How to Use SSL for Entire Website WordPress
OpenSSL is an open source toolkit developers use to create encryption standards that are trusted by the entire Web. Some of the more common uses of OpenSSL are creating certificates that can be used by servers and clients to secure communications between each other, generating random key bits for website passwords, and managing digital signatures for emails. Let’s take a closer look at how you can integrate SSL into the WordPress environment to make your site more secure.
Enable For Entire Website Only
Since WordPress is a “general-purpose” CMS, it can be used to build a variety of web properties. If you’re looking to secure your website using SSL, you might be tempted to enable the security feature for the entire website. While this is a common configuration for many blogs, you should always keep in mind the specific requirements of your site’s content. If any part of your site doesn’t need to be encrypted for security reasons, you should leave it unencrypted. In other words, if you’re running a travel agency site, you don’t need to encrypt the communication between your customers’ browsers and your servers.
Implement Strong Passwords
There are many reasons why you might want to implement a password policy for your WordPress site. You can use a strong password to make it more difficult for hackers to break into your site. Additionally, if your site gets hacked, having a strong password could help you regain control of your site. Finally, if you use the same password for multiple accounts (e.g., your email, social, and blog accounts), it could cause problems if any of these accounts are compromised. For these reasons, it’s a good idea to require users to use passwords that are at least eight characters long and contain a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. If you run a blog that gets a lot of traffic, you can use our free WordPress security audit to find security holes in your site and, eventually, patch them.
Use Two-Factor Authentication
If you use the same password for your account on multiple services, it’s a good idea to use two-factor authentication (2FA). In order to use 2FA with Google, you will need to install the Google Authenticator app onto your phone. Once you have the app installed, you will be able to set up an authenticator code for each account that you want to use 2FA with. When you log into your account using your password, you will also need to input the authenticator code in order to verify that you are, in fact, who you say you are. While 2FA adds an additional layer of security, it also forces you to keep your phone near you at all times. If someone gets access to your phone, they can easily bypass your two-factor authentication and lock you out of your account. To avoid this, you should change your password occasionally (at least once every three months) and disable your phone’s keychain access (if you use a Mac).
You can find more information about how to properly use 2FA on your WordPress site in our guide. In order to use 2FA with Facebook, you will need to install the Facebook app onto your phone and log into your account using your password. When you log into your account using Facebook’s two-factor authentication, you will also need to input your password and the device’s four-digit code that was generated by the Facebook app.
Use A VPN To Secure Your Website
A virtual private network (VPN) creates a secure connection between your computer or mobile device and a server operated by a company that you trust. Your computer or device will connect to the VPN server, and everything that you send over the secure connection will be encrypted. You can use a VPN to access blocked websites and apps, to ensure that your personal data stays private when you are online. Many VPNs will also give you additional security by enabling “kill switches” that will terminate your connection if the VPN server is interfered with or taken down by a third party. To learn more, check out our guide to using a VPN with your WordPress site.
The above suggestions should help get you started. If you follow them and choose a strong password, require two-factor authentication, and use a VPN to secure your website, you’ll be giving yourself a fighting chance at staying secure online.