How to Make Your WordPress Website the Most Secure
WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) used by bloggers, small businesses, and big brands alike. With its lightweight coding and ease of use, anyone can set up a basic blog in no time at all.
But, as with any other piece of software or online platform, there are ways in which you can take advantage of WordPress’ simplicity and make it more secure.
In this article, we’ll share simple and actionable tips on how to accomplish this.
Use a Free DNS Service
One of the first things you’ll want to do to make your WordPress website more secure is to change the DNS (Domain Name Service) record associated with your website. You can register a free domain name with any of the popular domain name registrars, such as GoDaddy, and point it to your server. Doing this makes your website accessible via a wider audience, since the DNS will be hosted on a remote server and not on your own computer.
For the best user experience, always register a few days (or weeks) before you need the DNS services. You can find more information about how to register a domain name at https://help.godaddy.com/article/000541.
Use Two-Factor Authentication
Another great way to make your WordPress website more secure is to set up two-factor authentication (2fa) for your accounts. 2fa adds an extra layer of security to your account by requiring a second factor, such as a code sent to your phone or an authentication token, to login. You can find more information about how to set up 2fa at https://help.godaddy.com/article/000540.
Create a Strong Password
Passwords should be unique and strong, but most importantly, they should be complex enough to keep hackers out, but easy enough for everyone to remember. Since the strength of your password determines whether or not others can access your account, it’s important to choose a strong password and regularly change it.
You can use any kind of unique token, such as a pass-phrase, to generate your password. You should also avoid using simple or common passwords, or any passwords that are easily guessed, since an imposter might gain access to your account.
If you followed the steps above, you’ve made it quite a bit more difficult for someone to access your WordPress account. But to be extra safe, you should take the additional step of changing the password on your WordPress website account regularly. You can use a password manager to create and store strong passwords for all your accounts, making it even safer to use.
Use a VPN
Protecting your personal information and keeping your devices safe from malware and hackers is essential, which is why you need to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) when accessing public Wi-Fi. A VPN creates a secure tunnel between your device and a remote server, allowing you to hide your identity and access content, applications, and networks, as you please. NordVPN is a popular choice among bloggers and other content creators, due to its generous signing up offers and amazing customer support, which is available 24/7/365 via phone, email, or live chat.
Use Plugins
WordPress comes with a variety of useful and popular plugins, or add-ons, which are pieces of software that extend the functionality of the platform. One of the most useful plugins for security is the Login Security plugin, which creates a login screen at the top of every page, preventing access to your content until a user has successfully logged in. This is a great way to protect your site’s most valuable information and keep your visitors guessing.
Another great privacy-related plugin is Hide My Email, which prevents email addresses from being included in posts and comments. If a user tries to leave a comment including their email address, the comment will be held for moderation.
Use Strong SSL Credentials
Secure Socket Layer (SSL) is a protocol that provides a secure channel for exchanging confidential information, such as account login credentials, over the Internet. When a website initiates an SSL connection with your browser, your browser will notify you that the website you’re visiting is encrypted and that data being sent to the website is secure. Https:// (or the more industry-standard https://) indicate the website is secure and that you can be sure any personal information sent to the site will be encrypted and safe.
Be Careful Where You Type Your Passphrase
If you’ve been diligent and followed the steps above, setting up two-factor authentication for your WordPress website account should make it much more difficult for an imposter to gain access to your account. But, if you’re not careful where you type your passphrase, hackers could potentially still gain access to your accounts, even if you used strong passwords and 2fa.
To prevent this from happening, you need to be sure that your passphrase is never shared with anyone. You can do this by, first of all, not sharing it with anyone. Secondly, only ever typing it into the login screen and never using it elsewhere, such as a storage file or an email.
Keeping your WordPress website secure is as easy as following these tips. Doing so makes it much more difficult for hackers to gain access to your account, protecting your personal information and ensuring a safe and secure experience while you navigate content on your website.