Last updated on July 7th, 2024 at 10:47 am
Avoid these 6 WordPress security mistakes to help protect your WordPress site from security threats!
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WordPress Security Tips: Common WordPress Security Mistakes to Avoid
WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems, but unfortunately, it also makes a tempting target for hackers. To protect your site and your data, you need to make sure you’re aware of some of the common WordPress security mistakes that people make – and how to avoid them. So let’s take a look at the most common WordPress security mistakes, and how to avoid them.
Not Updating Plugins & Themes
If there’s one thing you take from this article, it’s that the large majority of WordPress hacks can be traced directly back to outdated themes and plugins. This isn’t an opinion, it’s a fact.
Outdated themes and plugins are vulnerable to security breaches and can provide easy access points for hackers. Therefore, it is crucial for website owners to regularly update their themes and plugins to ensure the highest level of security and protect their websites from potential attacks.
By staying proactive and keeping software up to date, website owners can significantly reduce the risk of being hacked and maintain the integrity of their WordPress sites.
Unsecured Login Details
One of the most common WordPress security mistakes is failing to secure your login details. This includes both your username and password, as well as any third-party authentication methods you might be using. Make sure your username and password are secure, and that you use two-factor authentication (2FA) to add an extra layer of security to your logins.
Another way to secure your login details is to restrict login attempts. This will help to prevent hackers from using brute-force attacks to guess your password. You can also use a secure SSL connection to make sure your login details are encrypted and secure.
Finally, make sure your login details are never shared with anyone, and that you update them regularly. This will help to protect your WordPress site from malicious attacks.
You can use a security plugin such as Wordfence to add 2FA to your website and restrict login attempts.
Using Unofficial or Nulled Plugins and Themes
Another one of the most common WordPress security mistakes is buying or obtaining plugins & themes from someone other than the official developer. Known as nulled plugins or themes, these are usually premium products that are redistributed by 3rd parties at deep discounts. However, using these unauthorized versions can pose significant risks to your website’s security.
Nulled plugins and themes may contain malicious code or vulnerabilities that can compromise your website’s integrity. It is essential to only download and install plugins and themes from trusted sources, such as the official WordPress repository or reputable developers. By doing so, you can ensure that you are using legitimate and secure software, minimizing the chances of exposing your website to potential threats.
Taking this precautionary measure will help safeguard your website and maintain its overall security.
Unprotected File Permissions
Another common WordPress security mistake is failing to protect your file permissions. File permissions control who has access to certain files on your WordPress site, so it’s important to make sure they are set correctly.
To set your file permissions correctly, you’ll need to use an FTP client to connect to your server and make the necessary changes. This might seem daunting at first, but it’s actually quite straightforward once you get the hang of it.
You should also make sure that you’re regularly checking your file permissions to make sure they are still set correctly. This will help to ensure your WordPress site remains secure.
Weak Passwords
8% of WordPress website hacks are caused by weak passwords.
Using weak passwords is another common WordPress security mistake. It’s important to make sure your passwords are strong and difficult to guess. This will help to protect your WordPress site from malicious attacks.
To make sure your passwords are secure, try to use a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. You should also make sure your passwords are long and unique, so that hackers won’t be able to guess them easily.
Finally, make sure you’re using different passwords for different accounts. This will help to protect your data and make sure your WordPress site remains secure.
Leaving Debug Mode On
Leaving debug mode on is another WordPress security mistake. Debug mode is a feature that enables developers to debug their code, but it can also be exploited by hackers to gain access to your WordPress site.
To avoid this, make sure you turn debug mode off when you’re finished debugging your code. This will help to make sure your WordPress site is secure.
Final Thoughts
These are some of the most common WordPress security mistakes that people make. By taking the time to understand these potential security risks and taking steps to protect your WordPress site, you can make sure your data is safe and secure. So make sure you’re aware of these common WordPress security mistakes, and that you’re taking steps to prevent them from happening.
FAQs
Sharif Jameel is a business owner, IT professional, runner, & musician. His professional certifications include CASP, Sec+, Net+, MCSA, & ITIL and others. He’s also the guitar player for the Baltimore-based cover bands, Liquifaction and Minority Report.
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