We all heard about WordPress latest security issues, critical vulnerabilities that could allow a hacker to modify the content of any post or page on your WordPress website. The latest version 4.7.2 was released to patch this security flaw and it seems things are now back to normal.
But, this event reminded everyone how important is to secure their WordPress website. So, things like ensuring that you are running the latest version of the software and keeping an eye on the latest security alerts are extremely important. Here are a few simple steps you have to take to secure your WordPress website.
Update, update, update. Never forget to update your WordPress website, no matter how unimportant you think the latest release is. Most of the time, WordPress developers release an update to fix a bug and have extremely important security patches. So, don’t hesitate to update your WordPress website regularly. If you want to find out all about the latest updates, check the WordPress News page.
Choose the best security plugin. There are lots of plugins that can protect your WordPress website, like WordFence or All In One WP Security & Firewall. These plugins include a firewall and can protect your website from malware and hacks.
Or the best firewall plugins. A firewall protects your website from hackers, checking all incoming traffic and blocking the malicious requests even before hitting your website. These kind pf plugins will also diminish the number of requests that you receive, making your loading website speed up so that your users can access it any time.
Try the two-factor authentication method. Yes, these days you can also set up a two-factor authentication for your WorPress website. How it works? Well, you’ll receive a one-time code through an app on your phone every time you sign in to your WordPress website. By choosing to secure your website this way, your login details will be protected against virtual threats. The most used plugins are Google Authenticator or Clef.
Don’t forget to backup your website. This step is quite necessary in case your WordPress website gets corrupted. Keeping a backup somewhere it can be the best solution no matter what it happens. This way, you can always restore your WordPress website to a working state any time you want. There are many plugins you can choose from, like VaultPress, a solution that backups your website every 30 minutes.
Choose the best hosting provider for your website. Security experts reported that 41% of WordPress websites were hacked due to a security vulnerability on the host itself. So, be careful which hosting provider you choose. In case you think a shared hosting plan is the right solution for you, then make sure your plan includes account isolation. This feature prevents someone else’s website on the server from affecting yours in any way. Moreover, a great hosting provider should also include a WP firewall, up-to-date PHP and MySQL, regular malware scanning, daily backups and customer service team that knows everything about the WordPress platform.