WordPress Security Checklist
As the WordPress software is regularly updated, there is always a chance of security flaw in the WordPress core. WordPress Security Tips will help you keep the blog or the website safe from the hacking and other flaws in security. In order to protect your website or blog from security issues, you can make use of the tips explained in this checklist. This is very simple checklist that can help you manage the security of the website.
Update WordPress
WordPress security updates should be taken seriously. You should update your WordPress blog regularly whenever there is an update. Some of the updates do break the backend sometimes but the fixes are made very quickly, so you have nothing to lose when you update quickly once the core is updated. Along with the Plugins, you should also update the Themes on regular basis, so that they don't contain any code that is unsafe or breaks your WordPress functionality.
WordPress Security Checklist
You can access all the security checkpoints and essential security tips in this new book - WordPress Security Checklist
Backup WordPress
You should regularly backup data whenever you update your WordPress. Other than updates that you make during core updates, consider making weekly or monthly backup points. There are plenty of cloud services that can be used to backup the WordPress core. There are plugins that you can use to upload the backup to dropbox, box, copy and similar other cloud backup services.
Secure Hosting
There are plenty of shared hosts that are charging low amount for the WordPress hosting. I suggest choosing secure wordpress host If you are serious about your web presence. Cheap hosting services are often the target of hackers so make sure you choose the hosting service carefully. Don't compromise with the Security of the hosting service, you'll save a lot of money and hassles by investing into secure hosting. WPengine offers secure hosting for the performance critical blogs and website.
Secure Passwords
It is very important that you use strong passwords for WordPress dashboard. The stronger password is what will keep the website safe from the hacker attack. The easy passwords are usually cracked by the hackers. You can use apps likes Lastpass, KeePass, 1Password and DashLane.
Don't Use "admin" as your username
The default admin username is often the target of attack by many hacking scripts. In order to save your default admin account from the script attacks, It is better to create a new user account and assign the admin role to it. This way your new admin level account will not be under attack by typical script attack that are made on "admin" account. Make sure you also choose the strong password for the new admin level account.
Limit Login Attempts to Dashboard
If you don't use the WordPress dashboard on regular basis, you can consider limiting the login attempts. Make sure you have the autologin software on your desktop if you choose to use this feature. As that will save you from getting limited during the authorization if you type the password incorrectly. There are some of the plugins that can do this job so choose a suite of plugins that can do this task along with other security hacks.
Prevent SQL Injection
Use the security measures to avoid SQL injection on your web server. Make sure you have used enough measures to stop the hackers from injecting the SQL scripts on your site. Rename the MySQL database, modify the .htaccess file and make the file permission of your files to more restrictive role. e.g. CHMOD to 755 or 644 are restrictive permissions for the files.
Use Security Plugins
Try to use popular and regularly updated Security plugins for the WordPress install. Also regularly do the security audit of these plugin to see if they are not affecting the performance of the plugins. Here are some of the plugins that you can use for making your site more secure.
- AntiVirus
- WP Security Scan
- Login Security Solution
You can check out some of the WordPress Security Snippets.
