15 WordPress Security Best Practices to Follow in 2025

Key takeaways:

• WordPress’s popularity makes it a frequent target for automated attacks, so strong security practices are important.
• Protect your site by using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and limiting login attempts.
• A good WordPress hosting provider helps protect your site by offering robust security measures, regular backups, malware scanning, and a hosting environment optimized for WordPress.

WordPress powers over 43% of all websites worldwide. That makes it the most popular website builder out there. Its huge collection of themes, plugins, and integrations gives you lots of flexibility but also means security risks can pop up if you are not careful.

It’s not just WordPress sites that face threats; every website can be vulnerable. But because WordPress is so common, hackers launch automated attacks looking for weak spots on millions of sites at once. They’re not targeting you personally, just hunting for sites with vulnerabilities that could affect your data security.

That’s why following WordPress security best practices is important. Here are some simple ways to protect your WordPress website and keep your data safe.

Use strong passwords

Your password is your website’s first line of defense. It might be tempting to choose something easy, but having a strong password really helps keep your WordPress site secure.

For example, a weak password like Password1234 is pretty easy to guess. On the other hand, something like P@ssW0rD!!1#2#3$4$ is way tougher to crack.

Here are three simple tips to help you create strong passwords:

• Mix uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
• Avoid obvious choices like names or birthdays, and don’t reuse passwords across accounts.
• Use a password manager to make creating and storing complex passwords a breeze.

Keep your login credentials to yourself. If you jot down passwords in your phone’s note app, make sure that app has proper security measures like a password or biometric lock.

Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication adds an extra check when someone tries to log in. It makes sure the person accessing your WordPress site is really who they claim to be. This is done by asking for two different types of proof before allowing access.

This extra step helps limit login attempts from anyone trying to get in without permission.

For WordPress admins and site owners, turning on two factor authentication makes it much harder for hackers to access a WordPress site. This is true even if they somehow get hold of your password.

Limit login attempts

You can limit login attempts to your WordPress site. This method is recommended by WordPress to help protect WordPress users and their user accounts from hackers who try to gain access by guessing passwords through repeated attempts.

For this purpose, consider Limit Login Reloaded. It’s available in the official WordPress Plugin directory and it’s efficiency and popularity makes it a frequently suggested option. It blocks login attempts after a set number of failures. Setting it up is simple. Just download, activate, and configure a few basic settings.

Limiting login attempts helps improve WordPress security. It reduces the chance that someone will gain unauthorized access.

Keep WordPress core, themes, and plugins updated

Keeping your WordPress core software, themes, and plugins up to date is one of the easiest ways to improve WordPress security. Updates bring important fixes and improvements that help protect your site from new threats.

It’s  good  to remove any plugins and themes you’re not using. Old or inactive ones  become easy targets for hackers if they’re not kept up. Getting rid of what you don’t need keeps your site clean and running smoothly.

Check your user accounts now and then to ma ensure only trusted people have access. A reputable security plugin monitors your site and handles other security measures much easier.

Enable a web application firewall (WAF)

Web application firewall automatically scans all incoming traffic to your WordPress site and blocks harmful activity like brute force attacks, malicious code, and malware scanning attempts.

It runs constantly in the background, protecting your WordPress script and server software by stopping threats before they reach your site. This ongoing protection makes WAF highly effective at keeping your site safe from attacks.

Restrict file editing from the dashboard

WordPress users with admin access can interact directly with their site, including editing theme and plugin files from the dashboard. This is why it’s popular among site administrators and developers.

However, if someone unwanted manages to gain access to your administrator account, this feature can become a security risk. They could make harmful changes or inject malicious code.

To reduce this risk, disable file editing. WordPress lets you do that by adding a small line of code to your configuration file. This prevents even admin users from editing WordPress files through the dashboard, adding an important layer of protection.

