How to Secure Your WordPress
Website From Hackers (Complete
Guide)
Your WordPress website is like a digital storefront. It doesn’t matter if it’s a small personal blog or a growing online business – if there’s a weakness somewhere, someone eventually finds it. Hackers don’t target sites because they’re “famous.” They target them because they’re easy.
This guide explains, in clear and practical language, how to secure your WordPress website from hackers. No scare tactics. No complicated jargon. Just real strategies that work.
Every step here is written from real-world experience – the same methods used in professional security audits at
Codeila.
Why WordPress Gets Targeted
Over 40% of the internet runs on WordPress. And anything that popular becomes a magnet for automated attacks. Hackers don’t manually browse the web – they use bots to scan thousands of websites looking for:
- Outdated plugins
- Weak admin passwords
- Vulnerable themes
- Misconfigured servers
- Exposed files
- Unpatched WordPress versions
If your site matches any of these conditions, it becomes a target – even if you aren’t running an e-commerce store or collecting sensitive data.
How Hackers Usually Break Into WordPress
Understanding how attacks work helps you defend against them. Most attacks fall into predictable categories:
1. Vulnerable Plugins
Plugins add functionality – but they also add risk. Many attacks come from:
- Plugins abandoned by developers
- Plugins with outdated code
- Plugins with known security bugs
2. Weak or Leaked Passwords
Hackers use massive leaked-password databases and automated brute-force tools to guess login credentials.
3. Unsafe Themes
Null themes or outdated premium themes introduce vulnerabilities that attackers love to exploit.
4. File Upload Vulnerabilities
Image upload forms can sometimes be fooled into accepting harmful files disguised as photos.
5. Misconfigured Servers
A server that exposes unnecessary information or runs outdated software becomes an easy entry point.
6. SQL Injection & XSS
Classic web attacks that exploit poor input validation, especially in older plugins.
How to Secure Your WordPress Website – Step by Step
Let’s break down every layer of protection you need, from basic to advanced.
1. Keep WordPress, Themes & Plugins Updated
This may sound simple, but it’s the number one reason sites get hacked. Outdated components contain known vulnerabilities – and hackers actively scan for them.
Always update:
- WordPress Core
- All themes – even inactive ones
- All plugins
If you don’t need a plugin, delete it. Disabling isn’t enough – the files remain on your server.
Why Updates Matter
When a plugin developer releases a security patch, the vulnerability becomes public knowledge. Bots immediately start scanning the internet looking for websites that haven’t updated yet.
Updating is free. Fixing a hacked site is not.
2. Install a Trusted Security Plugin
Security plugins add important layers of protection such as:
- Firewall filtering
- Malware scanning
- File integrity monitoring
- Login protection
- Blacklist monitoring
Some trusted options are:
Use only one security plugin at a time. More than one causes conflicts.
3. Use Strong Passwords and Change the Default Admin Username
Let’s be honest: most people still use predictable passwords. But hackers don’t guess manually – they use automated brute-force tools that try thousands of password combinations per minute.
Here’s what to fix:
- Never use “admin” as the username
- Use long passwords (16+ characters)
- Enable 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication)
- Don’t reuse passwords across accounts
If someone steals your email password and you reuse it for WordPress… it’s game over.
4. Limit Login Attempts
Unlimited login attempts = unlimited brute-force attempts.
Limit them using:
- Wordfence
- iThemes Security
- Limit Login Attempts Reloaded
This alone blocks thousands of daily attacks on most sites.
5. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Even if someone steals or guesses your password, 2FA stops them. It adds a one-time code from your phone as a second verification step.
This blocks:
- Password brute-force
- Credential-stuffing attacks
- Leaked password abuse
6. Protect Your wp-admin and wp-login.php
These two pages are where 90% of attacks start. Here’s how to secure them:
a) Change Login URL
Using plugins like WPS Hide Login makes bots lose track of your login page.
b) Add IP restrictions
If your team uses a fixed IP, restrict access to wp-admin from that IP through .htaccess or firewall rules.
c) Add basic authentication
Add an extra password prompt before loading wp-admin (server-level protection).
7. Use a Reputable Hosting Provider
A secure website can still be hacked if the hosting provider is weak. Choose a host that offers:
- Active server patching
- Firewall
- Malware scanning
- Backups
- Isolation between accounts
Avoid extremely cheap hosting – you usually get what you pay for.
