WordPress Security 101: A Beginner’s Guide

WordPress security isn’t the most exciting topic, but it's necessary to protect your business 

When you first dreamed of having a business, WordPress security probably wasn’t at the top of your list of things to do. Likely it didn’t even make the top 100 things to do, and if it did make the list, it was probably somewhere near the bottom. Behind branding… website copy… social media accounts… getting your first client… and everything else that felt more tangible and rewarding.

I admit it wasn’t at the top of my mind, even as I launched my web design business. But it is so very necessary, and often overlooked, even though it's relatively easy to do. 

WordPress security is one of those quiet, behind-the-scenes tasks that keeps the digital face of your business working the way it should. When it is handled well, you never notice it. When it is ignored, it has the potential to create a really big and very public mess. And that is why it matters so much.

You don’t have to become a security expert to protect what you have built online. That’s not your job. You just need to implement a few easy security measures. 

It's a lot easier to ignore WordPress Security than we think... 

I know you don't intend to ignore your website security or that you don't care about it. It's just easy to ignore especially when nothing appears to be wrong. 

We think... "I can do that later..." because

• Our website still loads. 
• The forms are working. 
• Clients can find what they need. 

From the outside, everything looks fine. Besides, there are always more pressing tasks calling our attention, and many of those feel more urgent if not even more fun to do.

As we focus our attention on the urgent, pressing and more fun aspects of our business, security  naturally slips lower on the priority list, until one day we can no longer deny that things are fine... 

• Our website starts getting slower and slower 
• We see an unexpected drop or spike in website traffic 
• Ours logs show unusual login attempts
• Browsers start showing warning messages like "This site may harm your computer"
• And the worst symptom of all... our website starts redirecting to an entirely different website

All of a sudden website security feels like a huge priority, and we can stress taking over our bodies as we struggle to get things back on track. 

A Worst-Case Scenario Come to Life 

One of my earlier clients learned the value of security in the worst possible way, and while all is well now in her business, this story comes true far to often. So I thought I would share, in the hopes it doesn't come true for you. 

This client a Christian author with very strong brand values and a loyal following. Her website is the central part of how she connects with her audience, sharing her blog and updates on her latest books, and details about public appearances. Needless to say, her website is a very important part of her business. 

Shortly after we launched her website, she decided to manage her WordPress security on her own as a way to save money. I always support my clients making this decision because anyone can do this. I even taught her what she needed to do to take care of everything. 

Unfortunately she did not keep up with her website security. 

Life got busy.
Book deadlines came first.
Speaking engagements were a priority.
And Marketing needed to be done.

As all of these other tasks filled her days, WordPress updates and security best practices slowly slid to the bottom of the list. Until the day she received a phone call letting her know her website was redirecting visitors to a porn site. Yes. This really happened.

I am sure you can imagine the panic, the crippling embarrassment, and the sense of betrayal she felt toward her own website. Readers she had built trust with were being exposed to content that was horrifically inappropriate, and completely against everything she stood for.

The good news is that the issue was fixable. With some help behind the scenes and an unexpected bill, her website was cleaned up and restored.

The hard truth however was… Every part of that situation was preventable with basic WordPress security practices that had simply been ignored for too long.

WordPress security often sounds far more complicated than it actually is. 

To take care of your WordPress Website you don't have to know code, and you certainly don't have to install every security plugin you see recommended in a Facebook group. In fact, I highly discourage that. You also don't need to live in fear of what "might happen." You just need to follow a few easy to manage best practices. 

A secure WordPress Website is one that is quietly monitored and maintained so problems are either prevented entirely or caught early, before they turn into emergencies.

Which means… 

• Making sure the right people can log in, and no one else 
• Your themes and plugins that run your site are current and supported 
• You have a fast and reliable way to recover if something breaks in place 

It's the digital equivalent of locking your doors, changing smoke detector batteries, and scheduling routine checkups, so you can avoid disasterous problems in the future. 

Why WordPress Security Matters More Than You Think

A hacked website is not just a technical problem. It is a trust issue.

Your website is often the first interaction someone has with your business. If it feels broken, unsafe, or unreliable, that impression sticks. Even if the issue gets fixed later, the doubt lingers, and most visitors will not try again.

There is also a very practical side to consider. Fixing security issues after the fact almost always costs more than maintaining things properly in the first place. Just like the example I shared of the worst case scenario. come true... had this author kept up with her security she wouldn't of had to pay a $200 to have her website cleaned. 

Security issues cost more time… more money… more emotional energy.

WordPress security is about avoiding preventable disruptions and keeping your business steady so you can focus on work that actually moves you forward. And most security problems do not start as dramatic events. They start as small gaps that quietly grow over time.

The Worst Time to Address WordPress Security  

There is technically no bad time to address WordPress security. But there is definitely a worst time, which is after something has already gone wrong.

When security becomes reactive instead of preventative, everything feels heavier. Decisions feel rushed. Costs go up. Stress skyrockets. And suddenly you are trying to learn things you never wanted to learn in the first place.

This is usually when business owners start asking questions like:

• Do I need more plugins 
• Which ones are safe 
• How many is too many 
• Who can I trust 
• What do I fix first

When things go wrong finding the answers to these questions is frustrating and overwhelming, and trust me when I say, trying to fix things on your own, will feel complicated and confusing. But you my friend can avoid all of that with a few simple steps... 

None of these feel urgent on their own. Together, they create real risk.

If you have ever thought “I will deal with that later” and later turned into months or years, you are not alone. This is exactly how security gaps form.

