WordPress Security for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Hardening Guide

Are you struggling to stop brute-force attacks on your website? Have you implemented every security measure but are still facing heavy DDoS attacks? Website developers must understand common security issues and take proactive steps to harden WordPress security.

With the growing influence of the internet in every aspect of life, websites are increasingly handling private and sensitive customer data. A security breach can lead to your website being hacked, causing significant setbacks even for well-established businesses. Such violations can severely damage your reputation, which might be challenging to repair. As a web developer, it’s crucial to assess the security risks your website is exposed to and take appropriate measures.

Hardening WordPress security can seem complex, but it’s necessary. At Wp peoples , a WordPress theme generator, I’m here to help you better understand WordPress security. This beginner-friendly tutorial explains techniques to minimize and manage the security risks associated with your WordPress website. These methods are general enough to benefit other Content Management Systems (CMS) like Joomla, Magento, and more.

Understanding and Implementing WordPress Security Hardening

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems and, unfortunately, a frequent target for hackers. According to W3Techs, WordPress powers over 25% of all websites worldwide. WordPress has evolved beyond being a blogging platform, with many sites serving diverse purposes. However, one of the worst fears for any WordPress developer is experiencing a malicious hacking attack on their site.

Hacking incidents are alarmingly common, with 38.9% of developers reporting a security breach within the past 12 months. WordPress Security Hardening involves taking precautionary and preventive measures to secure your WordPress site. These steps protect your website or blog from hackers and vulnerabilities.

Why WordPress Security Hardening Is More Crucial Than Ever

Security is a top priority for organizations today. A well-regarded resource for web application security is OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project), a non-profit online community. OWASP provides valuable articles, tools, and technologies focused on web security. Their website is a comprehensive resource for understanding the latest vulnerabilities, threats, attacks, and countermeasures.

At Wp peoples, a website maker and WordPress theme builder, we’ll explore security from a WordPress perspective. This includes identifying WordPress vulnerabilities, addressing security concerns, and understanding effective strategies and techniques for hardening WordPress security.

Addressing and Hardening WordPress Security Issues

Some believe WordPress is inherently prone to security vulnerabilities and unsuitable for secure business websites. This perception is often accurate for various reasons. For instance, according to a Q2 2016 report by Sucuri, WordPress accounted for 74% of the infected websites they analyzed, highlighting its prominence as a target for hackers.

In many cases, website hacking occurs because users continue to follow poor security practices. These include using outdated WordPress software, improper system administration, and mishandling credentials. Beginner WordPress users often lack the knowledge to implement adequate security measures, leaving their websites vulnerable. On the other hand, advanced users may mistakenly believe that once security practices are implemented, their websites are protected indefinitely. They fail to recognize the importance of regularly reviewing, updating, and improving security measures to address evolving threats.

Why Hackers Target WordPress Websites

According to an investigation reported by WordPress security firm WP White Security, 73% of the 40,000 most popular WordPress websites are vulnerable to attacks.

WordPress’s popularity as the leading CMS has created a vast ecosystem, including over 42,000 plugins. Plugins are an essential asset for any WordPress site, with an average of over 10 plugins used on most websites. While WordPress’s greatest strength lies in its extensibility, it contributes significantly to its security vulnerabilities.

A survey conducted by Wordfence found that approximately 61.1% of WordPress sites are heavily customized. With countless theme and plugin combinations, vulnerabilities are persistent and continually introduced. Each new plugin or update can add additional vulnerabilities, emphasizing the need for vigilance in securing WordPress websites.

Understanding Common WordPress Vulnerabilities

There are three main components of WordPress that are critical from a security standpoint:

  • Core – The basic default WordPress installation files that provide most of the platform’s functionality.
  • Plugins – Additional code that enhances and extends the basic functionality of WordPress.
  • Themes – The presentation layer may offer some limited extended functionality.

