Increase WordPress security

In today’s digital age, WordPress security is of utmost importance for websites. There is no simple solution that solves all security problems at once. Instead, a secure WordPress website requires ongoing attention and a deep understanding of the potential risks. This article provides an overview of the essential steps to securing your WordPress installation and emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive security approach. Security in the digital space is a complex issue that requires a balance between usability and effective protection measures. A lot of advice on the Internet is not enough, as real security goes far beyond installing a plugin. We’ll show you how you can significantly improve your WordPress security by closing security gaps and having a thorough understanding of attack routes. As WordPress security experts, we not only provide you with important background knowledge, but also practical instructions to effectively protect your website from hacker attacks. Our goal is to help you secure your WordPress website with targeted measures so that you and your users can operate with peace of mind. Our WordPress maintenance service helps you secure your website. Digital security is a multi-faceted issue that goes far beyond simply installing protection mechanisms. Creating a completely unassailable system is a near-impossible task. Nevertheless, it is possible to ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the resources stored on a server through careful measures. This article highlights what is meant by security and how to implement it in practice, especially in the context of web hosting and WordPress.

The pillars of a secure web host

A reliable web host is characterized by various quality features that are of central importance for security:

• Open communication about security practices and a willingness to take security concerns seriously.
• The use of current and stable software versions on the server.
• Reliable backup and restore processes.
• The selection of software and the data configuration on your server are crucial for the security aspects to be taken into account.

WordPress: Basics for increased security

Keeping a WordPress website secure starts with continuous maintenance and updating of the system. It is essential to install security-critical updates immediately and to monitor the system regularly. Here are some basic safety measures:

• Use of strong passwords for all access (admin account, FTP/SSH, database, hosting control panel).
• Enforcing HTTPS/SSL sitewide.
• Install as few plugins and themes as possible and remove unused ones.
• Purchase themes and plugins exclusively from trustworthy sources.
• Carrying out regular backups, for example with the “UpdraftPlus Backup Plugin”.
• Ensuring a secure hosting environment.

When running multiple WordPress instances, isolation among their own system users is essential to avoid mass hacks. Simple hosting packages that do not allow for such separation are unsuitable for hosting multiple websites. Likewise, the security of the devices from which the website is accessed should not be neglected.

The foundation of WordPress security: A robust password

Securing your WordPress website starts with choosing a strong password. Using a weak password negates any security efforts. Unfortunately, passwords that are easy to remember are also easy to decrypt, which can have devastating consequences. It is therefore essential to choose a password that contains a combination of letters, numbers, special characters and upper and lower case letters. For a truly secure password, a length of at least 30 characters is recommended. Although this may seem inconvenient at first glance, password managers and the built-in features of modern web browsers offer practical solutions to this problem. Having a unique username and a strong password is considered a fundamental rule for any online account. Specifying these access data is an important step when installing WordPress or can be adjusted later in the “Users” area in the backend. Avoid default usernames Avoid overly used usernames, such as:

•  Admin
• Administrator
• test
• users
• WordPress

Choosing a Strong Password Avoid simple and predictable passwords like:

• 123456
• 000000
• test
• password

 Instead, you should choose a password that is long enough and has no obvious structure, such as “H8&v(q!ßwUB§”.  Methods for creating a strong password:

• Using the password suggested by WordPress
• Online password generators
• The Diceware method for randomly generated passwords

 It is strongly recommended that you use a unique password for each website and online account. This significantly minimizes the risk of a compromised account.

Management of access data

A password manager makes managing your access data much easier and eliminates the chaos of countless sticky notes. Strong passwords are a central aspect of strong security awareness and play a crucial role in preventing security breaches. WordPress helps you choose a strong password by displaying the password strength. This function should always be used when setting up new passwords. Password Features to Avoid:

• Variations of your name, username, company name or website
• Words from dictionaries of any language
• Passwords too short
• Passwords that consist entirely of numbers or letters
• A strong password not only protects your website, but also your server from potential malware attacks that can occur through access to your administrator account.

 Implementing two-factor authentication is recommended as an additional layer of security.

Securing WordPress: Removing unused themes and plugins

Regular maintenance of your WordPress website involves more than just updating content and adjusting the design. A critical, often overlooked task is removing themes and plugins that are no longer in use. It is not enough to simply deactivate them. To ensure the security of your website, it is necessary to delete it completely. Why deletion is so important The main reason for this step is due to the nature of the software itself. Any piece of code stored on your server could contain potential security vulnerabilities. The presence of unnecessary plugins and themes increases the risk that attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities. It is therefore essential to carry out a regular inventory and consistently remove everything that is not actively used. Decluttering as a security strategy This “decluttering” strategy should be an integral part of your website maintenance. By removing unnecessary software, you reduce the risk of security vulnerabilities while improving the performance of your website. It is recommended to leave the current standard WordPress theme installed, such as the “Twenty Twenty” theme at the time of WordPress 5.4. This serves as a kind of safety net. If you experience problems with your currently active theme, the default theme allows you to quickly switch and test whether the error may have been caused by the last activated theme.

Maintaining and updating your website: A necessity, not an option

Performing regular updates is a crucial step in maintaining and securing your website. Despite its importance, this process is often neglected. As a webmaster, you are responsible for installing updates for the WordPress core, themes and plugins promptly. Why Updates Are Essential Updates aren’t just for fixing minor bugs that may not have a direct impact on your website. More importantly, they close security gaps that, if left unaddressed, could open the door to unwanted intruders. Regularly updating your website components is therefore a fundamental security measure.  Recommendations for effective update management

•  Check Regularly: Aim to check for available updates at least once a week.
• Data backup: Make a backup of your database before every update process. This protects you against the rare event that problems occur with an update.
• Cache Cleanup: After updates are installed, clear your website’s cache, especially if you use caching plugins. This ensures that all changes are applied and displayed correctly.
• Functionality Check: Check the functionality of your website from a visitor’s perspective by viewing it in your browser’s incognito mode. This way you can ensure that everything works smoothly.

