WordPress powers over 43% of all websites on the internet, making it a prime target for hackers, malware, and cyber attacks. If you’re running a WordPress website, security should be your top priority. A single security breach can result in lost data, damaged reputation, and significant financial losses.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through 15 essential steps to secure your WordPress website and protect it from common threats in 2025.

Why WordPress Security Matters

Every day, thousands of WordPress websites are compromised by hackers. According to recent statistics, 90,000+ websites are hacked daily, and WordPress sites are frequently targeted due to their popularity. The consequences of a security breach include:

  • Data Loss: Customer information, business data, and content can be permanently lost
  • SEO Damage: Google blacklists hacked websites, destroying your search rankings
  • Revenue Loss: Downtime means lost sales and customers
  • Reputation Damage: Customer trust is hard to rebuild after a breach
  • Legal Issues: GDPR and data protection laws can result in hefty fines

The good news? Most WordPress security vulnerabilities are preventable with proper precautions. Let’s dive into the essential steps.

1. Choose Secure WordPress Hosting

Your security journey starts with choosing the right hosting provider. Not all hosting companies prioritize security equally. Look for hosts that offer:

  • Free SSL certificates for HTTPS encryption
  • Automatic daily backups
  • Malware scanning and removal
  • Web Application Firewall (WAF)
  • DDoS protection
  • 24/7 security monitoring

Recommended secure hosting providers:

Hostinger offers enterprise-grade security features including Cloudflare protected nameservers, automatic daily backups, and free SSL certificates starting at just $2.99/month.

Cloudways provides managed cloud hosting with dedicated firewalls, automated backups, and regular security patching across multiple cloud providers.

Kinsta offers premium security with hardware firewalls, DDoS detection, uptime monitoring, and hack-fix guarantee.

2. Keep WordPress Core, Themes, and Plugins Updated

Outdated software is the #1 cause of WordPress hacks. WordPress regularly releases security patches to fix vulnerabilities. Running outdated versions leaves your site exposed to known exploits.

Best practices:

  • Enable automatic updates for WordPress core (minor versions)
  • Update plugins and themes within 24 hours of new releases
  • Delete unused plugins and themes completely
  • Subscribe to WordPress security newsletters for vulnerability alerts

Pro tip: Before updating, always create a complete backup of your website. Most managed hosting providers like SiteGround offer automatic daily backups and staging environments for testing updates safely.

3. Use Strong Passwords and Two-Factor Authentication

Weak passwords are an open invitation to hackers. Brute force attacks try thousands of password combinations until they succeed.

Password security checklist:

  • Use passwords with at least 12-16 characters
  • Combine uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters
  • Never reuse passwords across different sites
  • Use a password manager like 1Password or LastPass
  • Change passwords every 90 days

Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA):

2FA adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second verification step (usually a code from your phone) in addition to your password. Popular 2FA plugins include:

  • Wordfence Login Security
  • Google Authenticator
  • Two Factor Authentication by miniOrange

4. Install a WordPress Security Plugin

Security plugins provide comprehensive protection with features like firewall protection, malware scanning, and login security. The top security plugins for 2025 include:

Wordfence Security (Free & Premium)

Wordfence is the most popular WordPress security plugin with over 4 million active installations. It includes a firewall, malware scanner, login security, and real-time threat intelligence.

Sucuri Security (Free & Premium)

Sucuri offers website firewall, security monitoring, malware cleanup, and DDoS protection. Their premium plans include guaranteed malware removal.

iThemes Security (Free & Premium)

iThemes Security provides 30+ ways to secure WordPress including two-factor authentication, password security, and database backups.

5. Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF)

A Web Application Firewall filters out malicious traffic before it reaches your WordPress site. WAFs can be:

  • DNS-level (Cloud-based): Cloudflare, Sucuri Firewall – routes traffic through their servers
  • Application-level: Wordfence, NinjaFirewall – installed on your server

Cloud-based firewalls are generally more effective as they stop attacks before they consume your server resources.

6. Enable SSL/HTTPS Encryption

SSL certificates encrypt data transmitted between your website and visitors’ browsers. HTTPS is now a ranking factor for Google and essential for trust.

Most modern hosting providers offer free SSL certificates through Let’s Encrypt. If yours doesn’t, you can:

  • Get a free SSL from Let’s Encrypt
  • Purchase SSL from Namecheap or your domain registrar
  • Use Cloudflare’s free SSL service

After installing SSL, configure WordPress to use HTTPS by updating your site URL in Settings > General.

