Here are security measures to protect your WordPress website from attacks:
1. Login Security
- Use strong passwords: Combine uppercase, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
- Limit login attempts: Use plugins like Limit Login Attempts Reloaded.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Use plugins like Google Authenticator or Wordfence.
- Change the login URL: Use plugins like WPS Hide Login to modify the default
/wp-login.php
path.
2. Regular Updates
- Update WordPress, themes, and plugins: Ensure you use the latest versions.
- Remove unused plugins: Unnecessary plugins can be security vulnerabilities.
3. Protect Configuration Files and Access Permissions
- Secure the
wp-config.php
file: Move it out of the root directory or set appropriate permissions. - Set correct file permissions: Use
644
for files and755
for directories. - Disable file editing from WordPress Admin: Add the following line to the
wp-config.php
define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true);
4. Regular Backups
- Use plugins like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy for regular backups.
5. Database Security
- Change the default table prefix: Use a custom prefix instead of
wp_
. - Use a strong password for MySQL: Ensure the database password is hard to guess.
6. Enable HTTPS (SSL)
- Use SSL certificates to encrypt the connection between users and the server.
7. Prevent Brute Force and DDoS Attacks
- Use Web Application Firewalls (WAF) like Cloudflare or plugins like Wordfence.
- Restrict IP access: Block or limit unwanted IP access through the
.htaccess
file.
8. Security Monitoring
- Use tools like Sucuri Security or Wordfence to detect malware and monitor suspicious activities.
9. Hide WordPress Version
- Remove version information from the source code by adding this to
functions.php
remove_action('wp_head', 'wp_generator');
10. Use Secure Hosting Providers
- Choose hosting services that offer built-in security features like automatic backups, attack monitoring, and DDoS protection.
By applying these methods, you can significantly enhance the security of your WordPress website.