Despite being one of the most popular content management systems (CMS), WordPress is vulnerable to many security issues. These vulnerabilities can cause users to lose their data and information, break into your website, or in the worst case; they might even lose access to your site.
In fact, in 2020 alone, online security issues have increased by up to 6 times the normal number. This is mainly due to the fact that a large part of the savings is transferred to the online platform.
So while WordPress is a popular and reliable tool, it is not fully resistant to such risks and can have too many holes for problems to get in.
Why is WordPress security so important?
A WordPress site that is hacked or infected with malware can have serious consequences for the performance of the website and can also increase the risk of damaging your website or your brand image.
It is very easy for online hackers to steal important data and information, and passwords, install malware on your website, or even disable access to your website.
To highlight WordPress’ need for security; we’ve compiled a list of what makes it vulnerable to malware, hackers, and other issues.
1. Open source leads to open problems: As a free and open source website, many bugs and other vulnerabilities can and do circulate on this platform.
2. Multiple Moving Parts – Much of WordPress’ popularity is due to its very easy to customize features. Thanks to the many plugins, themes, and other features offered! But having so many features inside and outside also makes it easier for a problem to arise.
3. Irregular Updates – Core developers, plugin developers, and other WordPress developers regularly release necessary updates to resolve security issues and fix bugs. Unfortunately, many website owners and website users are not up to date and regular with their updates. Older software is more vulnerable to security issues than updated software.
How can you keep your website safe and secure?
Then comes the question of how to protect your website from malware and hackers. Here are some security tips to help protect your site.
1. Regular Updates – You can automate your WordPress maintenance and update schedules. But it’s still important to get a regular checkup in case some areas are missing or need more attention.
2. Strong passwords – The most common way for hackers to gain access to your WordPress site is to steal your passwords. To avoid this, it is always recommended to use strong passwords with a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters or symbols.
3. Install a backup solution – Backup is the first step in securing your WordPress site. This ensures that even if your website is hacked or the server goes down, you will still have your website data with you. There are several WordPress backup plugins available that you can use at your convenience.
4. Enable Firewall – A web application firewall blocks all types of malware and vulnerabilities before they even reach your WordPress site.
Conclusion
Setting up your website or blog can be an exciting experience. But you cannot ignore security issues and problems that your WordPress site can be subject to. To avoid such problems and protect your website from malware, it is important to hire the services of a reliable WordPress hosting platform.
