recommended to update correctly and download information and plugins according to the latest version of WordPress.

What is a dictionary of possible weaknesses and risks and how might I create one?

A dictionary of vulnerabilities and potential risks is one of the most important things in securing your website. To create a dictionary of vulnerabilities, you need to identify potential weaknesses on your website and prevent attacks from attackers. You can fill the dictionary with information about known vulnerabilities in popular systems and keep up to date with news and information about attacks on social networks.

What security plugins can I use on my website?

To strengthen your website’s security, you can use security plugins that provide advanced security capabilities and include extensions for optimal security. We recommend using plugins like Wordfence Security, Sucuri Security, and iThemes Security, and choose their intelligent use according to your personal needs.

How can I manage access and permissions on my WordPress site?

To manage proper access and permissions for users on your WordPress site and prevent access to unwanted content, you should follow detailed guidelines. You can set permissions for each user and limit their access to certain parts of the site. It is also important to grant appropriate permissions to site administrators and only allow access to unwanted content with their consent.

What are the recommendations for continuous backup and data recovery?

Continuous backup and recovery of information are an important part of securing your website. It is recommended to perform continuous backups and restore information in the event of a malfunction or unauthorized access to the website. You can work with an automatic backup tool that will help you keep your important information and restore it easily and quickly.