Enhancing WordPress Security on Your VPS Server: Essential Tips
Greetings! Welcome to my tutorial. In this series, I plan to cover various aspects of WordPress, delving into different sections for those interested in mastering this versatile platform.
For today’s tutorial, our spotlight is on security. As many are aware, WordPress stands out as a prominent open-source and free-to-use Content Management System (CMS). It holds a significant share, approximately 25%, of the web, making it one of the most widely utilized CMS options. Stay tuned for more tutorials covering different facets of WordPress in the future!
Key Considerations for WordPress Security
Hosting Platform Considerations: Optimal and secure hosting is paramount. Shared hosting plans, while often cost-effective, vary in security. Their reputation in the market reflects the efforts invested in server security. A robust infrastructure, comprising both software and hardware, reinforces security, even in shared plans. Choose your shared hosting provider wisely or consider a VPS (Virtual Private Server) for enhanced security.
Website Application Security: WordPress, despite being a free application, boasts a secure core. Its open-source nature, coupled with a vast community, contributes to continuous improvement. Regular updates, a wealth of plugins, and community-driven tips enhance overall security. However, exercise caution with non-trusted and unsupported plugins/themes, as they can introduce vulnerabilities and compromise the security of your WordPress website.
Enhancing Your Login Security Measures
Username Security: Avoid using common usernames like “admin” or “administrator” for your WordPress website, as they make it an easier target. Opt for a more complex and unique username during the installation process. If your WordPress is already installed with a generic username, no worries. Log in to your dashboard, navigate to Users > All Users, create a new account with the Administrator role, and then delete the old “admin” or “administrator” account. While you can change the username, doing it manually in the database is necessary.
Note: Ensure to add a Nickname and set it as the Display name publicly, rather than using the Username.
Password Security: Never use a guessable password for your WordPress dashboard. Opt for a strong, unique password. Consider using a strong password generator[1], and if you’ve activated the registration option, enforce strong passwords[2] for all WordPress users.
Ensuring WordPress Stay Current for Enhanced Security
A new version of WordPress doesn’t only include additional features and bug fixes; it addresses known security issues. Make sure not to skip them, especially the minor updates (x.x.x).
Vigilance in Theme and Plugin Selection for WordPress Security
According to statistics, themes and plugins account for 51% of hacked WordPress websites, with security issues in themes contributing to 29% and plugins to 22%. This underscores the importance of scrutinizing every installed theme and plugin, as each poses a potential security risk if poorly coded or outdated.
To bolster security, consider limiting the number of active plugins on your WordPress site. Remove inactive plugins and anything unnecessary, as this not only improves security but also enhances loading speed. When it comes to themes, aim to keep no more than two, and ideally, stick to a single premium theme for optimal security and performance.
Scrutinizing Your Theme for Potential Malicious Code
It’s a good idea to scan new themes for malicious code if you’re not 100% satisfied that the code is clean. Luckily, there are a few great programs to help you out—and they’re all free, no less. Theme Authenticity Checker (TAC)[3] is one such tool.
Auditing WordPress for Potential Exploits
Exploit Scanner[4] searches the files on your site, along with the posts and comments tables of your database, for anything suspicious. It also examines your list of active plugins for unusual filenames. This plugin is easy to use—just install and activate it, then go to Tools > Exploit Scanner to run a scan.
Regularly Backing Up Your WordPress for Data Security
If your website goes down, having a backup in your hands can be a lifesaver. Here are some available plugins to help you with this: UpdraftPlus WordPress Backup[5] and VaultPress[6].
Additionally, consider exploring the backup service provided by your hosting provider. Many offer daily backups, which can prove invaluable in times of need (speaking from experience).
Implementing Login Attempt Limits for WordPress Security
A effective method to thwart brute force attacks is to restrict the number of login attempts users are allowed before WordPress takes action. Plugins such as WP Limit Login Attempts[7] track failed attempts by IP and can prohibit further ones if necessary.
Strengthening Security with Two-Step Authentication in WordPress
To heighten security against attacks, consider implementing a two-step authentication process. This adds an extra layer of protection, requiring users to input additional credentials, such as those sent to their mobile phones. Two plugins that can assist with this are Duo Two-Factor Authentication[8] and Clockwork SMS[9].
Enhancing Security by Changing the WordPress Database Prefix
WordPress, by default, creates databases with the wp_ prefix, which, given the widespread use of WordPress, could potentially aid hackers. To enhance security, consider changing the prefix after WordPress installation. You can manually do this by navigating to the wp-config.php file and locating: $table_prefix = 'wp_'; By modifying the prefix name in the wp-config.php file, the database name should be edited using phpMyAdmin or similar services. A helpful plugin for managing this is iThemes Security[10].
Establishing Correct File Permissions for Enhanced WordPress Security
Choosing the correct file permissions on your server is crucial to prevent unauthorized file uploads or changes. Use an FTP client like FileZilla to modify permissions. Here’s a guide:
- 755 or 750 for directories
- 644 or 640 for files
- wp-config.php should be set to 440 or 400
For more details, refer to the WordPress Codex on Changing Files Permissions[11].
This concludes our tutorial. I hope it provided helpful insights. If you have any questions or specific topics you’d like me to cover in future WordPress tutorials, please let me know in the comments. Thank you for your attention.
[1]: https://privacycanada.net/strong-password-generator/
[2]: https://wordpress.org/plugins/force-strong-passwords/
[3]: https://wordpress.org/plugins/tac/
[4]: https://wordpress.org/plugins/exploit-scanner/
[5]: https://wordpress.org/plugins/updraftplus/
[6]: https://vaultpress.com/
[7]: https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-limit-login-attempts/
[8]: https://wordpress.org/plugins/duo-wordpress/
[9]: https://wordpress.org/plugins/clockwork-two-factor-authentication/
[10]: https://wordpress.org/plugins/better-wp-security/
[11]: https://codex.wordpress.org/Changing_File_Permissions