It’s important to note that WordPress security vulnerabilities extend beyond just the core files, including third-party themes and plugins. According to a recent report by wpscan.org, out of 3,972 known WordPress security vulnerabilities:

52% are related to WordPress plugins
37% are from the core WordPress files
11% are associated with WordPress themes

The primary goal of a website hacker is to gain unauthorized access to your WordPress site, typically with administrative privileges. Hackers can do this through the WordPress dashboard or on the server by injecting malicious scripts or files. Additionally, hacking isn’t always carried out by an individual; automated systems are often used for such attacks.

Standard Terms Used to Describe Hacking Systems

  • Single Bot: An automated system that can simultaneously target one site at a time or a small number of sites. These attacks are typically unsophisticated.
  • Manual Hacker: A person who manually hacks into systems, attacking one site at a time. While this method is slower, it tends to be more thorough.
  • Botnet: A network of computers that simultaneously attack multiple sites at once. These attacks are unsophisticated, but the large number of computers and IPs involved makes them more complex and harder to stop.

Two Main Types of Attacks Against WordPress Websites

Non-targeted Automated Attacks These generic attacks exploit known vulnerabilities. They often work by scanning a range of IP addresses and searching for specific versions of WordPress or plugins that are vulnerable to exploitation.

Targeted Attacks These occur when a hacker specifically targets a particular website. Popular websites are particularly at risk of such attacks.

Common Security Issues and Risks Associated with WordPress :

1.Brute Force Attacks:
These attacks involve repeatedly attempting multiple username and password combinations until the correct one is found. Brute force attacks exploit the WordPress login screen to gain access to the website. By default, WordPress doesn’t limit login attempts, allowing bots to attack the login page using this method.

2.File Inclusion Exploits:

WordPress runs on PHP code in the backend, and vulnerabilities in this code are a common security issue. File inclusion exploits occur when vulnerable code is used to load unsafe remote files, allowing hackers to access the website and its wp-config.php file.

3.SQL Injections:

WordPress uses SQL to query the database, making it vulnerable to SQL injection attacks. In these attacks, an attacker gains access to the WordPress database and website data. The hacker might create a new admin user account, granting them full access to the site. SQL injections can also insert malicious data, such as links to spam or harmful websites.

4.Cross-site Scripting (XSS):

XSS vulnerabilities are common in WordPress plugins and can be pretty complex. In an XSS attack, the attacker tricks a victim into loading a web page with insecure JavaScript, which allows the attacker to steal data from the vulnerable WordPress website.

5.Cross-site Request Forgery (CSRF):

CSRF is a hacking technique that tricks users into performing unwanted actions, typically within a web application where authentication is already established. For example, a phishing email might contain a link that, when clicked, causes the victim to delete their WordPress admin account.

6.Malware:

Malware refers to malicious software that gains unauthorized access to a website to steal sensitive data. While WordPress isn’t vulnerable to every type of malware, there are several common types of infections, including:

  • Backdoors
  • Drive-by Downloads
  • Pharma Hacks
  • Malicious Redirects

Securing and Hardening WordPress Websites

The first step in hardening WordPress security is keeping your website up-to-date and informed about the latest vulnerabilities. This way, you can update your site promptly to address new threats. However, updating WordPress alone isn’t enough. You must address several other issues to truly secure your WordPress website.

Key Aspects of WordPress That Need Protection

It’s not just about protecting the website and its files; safeguarding user and customer data is equally crucial. The WordPress MySQL database, which serves as the backend for WordPress, stores this sensitive information.
The primary focus should be on protecting customer data. If the website is insecure, it becomes vulnerable to hacking, and once compromised, the data may become impossible to recover.
Additionally, protecting your website itself is essential. This includes securing website files. If attackers can read or modify your website files or source code, they can steal user data and gain administrative access. Once the files are compromised, the user data is also at risk.

Effective Methods for Hardening WordPress Security

As discussed earlier, there are numerous security practices for beginners and advanced users. The key is to identify WordPress vulnerabilities and implement techniques and tools to mitigate them. This article covers some of the standard WordPress vulnerabilities and corresponding countermeasures. Below, we’ll provide a quick overview of fundamental techniques for hardening WordPress security, followed by more detailed discussions of advanced issues and how to address them with greater effort.

