WordPress Security Guide: Essential Tips to Protect Your WordPress Site from Hackers in 2025

Every 22 minutes, a hacker strikes. Is your WordPress site their next target?

One of the most famous content management systems (CMS) in the world, WordPress powers more than 43% of all websites. As popular as WordPress is, there is a big problem with it: hackers love to target the best WordPress sites.

More shortcomings in this popular open-source nature platform’s security result in malware attacks and data theft because cybercriminals are always coming up with new ways to take advantage of weaknesses. Sometimes, these attacks are so bad that they ruin small companies and people’s reputations.

Considering the growing dangers, using good website security methods is no longer a choice—it’s a must. To keep your WordPress site safe, you need a mix of proactive steps, reliable tools, and continuous monitoring. The WP Security Ninja plugin is a good option because it protects your website from malware and offers site hardening, issue response, and malware scanning.

This guide will provide step-by-step solutions to protect your WordPress website from hackers. By the end of this article, you’ll have a good idea of WordPress security and the best ways to keep your site safe.

WordPress Security Guide

Why WordPress Security Should Be a Priority

Widespread adoption means greater risk. Because so many people use WordPress, hackers often try to break into it. According to a study from Sucuri, 90% of CMS-based websites hacked in 2022 were run on WordPress. Because the platform is open source, developers can create thousands of apps and themes to improve its functionality.
This freedom, however, can lead to security holes and make your site vulnerable if these add-ons aren’t kept up to date.

Common Ways for Hackers Attack

Hackers get into WordPress sites in several different ways, including:

  • Brute Force Attacks: Bots are programmed to do nothing to guess your account and password combinations.
  • Phishing: Phishing is when hackers use fake emails or websites to get WordPress users to share their login details like username and password.
  • SQL Injections: Hackers often target flaws in a website’s database to get private data through SQL injections.
  • Malware Infections: Harmful scripts are added to your site, which can redirect users or steal data.

Decisive security steps can make it much less likely that you will be attacked this way. Tools like WP Security Ninja can help you find security holes, scan your site for malware, and make it more attack-resistant and secure logins.

WordPress Security Guide: Essential Steps to Secure Your Website

Every great WordPress site starts with strong security. Let’s discuss a simple WordPress security checklist to help keep your site safe from malware and other risks.

1. Keep WordPress Core, Themes, and Plugins Updated

Hackers most often get in through WordPress versions, themes, and plugins that are too old. 52% of flaws, according to WPScan, are caused by obsolete software. Hackers actively look for sites that are still using older versions to exploit security issues.

Importance of Updates

Regular updates are essential because:

  • Patch security vulnerabilities: When developers make updates, they fix security holes that hackers can use in older versions. This helps to identify and enhance the site security.
  • Fix bugs and make things run faster: Updates make things run more smoothly and lower the chance of mistakes or crashes.
  • Improve security features: New changes often come with extra tools and enhancements that make websites safer.

Cybercriminals who use automated bots to find old software will be more likely to attack your site, assuming you don’t make regular changes.

Managing Updates Safely

To make sure that your changes go through without any problems:

  • Turn on Automatic Updates: To update the core, themes, and plugins automatically, use a tool that comes with WordPress. Automatic WordPress updates lower the chance of missing something.
  • Test on a Staging Site: Use a staging site to test changes safely before placing them on the live site. A staging site is a copy of the actual website. This helps avoid problems that might arise with consistency.
  • Use a Security Plugin: Use security plugins like WP Security Ninja to conduct regular audits. These plugins help look for old parts and find risks. These tools let you know when changes are due and show you what needs your attention.

By keeping up with changes, you eliminate one of the most common holes hackers use to get into your site and ensure it stays safe from new threats.

2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

The two-factor authentication (2FA) tool is an important security measure that makes logging into WordPress even safer. Hackers cannot get into your account without a second form of proof, even if they get your password. This makes it much harder for people who aren’t supposed to be there to get in, which makes your WordPress site much safer overall.

How 2FA Works

When 2FA is turned on, you must enter your password and an extra security code to log in to your WordPress account. This code can be sent to your phone via SMS or a login app like Authy or Google Authenticator. This extra verification step ensures that only you or someone who can reach a device you trust can log in.

2FA Plugins We Recommend

You can use some reliable WordPress plugins to set up 2FA correctly. The following are some of the best choices:

  • Google Authenticator is a popular choice that is easy to use.
  • WP 2FA: This makes the 2FA process more manageable while keeping things safe.
  • Duo Two-Factor Authentication: It has improved security features to make things safer.

By turning on 2FA, you protect your site from brute force attacks, stolen passwords, and people who aren’t supposed to be there. This gives you and your users peace of mind.

3. Install a Security Plugin

A security plugin is essential to any WordPress site because it protects against malware, brute force attacks, and other standard security holes. A good security plugin is your first line of defense against the growing number of online threats that target websites.

It keeps your data and user information safe. Generally, a WordPress security plugin helps to safeguard your site.

Why do you need a security measure?