Here’s how to disable file editing in WordPress:

1. Access your website files using FTP or your hosting control panel’s file manager.
2. Locate the wp-config.php file in the root directory of your WordPress install.
3. Open wp-config.php in a text editor.
4. Find the line that says: /* That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */
5. Add this code just above that line: define(‘DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT’, true);
6. Save the changes and upload the file back to your server if needed.

This simple change will disable theme and plugin file editing from your WordPress dashboard, adding an important layer of security.

Set proper folder or file permissions

As the WordPress admin, you can set your files to 644 and folders to 755 via FTP or your hosting control panel. This means other users will have read-only access—they can view but not change files or folders.

It’s important to apply these settings to each file and folder you want to protect from unwanted edits.

Why do you need to do this?

Many people might work on your site, like writers, designers, or developers, but not everyone should have full access to every file. Setting proper permissions prevents accidental or unauthorized changes that could break your site or create security risks.

Regularly checking and adjusting permissions helps keep your WordPress website secure and running smoothly.

Assign the right user roles (limit access)

WordPress user roles define what each person can do on your site’s dashboard. For example, administrators alone make major changes like installing plugins, while editors manage content but not site settings.

Each user has unique login credentials to access the dashboard. This setup helps keep your site secure by limiting access to only what each user needs.

Assigning the right roles prevents unwanted changes and keeps your site safe. Remember, user roles control dashboard access, but not server files. For full security, you’ll also need to manage file permissions separately.

Monitor site activity

Keeping an eye on what happens on your WordPress site is key to spotting any unusual or suspicious behavior early. Monitoring site activity means tracking things like user logins, content changes, and plugin installations.

There are several plugins that make this easy without needing technical skills:

• WP Activity Log. This tracks user logins, content changes, plugin and theme updates, and more. It offers real-time alerts and detailed reports.
• Activity Log. This logs important site actions and helps you spot suspicious behavior quickly.
• Simple History. This keeps a straightforward log of user activity like post updates, login attempts, and plugin installations.

Using one of these plugins helps you spot security issues early. Regularly checking your site activity keeps your site safe and lets you confirm that only trusted users make changes.

Limit the use of third-party plugins and themes

WordPress is popular because it offers easy-to-use plugins and themes that let you customize your site without needing coding skills. But many of these are third-party plugins and themes, which can introduce risks if not used carefully.

Too many plugins can slow down your site and create security issues, especially if they aren’t updated regularly or come from unreliable sources. Instead of loading up on third-party options, focus on the ones that truly benefit your site. If you need a custom feature, consider a manual solution or working with a developer rather than adding more plugins.

Change the default WordPress login URL

By default, all WordPress users share the same login path. It often appears as yourwebsite.com/wp-login.php or yourwebsite.com/wp-admin. Because of this, bots and hackers know exactly where to go when trying to access your site.

Changing the WP login URL doesn’t affect how your site functions. It simply makes the login page harder to find for anyone who shouldn’t be there. Here’s how you can change your default WordPress login URL

1. Install the WPS Hide Login plugin from the WordPress plugin directory
2. In your dashboard, go to Settings
3. Select WPS Hide Login and enter a new login URL (for example: yourwebsite.com/myaccesspage)
4. Click save

You’ll still log in the same way, just through the new link. Keep this link secure by storing it in a password manager or a private note-taking app with strong security measures.

Automatically log out idle users

Leaving a session open on a shared or public device can be risky. Automatically logging out inactive users helps prevent unauthorized access if someone forgets to log out.

Here’s how you can set it up:

1. Install the Inactive Logout plugin from the WordPress plugin directory.
2. In your dashboard, go to Settings > Inactive Logout.
3. Set the idle timeout duration (e.g., 15 minutes).
4. Customize the logout message if desired.
5. Save your changes.

This logs users out after inactivity. It helps prevent others from trying to gain access to their accounts.

Add CAPTCHA to forms

CAPTCHAs are little puzzles or checkboxes that ask you to prove you’re human. While they might seem like a small hassle, they play a big role in protecting your WordPress site.

CAPTCHAs don’t block actual robots walking around. Instead, they stop automated bots running in the background. These bots try to flood your comments, spam your contact forms, or guess your login credentials.

