So you’ve decided to create a WordPress website – congrats! WordPress powers a huge chunk of the Internet and with good reason. There’s a low learning curve, yet it’s highly customizable. You should be able to make the site you need in due course. But where to begin with securing it? By following these five tips, securing your new site should be a cinch.
1. Buy SSL certificate
Top of the list for every new website owner should be SSL security. SSL certificates are great because they encrypt the website connection to a user’s browser, ensuring that only the intended recipients can access information. More than just protecting user data, they can also boost your site’s search engine ranking. Major web browsers have also come to expect SSL certificates on websites, so by having one, you’re ensuring it works rather than being potentially flagged as “not secure.”
2. Choose good hosting
A good hosting provider will provide security measures out of the box. Research your different options and see what they offer. Some elements to check are how often they update their hardware and software, how often they back up your site, and if they provide DDoS protection.
3. Get security plugins
One of the biggest benefits of WordPress is the wealth of plugins available for adding certain functionalities to your site, whether that be comment moderation or email forms. Another great functionality is security, and you can likely find a good all-in-one security plugin, whatever your budget, from free to high-end. Just make sure to research the developer reputation and check when it was last updated. When it comes to online software, it must be updated frequently to account for new security weaknesses. Having out-of-date software can leave your site open to hacking.
4. Use good passwords
If you haven’t already, please consider never using easy-to-guess passwords like 123456 and PASSWORD. That’s pretty much like not having a password at all. Remember the main criteria of a good password: long length with a healthy mix of letters, numbers, and special characters.
5. Change your login URL
Every WordPress site has the same login URL by default: example.com/wp-login.php. This is handy for users but also for would-be hackers. And if you have the user name “admin” and poor password hygiene, this leaves your site open to some pretty easy hacking. So changing the login page will help combat that. There are many plugins available that will make changing the URL a cinch.
Read more about – How Can WordPress Help Your Business?