10 Simple Ways to Harden WordPress Security for DIY Users

1. Backup Your Website:

The most crucial step is to regularly back up your website data. You can restore your website from a non-infected backup if it is hacked. It’s essential to store backup data in a trusted location and remove outdated backups from your site to avoid any potential security risks.

2. Pick a Reliable WordPress Host:

When selecting a WordPress host, you can choose between shared hosts, managed hosts, and other options. It’s essential to set up proper server permissions and follow proactive security practices. Server hardening is a key component in securing WordPress, and security measures at both hardware and software levels are essential. Select a reliable hosting provider and carefully consider your hosting setup.

3. Use Reputable Themes and Plugins:

Download add-ons from trusted sources to reduce the risk of exposure to hackers. Popular WordPress theme and plugin developers often undergo third-party audits from companies like Sucuri before releasing their products. Although vulnerabilities can still occur, these developers are typically more proactive in addressing security concerns.

4. Use Secure Protocols:

Ensure that communication between your web server and browser is done through secure protocols. Using HTTPS encrypts communication, protecting data between the browser and server. Follow your hosting provider’s instructions to enable HTTPS, and then edit the “.htaccess” and “wp-config.php” files accordingly. Additionally, use sFTP instead of FTP for file transfers, as sFTP employs strong encryption and works on SSH, which is typically pre-installed on most web servers.

5. Change the WordPress Login URL:

The default login URL for WordPress is domain.com/wp-admin, which is well-known to bots, hackers, and hacking scripts. Changing the login URL can better protect your site from brute-force attacks. You can change the WordPress login URL from the “General” section in the settings.

6. Use a Strong Username & Password:

As a WordPress admin, it’s crucial to follow strong password practices. Use complex passwords, avoid sharing them, and change them regularly. These simple steps significantly improve your site’s security.

7. Enable WordPress Two-Factor Authentication:

It’s important to make logging into your accounts as secure as possible. Use unique, hard-to-guess usernames and passwords across all your accounts, not just for WordPress. Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring both a password and a time-sensitive code to log in, significantly reducing the chances of successful brute-force attacks.

8. Restrict Access to Critical Areas of Your WordPress Website:

  • Manually Change the Default WordPress Settings in the wp-config.php File:
  • Secure your “wp-config.php” file from its default location to one Directory above the WordPress installation. To do this, copy all its contents to a new file and add a PHP include statement in the original wp-config.php file to link to the new file’s location.
  • Secure the .htaccess File:
  • Add appropriate allow and deny rules to your .htaccess file to restrict unauthorized access. Additionally, disable XML-RPC in the .htaccess file, as keeping XML-RPC enabled can expose your site to brute force and denial of service attacks. It’s preferable to disable XML-RPC in the settings altogether.
  • Set Correct Permissions on Directories and Files:
  • Adjust the permissions of your WordPress installation and web server files accordingly. For example, set the permissions of the wp-config.php file to 440 or 400 to prevent unauthorized users from reading or modifying it.

Add Server Access Control:

WordPress operates under the default web server role “Apache/apache.” Consider creating a new user to default and limit the webserver user’s rights. This will help minimize exposure to unauthorized access.

  • Assign Appropriate User Roles:
  • Avoid assigning the “Administrator” role unless necessary. Admin privileges grant access to sensitive site data and settings. Use WordPress’s various user roles and permissions to restrict access and enhance data security.
  • Password Protect the wp-admin Directory:
  • To increase security, add a layer of authentication to the wp-admin Directory in addition to the login password. For instructions on how to set this up, refer to relevant guides or documentation.
  • Disable Directory Browsing and File Editing:
  • Disable directory browsing in WordPress to prevent attackers from viewing file structures. Also, disable the File Editor in the WordPress Admin panel, as hackers often exploit the Appearance Editor to modify PHP files or themes. Add the ‘DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT’ rule in the wp-config.php file to prevent unauthorized file access without FTP access.