By adding CAPTCHAs to your site’s forms, you help keep spam and malicious activity away. This makes sure that real users, including those with login credentials, can access your site without trouble.

Disable XML-RPC if you don’t need it

WordPress enables XML-RPC by default. This built-in feature lets you manage your site from mobile devices and remote apps like the WordPress mobile app. It makes remote publishing and management easier.

However, XML-RPC can also be exploited by hackers to try many login attempts quickly or overload your site with fake requests. 

If you don’t use remote tools that require XML-RPC, it’s safer to disable it.  Simply install the Disable XML-RPC plugin or add this code to your .htaccess file:

<Files xmlrpc.php>

Order Deny,Allow

Deny from all

</Files>

Choose a reputable hosting provider for your WordPress website

There are many hosting options available, but it’s best to choose WordPress hosting services. These are specially designed for the WordPress platform and offer better compatibility with features like the wp admin directory and WordPress database.

Look for one that offers the website security you need to keep your site safe and running smoothly. Network Solutions is a trusted partner that provides WordPress hosting with robust security measures, automatic backups, malware scanning, and expert support tailored to your needs.

You’ll know your hosting provider is doing its job right if they help you with things like these:

Scan regularly for malware

Regular scans help catch threats early. They protect your hosting environment from malicious code and known security vulnerabilities. Look for a reputable hosting provider that includes automatic malware scanning in their security measures.

Set up regular backups

 Regular backups  quickly restore your site if something goes wrong. So, choose a hosting account that includes automatic backups and easy restore options. That way, you don’t have to worry about losing your content, settings, or files if there’s an issue.

Activate SSL (HTTPS)

SSL protects the data shared between your site and visitors by encrypting it. Many reputable hosts use cloud proxy servers and offer free SSL certificates to keep your site secure.

Besides website security, having an SSL is important for search engines like Google. Sites with SSL often rank better because search engines flag unsecured sites. It also builds trust with your visitors by showing your site is safe to use.

What you’re protecting against

Knowing what you’re protecting your WordPress website from makes the risks feel more real and urgent. It also gives you a clearer picture of how hackers and bots could spam or damage your site, its users, and your visitors.

Your WordPress site faces several security risks, including:

Brute force attacks

This is when hackers forcefully try to guess your login credentials. They do this manually or use bots to try thousands of combinations. Even if they don’t gain access, repeated login attempts strain your wp admin and hosting environment. 

Malware and malicious code 

Malware can sneak into your WordPress database, root directory, or files without you noticing. It may cause strange redirects, slow site performance, corrupted files, stolen data, or even use your site to spread spam or launch attacks.

Common types include:

• SQL injections. Attackers insert harmful commands into your database to steal or change data.
• Cross-site scripting (XSS). Malicious scripts run in visitors’ browsers to steal info or hijack sessions

Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks

DDoS attacks flood your web server with excessive traffic. This can make your WordPress site slow down or crash, affecting your hosting environment and overall website security. While mainly a disruption, these attacks can also serve as a distraction. During this time, hackers may exploit security vulnerabilities in your WordPress core software, plugins, or server software to gain unauthorized access or inject malicious code.

Phishing attacks

Phishing tricks users into giving away sensitive info through fake websites, emails, or phone numbers. To protect your visitors from phishing attacks, buy common misspellings and variations of your domain so mistyped addresses redirect correctly. Also, register similar email addresses to prevent scammers from impersonating your business. Having an SSL certificate also shows that your site is secure and builds visitor trust.

Take charge of your WordPress security today

Remember that attacks are usually automated and don’t target any one site specifically. But just one weak spot can lead to big problems. It’s easier and less stressful to prevent issues than to fix them later.

Every small step you take makes your site stronger and safer. You don’t have to do everything at once. Start with what’s manageable and make security part of your regular routine.

Network Solutions has everything you need to get started. With our selection of WordPress hosting plans, you can easily secure and optimize your site. Take control of your site’s security today.

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