The Complete WordPress Security Guide + the Best Fixes

WordPress powers over a whopping 40% of the web. That’s an awful lot of websites—and also a lot of prime targets for hackers. And it doesn’t matter whether you run a personal blog or a booming business website, your site is ripe for attack. That means strong WordPress security is absolutely nonnegotiable. 

A compromised website is no laughing matter. It can lead to stolen data, lost revenue, and damage to your brand’s reputation. Fortunately, with the right WordPress security measures—often super easy to implement, but with a big security impact—you can significantly reduce the risk of attacks and keep your site running smoothly. In this guide, we’ll explore all the best ways to keep your WordPress security in tip top shape.

Why Is WordPress Security Important?

WordPress website security isn’t just about preventing cyberattacks—it’s about having a plan to protect your visitors, business, and online credibility. A vulnerable WordPress site can suffer from malware infections, data breaches, and unauthorized access, leading to serious consequences. Let’s break down the key reasons why WordPress security should be front of mind.

Prevent Reputation Damage

Your website is a reflection of your brand. If it gets hacked, infected with malware, or defaced, visitors will lose trust in your business, and once your reputation is damaged, it’s challenging to regain customer confidence. Implementing strong WordPress security best practices protects your brand image and makes sure visitors feel safe when using your site.

Improve SEO Rankings

Search engines like Google prioritize secure websites in their SEO rankings. Conversely, if your site is hacked and flagged for malware, it can be removed from search results or display security warnings to visitors. For example, Google’s Safe Browsing feature alerts users when they try to access an unsafe website, drastically reducing traffic. By maintaining a secure WordPress site, you can protect your rankings so that your content reaches your audience.

Avoid Traffic & Sales Loss

A hacked website can lead to downtime, slow performance, and broken pages—all of which can be a major turn off for potential customers. Indeed, if they can’t access your site or feel unsafe making a purchase, you risk losing valuable sales both now and down the road. Cyberattacks can also lead to stolen payment information, further deterring users from doing business with you. Prioritizing WordPress security addresses this by helping maintain site uptime, fast loading speeds, and a seamless user experience—all so that you don’t lose traffic or revenue.

How to Secure a WordPress Site

Now that we’re all on the same page about the importance of WordPress security, it’s time to get serious and take action. Securing your WordPress site involves a combination of best practices, tools, and proactive measures to prevent cyber threats. From keeping your software updated to implementing strong authentication protocols, there are quite a few steps you can take to protect your website. So in the following sections, we’ll walk you through the best WordPress website security tips to safeguard your site and ensure its long-term security.

1. Keep Themes and Plugins Updated 

Outdated themes and plugins are one of the most common entry points for hackers, and that’s why developers regularly release updates that fix website security vulnerabilities and improve performance. As such, by keeping your themes and plugins up to date, you substantially reduce the risk of WordPress security breaches.

It’s not just your active plugins that can cause a problem though; inactive or unused themes and plugins can still pose a security risk, even if they’re not being used. Because hackers can exploit vulnerabilities in outdated code, it’s best to delete any unused themes and plugins to minimize these potential threats. 

One rather obvious (but tedious) way to do this is to regularly audit your site and remove anything that is no longer necessary to keep your WordPress installation lean and secure.

Or, you can simply automate these updates so that you don’t have to do it manually. These options can be enabled via your WordPress dashboard, or you can lean on your hosting provider to take care of it for you. 

Why bother with managed WordPress hosting when you can enable auto-updates yourself? Because, notably, managed WordPress hosting ensures updates are tested and monitored, and that your site is backed up—all reducing the risk of site crashes or WordPress security vulnerabilities. Sprinkle in expert customer support for added peace of mind, and you have some very solid reasons for using a managed WordPress hosting option.

2. Make Sure You Have the Latest WordPress Version

Similar to themes and plugins, WordPress regularly releases updates to improve security, fix bugs, and enhance performance. And, also like themes and plugins, running an outdated version of WordPress leaves your site vulnerable to known exploits and cyber threats. That’s why it’s super important to make sure your WordPress Core is up to date by enabling automatic updates or checking for new releases manually.