The role of the PHP version The situation is similar with the PHP version of your server. An outdated PHP version can pose security risks and affect your website performance. Therefore, check regularly, at least once a quarter, whether a newer PHP version is available and whether it is compatible with your website.

WordPress Security: Regular backups for your website

Regular backups form the foundation of reliable website management. They allow for quick and efficient recovery of your website should it ever be compromised or encounter problems with an update process. Why are backups essential? A comprehensive backup of your website data protects you against a variety of imponderables. From hacker attacks to broken updates, the ability to have a clean, working version of your website is invaluable. Automated backups by your hosting provider Many hosting providers allow you to create automated and regular backups and store them for a certain period of time. This service is extremely valuable because it takes work off your hands while ensuring a high level of security. Responsibility for data backup If your hosting provider does not offer an automated backup service, the responsibility for data backup lies with you. It is advisable to at least perform a manual backup before any major update. This ensures that in the event of an error, you can act quickly and restore your website. The Plugin”UpdraftPlus” can be a great help. Long-term backup backups Since hacker attacks or problems sometimes take some time to be detected, it is recommended to archive backups for a longer period of time. Storing them on your own PC or an external hard drive is a good way to do this. This gives you the opportunity to return to a clean version of your website before it was compromised.

Securing the login area: An effective measure against unwanted access attempts

Securing the login area of ​​your WordPress website is a crucial step towards increasing security. Many website operators rely on plugins like “Limit Login Attempts Reloaded” to temporarily block access from the IP address in question after several failed login attempts. Purpose of the login restriction The main goal of this security measure is to give potential attackers as few attempts as possible to guess the correct login details. By limiting the login attempts, the risk of a successful brute force attack is significantly reduced. How does the login restriction work? Plugins that restrict the login area Secure, monitor the number of login attempts from an IP address. Once a set number of failed attempts is reached, access for that IP address is blocked for a certain period of time. This prevents automated software or individual attackers from gaining access to your website by repeatedly trying different passwords Admin area prevention: The limitation significantly reduces the effectiveness of brute force attacks that attempt to crack passwords through mass trial and error. Protection of sensitive data: Securing the login area helps protect your website and the sensitive information stored on it from unauthorized access.

Implementing a firewall: An essential step in securing your website

Setting up a firewall is a fundamental security measure for any website. There are a variety of plugins and services specifically designed to protect your website from unwanted access and attacks. These tools can be configured in different ways to ensure optimal protection. Types of Firewalls for WordPress Websites Firewalls that modify the .htaccess file: Some security plugins like Solid security or All in One WP Security, modify your web server’s .htaccess file. This restricts access to your website before WordPress even loads. This method offers effective protection by blocking unwanted requests in advance. Application layer firewalls Plugins like WordFence work on the same level as WordPress itself and filter out attacks while WordPress is loading. These plugins are able to detect and neutralize specific WordPress-specific threats. Installing a Web Server Firewall In addition to WordPress-specific solutions, you can also install a web server firewall like ModSecurity. This works independently of WordPress and filters incoming traffic before it is processed by WordPress. ModSecurity offers robust protection against a wide range of web attacks. Cloud-Based Firewalls Another effective security measure is to implement a cloud-based firewall that acts between your web host and the Internet. By changing DNS records so that traffic is first filtered through the firewall before reaching your website, this solution provides comprehensive protection. Services like CloudFlare and Sucuri are leaders in this area and, in addition to security features, also offer performance improvements for your website.

Optimizing database security in WordPress by restricting user rights

The security of your WordPress website can be significantly increased by specifically restricting the rights of the database user. For everyday tasks such as writing posts, uploading media files, moderating comments, creating new users or installing plugins, only the basic rights to read and write in the database are required. These include the SQL commands SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE and DELETE. Why restricting permissions makes sense Restricting permissions to these essential permissions minimizes the risk that the structure or administration of the database will be manipulated in the event of a possible security incident. Rights for more extensive operations such as DROP, ALTER and GRANT should therefore be revoked to limit potential damage. Exceptions for Plugins, Themes and WordPress Updates Please note that certain plugins, themes and larger updates to WordPress may make structural adjustments to the database, such as adding new tables or modifying the database schema. In such cases, it is necessary to temporarily grant the database user the appropriate rights in order to be able to carry out the installation or update. Precautions and Recommendations Before restricting permissions, it is essential to ensure a comprehensive and reliable backup solution. Make sure you have a backup of your database that has been successfully tested and can be easily restored. If an update fails, especially if changes are made to the database schema, the backup can be used to restore the original states. While most WordPress updates do not make changes to the schema and mainly occur with major version jumps (e.g. from 3.7 to 3.8), it is important to carry out regular updates and adjust database rights accordingly.  

Conclusion and our WordPress maintenance service

A secure WordPress website requires more than just installing plugins. Through regular maintenance, strong passwords, careful plugin selection, and advanced security measures such as backups and firewalls, you can effectively protect your website from attacks. A conscious security concept that is regularly updated and checked is essential for the long-term protection of your online presence. Securing WordPress isn’t always easy or you don’t have the capacity to take care of it regularly? Then we would be happy to help you with ours WordPress maintenance service your website.