How Safe is WordPress?
Websites are highly targeted by hackers, with over 2,800 attacks per second. In fact, the expenditure to protect against online threats is expected to exceed 1.75 trillion by 2025. These attacks affect individuals, small businesses, and giant corporations.
In particular, websites with WordPress as the CMS are more susceptible to attacks. Actually, nine out of ten successful attacks against CMS-based websites in 2019 were on WordPress sites. These statistics are why most people wonder if WordPress is a safe CMS.
WordPress is reliable as long as you take security seriously and employ all the necessary measures. Although WordPress is secure, you can do many other things to safeguard your website and keep it safe from cyber threats.
WordPress is so popular, and maybe that is why hackers are scrambling for a piece of the pie to collect data. They invest considerable resources to find vulnerabilities in WordPress and replicate the efforts to nub more targets.
However, keep in mind that there isn’t a CMS that is 100% secure, and each has its very own security issue. Thankfully, the active and thriving WordPress community has solved many problems that still exist on other CMS.
Here are some of the reasons why we believe WordPress is a secure platform
- The WordPress core is pretty efficient and has world-class developers
- The platform is updated and improved frequently
- Issues are solved promptly by the team of developers
- Employs the best security measures to keep it secure from hackers
Another reason to trust WordPress is that big digital brands like TechCrunch, BBC America, The Walt Disney Company use it for their business site. Since no digital property is entirely secure, WordPress can be hacked, but that doesn’t make it less safe.
Ways in Which WordPress Websites Get Hacked
Plugin and themes security
One of the reasons WordPress is popular is the vast array of available plugins and themes. For example, the WordPress repository has over 50,000 options while thousands of premiums extensions are scattered all over the internet.
These options will help you extend and customize your website to your specific needs as well as run complex functions. However, you need to take extra measures as plugins and themes may provide a gateway into your site.
Supply chain attacks
This is a trick that hackers are using to gain access to websites. Essentially, hackers buy a high-quality plugin from WordPress and add a backdoor code. They then wait for people to update the plugin, which activates the backdoor.
These attacks are not common, but they are hard to prevent since they come from something you should be doing – updating the plugins. Thankfully, the WordPress core usually spots these plugins and removes them from the directory.
Poor hosting environment and outdated technology
The hosting environment and the technologies you use can also cause security breaches on your WordPress site. For example, while PHP 7 has better security enhancements than PHP 5, only a handful of websites use it. So, using a hosting environment with PHP 5 or below can put you at risk of unpatched PHP security vulnerabilities.
User security
Besides the service providers, it is also your responsibility to maintain website security. This means employing necessary measures like two-factor authentication, proper user roles, etc. A lapse in security on your side may result in attacks, even on small sites.
Note: Websites are stocked with resources, and even the small ones can be targeted for IP addresses, space, and user data.
Address the following lapses on your end to safeguard your website
Poor login credentials
Most websites will encourage you to use unique and strong passwords when creating an account. This prevents hackers from guessing or cracking the passwords, even with a brute force attack. However, keep in mind that malicious actors can use bots to break into your account if you use dictionary words. So, a robust password should have at least 8 characters, uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and letters, as well as special characters.
Postponing or delaying WordPress updates
Apart from added features, the WordPress updates also contain security patches designed to address vulnerabilities or bugs in your website. However, hackers can exploit the vulnerabilities to access your site if you defer or delay the regular updates.
Ignoring SSL
A lack of an SSL certificate can make your website vulnerable to cyberattacks. For example, a malicious actor can intercept the server request to access your website. However, you can prevent this by installing an SSL certificate to encrypt the communication between the server and your website.
Assigning incorrect user roles
You should be careful when assigning roles on your website. For example, you can give editor permissions to an author, thinking it is a good idea. However, you have given the author additional permissions and authentication that they don’t need. Hackers and other malicious actors can take advantage of this and infiltrate your website.
Pirated themes and plugins
Pirated themes and plugins are one of the biggest attack vectors on WordPress websites. This is because they contain malware that can damage your website or give hackers an entry into your system.
Best Practices to Secure Your WordPress Website
It does not mean that WordPress websites are not a good option because they have vulnerabilities. Although WordPress is secure, there are further measures you can take to harden your website and strengthen its security.
Usually, hackers prefer easy targets where they can use minimal resources and get more. Implementing the following tips will make it difficult to reach your website and keep off malicious traffic.
Keep the site updated
Failing to update your website frequently can open doors for hackers and other malicious actors. However, regular updates will patch available vulnerabilities and bugs.
Install a security and firewall plugin
Installing a security and firewall plugin is a big step towards improving your website’s security. A reliable firewall will thwart brute force attacks to avoid being overloaded with login requests. On the other hand, a security plugin will prevent suspicious visitors and alert you if there is a security breach.
Use robust login credentials
A password is a key to granting entry into your website, and anyone can break in if it is weak. However, using strong login credentials will help to secure your website. Preferably, avoid using the username ‘admin’. Many people use it on their websites, and it is effortless to guess. Also, do not use dictionary words to prevent the risk of dictionary attacks.
Implement WordPress Hardening
WordPress suggests several measures to harden websites to reduce the risks of attacks. Also known as WordPress hardening, these actions will enhance your website’s security. Apply the following changes to harden your website.
- Deactivate plugin and theme editors
- Disable plugin installations
- Integrate two-factor authentication
- Limit login attempts
- Block PHP execution in untrusted folders
- Change WordPress salts and keys
Assign correct roles
The roles you assign give out permissions to access parts of your website. So, it is advisable to use the principle of least privilege to keep your website safe. This will help to minimize the chances of credentials being exploited and ensure high accountability.
Use trusted themes and plugins
As mentioned earlier, themes and plugins are a significant cause of attacks on WordPress websites. So, only use extensions from trusted sources to keep your website safe. Also, avoid pirated themes and plugins as they may contain malware that can wreak havoc on your site.
Bottom Line
All websites are vulnerable to cyberattacks, but WordPress sites attract more attention because it is the most popular CMS. Nonetheless, WordPress is a trustworthy and secure platform with a robust community. Implementing the above practices will help to keep your website safe from external attacks and hacks.
WordPress Security Frequently Asked Questions
- Is it safe to open a website on WordPress?
Yes. WordPress is a safe platform with many themes and plugins that will help you run and manage your website efficiently. Additionally, it has a core team comprising of the best engineers in the world that ensure the platform is always safe.
- Why is website security crucial?
Your business can suffer severe damages to revenue and reputation if the website is hacked. The malicious actors can steal sensitive data like login credentials and user information. Also, they can install malware or distribute viruses to your users. Making it worse, the hackers can install ransomware and demand a payoff to give back access to your website.
- How are WordPress websites hacked?
While WordPress does a great job at maintaining website security, negligence on your part can cause security breaches. Many poor practices can put your website at risk. They include insufficient login credentials, installing pirated themes and plugins, postponing updates, and not implementing necessary security measures like SSL and 2FA.
- What can I do to safeguard my website?
It is impossible to make any site completely secure, but you can apply certain measures to minimize the risk of attacks. For example, install themes and plugins from trusted sources, limit login attempts, use strong login credentials and keep the WordPress software up-to-date.
- What is the role of WordPress hosting?
The web hosting service plays an integral part in maintaining the security of your website. A reliable hosting provider should monitor their networks for suspicious activities, offer tools to prevent DDoS attacks, and deploy disaster recovery.
