WordPress is generally a secure platform, but like all software, it contains various vulnerabilities that are often exploited by bad bots and hackers. This might result in financial consequences, reputation damage, and data theft.
Learning more about these vulnerabilities will help you secure your website. For example, brute force attacks can be reduced by setting and enforcing strong passwords. Meanwhile, you can prevent SQL injections by implementing a web application firewall.
In this post, we’ll discuss six of the most common WordPress security issues. Let’s dive in!
1. Brute Force Attacks
Brute force attackers try to gain access to a website using a large number of different username and password combinations. If they manage to guess the credentials, they’ll be able to get into the back end of your site and carry out a range of other attacks.
Many hackers execute these attacks to steal personal information like credit card details. As you’ve probably guessed, the simplest way to prevent attacks of this nature is to strengthen the login procedure, especially passwords.
The problem is that many users prioritize ease and convenience over security when choosing passwords. In fact, last year “123456” was used over 4.5 million times, making it the most common password. Meanwhile, “admin” was used over 4 million times, and it’s a popular username for WordPress sites.
Passwords should contain a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. They should also have a minimum of eight characters so that they’re even harder to crack. You can install security plugins that require users to set strong passwords on your site.
You can also add an extra layer of security to the login process by implementing two-factor authentication. This usually asks users to enter a code that’s sent to their inbox or mobile phone (and which is generated in real-time).
2. Malware
Malware is a type of software that’s designed specifically to damage or disrupt systems like websites. It can also be used by hackers to gain access to your site and steal sensitive data.
There are many ways in which malware gets distributed, which makes it a bit harder to protect your WordPress site. For example, it can be uploaded to your site via file upload fields in forms. It can also be injected through links that get posted in the comments section of your blog.
Additionally, hackers can exploit vulnerabilities in software to distribute malware. This is especially the case if you have outdated software on your site that contains known vulnerabilities. This goes for the WordPress core software, as well as plugins and themes.
Therefore, the best way to prevent malware attacks is to keep all software up-to-date. You can regularly check for updates in the WordPress dashboard:
Plus, a secure web hosting provider can also provide features to reduce malware attacks.
For example, all AblePage WordPress Hosting plans includes free malware protection.
The security shields are powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and are constantly learning about new threats. Besides real-time scanning, you’ll also get access to automated malware removals.
Beyond this, SiteComet backs up your website on a daily basis. This ensures a quick recovery should your site get hacked. Plus, the support team is available 24/7 if you require any technical support.
3. SQL Injections
SQL injections are a type of attack that uses a code injection technique to target the WordPress database. This malicious code manipulates the back-end database, often modifying information to damage your business.
Generally, these attacks occur when you ask users to enter account information like names, usernames, and IDs. Instead, hackers will provide an SQL statement, which you’ll then run unknowingly on your database.
There are various ways to prevent SQL injections. As usual, it’s important to properly maintain your WordPress site to make sure that all software is patched and up-to-date. It’s also a good idea to implement a web application firewall (WAF) to improve WordPress security.
The best part about WAFs is that they filter all incoming web traffic and block any IP address that’s deemed suspicious. This means that you’re able to prevent malicious traffic from even reaching your site. Therefore, it’s a great preventative measure.
4. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
Cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks are also a type of injection. But while an SQL injection is a server-side vulnerability that targets the database, XSS is a client-side vulnerability that targets other users.
Typically, hackers will insert malicious code into your web pages that get viewed by visitors. For example, many hackers target search forms. When legitimate users carry out a search, hackers may send custom links that direct users to vulnerable or unsafe websites.
Or, the user behavior (such as clicking the link) may execute the code on your site. This allows them to impersonate legitimate users or bypass access controls.
The good news is that there are methods to prevent XSS attacks on WordPress. As we discussed in the previous section, firewalls are a great way to blocklist suspicious IP addresses and boost your overall WordPress security.
On top of this, you’ll want to sanitize or escape user inputs. The WordPress Codex provides full guides on these security measures.
5. Phishing
Phishing attacks aim to trick website administrators and other users into revealing sensitive information. Often, this is successful because the hacker manages to impersonate legitimate trusted websites, utilizing the same visual elements and layouts.
It’s a very sophisticated type of attack that uses your website to launch the attack. Naturally, you’ll face the consequences of data theft (if successful) such as reputation damage and a loss of customer trust. But you might also face financial penalties (if in breach of data protection laws).
Moreover, your website may get flagged by search engines like Google. This means that you’ll lose out on traffic and revenue. It can also have an impact on your search engine rankings in the long run. Therefore, it’s important to improve WordPress security to prevent phishing attacks.
For starters, it’s a good idea to install general security-based WordPress plugins that include a strong firewall. Additionally, you can strengthen the login process and implement two-factor authentication.
A valid SSL certificate will also encrypt data that’s transmitted between browsers and servers. Most reputable hosting providers like Sitecomet will include a free SSL certificate. You may want to set this to auto-renew so it’s always valid.
6. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks
The aim of a DDoS attack is to flood your website with fake requests that overwhelm your server. In the best case scenario, your website performance may suffer. But, in the worst case, DDoS attacks can completely crash your website.
Many hackers perform DDoS attacks to carry out other malicious activities while your site is vulnerable. For example, the hacker may be able to breach your WordPress security perimeter to access or steal data.
Your website may be more vulnerable to DDoS attacks if you use a cheap hosting provider. This means that you might not have enough resources to handle sharp traffic spikes.
It’s especially relevant if you use shared hosting, since hosts may place too many clients on one server. Plus, if one website suffers a DDoS attack, it could impact you too.
You might want to consider using a content delivery network (CDN). This distributes traffic across multiple servers which can stabilize your website. So, if one of the servers is targeted by attackers and goes down, your content will be delivered to users from a different server.
Conclusion
WordPress is a popular platform since it’s free and beginner-friendly. However, it’s also a common target among hackers. Therefore, you’ll want to take the necessary security measures, like enforcing strong passwords and using a firewall, to protect yourself and your customers.
To recap, here are six of the most common WordPress security issues to be aware of:
- Brute force attacks
- Malware
- SQL injections
- Cross-site scripting (XSS)
- Phishing
- Distributed denial of service attacks (DDoS)
At AblePage, we offer a range of hosting services packed with WordPress security features like SSL certificates, malware protection, and daily backups. Check out our plans today!