WordPress is by far the most popular system to build a website with. According to the latest research, WordPress now has a 40% market share of all websites on the internet and a record-holding 64% of those websites based on content management systems. It’s user-friendly, well designed and offers a range of options for beginners and experts alike. Millions of users around the world trust WordPress to provide them with a high-quality, user-friendly website, free from problems.
However, just like any other web-based service provider, WordPress provides a welcome target for hackers. Even more so, given its popularity. In 2015 the FBI released a warning of potential ISIS attacks on WordPress websites that weren’t up to scratch with their security system. As a website owner, protecting your website is your job and responsibility above all. Providing a safe browsing experience for your customers and clients will help you create a trusting relationship, ultimately improving your reputation and increasing your sales.
So how can you protect your WordPress website from hackers and what security concerns should you be aware of?
Passwords
It’s still the most common reason why websites are being hacked and sensitive data gets stolen. Weak passwords are like leaving the front door to your house or business-wide open, inviting anyone in to have a look around and take what they can get. A secure password is essential to protect your website, though recent studies have shown that not everyone has the same view of what makes a password strong and secure. Using a password manager can help fix the problem.
SSL and HTTPS
In order to prevent your business details from being stolen or sensitive client data being compromised, you need to provide a secure internet experience for your users. By upgrading your business website from the standard HTTP to HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) your users will gain confidence when visiting your site which in turn will increase your reputability. It’s also a great way to boost your SEO ranking as Google prefers HTTPS websites. Furthermore, they generally load faster and are more secure.
You can turn your website into HTTPS by incorporating an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate which is commonly used by banks and online shopping retailers. This technology encrypts sensitive data as it is being entered, making it almost impossible for anyone else to see credit card details, usernames and passwords while they are being sent to the destination server.
Updates
Outdated themes, plugins and WordPress versions are an easy target for hackers. WordPress developers are constantly fixing bugs and filling gaps on the security front and passing these on to you via regular updates. The same goes for plugins and themes offered by third-party providers. The easiest way to keep on top of the latest features and safety enhancements is to download these software updates as soon as they are released.
Safety features
WordPress is equipped with a range of safety features and enhancements to help you keep your website safe. You can schedule regular database backups and enable email notifications when someone gets locked out of the system due to failed login attempts. It’s also wise to hide the WordPress login area from your home page. It’s a simple way to shut another door that is otherwise wide open for potential cyber criminals.
Hosting Providers
Cutting corners when choosing a web hosting provider might seem tempting, but it’s definitely not recommendable in terms of the security of your website. Cheap web hosting providers not only offer less quality, they rarely have the know-how to keep your website safe from unwanted attacks and malware.
Reputable web hosts have in-depth knowledge of WordPress and are therefore able to provide you with ongoing support as well as backups for your website and database. So if anything should go wrong, nothing is lost and your users most likely won’t even notice there was a glitch to begin with.
If you’re worried about your WordPress security, contact Energise today and ask us about our security service to protect your website from hackers and malicious software.