WordPress Security Challenges: What You Need to Know

WordPress has been around for a long time, which is why when it comes as no surprise that it fares among the top choices for CMS’s worldwide. However, this popularity makes the WordPress website a rather common target for malicious activities.  While they are always at the risk of attacks and hacks though WordPress is inherently a secure platform. 

You must be wondering - why is that? One possible reason is the sheer popularity of the WordPress platform which makes it a favorite choice of hackers. You might wonder why WordPress sites do not operate in isolation, they work along with many third-party elements like plugins/themes and web hosting platforms.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t still safeguard your website; here are some of the most common security challenges you will face with a WordPress website and how you can address them as well. 

    1. Malware: Malware essentially makes its way into websites via old plugins and themes. To what end? Well, basically keep an eye on and share sensitive information with hackers. So, a good first step against such attacks is to update all your tech, including plugins, etc. Plus, it would also help to be highly selective about the plugins and third-party tools you use on your website.
    2. DoS attacks: A Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack, i.e. when hackers overburden the website by the volume of traffic, actually focuses on the website’s server instead of the website. A DoS attack simply causes the server to break down, which means such attacks affect the website’s infrastructure and not the sensitive information contained within it. One of the best ways to deal with DoS attacks is to find a host that has its security processes in place. Also, don’t forget to put together your response plan in case of a DoS attack.
    3. Phishing attacks: A phishing attack, which involves malicious actors fishing for sensitive information, leverages the vulnerabilities in the WordPress website's code. Hackers use them to tap into the website’s database, which can contain sensitive data such as contact information, banking details, etc. The most effective means to protect the website against such attacks involves periodic updates for both the platform and plugins, regular security audits, and the use of strong passwords.
    4. Login security issues: Among the simplest and least complicated security issues one can encounter with WordPress is the security of the admin logins. This is because the WordPress CMS is quite popular and among the most widely used CMS in the world. This means the admin login screen is rendered a highly lucrative target for hackers. Now, we’d love to tell you that there is some advanced method to counter this threat, but the truth is that the only reliable counter to this problem is a strong password. Passwords that make use of multiple types of characters can make it extremely challenging for malicious attackers to guess the password. 

As terrific a solution as WordPress is, the fact remains that it can prove to be a tad vulnerable when it comes to security in the digital realm. It may also be worth mentioning that despite best efforts, it is neither feasible nor practical to try and safeguard WordPress websites with a single tool. 

You will not only end up spending your precious time and money but also be unable to achieve the requisite results. Instead, one must adopt a holistic approach to the entire development process, integrating security solutions and strategies into the lifecycle right from the start. Other than that, experts also recommend that you hire a trusted WordPress website development company with a proven track record in creating safe and secure websites. Their expertise will be invaluable to the success of your endeavors.