8 WordPress Security Checks You Need to Try Right Away

Website owners lay great importance on securing their WordPress security. According to Google, there are around 11,000+ website every day affected by malware and just like that, there are 60,000 every week due to phishing.

Hundreds of developers regularly keep the core software WordPress very secure, but still, there are a lot of things to be implemented to make the security of website onto the next level.

If users are serious towards their website, then there are several considerable steps which need attention. This guide contains the top eight security check that needs to be implemented on WordPress sites to protect it from malware and hackers.

1. Implementing a LockDown Feature and Start Banning Users:

Big issues can be resolved if there is a lockdown feature been implemented after several failed login attempts. In the case of hacking of site, there are multiple wrong passwords attempts by which site gets lockdown. After that, a notification to the owner will be received of this unauthorized activity.

One of the best security plugins, iThemes pays a lot of it in this respect. In this plugin after several failed login attempt which the user set the iTheme plugin bans the IP address of the attacker. This way the attacker can’t attempt another login attempt.

2. Use of Two-Factor Authentication for WordPress Security

One of good security measure is implementing your WordPress security with two-factor authentication also known as (2FA). In this check, the user provides login details of two variable components. The owner of the website has the right to provide those two different components. Normally, those two components comprise of a password and a secret question, a code, a set of character and a secret code which is been sent to the user phone. This way the only user having the phone at that time can be able to log in the site.

It is preferred to use a secret code when implementing two-factor authentication on any website. One of the most common plugins, Google authenticator is best for it which does this work in several clicks only.

3. Renaming of Login URL:

It is very easy to change the login URL. The login page of WordPress can be easily accessed by default with wp-login.php or wp-admin, as these are mail URLs added to the site. Being these URL default, hackers know the users’ URL and can easily find their way into a brute. With Guess Work Database (GWB) they attempt to log in. The GWD carries data of assumed usernames and passwords like, username can be admin and passwords can be p@ssowrd. These are such combination found in millions.

Changing the login URL is an easy thing to do. By default, the WordPress login page can be accessed easily via wp-login.php or wp-admin added to the site’s main URL.

Now to remove this thing it is important for the users to replace the login URL which subsequently reduces around 90% of hackers’ attempt to brute in your website. With this method, an unauthorized entity can be restricted to get access to user’s login page. Having an exact URL can only allow that entity to access. The theme security plugin also lets the user change the login URL in such a manner that wp-login.php can be changed into my_new_login or wp-admin can be changed into my_new_admin. So this way reaming of login URL can be a valuable check of WordPress security.

4. Idle Users Should be Logged Out Automatically After Some Time:

There is a serious WordPress security threat associate from users who leave the open wp-admin section on the site. Any colleague or person passing by can easily change the database of the website, minimize the user account of a person and also permanently break the site altogether. This thing can be reduced and avoided by automatically logging people out who are in the idle state after a certain period of time.

This thing can be done by implementing the BulletProof Security plugin on the site. This plugin lets the users set the desired time frame for users who are idle, after that time they are automatically logged out.

5. For Encryption of Data SSL Must be Used:

Secure Socket Layer (SSL) is normally implemented to make sure the admin panel is secured. The data transfer between server and web browser of the user is very secure in SSL, this thing gives a lot of difficulties to the hacker to breach into any system and spoil your information.

It is easy to get an SSL certificate for any WordPress site. Usually, third party companies provide these certificates or it can also be got from users respective hosting company, free of cost. Having a certificate of SSL also boost up the Website ranking on Google. Sites having SSL are ranked higher on Google than those without it, so the difference and benefits of this certificate are clear.

6. Securing the WordPress Website by Making Backups:

There is still a need for improvement of any WordPress site no matter how secure it is. Still, after all these things, a need for off-site backup is necessary for the ease of site owner on worst situations.

Having a backup can let the user restore their WordPress site anytime if something bad happens by chances. There are several plugins that let the user backup their site info.

One of the best plugin, VaultPress by Automatic is a premium solution for doing this backup thing. Backups have been created on this plugin on a weekly basis. On the only one-click restoration of backup can be done on worst situations. This plugin also detects malware and gives an automatic alert if anyone is breaching into the system.

7. Use of Strong Passwords for Database:

Password must be the top priority of database security as accessing of a database is done by this password by users, so it must be strong.

To set a password, an uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters should be used. Use of passphrases is also recommended. To generate a random password a plugin is known as LastPass issued. To have a strong password quickly, a plugin Secure Password Generator is used and is also free of cost.

8. File Editing Must be Disallowed:

Admin access to the WordPress dashboard allows the user to edit any particular file that plays a part on the WordPress site. Normally it carries all themes and plugins. So this should be disallowed, which will let any of the users not to edit any of the files. Not even a hacker can modify or change it if this setting is disallowed.

To make this happen, the following should be added at wp-config.php file: define (‘DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT’, true);