Hackers and bots are two of the biggest threats against WordPress websites. If you don’t take proactive measures to protect your site, then you can lose everything – your website files, your email list, your income, everything! If you want to avoid this scenario at all cost, then read this article.
Here are some basic measures you can follow to protect your site:
1. Make sure your version of WordPress is up to date
WordPress gets updated pretty regularly, and they do this for a good reason. With the sheer number of automated attacks carried out on WordPress websites daily, it’s important that the software is frequently updated to stop hackers, bots, and botnets in their tracks. If you don’t update your software, then it’s like you’re sending an invitation to hackers telling them to exploit the vulnerabilities in your non-updated software.
2. Update your themes and plugins
Just like your core WordPress software, themes and plugins get updated from time to time as well. This is important so that these themes and plugins remain compatible with the latest version of WordPress. Also, if you don’t update, chances are hackers and bots will find something to exploit so they can access your site.
3. Backup your website regularly
For your peace of mind, it’s best to back up your website regularly. There are several plugins you can choose from on the WordPress.org Plugin Directory that offers automated daily backups. More importantly, you’d want to consider using a plugin that offers a 1-click restore feature. Even if your website gets hacked, you can still restore your site easily.
4. Use a strong and hard-to-guess username and password
You don’t want to use the old ‘admin’ username and password combination. That’s the first thing bots guess when they attack a site. You’re practically giving them free access to your site! For better security, you should use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Keep your login details in a secure location, or you can use a password manager to help keep your details safe.
5. Hire a WordPress security expert
Plugins can only do so much. In the end, bots are programmed by human hackers who can make these nasty pieces of computer code as sophisticated as they need to be. A human WordPress security expert is your best bet if you want to keep your site safe. They’ll come at a cost though so keep this in mind if you truly want to keep your WordPress site safe.