WordPress is an open source script for creating and managing websites. While open source means that it is available for free, it also means that anyone can examine the code so open source scripts can be more vulnerable to hacking. That’s why it’s important to ensure the security of your WordPress website. You’ve worked hard to create your WordPress Website, so it’s important to keep it secured. While securing your website is an ongoing process, it’s relatively straightforward.

In this blog we are going to share some proven tricks on how to secure your WordPress Website. It’s advisable to employ at least some of the following approaches. Many of these are built into a web security plugin, such as WordFence, but will still need to be activated.

1. Use 2-factor authentication: The term 2- factor authentication refers to the two-step process you’ll be required to follow when logging into your website. This needs a little more concern on your part but goes a long way towards keeping hackers out. Two-factor authentication involves using a smart phone or other device to verify your login. When you try to log in, you will be sent a text message or email with a code to enter to verify your identity.
2. Web Application Firewall: The Web Application Firewall on your WordPress site will act as a barrier between your website and the rest of the web. A firewall monitors activities, detects attacks, malware, and other unwanted events, and blocks anything it considers a risk.
3. Set up a website lockdown feature and ban users: With the help of a website lockdown feature, whenever there is a hacking attempt with repetitive wrong passwords, the website is locked, and you get a notification of any unauthorized activity.
4. Rename the login URL: It is quite easy to change the login URL. This trick of renaming your login URL restricts an unauthorized entity from accessing the login page. Someone who has the exact URL can access it.
5. Use SSL to encrypt data: SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificate is one smart move to secure the admin panel. By using SSL, you can ensure secure data transfer between user browsers and the server, which makes it difficult for the hackers to breach the connection. Many web hosts, including Itabix, now offer free SSL for all websites they host.
6. Ensure Regular Backups: Keeping an off-site backup somewhere is perhaps the best antidote no matter what happens. Having a backup can let you restore your WordPress website to a working state any time you want. Again, many web hosts offer this but you should check to make sure, and it’s not a bad idea to make a backup yourself using a backup plugin such as Backup Buddy.
7. Strong Passwords: Setting up a strong password is a must since this password is the one WordPress uses to access the database. For Example, use uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters for the password. Using Passphrases is also an excellent option. An example of a very hard to crack passphrase that is also much easier to remember than a random collection of letters, numbers and special characters would be tinsel3aboardfeather.
8. Block hot linking: If you’re trying to secure your WordPress website, hotlinking is basically another person taking your photo and stealing your server bandwidth to show the image on their own website. This results in slow loading speed and high server costs.
9. Update regularly: Not updating your themes and plugins can cause trouble. If you’re using any WordPress product, you should update it regularly. WordPress automatically rolls out updates for the users, so you’ll receive an email notifying you of the update on the fixes in your dashboard.
10. Hide the WordPress Version number: You can hide your version number with almost every security plugin. You can also use various functions to remove the version number from RSS feeds.

By setting up the few security measures above and taking regular backups, the chances that your website is secured increases. The more you care about your WordPress site security, the more safe and secure it becomes.