7. Change Default WordPress Login URL

By default, WordPress login pages are accessible at /wp-admin and /wp-login.php. Hackers know this and target these URLs with brute force attacks.

Use plugins like WPS Hide Login or Perfmatters to change your login URL to something unique like /my-secret-login.

8. Limit Login Attempts

WordPress allows unlimited login attempts by default, making brute force attacks easy. Limit login attempts to 3-5 tries before temporarily blocking the IP address.

Plugins for limiting login attempts:

  • Limit Login Attempts Reloaded
  • WP Limit Login Attempts
  • Wordfence (includes this feature)

9. Regular Backups Are Essential

Even with perfect security, backups are your safety net. If your site gets hacked, you can restore it to a clean version.

Backup best practices:

  • Schedule automatic daily backups
  • Store backups off-site (cloud storage like Google Drive, Dropbox)
  • Keep at least 30 days of backup history
  • Test backup restoration regularly
  • Include database and files in backups

Recommended backup solutions:

  • UpdraftPlus (Free & Premium)
  • BlogVault
  • VaultPress (Jetpack)
  • Duplicator Pro

Many premium hosting providers like SiteGround and Kinsta include automatic daily backups in their plans.

10. Secure File Permissions

Incorrect file permissions can allow hackers to modify your WordPress files. Set proper permissions:

  • Folders/Directories: 755 or 750
  • Files: 644 or 640
  • wp-config.php: 440 or 400

Contact your hosting provider if you’re unsure about file permissions or use an FTP client like FileZilla to check.

11. Disable File Editing in WordPress Dashboard

WordPress allows administrators to edit theme and plugin files directly from the dashboard. If a hacker gains admin access, they can inject malicious code.

Disable file editing by adding this to your wp-config.php file:

define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true);

12. Protect wp-config.php and .htaccess Files

These critical files contain sensitive configuration data. Protect them by adding this code to your .htaccess file:

<Files wp-config.php>
order allow,deny
deny from all
</Files>

13. Disable XML-RPC if Not Needed

XML-RPC allows remote connections to WordPress but is also exploited for brute force and DDoS attacks. If you don’t use mobile apps or remote publishing, disable it using a security plugin or add this to your .htaccess:

<Files xmlrpc.php>
order allow,deny
deny from all
</Files>

14. Regular Security Audits and Monitoring

Monitor your website for suspicious activity:

  • Review user accounts regularly and delete unused ones
  • Check file integrity for unauthorized changes
  • Monitor server logs for suspicious IP addresses
  • Set up email alerts for important security events
  • Scan for malware weekly

Security plugins like Wordfence and Sucuri provide activity logs and email alerts.

15. Choose Secure Plugins and Themes

Nulled (pirated) themes and plugins are a major security risk. They often contain backdoors and malware.

Plugin/theme security checklist:

  • Download only from WordPress.org or official developer sites
  • Check last update date (avoid abandoned plugins)
  • Read reviews and check active installations
  • Verify developer reputation
  • Avoid installing too many plugins (each adds potential vulnerabilities)

WordPress Security Checklist – Quick Summary

  1. Choose secure hosting with built-in security features
  2. Keep WordPress, themes, and plugins updated
  3. Use strong passwords and enable 2FA
  4. Install a security plugin (Wordfence, Sucuri, iThemes)
  5. Implement a Web Application Firewall
  6. Enable SSL/HTTPS encryption
  7. Change default login URL
  8. Limit login attempts
  9. Set up automatic daily backups
  10. Configure proper file permissions
  11. Disable file editing in dashboard
  12. Protect wp-config.php and .htaccess
  13. Disable XML-RPC if not needed
  14. Perform regular security audits
  15. Use only trusted plugins and themes

Conclusion: Security is an Ongoing Process

WordPress security isn’t a one-time task—it’s an ongoing commitment. By implementing these 15 essential security measures, you’ll significantly reduce your risk of being hacked.

Remember that your hosting provider plays a crucial role in your security posture. Consider upgrading to a security-focused hosting solution like Cloudways, Kinsta, or SiteGround that includes advanced security features, automatic backups, and expert support.

Stay vigilant, keep everything updated, and your WordPress website will remain secure for years to come.

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