Top 5 Ways To Secure WordPress 2024

In 2024, securing your WordPress site is more critical than ever as the number of cyber-attacks and vulnerabilities continues to increase. WordPress powers millions of websites globally, making it a common target for hackers. The good news is that securing your WordPress website doesn’t have to be complex. By taking a few proactive steps, you can significantly reduce the risk of your website being compromised.

In this article, we’ll discuss the Top 5 Ways to Secure WordPress in 2024 and provide detailed instructions on how to implement each security measure.

1. Remove the readme.html File

The first step in securing your WordPress website in 2024 is to remove the readme.html file. This file contains information about your WordPress version, which hackers can exploit if they know your WordPress version is outdated. By accessing this file, malicious actors can easily identify potential vulnerabilities and launch targeted attacks on your website.

Why Remove the readme.html File?

Hackers often scan websites to find out which version of WordPress is being used. If the version is outdated, they may use known exploits to break into your site. Removing the readme.html file is a simple yet effective way to hide this information.

Implementation:

• Access your website’s root directory using FTP or cPanel’s File Manager.
• Once inside the root directory, locate the readme.html file.
• Simply delete the file to remove it from your site.

Alternatively, you can automate this process by adding the following code to your theme’s functions.php file. This will ensure that the file is deleted whenever your site is loaded:

if (file_exists(ABSPATH . 'readme.html')) {
    unlink(ABSPATH . 'readme.html');
}

By taking this simple step, you prevent attackers from discovering your site’s WordPress version, reducing the likelihood of a successful attack.

2. Disable XML-RPC

Another important step to secure your WordPress site in 2024 is to disable XML-RPC. XML-RPC is an API that allows remote connections to your WordPress site, often used for features like trackbacks and pingbacks or connecting external apps like the WordPress mobile app. However, it’s frequently targeted in brute-force attacks because it can be exploited to guess passwords and break into sites.

Why Disable XML-RPC?

Although XML-RPC serves legitimate purposes, it can expose your website to vulnerabilities. Hackers can send multiple password attempts through this API, making brute-force attacks easier. Disabling XML-RPC can significantly reduce your site’s attack surface.

Implementation:

There are two ways to disable XML-RPC:

Option 1: Use a Plugin

• Install and activate the “Disable XML-RPC” plugin. This plugin will automatically disable XML-RPC functionality with no additional configuration required.

Option 2: Manually Disable XML-RPC

• To manually disable XML-RPC, you can add the following lines of code to your .htaccess file to block access to xmlrpc.php:

<Files xmlrpc.php>
Order Allow,Deny
Deny from all
</Files>

This will effectively disable XML-RPC on your site, ensuring that hackers cannot exploit it to gain unauthorized access.

3. Disable Direct Access to Important Files

WordPress stores critical configuration and sensitive data in files like wp-config.php and .htaccess. If these files are accessible to the public, they can expose your site to severe security risks. To protect your website, it’s essential to disable direct access to these important files.

Why Disable Direct Access to wp-config.php and .htaccess?

The wp-config.php file contains your database credentials and other important information. Allowing public access to this file can give hackers everything they need to breach your site. Similarly, .htaccess is responsible for server configurations and security rules. Protecting these files is crucial to keeping your site secure.

Implementation:

Restrict Access to wp-config.php:

• Add the following code to your .htaccess file to prevent direct access to wp-config.php:

<files wp-config.php>
order allow,deny
deny from all
</files>

Restrict Access to .htaccess:

• Add this code to prevent public access to the .htaccess file itself:

<files .htaccess>
order allow,deny
deny from all
</files>

These simple rules ensure that malicious actors cannot directly access or manipulate your sensitive files.

4. Disable File Editing in the WordPress Dashboard

By default, WordPress allows users with admin privileges to edit theme and plugin files directly from the dashboard. While this feature may be convenient for making quick edits, it also opens up a significant security risk. If an attacker gains access to your admin account, they could use this feature to insert malicious code into your website.

To prevent this, it’s recommended to disable file editing in the WordPress dashboard.

Why Disable File Editing?

Hackers can exploit this feature to modify core files or add malware if they manage to break into your WordPress admin panel. Disabling file editing reduces the chances of your site being compromised through admin access.

Implementation:

To disable file editing in the WordPress dashboard, follow these steps:

• Open the wp-config.php file, which is located in the root directory of your WordPress installation.
• Add the following line of code:

define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true);

This simple line of code will disable the built-in file editor for themes and plugins, protecting your site from unauthorized modifications.

5. Use a Secure Hosting Provider – H2HOSTY

Even if you follow all the security best practices, your WordPress site’s security ultimately depends on the quality of your hosting provider. A reliable and secure hosting provider like H2HOSTY can make a significant difference in safeguarding your website against attacks.

Why Choose H2HOSTY?

H2HOSTY is designed with security in mind, offering a range of features that help protect your WordPress site, including:

• LiteSpeed Web Server: LiteSpeed is faster and more secure than traditional Apache servers, offering built-in protection against many common vulnerabilities.
• Daily Backups: H2HOSTY ensures that your website is backed up every day, allowing you to quickly restore it in case of a security breach.
• 99.99% Uptime: H2HOSTY continuously monitors your website for vulnerabilities and ensures it’s always up and running.
• 24/7 Customer Support: With round-the-clock support, you can rest assured that any security concerns or technical issues will be promptly addressed.

Choosing H2HOSTY as your hosting provider is one of the best investments you can make in securing your WordPress site in 2024.

Conclusion

Securing your WordPress site in 2024 is essential to protect against rising cyber threats and vulnerabilities. By following these Top 5 Ways to Secure WordPress in 2024, including removing the readme.html file, disabling XML-RPC, protecting sensitive files, disabling file editing, and choosing a secure hosting provider like H2HOSTY, you can significantly reduce the risk of your site being hacked.

Take these steps today and keep your WordPress site safe and secure throughout the year.

By following this guide, you ensure that your site is well-protected and running smoothly, giving you peace of mind to focus on growing your business without worrying about security issues.