You don’t have to be constantly tinkering with your website. Just make sure the basics are handled so you do not have to think about them every day. Here is what I recommend…

Start with a REALLY STRONG Password 

The first and easiest way to protect your website is to create a strong password, and yes I know that is probably annoying to hear, but it is also the most common way dodgy folk on the internet get access to your website. Here is what I recommend when creating your own passwords… 

1. Skip the personal stuff

The primary goal for a password is to make things hard for a hacker. Using personal details in your passwords like birthdays, hometowns, or pet names makes their job easier. If someone could find it on social media or through public records, it does not belong in a password.

2. Think in passphrases, not passwords

When you can, use a passphrase instead of a single word. This could be a phrase from a favorite poem or song, or a random group of unrelated words. This may feel silly, but it is much easier for you to remember and far harder for someone else to guess. If you are struggling with coming up with a random grouping of words, check out Random Word Generator for help.  

3. Longer really is better

Short passwords are easier to crack. Even a password that is a random grouping of letters, numbers and characters that is short can be cracked in a week or less. Maybe even hours. Aim for passwords that are at least 16 characters long. A lengthy password adds a significant layer of protection. 

4. One password per account

Reusing passwords is still incredibly common, and hackers expect it. If one account is compromised, they will try that same login everywhere else. One breach could unlock your entire digital life and nobody has time for that kind of clean up! 

5. Change compromised passwords right away

If you learn that a password has been compromised, even if that is just a maybe, update it immediately. Waiting leaves a back door open for the naughty guys on the internet to come through.

This is especially important if it was used in more than one place. If it is used in more than one place, change those passwords too. The time spent changing passwords far exceeds the risk of not changing them. 

6. Keep passwords private

Do not share your passwords. Even if you hire someone to do work for you, there is always a way to provide them access that doesn’t require your password. 

7. Turn on multi factor authentication

Adding multi factor authentication gives you an extra layer of protection. Even if someone gets your password, they will still need a second verification step to access your account. 

Install and Activate an SSL Certificates 

Having an active SSL certificate protects information moving through your site, like contact forms, logins, and payments. It also signals to browsers and visitors that your site is legitimate and trustworthy. 

Without it, browsers may show warning messages that cause people to leave even before they have accessed your site. This is one area where the beauty of your website doesn’t matter. If it looks potentially unsafe, people won’t want to visit. 

Many hosting providers now offer SSL certificates for free. If yours does, make sure it is properly installed and active. If it doesn’t offer SSL certificates for free and you don’t want to move, it’s worth paying for it. 

Stay on Top of Updates

WordPress is a powerful and flexible platform, which is exactly why so many people love it. It is definitely why I love working with WordPress. But WordPress needs extra care other website platforms don’t require. 

Your WordPress website is made up of multiple components working together, each one potentially designed by someone different. You have the WordPress core, your theme, your plugins, and hosting environment. Each one of these components need to stay updated and compatible with each other.

Skipping these updates is one of the most common ways WordPress sites end up vulnerable. The good news is that updating your WordPress website isn’t difficult, and with a few simple habits, it can become part of routine care rather than something you dread.

Here are some common best practices to follow when updating your WordPress website… 

Updating the WordPress Core

The WordPress core is the foundation of your website and is what helps everything work together.  The frequency of these updates vary, based on need, but you can expect minor updates as frequently as monthly, and major updates 3 - 4 times a year. 

A major update is typically an update that will end with .0, such as 6.0 and these updates deserve a little more attention.

I recommend installing these updates on a staging site first if your hosting provider offers one. That way you with know if the update works well, without breaking your live website. 

If staging is not an option, make sure you make a backup of your website before installing. You also want to schedule time to do the update when people are less likely to visit, so that fewer people if any notice the outage and you have time to restore from a back up if that is necessary without anyone being aware your website was down. 

Updating Plugins and Themes

Plugins and themes are where most WordPress security issues actually come from, not WordPress itself, and these updates can be as frequent as weekly depending upon the needs and potential vulnerabilities detected. 

Here is what I recommend for installing these updates 

1. Log into your WordPress dashboard 
2. Go to the Updates section 
3. Choose one plugin or theme and update it 
4. Check your website for any issues 
5. Return to Updates and repeat the process

Yes, this takes a little longer than clicking “update all.” But there is a reason for this approach, which I will get into in just a moment. 

Finally, remove any plugins not in use, and only keep one default theme (the most current one) installed but not activated as your fallback. This will help ensure your website doesn’t go completely down if something goes wrong with your primary theme. 

Why One Update at a Time Matters

If you are using well designed and tested plug-ins and themes issues are rare, but not unheard of. When you update one at a time you will know exactly what caused an issue if one arises. Making it easier to resolve an issues quickly, by deactivating that plug-in. 

How Often Updates Should Be Checked

If your website designer does not handle updates for you, or if you have chosen to manage this yourself, I recommend checking for updates at least twice a month, although I personally do them twice weekly.

Most updates are small, security patches, compatibility fixes, and performance improvements. They are designed to keep things running smoothly, and generally won’t cause an issue. 

Why I don’t recommend Auto-Updates 

When auto updates are enabled, you have no idea when updates are being installed, which means you will have no idea if one breaks your website. This can be especially problematic if you don’t visit your website for a while as each day that goes by your back up will be corrupted as well. 

Your WordPress Website was a BIG investment... so protect it. 

Whether you paid for someone to build it or built it yourself, you invested time and money into creating something that presents your business to the world.
And since the initial launch, your website has been quietly supporting your business every single day. It shows up before you do, speaks for you when you’re not in the room, and holds your content, your offers, your reputation, and your credibility. You owe it to yourself to protect that. 

And the best time to take WordPress security seriously is before it becomes urgent.