User “admin” with administrator privileges

This security test checks whether a WordPress user named admin has the Administrator role. That username is the first one many brute-force scripts try.

Why it matters

Attackers already know half of the credentials if the username is admin. Use a unique administrator username and a strong password (and 2FA when available).

How to run the test

1. Open WP Security Ninja → Security Tests.
2. Run the test named like “Check if user with username ‘admin’ and administrator privileges exists.”
3. If it fails, create a new administrator with a unique username, transfer content if needed, then delete or demote the admin account.

How to fix it

1. Log in as an administrator.
2. Go to Users → Add New and create a new Administrator with a non-guessable username.
3. Log out, then log in as the new user.
4. Go to Users, edit the old admin user, and either delete it (assigning content to the new user) or change its role so it is no longer an Administrator.
5. Re-run the security test to confirm it passes.

Pro users may see a one-click fix for related issues on the Fixes page when available.

Related

• Block “admin” login attempts (Pro login protection)
• Two-factor authentication