WordPress is one of the popular CMS tools, and it has been used to design millions of websites, including some MNCs, to date. Its versatility, flexibility, and huge community support have made WP a web development platform to reckon with. However, no web development tool or software can be termed perfect. While WP is not an insecure platform by default, usage issues and a lack of precautions on the user’s part may expose WP websites to danger. The recent GoDaddy security breach led to WP website data exposure, and it made sensations, too.
What was the GoDaddy WP security breach all about?
As per the information released by noted web hosting service provider GoDaddy, the email id of 12 lakh WordPress customers were exposed along with their customer numbers. On top of that, their original WordPress Admin passwords were leaked by the hacking exploit. For some of their customers, the SSL private key leaked. While GoDaddy assured users of taking prompt actions and said it blocked access to the unauthorized third-party intruders, it exposes the security loopholes users are often unaware of.
Ways to boost up security of your WP website effectively
While GoDaddy is resorting to remedial measures after the data breach has been found, as a WP website owner, you need to step up site security. If necessary, you can seek the services of a reputed WordPress web development company in this regard.
Listed here are some tried and tested tips that you can use to bolster the security of a WP website:
1. Updating WP regularly:
This may sound quite basic, but it is important. Not updating the version of your WP website exposes it to new and emerging threats. The good thing is that you will receive notification from your account dashboard each time a new version is out.
2. Updating the plug-ins and themes:
Usually, each WP website is made using a theme, and there can be a number of plug-ins in it. Along with the core CMS, updating the plug-ins is also necessary. This is because the hackers and malicious lot can try attacking your website using loopholes present in these plug-ins too. It would be a good idea to use any plug-in after checking its popularity and reviews etc.
3. Backing up the website:
While you can adopt many steps to boost the security of your WP website, it is better that you walk an extra mile and back up the website. Make it a habit to back up the entire website periodically. This can be done manually, or you can resort to using dedicated backup plug-ins for WP. There are both free and paid plug-ins that you can use for such needs. As a matter of fact, some such plug-ins bundle in many features. The expertise of a WordPress development company can come in handy here.
4. Limiting login attempts and altering passwords:
You should take every caution to thwart the efforts of the hackers targeting your WP website. So, it will be a wise move to limit the number of login attempts. There are free WP plug-ins, and you can pick from those. It is also advisable that you keep altering your WP website passwords from time to time. Do not keep the same password for more than a couple of months, on average.
4. Using strong passwords:
WP insists you use passwords that are hard to guess. You can use password manager plug-ins. This stores your password safely and also helps create complex passwords.
5. Using SSL:
Using Secure Socket Layer enables you to encrypt the website’s admin data. This keeps data transferred to and from the website safe and encrypted. You may either obtain it from third-party entities like RapidSSL or ask the hosting provider.
6. Choosing host wisely:
Nowadays, you will find a lot of agencies offering to host WP website hosting. Do not go blindly for the one offering the cheapest rates! Read the reviews of the hosting companies and check their user reviews online before picking one. If a well-known hosting company like GoDaddy can be affected by a security breach, you can imagine what can happen to the lesser-known hosting providers.
7. Running security scans:
You never know which security loopholes in your WP website are being targeted by hackers. So, it is necessary that you check the website using apt online security scanners. You can use some WP plug-ins that scan websites periodically for tracing malware or suspicious activities.
8. Limiting user access:
A WP website may have multiple user accounts. Ensure there are only 1 or 2 admin accounts and the rest of the users do not get full access. WordPress offers you 6 role options to assign to the users. By limiting users with administrator-level access, you are effectively reducing the risk of hackers getting access to your website.
9. Using security plug-ins:
You can use a WP security plug-in to elevate the safety level of your WP website to an extent.
If you think tweaking the security settings of WordPress is tedious or want to adopt additional security measures, hiring the top custom WordPress development services can be useful.
Summing it up
WordPress is a nice and powerful platform for developing websites of varying types. However, your focus must be on website safety. Taking some precautions and adopting effective measures to fix the loopholes can go a long way in keeping your WP website out of the reach of hackers. You can hire a WP and Laravel web application development agency to get a better result.
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