Now, Add Server Access Control:

WordPress operates under the default web server role “Apache/apache.” It’s advisable to create a new user as the default and restrict permissions for the web server user.
Assign the appropriate user roles. Avoid assigning the administrator role unless it’s necessary. Admin privileges grant extensive permissions, so using different user roles and restricting access to sensitive data helps protect against “sensitive data exposure.”
The password protects the “wp-admin” directory and adds an extra security layer beyond the login credentials. Further details on implementing this can be found here.
Disable directory browsing in WordPress and the File Editor in the WordPress Admin panel. Hackers often attempt to edit PHP files or themes using the Appearance Editor. You can prevent this by adding the ‘DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT’ rule in the wp-config.php file, making it impossible for hackers to access files without FTP access.

9. Run Scheduled Malware Scans:

Run scheduled malware scans to monitor potential infections. Most scanning tools report the website’s malware status, helping you stay informed and proactive.

10. Keep Your WordPress Site Updated:

Update your WordPress site regularly to prevent security vulnerabilities. This includes updating the core WordPress software and any premium plugins or themes. Additionally, renew licenses for premium plugins and themes to receive updates.

11. Use a WordPress Security Plugin:

Install a WordPress security plugin to enhance the protection of your website. Most security plugins offer options to configure essential and recommended security settings. Using a single, comprehensive security solution is a safe and convenient approach.

Popular security plugins include:

  • iThemes Security: Available in free and premium versions, iThemes provides over 30 ways to harden WordPress security.
  • WordFence: This plugin, also available in free and premium versions, boasts a strong user base with over 11 million downloads.
  • Sucuri: Sucuri offers a free plugin and a more comprehensive premium service that includes malware and blocklist scanning, DDoS protection, malware cleanup, and more. The service also provides cleanup options if the site becomes compromised.

Advanced Techniques for Hardening WordPress Security

The Current OWASP Top 10

A1 – Injection
A2 – Broken Authentication and Session Management
A3 – Cross-Site Scripting XSS
A4 – Insecure Direct Object References
A5 – Security Misconfiguration
A6 – Sensitive Data Exposure
A7 – Missing Function Level Access Control
A8 – Cross-Site Request Forgery
A9 – Using Components with Known Vulnerabilities
A10 – Invalidated Redirects and Forwards
The chart below illustrates the distribution of the most common vulnerability trends and highlights the associated security risks for applications.

Approximately 32% of these attacks stem from A3 – Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) or A1 – Injection. Another 20% of the attacks are carried out through unknown methods, offering no background data about the attacks. The remaining attacks resulted from various methods, many of which are listed in the OWASP Top 10. For more information on these security risks, refer to the OWASP Top 10 – 2013.

WordPress is generally secure as long as developers adhere to standard security practices. The advanced security tips below are intended to offer additional protection and involve more complex methods for hardening WordPress security. These techniques require a thorough understanding and should ideally be tested on a staging or test site before being implemented on a live site. Detailed coding instructions for most of these methods can be found here.

1. Disable HTTP TRACE Method

Cross-Site Tracing (XST) and Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks exploit systems with HTTP TRACE functionality enabled. HTTP TRACE is a default feature on most web servers primarily used for debugging. Hackers leveraging XST can steal cookies and other sensitive data through malicious header requests. To mitigate this risk, you can turn off the TRACE functionality by adding the following directive to your .htaccess file:

RewriteEngine On RewriteCond %{REQUEST_METHOD} ^TRACE RewriteRule .* - [F]

