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Advanced Techniques to Avoid Hackers by Protecting Your WordPress Site

Did you know that there are almost 100,000 cyber-attacks happening every minute? It’s true, and if you have a WordPress site, it’s possible you could be under attack right now. You may not even know it, either! That’s why it’s so vital that you have your website, no matter what platform it’s built on, as secure and protected as possible.

WordPress’ Basic Security

The developers of WordPress understand that all users want strong security on their site, so they do everything possible to keep the platform as protected as it can be. That’s why there are new security patches released regularly that shore up any vulnerable areas discovered. However, it’s vital that you update WordPress and all of your plugins whenever a new version becomes available. If you don’t, you may be leaving your site open to hackers who have learned about the vulnerabilities in older versions of WordPress.

Obscure Security Measures

You likely already know many of the basic security measures such as installing virus and malware scanners, using complex passwords, and always using a secured internet connection. There are some other tricks, though, that use obscurity to protect your site. This method of security should be used in addition to your basic protections because it involves hiding portions of your website rather than putting up strong walls around them. It can be just as effective, of course, but it’s always better to have as many forms of security as possible.

It’s also worth noting that more than 90 percent of websites are attacked by automated hacking bots. These bots aren’t creative—they look for the standard WordPress setup and attack it. If they can’t find what they’re looking for, they’ll move on, making obscurity quite effective against them.

Here are some of these unique security methods that make use of obscurity. If you’d like to implement any of them, but aren’t sure how, a company that offers web design services can assist you.

  • Edit your wp-config.php file to change some of the basic WordPress settings to those that a bot won’t think to look for. You can change security keys, force SSL certificate use, modify the prefix of your WordPress database, and even disable theme and plugin editing. You can also move the wp-config file to another directory.
  • Edit the .htaccess file to include additional rules that protect your files. You can deny access the wp-config file and your error log, lock down the admin dashboard, and even restrict admin login to only your IP address.
  • Change the default directories. You can rename or create new directories instead of using WordPress’s defaults. This can easily confuse any automated hacking bots.
  • Likewise, you can change the default admin username to something unique and harder to guess.
  • Change the WordPress login URL. If the bot can’t find your login page, it can’t try to force its way in.

Use a WordPress Plugin to Add Additional Security Measures to Your Site

Another effective strategy to increase your website’s security is to install plugins specifically made for WordPress. While there are plenty of security platforms that offer complete protection, it is important to know how to choose the one that is best for your particular website.

For instance:

  • sucuri.net – A website security platform that not only protects your website from malicious hacks, but also detects potential threats and sends security alerts instantly. This platform also has the capability to increase website speed, remove malware and fully restore and provide backups.
  • Wordfence – The most downloaded security plugin for WordPress websites. The real-time threat defense feed powers Wordfence with the newest firewall rules, malware signatures and malicious IP addresses to keep your website safe. Aside from its many features, this plugin also offers geographic protection designed to stop attacks, prevent content theft or end malicious activity that originates from foreign countries.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the more advanced WordPress security methods that can help keep your site as secure as possible.

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