WordPress is the largest Content Management System in the world. Almost 45% of all websites on the internet are powered by WordPress. That is a lot of websites…Right?
It’s not only WordPress websites that get hacked, but it’s also just that there are a lot of them out there, so naturally, for hackers, WordPress websites are a popular target. Below are 5 reasons why WordPress sites get hacked and what you can do to protect your site.
1. Using the default login page:
The default login page for WordPress is usually your domain and /wp-admin or /wp-login. It’s not hard for hackers to figure this out and as soon as hackers do, the hacking begins. My advice is to use a plugin to hide your default login page like WPS Hide Login. This is an easy way to hide your login. If you want to get really techy, you can always use .htaccess to hide your WordPress login page.
2. Using Admin as your Username
Are you still using Admin as your username on your WordPress site? This is a default setting for WordPress and this is the first thing that hackers will try. So don’t make it so easy for them. Make sure to use a unique name and a few numbers to keep those hackers guessing.
3. Using Weak Passwords
Are you still using easy-to-remember passwords like Password123? It’s so important to use strong passwords to protect your website. A great way to come up with strong passwords is by using an option like Google Password Manager. They give you the option to create very strong passwords and it automatically saves them so you don’t have to remember them.
4. Not Using Premium Hosting
There is a saying in Spanish that literally translates to “Something cheap will cost more in the long run!” The same goes for cheap hosting. Yeah, you are getting a great deal, saving some money, but what else are you sacrificing? There are hundreds of website hosting companies that don’t properly secure their platform, so at the end of the day, you are vulnerable to hackers. Even if you are doing everything else to secure your WordPress site. There are so many great premium hosting providers out there, but my favorite is Siteground.
5. Not keeping your website up to date
It’s important to keep your themes and plugins up to date. WordPress is always evolving and they are always coming out with new features and functionalities. With every new release comes the potential for bugs and vulnerabilities so developers are constantly updating and maintaining their products so it’s up to you to make sure that your versions are kept up to date. So if you are not keeping everything up to date, you are making your website vulnerable to an attack.
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