8. Use HTTPS with a Valid SSL Certificate
SSL encrypts communication between the user and your website.
Without SSL:
- Login forms can be intercepted
- Cookies can be stolen (session hijacking)
- Google ranks you lower
Most hosts offer free Let’s Encrypt SSL. Install it and enable “HTTPS only”.
9. Disable XML-RPC (Unless You Need It)
XML-RPC is an old WordPress feature that attackers use for:
- Brute-force amplification
- DDoS attacks
- Bypassing login limits
Disable it using your security plugin or via .htaccess unless your app specifically requires it.
10. Secure Your File Permissions
Wrong file permissions can expose sensitive files or allow hackers to inject malicious scripts.
Correct permissions are:
- Files: 644
- Folders: 755
- wp-config.php: 600/400
These permissions prevent unauthorized reading or editing.
11. Protect wp-config.php
This is the single most important file on your WordPress site. It contains:
- Database credentials
- Security keys
- Important configuration details
Add this line to .htaccess:
<files wp-config.php> order allow,deny deny from all </files>
12. Disable PHP Execution in Sensitive Folders
Hackers often upload malicious PHP files into directories like:
- /wp-content/uploads/
- /wp-includes/
- /wp-content/cache/
Add this to an .htaccess file inside those directories:
<Files *.php> deny from all </Files>
13. Perform Regular Backups
Backups are your insurance policy. If anything goes wrong, you can restore your site in minutes.
Use tools like:
- UpdraftPlus
- Jetpack Backup
- BlogVault
Store backups off-site (Google Drive, Dropbox, remote server).
14. Use a CDN and Firewall (Cloudflare Recommended)
A CDN like Cloudflare hides your real server IP and filters malicious traffic.
Cloudflare provides:
- Firewalls
- DDoS mitigation
- Bot protection
- Rate limiting
- WAF (Web Application Firewall)
Link: Cloudflare Website
15. Scan Your Site for Malware
Even if your site “looks fine,” hidden malware may exist:
- Injected scripts
- Hidden iframes
- SEO spam
- Backdoors
- Cryptominers
Use regular scans from:
- Wordfence
- Sucuri
- VirusTotal (for files)
16. Protect Against SQL Injection and XSS
Most of these attacks come from plugins or poor custom code. You can’t fix them manually unless you’re a developer – but you can:
- Use a WAF (Cloudflare/Wordfence)
- Keep plugins updated
- Avoid risky plugins
17. Avoid “Nulled” Themes and Plugins
Nulled themes are a security nightmare. They often contain:
- Backdoors
- Hidden admin users
- SEO spam scripts
- Tracking malware
Always purchase themes and plugins from official sources.
18. Remove Unused Themes and Plugins
Every installed item is part of your attack surface – even if it’s disabled.
Delete everything you don’t use.
19. Secure Your Database
Basic steps to secure your WordPress database:
- Use a strong DB password
- Change default “wp_” prefix
- Ensure remote DB access is disabled
20. Run a Professional Penetration Test
No matter how good your security setup is, a real attacker thinks differently. Automated tools can’t detect every issue – but a human expert can.
A professional security team (like
Codeila
) simulates real-world attacks to find vulnerabilities before hackers do.
Real Story: How One Small Plugin Caused a Major Breach
A small business owner was using an outdated gallery plugin. It had a file upload vulnerability that allowed attackers to upload malicious PHP code.
Within 24 hours, the attackers:
- Redirected Google visitors to scam pages
- Inserted hidden spam links into hundreds of posts
- Used the server to send thousands of phishing emails
- Got the domain blacklisted by Gmail and Outlook
Restoring the damage took a week. The cleanup cost more than a full year of premium security services.
A simple security audit would have prevented all of it.
Final Thoughts
Securing a WordPress website isn’t rocket science – but it does require awareness, consistency, and a structured approach. Hackers depend on you being busy, distracted, or unaware. The moment you stop updating, monitoring, or protecting your site, cracks begin to appear.
By following the steps in this guide, you reduce your risk dramatically and build a stronger foundation for your online presence.
Need Professional WordPress Security Help?
If you want a full security audit, malware cleanup, vulnerability assessment, or penetration testing performed by experts – the team at
Codeila
is ready to help.
You can reach us anytime through our contact page:
https://codeila.com/contact/
Strong security isn’t optional anymore – it’s part of running a modern website responsibly.