Security guide
How to Secure a WordPress Website from Hackers
In short
Most WordPress hacks come through out-of-date plugins and weak or reused passwords. Updates, 2FA, a firewall and tested backups stop most attacks.
Close those two doors first and you've dealt with most of the risk. The steps below run roughly in order of impact.
1. Keep everything updated
Core, themes and plugins all ship security fixes. Enable automatic updates for minor releases and patch plugins promptly. Delete any theme or plugin you don't use, because deactivated code can still be attacked.
2. Lock down logins
Use a unique, strong admin password, don't use admin as the username, and turn on two-factor authentication (2FA). Limit login attempts to stop brute-force bots.
3. Put a firewall in front
A Web Application Firewall (WAF) blocks malicious requests before they reach WordPress. Cloudflare or a plugin like Wordfence filters bad traffic and known attack patterns.
4. Force HTTPS
Install a free SSL certificate and redirect all traffic to HTTPS. It encrypts data in transit and is expected by both browsers and Google.
5. Disable what you don't need
Turn off file editing in wp-admin (DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT), disable XML-RPC if unused (a common brute-force vector), and remove default content.
6. Back up
If the worst happens, a recent off-site backup turns a disaster into an inconvenience. Pair backups with malware scanning so you spot a compromise early. See our backup guide.
Managed security & updates
Let us handle updates, monitoring and security patching so your site stays safe.
See managed servicesQuestions
Do I need a security plugin?
A firewall/scanner helps, but updates, strong logins and 2FA matter more. Host-level protection is even better as it works even if WordPress is down.
Is WordPress safe to use?
Yes. It powers a huge share of the web. Keep it updated and configured correctly and it's a safe choice.
What should I do if my site is hacked?
Take it offline, restore from a clean backup, change all passwords, update everything, and scan for malware. We help customers recover and harden their sites.