There are many benefits to installing a security plugin, such as:

  • Scanning for Malware and Security Breach: Looks for dangerous scripts, malware, or changes not made by the owner.
  • Real-time monitoring: Keep an eye on your site to see if anyone is trying to hack it or doing something strange.
  • Firewall protection: It stops hackers from getting into your site by blocking harmful traffic.

Key Features of WP Security Ninja

WP Security Ninja is one of the best WordPress security plugins because it is easy to use and has many valuable features. Some essential features are:

  • Malware Scanning: Finds and removes dangerous scripts to keep your site clean from any security risk.
  • Firewall Blocks: Setting up a firewall blocks unwanted or harmful traffic by putting up obstacles such that hackers
  • Vulnerability Detection: Finding weak spots in plugins, themes, or settings that hackers could use is what vulnerability detection does.

Using a reputable WordPress security tool like WP Security Ninja to automate essential security steps and find vulnerabilities early can help you keep your WordPress website safe. Take action today to ensure security and protect your website—don’t leave it open to attacks.

4. Implement SSL Encryption

Setting up SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption is necessary to keep your website and its guests safe. The data your WordPress site and its users send and receive is encrypted by an SSL certificate. This keeps private and sensitive data like passwords, credit card numbers, and personal details safe.

Benefits of SSL for Protecting Against Eavesdropping Attacks

  • Protection from Eavesdropping Attacks: SSL encrypts data transfers, which means hackers can’t get to or steal private data.
  • Improves SEO results: Search engines like Google give higher results to safe websites. Using SSL can help you stand out from the competition.
  • Increases Trust: The padlock icon in the address bar of a visitor’s browser tells them that the site is safe, which increases user trust.

How to Install SSL 

  • Get an SSL Certificate for free: Many browsers accept free SSL certificates that you can get from sites like Let’s Encrypt.
  • Use the hosting provider’s SSL tools: Many WordPress hosts have SSL installation tools that simplify the process.
  • Verifying HTTPS Implementation: Make sure that your website uses HTTPS instead of HTTP by changing the settings and ensuring all links and files load safely.

Adding SSL encryption to your website makes it safer for people to browse and also boosts its credibility and SEO performance.

Best Practices to Protect Key WordPress Files and Directories

Securing WordPress files and folders is essential to keep your website safe and secure. Hackers often use files and folders that aren’t correctly protected to get into your site or get in without permission. Here are some ways to protect these vital files and folders.

Restrict File Permissions

Incorrect file permissions can let hackers change key files or upload malware, which make your WordPress website vulnerable. Strictly limiting file permissions ensures that only the right people can see and modify files.

Recommended File Permissions: Give 644 to all files. For security reasons, this makes sure that only the owner can change files and not the web server.
Settings for directories: Give 755 access to directors. It lets the web server access folders while limiting write access that isn’t needed.

Resources for Checking Permissions

Secure plugins like iThemes Security can be used to check, change, and watch file permissions. You can use these tools to check your website for wrong permissions and quickly change the settings needed to protect it from hackers and mistakes. Using these plugins regularly can help you find permission mistakes and keep your website’s main files and directories safe.

Correctly setting file rights and using audit tools can lower the chance of security breaches caused by wrongly set file permissions.

Disable File Editing in the Dashboard

WordPress lets admins change theme and plugin files from the dashboard by default. This is useful but can also be dangerous because hackers can use this tool if they get into your admin account.

How to Stop Editing Files

To stop people from making changes without your permission, add the following code to your wp-config.php file to turn off the built-in file editor:

define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true);

This small change means administrators can’t change theme or plugin files directly. This lowers the chance that hackers will compromise these parts by making changes they shouldn’t have. It would help to use FTP or another safe way to change files after this feature is turned off.

Turning off changing files is a quick and easy way to protect the crucial files that run your WordPress site.

Secure wp-config.php

If you are carrying out a WordPress installation, the wp-config.php file is one of the most important. It has the passwords to your database, login keys, and other private data your WordPress site needs to work. If this file gets out, hackers could take over the whole site.

How to Keep wp-config.php Safe

You need to move the file above the root directory.
wp-config.php needs to be moved one path up from the public root folder. For example, it needs to be moved out of public_html. Hackers can’t get to it straight through a browser because of this.

Add this code to block access:
Add the following code to your .htaccess file to add an extra layer of security:

<Files wp-config.php>
order allow, deny
deny from all
</Files>

This stops anyone from directly accessing wp-config.php, even if they find out where it is. Protecting wp-config.php keeps private data like database passwords and login details safe, significantly lowering the chance of a full-scale security breach.

Strengthening Database Security

It is vital to protect your WordPress database so that nobody can get private information or take advantage of weaknesses. Changing the default database table prefix can make your database safer in one of the easiest and most effective ways.

Change the Default Table Prefix:

WordPress sets the table name to wp_ by default. This makes it easy for hackers to use common table names in SQL injection attacks. The word change adds another layer of security, making it harder for attackers to determine the table names.

Updating the Table Prefix Safely:

Use security plugins like WP Security Ninja or iThemes Security to change the usual table prefix without putting the database at risk. These tools make the process easier by safely changing your table prefix across the database and configuration files. Making changes manually can go wrong or cause database connections to break, so using known tools lowers the risk.