2.Remove Header Outputs from WordPress Installation

WordPress often includes additional header output specific to various WordPress services. To clean up and remove this output, you can add the following code to your theme’s functions.php file:

remove_action('wp_head', 'index_rel_link'); remove_action('wp_head', 'feed_links', 2); remove_action('wp_head', 'feed_links_extra', 3); remove_action('wp_head', 'rsd_link'); remove_action('wp_head', 'wlwmanifest_link'); remove_action('wp_head', 'parent_post_rel_link', 10, 0); remove_action('wp_head', 'start_post_rel_link', 10, 0); remove_action('wp_head', 'adjacent_posts_rel_link_wp_head', 10, 0); remove_action('wp_head', 'wp_generator'); remove_action('wp_head', 'wp_shortlink_wp_head', 10, 0); remove_action('wp_head', 'noindex', 1);

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3.Change Default WordPress DB Prefix

WordPress uses the default prefix “wp_” for its database tables, making it easier for hackers and bots to predict your database table names. Changing the database prefix enhances security. It’s simpler to modify this during installation by updating the wp-config.php file. However, if your site is already live, the process requires additional steps:

  • Do a full database backup and save the backup somewhere. You may use a backup tool for this.
    Do a complete dump of your WordPress database using “PHPMyAdmin” into a text file. You may also take a backup of this text file.
  • Replace all instances of “wp_” with your own prefix using a code editor.
  • In the admin panel, deactivate all plugins.
  • Using the “PHPMyAdmin”, remove the old DB and import the new one using the file edited in step 3.
  • Edit the wp-config.php file with the new DB prefix value.
  • Re-activate the WP plugins
  • Perform a save on the permalink settings by going to Settings->Permalinks. This would refresh the permalink structure.

4. Deny Potentially Dangerous Strings

Identify potentially harmful query strings and add the following code to your .htaccess file to help prevent XSS attacks. This set of rules will remove many dangerous injection attempts from URL requests. While the code covers standard malicious strings, you can customize it further by adding additional strings. Be cautious, as blocking certain strings might disrupt the functionality of some plugins or themes if they rely on those strings.

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_METHOD} ^(HEAD|TRACE|DELETE|TRACK) [NC] RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ../ [NC,OR] RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} boot.ini [NC,OR] RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} tag= [NC,OR] RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ftp: [NC,OR] RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} http: [NC,OR] RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} https: [NC,OR] RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} mosConfig [NC,OR] RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ^.*([|]|(|)|<|>|'|"|;|?|*).* [NC,OR] RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ^.*(%22|%27|%3C|%3E|%5C|%7B|%7C).* [NC,OR] RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ^.*(%0|%A|%B|%C|%D|%E|%F|127.0).* [NC,OR] RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ^.*(globals|encode|config|localhost|loopback).* [NC,OR] RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ^.*(request|select|insert|union|declare|drop).* [NC] RewriteRule ^(.*)$ - [F,L]

5. Strengthen Your System with PHP Hardening

Implement and enable a PHP hardening system on your server to enhance security. This step provides additional protection against various vulnerabilities, ensuring your system is robust against potential threats.

6. Hide Your WordPress Version

Ensure the version of WordPress you’re using is hidden from public view. If visible, hackers can identify potential vulnerabilities to exploit. Starting with WordPress 2.6, the version number is automatically added to the WP_head section. You can remove this by editing the header.php file to eliminate the version details from being displayed.

7. Implement Login Lockout for Failed Attempts

Even with strong password protection, determined hackers may attempt to crack your WordPress admin credentials. One effective defense against brute-force attacks is to lock out users after a certain number of failed login attempts. This feature temporarily blocks users from logging in for a specified period after exceeding the failed attempt limit. Most WordPress security plugins offer this functionality, making it easy to implement.

How to Check if Your WordPress Site Has Been Hacked

Even the most vigilant system administrators cannot monitor their site constantly. Additionally, even the most advanced monitoring tools may have delays between scans. However, there are several methods you can use to detect if your site has been hacked.

  • Your browser would in most cases alert you about the hack.
  • Your hosting provider takes your site offline because it is hacked.
  • Google search results flag your site as hacked or harmful.
  • Google’s search console alerts you to malware on your site.
  • Your malware scanner alerts you to an infection or hack.
  • A customer contacts you about your site being hacked.
  • Use a source code scanner to detect a hack.
  • Use a monitoring service to detect if more than a very small percentage of the page has changed.
  • Monitor site traffic and watch for increasing activity spikes.
  • Visit your Site Regularly for sanity checks.
  • Use a Remote Scanner that looks at the HTML that your site produces. This detects a hack if the
  • hacker includes malware in the HTML.

