WordPress can be considered as the most convenient Content Management Platform available for you to develop a website. In other words, you are provided with the ability to develop basic sites as well as complex websites along with the assistance of WordPress. After developing your website with WordPress, you cannot just forget it. You will have to pay particular attention towards the security aspect as well.
[bctt tweet=”Here are some useful #tips to follow and #strengthen the #security of your #WordPress #website.”]
Table of Contents
1. How to change the default username
If somebody else gains access to your WordPress username and password, he will be able to gain access to your website. This can be considered as the reason behind most of the hacking attempts that take place in the world. If the hacker can get to know the username, he will find it as an easy task because he needs to guess only the password. But if you can change the default, “admin” username of WordPress, the hacker will have to guess both username as well as the password. Due to this reason, all people who manage websites with WordPress are strongly encouraged to go ahead and change the default password.
You can create a new admin user in WordPress with a different name. Then you can delete the old admin account. Or else, there are some plugins, which can be used to change the default “admin” username of the WordPress websites. If you can gain direct access to the database via phpMyAdmin, you will be able to change the default username as well.
2. How to disable file editing
You will be able to find a built-in code editor within WordPress. All changes done in this code will be reflected on the website. On the other hand, changing the code can expose the website to a large number of security issues as well. You need to do one simple thing to disable editing the files in WordPress website. You need to access wp-config.php file and paste the following piece of code.
// Disallow file edit define( 'DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true );
3. Reduce the number of simultaneous logins
WordPress also allows simultaneous logins with a specific username and a password. This can be another security risk that you must consider. If you are the only person who is going to use the WordPress credentials, you should limit the number of logins to just one. Luckily, WordPress provides the ability for you to do it as well.
There is a plugin named Block Double Logins which you can install on your WordPress website to achieve this functionality. After installing this plugin, you will be able to limit the number of logins. If you are the only person who is going to use the WordPress website, then there’s no need to leave things as they are.
4. Protecting the Admin and Login pages with a password
If you can protect the Admin and login pages of your WordPress website with a password, you will be able to introduce an additional layer of protection to the site. There are plugins, which can assist you to achieve that functionality as well. Or else, you can simply introduce a captcha to the login pages. Then you will be able to minimize the threat that is coming in from DDoS attacks.
5. Disabling directory index
Directory browsing can be considered as a popular technique among hackers who are looking forward to hacking WordPress websites. If you can disable directory index on your WordPress website, you will be able to eliminate the risk associated with it. To disable it, you will have to connect to the site with the file manager of cPanel or FTP. Then you will have to figure out the .htaccess file. The next step is to add the below-mentioned line into the file.
Options -Indexes
Once you do it, you will need to make sure that the changes are reflected on the live site.
6. Install Security Ninja
A large number of security plugins are available for the WordPress website owners to try out. With the assistance of these security plugins, people will find it as an easy task to deliver improved security to the websites. Security Ninja plugin can be considered as a perfect example of such a security plugin.
During a hacking attempt, there is a high possibility for your website to go down. Security Ninja can make sure that such downtimes in your site are minimized. Moreover, you will be provided with the ability to figure out the security issues within few minutes of happening. As a result, you will be able to keep a peace of mind in the long run as well. You don’t need to be a technical expert to configure Security Ninja. It comes along with a simple and a user-friendly interface, and you will find it as an easy task to control your website.
7. Log out the idle users automatically
All the idle users of your WordPress site need to be logged out automatically. Otherwise, there is a high possibility for security issues to take place. Some people will log into your WordPress website and leave the computer. You can even do the same mistakenly. During that time, someone else can gain access to your WordPress website and hack it. You need to avoid such instances. That’s why you must think about logging out all the idle users from your WordPress website automatically.
There is a plugin named Idle User Logout. You can get this plugin installed on your WordPress website. Then you will be provided with the ability to configure the duration to log out the idle users. It would be ideal to set it up for about 30 seconds. Then you can provide maximum protection to the site as well.
Conclusion
We hope that these seven tips will help you get started with WordPress security. Each step that you make will take a one step closer to a safer site, so don’t be lazy. Install Security Ninja, check your blog frequently and deploy a Cloud Firewall and sleep tight knowing your site is protected.
