Cybersecurity is an interesting phenomenon, because the more stringent your measures are, the harder cyber-vandals try to get past them. It becomes a fun challenge as the hacker world competes to get beyond your borders, and it’s why updates are so important. Each new one seals recently developed loopholes and vulnerabilities. In this sense, WordPress is one of the most secure systems online, but because it’s so popular, it’s consequently the most targeted. What can you do to keep your WordPress website safer? Start by identifying points/methods of attack. The three main ones are:
- spam
- injected code
- attack bots
Basic WordPress Maintenance
To ensure security, WordPress regularly updates its templates and plug-ins, and they’re very good about notifying you. Enable automated updates where possible, and routinely check for newer versions, using their one-step upgrade feature. All it takes is one click. You’ll often see a back-up prompt before updates, so enable automated back-up as well. This is crucial because sometimes, a newer version will change your site layout and you could lose content in the process. Also, bot attacks try to hack your log-ins, so avoid the default /wp-admin format of WordPress. Have it tailored, or restrict the IPs that can access your log-in page. Change your username too, opting out of the default Admin.
Security plug-ins
Why does switching defaults allow for better WordPress security? Because many attacks are automated and relentless. So they’ll go to *your website/wp-admin*, log in as Admin, and run a random selection of passwords generated from what they know about you (e.g. birthday, physical address, pet’s name etc., all data they can easily lift from your social media.) Changing your admin username and the /wp-admin format does help. Another advantage of WordPress ubiquity is the massive range of plug-ins. Install security-driven add-ons, like Akismet. It can also be helpful to hire a WordPress security guru and have them run an audit on your website. They can give you more fine-tuned advice and recommend additional measures. For more advice on keeping your WordPress site secure, contact Studio Licious Group and speak to one of our friendly staff.