When you change the prefix of your database, you protect your private data and lower the risk of SQL injection attacks, thus making your WordPress website safe and secure.

Securing Your Login Process

Protecting your WordPress login process is essential to stop brute-force attacks and people getting in without permission. Changing the usual login URL is a good way to make logins safer because it makes it harder for attackers to find your login page.

Customize Your Login URL:

Attackers often try to get in using brute force, and the standard WordPress login URL is usually your website.com/wp-login.php. By changing this URL, you hide your login page, making it even safer.

Recommended Add-ons:

When you use WPS Hide Login, this plugin makes changing the usual login URL easy. Automated attacks are less likely to happen if you set a custom URL like yourwebsite.com/login.

Login LockDown: This tool makes your site safer by keeping track of failed logins and blocking IP addresses after a certain number of them. It stops brute force attacks by reducing the number of times someone can try to log in.

Hackers are much less likely to try to get into your login system if you change your login URL and use these security plugins.

Regular Backups and Monitoring

Making regular backups of your WordPress site is vital for keeping it safe. They protect you if you lose info, get hacked, or something goes wrong with your technology.

Without regular backups, fixing a site that has been hacked or broken can take a long time or not be possible at all. WordPress backup plugin can help you to ensure your website is saved from all sorts of attacks.

Schedule Automatic Backups:

You can set up automatic backups of your website to keep it safe using good backup plugins.

  • UpdraftPlus: It is a popular choice for WordPress backups. It lets you back up your site, including video files, themes, plugins, and the database, so you can restore your site in the event of a mishap. It also lets you store things in the cloud, including Google Drive, Dropbox, and more.
  • BackupBuddy: This reliable app offers complete backup solutions, including scheduled backups and simple site restoration.

If you check these backups often, you can avoid significant downtime or data loss in case of an attack or server breakdown. Using scheduled backup solutions gives you peace of mind because they make sure your website is always ready for anything that might happen.

Partner with a Trusted Security Solution

Getting a professional security service to work with you can make your WordPress site much safer. WP Security Ninja and other security plugins offer advanced tools and knowledge to protect your website from malware, hacking attempts, security lapses, and other WordPress security vulnerabilities.

The benefit of trusted security solutions

  1. Scanning for malware: Malware or dangerous code is found and removed from your site before it can do any harm through regular scans.
  2. Site hardening: These tools have features that can make your website safer by fixing standard security holes and keeping private areas safe.
  • Response to an Incident: If there is a breach, security solutions allow quick response to limit damage and restore functioning.

If you work with a reputable security company, you can get full tracking, proactive defense strategies, and professional tools that go beyond what you can do by hand. This relationship keeps an eye on and regularly fixes your site’s security, giving you peace of mind and protecting your business.

What to Do If Your WordPress Site Gets Hacked

So, it finally happened: a hacked WordPress site.

Hacking can be scary, but if you act quickly and decisively, you can limit the damage and get your WordPress site back safe. If you find that your website has been hacked, here’s what you should do:

Put Your Site in Maintenance Mode:

Turn on maintenance mode right away to keep people from viewing a site that might be compromised. This keeps more damage from happening while you fix the leak. Put your site into maintenance mode quickly with tools like SeedProd or WP Maintenance Mode.

Reset All Passwords:

Change the passwords for all your user and admin accounts, such as your WordPress admin, server account, database, FTP, and any other accounts linked to your site. Ensure each account has a strong, unique password to block any further hackers as they try to gain access to your site.

Use WP Security Ninja to Scan for Malware and Clean Your Site:

To check your site for malware and security holes, install and run WP Security Ninja or a similar known security plugin. These tools can find files that have been hacked, get rid of harmful code, and fix security holes.

If you act quickly, these steps will help you get back in charge, protect your site, and stop the hacker from getting in again. Once you’re back to normal, do a full security check to strengthen your defenses.

Conclusion

Protecting your WordPress site takes constant attention, taking action, and the right tools. Once you put strong security measures in place, you can keep your website safe from hackers constantly looking for new ways to exploit weaknesses. Using a strong password is also a better way to secure your site.

Updating your WordPress core, plugins, and themes regularly fixes security holes. Using Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of WordPress site security, making it harder for hackers to get in. Additionally, using reliable security plugins like WP Security Ninja can find malware, keep an eye on fishy behavior, and offer extra safety features.

Additional steps to secure your site include encrypting your login process, using SSL, backing up your data regularly, and checking file rights. Maintaining security means being vigilant; every action you take lowers the chance of a devastating security breach.

Not only are these security measures protecting your website, but they’re also protecting your business, image, and online presence. I’m not waiting for a hack to happen; do something now. Secure your WordPress site, keep your info safe, and make sure your future online investments are safe.

Worried about your site’s safety?

We won't spam you. Unsubscribe any time.

Wait! Before you go!

Get 10% discount for any WP Security Ninja plan!

 

Subscribe to our newsletter for new releases, discounts and general WordPress Security news. Sprinkled with other interesting stuff :-)

10% OFF

Subscribe to our newsletter

* We do not spam or share your email

Discount on any Security Ninja plan

and get

Hi and welcome back :-)