Why WordPress Hacks Are Successful – 4 ways to keep website safe

WordPress is known as one of the most popular blogging platforms worldwide, but unfortunately, they are also victims of hacks. Even I was a victim of WordPress hacks before, and my biggest mistake was NOT having a backup. Don't worry, as w aren't alone and hacks happen all over the world, and not just in WordPress.

Sure, we can blame WordPress all we want, but you should also look into the reason why such hacks work and stay successful. Once you realize why it happens, it can help you realize what you can do to ensure better security practices.

So read on as I show you the seven reasons why WordPress hacks are successful and how to deal with them!

Seven Reasons Why WordPress Hacks Are Successful
One of the main reasons why WordPress hacks work is because of one's lack of proper security practices. These are the seven worst security practices you can do, which can inevitably cause hacks:

1. Minimal to NO WordPress maintenance or use of updates, plugins, and themes. Or if you do use themes and plugins, they come from sketchy sources

2. You don't back up your files and database

3. You don't do malware checks, security monitoring or scans, and use security services

4. The account has a weak password, you don't use two-factor authentication, and/or you don't limit your login attempts

5. There are too many admins and you only have the default "admin" name than a custom one

6. You don't use a firewall, updated PHP, site-wide SSL, and/or a firewall

7. You use low-quality, cheap, and/or shared hosting

What to Do to Lessen Risk of WordPress Hacks
Now that you're familiar with the reasons why WordPress hacks are so successful, what can you do about it? Here are four simple and effective ways to keep your WordPress website hack-free:

1. Using Quality Automated Tools
While there are poor-quality security tools and hosting, there are also high-quality ones you should consider getting. I know that if you're a small business, it gets difficult finding the budget, but it's worth the investment. Not only should you invest your finances, but your time and effort learning more about the right tools and security measures to do.

The best way to start securing your website is through learning more about what you can do. That's when you'll start knowing what tools and plugins to trust, even stumbling upon low-priced and free ones with better quality.

Avoid using vulnerable tools, but to go for well-known security tools that many trust and use. You can ask your employees for more tips and knowledge to know what to trust. Again, research is key and you need to do a lot of it to ensure you don't make your website hackable again!

2. Doing a Check and Balance Rule
I know how difficult it gets to reverse all the worst security practices, which is why it's best to start small. However, you need to begin and do everything immediately to prevent hacks from happening right this minute. With that said, it's time to hire someone who can handle your website and its security.

What's great is that companies like in Perth Joel House Search Media can also help in keeping your website secure. Ensure that you hire the right companies to ensure that they won't hack your website or cause any security issues. That's why it's best to take time researching and looking into your chosen company, even if it means spending more.

Besides choosing an outside agency or consultant to handle the website, you need to assign an internal employee to monitor it. This ensures that there aren't any sketchy actions taken and that everything's running smoothly from the people you hired.

3. Building the Right Security Mindset
Once you've already encountered and identified all the worst security practices you do, it's time to reverse it. Besides hiring the right people, you should also learn and do the reversing yourself. Clean everything up and take the time to do the best security practices, which are:

• Always maintain and update your WordPress core, themes, and plugins
• Backup your files and database frequently
• Make sure that you implement security scans, monitor the security, and had malware checks frequently
• Limit your account login attempts and use stronger passwords. Consider using two-factor authentication for an extra layer of protection
• Remove and replace your default admin username, using a custom name
• Limit the number of admins and power to your employees. Only give user privilege to those you trust and who absolutely need it
• Use a quality firewall and the most prated PHP version
• If your hosting is culprit, you may need to evaluate the host you use to see if it needs replacement

4. Always Monitor and Update Your WordPress
Last but not least, make sure that you always monitor everything on your website. From the accounts accessed down to the plugins and security measures used, monitoring all this can help prevent any attacks and security issues in the long run. Fortunately, there are tools and plugins that can help automatically update all the WordPress plugins and themes you use.

Furthermore, you need to always check if your WordPress core requires updating. These updates come with new sets of security features which make your website safer. Take the time to check if all aspects of your website require security updates.

Monitor any existing plugins used and delete anything unknown, useless to your site, and sketchy!

Wrapping It Up
You'll be surprised that the reason why WordPress hacks are successful comes from our own poor security measures. That's why you need to learn the vulnerabilities of our WordPress accounts and fix them immediately. Through doing so, you have a safer website almost free from hacks and malware.

I hope my article on the seven reasons why WordPress hacks are successful helped you realize what to do. So start setting up proper security habits for your website now!

If you have any questions or want to share your own experiences on securing your WordPress website, then comment below. All your thoughts are much appreciated.