10 Tips to Harden Your WordPress Security
WordPress’s popularity is exactly why it’s such a frequent target: automated attacks scan the internet constantly for any WordPress site running outdated software, weak passwords, or a known vulnerable plugin. The good news is that hardening a WordPress site against many common automated attacks takes a manageable, specific set of steps.
To harden WordPress security: keep core, themes and plugins updated, use strong unique passwords with two-factor authentication, limit login attempts, remove unused plugins and themes, disable file editing from the dashboard, use a security plugin, restrict wp-admin access, keep regular backups, use secure file permissions, and install SSL.
These build on the general principles in our guide to securing any website from hackers; the tips below are specific to what makes WordPress sites distinctly vulnerable.
1. Keep Core, Themes and Plugins Updated
Many WordPress compromises exploit a known vulnerability in an outdated version of core, a theme, or a plugin, vulnerabilities that are usually already patched in the current release. Keeping WordPress, themes and plugins updated closes a major and frequently exploited attack surface.
2. Use Strong, Unique Passwords and Two-Factor Authentication
Every admin account should use a strong, unique password, and two-factor authentication should be enabled for all administrator accounts, since weak or reused passwords remain one of the most common entry points for automated attacks.
3. Limit Login Attempts
WordPress’s default login page has no built-in limit on failed attempts, making it an easy target for automated password-guessing (brute force) attacks. A security plugin that locks out an IP address after several failed attempts closes this gap.
4. Remove Unused Plugins and Themes
Every inactive plugin or theme still sitting on a site is a potential vulnerability, even when switched off. A regular audit and removal of anything not actively in use meaningfully reduces overall attack surface.
5. Disable File Editing From the Dashboard
WordPress includes a built-in code editor accessible from the admin dashboard, which, if an attacker gains admin access, gives them a simple way to directly edit theme or plugin files. Disabling this (via a single line added to wp-config.php, or through a security plugin) removes that specific risk.
6. Use a Reputable Security Plugin
A well-regarded WordPress security plugin bundles several of these protections, firewall rules, malware scanning, login limiting, into one dashboard, and is one of the highest-value single additions to a WordPress site’s defences.
7. Restrict Access to wp-admin
Since automated attacks specifically target the default /wp-admin login path, the meaningful control is restricting who can reach it at all, by IP address where practical, or by adding an extra layer of authentication at the server level. Some site owners also rename or obscure the login URL as a minor, supplementary step, but this alone does not stop a targeted attacker and should not be treated as a substitute for actually restricting access.
8. Keep Regular, Offsite Backups
No hardening measure is 100% guaranteed, which is exactly why a current, tested, offsite backup is what actually saves a site if an attack does succeed; see our guide to website backups.
9. Use Secure File and Folder Permissions
Overly permissive file permissions on a WordPress installation can let an attacker who gains limited access escalate that into full control. Standard, restrictive permissions (typically 644 for files and 755 for folders) should be the default on any properly configured hosting account.
10. Install an SSL Certificate
Encrypting traffic to and from the WordPress admin login page specifically prevents login credentials from being intercepted in transit; see our guide to SSL certificates if this isn’t already active.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WordPress inherently less secure than other platforms?
No. WordPress’s security record is comparable to other major platforms; its scale and popularity simply make it a frequent target for automated attacks, most of which succeed only against sites missing the basic hardening steps above.
How do I know if my WordPress site has already been compromised?
Warning signs include unexpected redirects, unfamiliar admin users, a sudden drop in search rankings, browser security warnings, or unusual resource usage flagged by your host. A malware scan is the most reliable way to confirm.
Do free security plugins provide enough protection?
Many free security plugins cover the core essentials, login limiting, basic firewall rules, malware scanning, adequately for most small business sites; higher-traffic or higher-risk sites may benefit from a premium plugin’s more advanced features.
How often should I update WordPress plugins?
As soon as practical after an update is released, ideally after a quick check that it won’t conflict with your specific setup; delaying updates significantly increases exposure to known, already-patched vulnerabilities.
What is the single most effective WordPress hardening step?
Keeping core, themes and plugins updated addresses the largest share of real-world WordPress compromises, since most attacks exploit vulnerabilities that a current update has already fixed.
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