What exactly is “WordPress security”?
Many website owners I talk to think that WordPress security is a plugin they install or a service they purchase. Nothing could be further from the truth. Security is a mindset, not a specific thing. It's something you should think about in every decision you make about your website.
Do you want a new theme? What is the reputation of the theme developers for security?
Do you want to add a new plugin? How secure is it? Have any vulnerabilities been reported in it?
Do you want to hire a new developer? What do others have to say about their work? Is their code secure?
Every decision you make should be wrapped in the question, “How will this affect my website’s security?” If you can’t say with certainty that the answer to that question is to increase it or at least not harm it, then you need to reconsider the decision.
The other analogy I use a lot is that security is not one specific action, but rather a series of layers that you add to your site.
The top layer is a network firewall.
The next layer is your application firewall (in WordPress, this is usually a plugin)
The next layer is strong passwords.
The next layer is two-step verification
The next layer is to move your wp-admin directory to a different name.
The next layer, don't use the name “admin” to log in.
The next layer is to disable XML-RPC.
None of these things alone will make your site secure. However, all of them together can make your site secure enough that bad guys will move on to another website with less security. Another good news is that nowadays you can easily protect your website by hosting it on a high-quality hosting that is committed to security .
Installing an SSL certificate is not on the list above because having an SSL certificate is not a security measure, it is something you must do when setting up each and every one of your websites. They improve your security and your search engine rankings. Since they are now free, there is absolutely no reason for a website to run without one. Plus, to make it even easier for you, SiteGround installs the SSL certificate on your website for free for you shortly after you create it within their hosting.
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What are the best WordPress security plugins to protect every layer of your WordPress website?
Most people will need some time to create the layered setup described above. As I mentioned above, almost anything can be accomplished these days even if you're not a technical webmaster. That said, if thinking about how to secure your site makes you nervous or you're not confident in your ability to dedicate the time to doing things right, hire someone you trust to do it for you.
Network Firewall
If you’re using a reputable hosting provider like SiteGround, they’ll take care of setting this up for you. If you’re not sure if your host provides this service, ask them. If you don’t get a clear “Yes, we provide a network-level firewall,” consider looking for a new host that does.
Application Firewall
In the WordPress ecosystem, an Application Firewall usually means a plugin. There are several good ones with solid reputations to choose from. I usually don’t recommend specific plugins because as soon as I do, someone writes to me to tell me where my recommendations are wrong. Still, since many users have asked me for security plugin recommendations, I’m going to break my rule and make a few. It’s important to note that these are in no particular order.
By the way, most of these plugins do much more than just being an application-level firewall, such as:
Malware Scanning
Security audits
Security hardening
Website Firewall
Some of the companies behind these plugins also offer malware removal and hacked site cleanup. If you're looking for peace of mind, this is a great feature.
Jetpack
Jetpack is Automattic's omnibus plugin. It has a lot of features, and most of them don't address security. However, it does have some security features built in. If you already have Jetpack installed, consider purchasing the security features.
If you don't currently have Jetpack installed and don't need any of the other features, this may not be the best solution.
Sucuri Security
Sucuri has already gained experience and a great reputation. In addition to offering a web application firewall, Sucuri offers many other features:
Malware Removal and Hack Cleanup
Advanced DDoS Mitigation
Malware and hacking scanning frequency
These three features are important and are covered by your basic level.
iThemes Security Pro
I'm not currently using it, but when I was, it was one of the best, if not the best, plugins qatar whatsapp number data on the market. (It's important to note that I don't think the plugin got worse in any way, it's just that my needs changed.)
The only thing I remember about this plugin is that its admin page is complex. Make sure you set aside a few hours over a couple of days to read and understand all the available options so you can make the right decisions. This advice is equally applicable to all security plugins.
Unlike other plugins, iThemes offers you all the features at all price levels. The price difference is based on the number of sites you want to protect.
Strong passwords
While there are plugins available for this layer, thankfully password support is built into the WordPress core. I highly recommend that you enforce strong passwords for any user that has a security higher than Guest or Subscriber on your site. If they can manage anything, they should at least have a strong password.