Again, you can easily do this via your WordPress dashboard, or, if you have managed hosting, you can let your provider handle it for you. The benefits here are the same in that with managed hosting, you can count on testing, backups, and monitoring, all which address compatibility issues and minimize the risk of site downtime or conflicts.

3. Add Login Security

Not surprisingly, your WordPress login page is a primary target for hackers attempting brute-force attacks. So strengthening login security is one of the easiest ways to prevent unauthorized access and protect your site from malicious activity—here’s how:

• Use Strong Passwords: A weak password makes it easier for hackers to gain access to your site. Use a long, complex password with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. 
• Limit Login Access & Login Attempts: Restricting login attempts helps prevent brute-force attacks. You can set a limit on failed login attempts by using a security plugin.
• Auto Logout Inactive Users: If users remain logged in but inactive for long periods, they could become an easy target for session hijacking. This can be addressed by implementing auto logout functionality using a security plugin.
• Change Default Login Username: Avoid using “admin” or other common usernames, as they are easier for hackers to guess. Instead, create your own unique, unguessable administrator username.
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): 2FA adds an extra layer of WordPress security by requiring a second verification step, such as a mobile authentication code. Again, a security plugin is your best bet for accomplishing this.

• Create a Custom Login URL: Use a security plugin to change the default WordPress login URL (such as, yoursite.com/wp-admin), which can reduce automated attacks.
• Disable Common Usernames: Hackers often target common usernames like “admin” or “editor.” Disable these and enforce strong, unique usernames for all users.

4. Manage User Permissions

So you can have everything controlled in terms of who can enter your WordPress backend, but if you don’t have user roles and permissions properly dialed, then your login efforts are a waste. 

Indeed, one of the most overlooked aspects of WordPress security is managing user permissions properly. Every user on your website should have only the access they need—and nothing more. This minimizes the risk of accidental changes, unauthorized access, or security breaches. Here are some WordPress security best practices when it comes to user permissions:

• Use the Principle of Least Privilege: Assign roles based on necessity, following the principle of least privilege.
  • Administrator – Full control over the site. Limit this role to trusted users only.
  • Editor – Can publish and manage all content but cannot change site settings.
  • Author – Can publish and manage their own posts only.
  • Contributor – Can write and edit their own posts but cannot publish them.
  • Subscriber – Can only manage their own profile and leave comments.
• Remove Unused or Inactive Users: Maybe once upon a time you granted editor access to a freelance developer, but they no longer work with you. This becomes a WordPress security vulnerability. As such, it’s important to regularly audit your user list and remove inactive accounts, especially former employees, contributors, or developers who no longer need access.

5. Monitor Activity

Now, let’s say, for some reason, your measures above just weren’t enough—something or someone managed to slip through the cracks. That’s why a super smart tip is to always monitor your WordPress site activity. This helps detect suspicious behavior early and prevent security breaches. By keeping an eye on user activity, login attempts, and changes to critical files, you can respond quickly to potential threats. Here’s what to keep an eye on: 

• Activity Log: An activity log records all significant actions taken on your site, monitoring login attempts, changes to posts, plugin installations, and user role modifications. Tracking this information helps you identify unauthorized access, suspicious changes, or potential WordPress security risks. 

• Weekly Security Reports: Regular security reports provide an overview of your site’s security status, highlighting vulnerabilities, malware detection, and login attempts. Certain WordPress security plugins, such as the SiteGround Security Optimizer, offer automated reports to help you stay informed about potential threats. Reviewing these reports regularly allows you to take preventive action before issues escalate.

6. Back Up Your Site Regularly

If something happens to your site, you’ll thank yourself later for having ensured regular site backups. That’s because if your site is hacked, experiences a critical failure, or is affected by an update gone wrong, having a recent backup means you can restore your website quickly. Without backups, you risk losing valuable data and time trying to recover your site manually.

Use a reliable backup solution that allows you to schedule automatic backups and store them securely offsite. In fact, many hosting providers offer built-in and automated backup options, but the use of certain plugins is also an option.

Make sure to back up your database, files, themes, and plugins, and periodically test your backups to ensure they work correctly. A well-planned backup strategy can save you from unexpected disasters and loads of stress by keeping your WordPress site protected.

7. Install SSL

Securing your WordPress site with SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is simply not optional. That’s because it encrypts data transmitted between your site and its visitors, protecting sensitive information such as login credentials, payment details, and personal data from being intercepted by malicious actors.