More details on these methods can be found here.

How to Fix a Hacked WordPress Site

Can You Recover a Hacked WordPress Site or Is All Data Lost?
A hacked WordPress site doesn’t mean all your data is lost. In most cases, a hacked website can be successfully recovered. Here’s how it can be done:

  • Restore your website from backup if available. Change all passwords immediately.
  • If you can log in to the site as admin, then remove the hacked files and seal the point of entry.
    Scan and remove malware.
  • If you cannot log in to the site then ask for help from your web host.
  • Backup important files and reinstall WordPress.Contact professional services if you cannot do anything to restore your site.
  • Contact professional services if you cannot do anything to restore your site.

Best Practices for Hardening WordPress Security: Focusing on Risk Reduction Rather Than Elimination

We have explored various methods to improve the security of your WordPress site. It is widely acknowledged that risk reduction is more effective than risk elimination. Risk reduction is a proactive approach that keeps you protected in various scenarios. Security is about minimizing risks, not eliminating them, as achieving zero risk is impossible. Therefore, it is essential to implement security measures that address the specific risks and threats your site faces.
Now, let’s summarize the best security practices that, when followed, will help harden your WordPress site. These practices will significantly reduce the likelihood of attacks and vulnerabilities, keeping your site secure.

  • Make WordPress core code updates quickly. You can also auto-configure the updates.
  • Proactively upgrade plugins and themes as new versions become available.
  • Prevent sniffed login attempts by adding password protection.
  • Enforce strong passwords.
  • Actively block and log incoming security attacks.
  • Ensure proper file permissions, isolate sites, and decouple databases.
  • Conduct frequent, proactive vulnerability and malware scanning on all systems.
  • Perform regular penetration tests by independent security experts. Track remediation of the
  • findings of these test. Train application developers and architects in secure development.
  • Apply procedures for secure development.
  • Report Bugs and Vulnerabilities.
  • Keep track of Zero-day vulnerabilities. If it is zero-day, then you need to work closely with the vendor to find out when a fix will release and then apply that fix.

Bonus: Check out this Security Index created by Brian Jackson at Kinsta, which serves as a comprehensive resource for all your WordPress security needs.

Hardening WordPress Security – Stay Aware and Be Proactive

We know that WordPress security is an ongoing process. It’s crucial to focus on hardening WordPress security to keep your WordPress sites safe and secure. This effort prevents malicious activities that can harm websites, web servers, and users’ devices, including PCs, tablets, and smartphones.

As WordPress is a widely used CMS, ample knowledge is available about WordPress security. Staying informed about security hardening practices and integrating them into your workflow is essential. While performing maintenance on your website and web server, always prioritize security. This gives you better control over your web content and helps make the Internet a safer place. Don’t forget to explore the best WordPress firewall plugins and top WordPress security plugins and compare services like Sucuri vs. Cloudflare and CDN providers.

[bctt tweet=”SEC_RITY is incomplete without “U” (you).” username=”Wp peoples

How Wp peoples Website Builder Contributes to Hardening WordPress Security

Developing robust security for WordPress sites can be challenging. Whether you do it alone or work with a security partner, ensuring every detail is covered is problematic. Active hardening of WordPress security is essential for maintaining the safety and success of your site.

Developers can choose a managed WordPress platform or tool to ensure comprehensive security hardening for their WordPress environments. Wp peoples, a web design software, is widely recognized for creating secure websites across multiple CMS platforms, including Joomla, Magento, Drupal, and Prestashop. WordPress themes were developed using Wp peoples
to adhere to WordPress security standards. Incorporating Wp peoples into your workflow gives you access to various securely implemented themes, ensuring enhanced security for your WordPress site.

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