The good news is that many hosting providers offer free SSL certificates. At SiteGround, for example, we provide free standard and wildcard SSL certificates with all of our hosting plans—and the standard SSL certificate even comes preinstalled for extra peace of mind. 

Once your SSL certificate is installed, you’ll also want to be sure your site is fully configured to use HTTPS by updating your WordPress settings and implementing a redirect from HTTP to HTTPS. 

It’s also worth noting that having SSL not only enhances WordPress security but also boosts SEO rankings, as search engines like Google prioritize secure websites. Additionally, visitors can see a padlock icon via their browser, reinforcing trust in your website and improving user confidence. 

8. Protect Against Malware

Malware can compromise your site’s security, steal sensitive data, and even redirect visitors to harmful websites. Regular security checks—whether automated or manual—help identify threats early, minimizing potential damage.

On one hand, certain WordPress security plugins provide malware protection. On the other hand, a reputable hosting provider should offer built-in security features like real-time threat monitoring and automatic malware removal. SiteGround, for example, offers Site Scanner, which runs daily essential security checks and malware scans, detecting and removing threats. This allows you to take action before such threats cause serious harm to your website. 

9. Disable File Editing

WordPress allows administrators to edit theme and plugin files directly from the dashboard, but this feature can actually end up being a security risk. That is, if a hacker gains access to your admin panel, they could inject malicious code into your site and cause all sorts of problems. 

Disabling file editing of themes and plugins addresses this by preventing unauthorized changes. This can be done by modifying your site’s configuration file or, more simply, by using a WordPress security plugin. For further security, consider restricting file access with proper permissions (as we’ve previously discussed) and implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF).

10. Set Up a Firewall

“Wait, what is a firewall?” you ask. A Web Application Firewall is one of the most important tips when it comes to protecting your WordPress site from malicious attacks. That’s because it monitors incoming traffic and filters out harmful requests, such as those used in brute-force attacks, cross-site scripting (XSS), and SQL injection attempts.

You can implement a firewall at two levels: application-side and server-side. Application-side firewalls focus specifically on your WordPress application, filtering out malicious requests that target vulnerabilities in WordPress themes, plugins, and core files. A security plugin is a good solution for protecting your site at the application level. 

Server-side firewalls, on the other hand, are ideal, as they protect your entire server and can block traffic from known malicious IP addresses. Many WordPress hosting providers include firewall protection as part of their services, adding an additional layer of security. 

11. Take Post-Hack Actions

Let’s say the worst case happens. Your efforts above just weren’t enough and your WordPress site has been hacked. Now it’s time to take post-hack actions in order to minimize damage and restore security. Here are a few key tips to keep in mind after a WordPress security breach:

• Reinstall All Plugins: Hackers often inject malicious code into plugins. To ensure your site is clean, reinstall all plugins from trusted sources. Delete any suspicious or outdated plugins and replace them with fresh installations from the WordPress repository or their official developers.
• Force Password Reset: After a hack, assume that all passwords have been compromised. Require all users to reset their passwords immediately. Use a WordPress security plugin to enforce strong password policies and prevent weak credentials from being reused.
• Log Out All Users: To prevent further unauthorized access, log out all users and force reauthentication. This step ensures that any malicious users or sessions are terminated. Again, many security plugins offer an option to force logouts site-wide.

Putting your WordPress Security Plan in Place

Keeping your WordPress site secure might seem like something for a super smart tech team, but the reality is that many of the most effective best practices and security tips are actually quite easy to implement. And while you can tackle each issue individually—like keeping software updated, using strong login credentials, and installing an SSL certificate— the best approach is a comprehensive one.

By choosing a reliable web hosting provider, opting for managed WordPress hosting, and using a strong WordPress security plugin, you can cover most of the key security concerns in one go. That’s because a solid host will handle essential security measures like automatic updates, backups, and server protection, while a security plugin can help with everything from login protection to activity monitoring.

At the end of the day, WordPress security isn’t about a single fix—it’s about layering your defenses to protect your site from all angles. Start with the essentials, stay proactive, and your website will remain safe, fast, and resilient against potential threats.

This article was originally published in January 2022 and updated in February 2025.