Change the login page URL and use a 16-character password with numbers, upper and lowercase letters, and special characters; premium-quality hosting enhances security.
WordPress is behind more than 43% of all websites in 2024, which offers cybercriminals a large attack opportunity vector. Your login page is the most obvious point of entry, and this is where you must start assessing your website security.
A secure login page is crucial for preventing security breaches. Changing the default WordPress login can ward off brute-force attacks.
By default, the CMS has the same destination for login, and that is something like www.nameofyoursite.com/wp-admin/. Hackers are aware of this and perpetrate automated attacks with bots, which look for the login page address and then try to guess the password. Changing the login page URL is essential to reduce the risk of bots finding the page. This makes it impossible for them to launch brute force attacks.
WPS Hide Login is a dedicated plugin you can use to change the login URL. Many WordPress security plugins have this function as well.
Pay attention to password setup
Paying attention to how you create your password can be the easiest solution to having a secure WordPress website. The following statistics reveal the periods in which passwords can be cracked depending on their length.
You can crack an 8-character password instantly if it contains only numbers. If it contains upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters, it can be cracked in five minutes.
You can crack a 10-character password instantly if it contains only numbers. If it contains upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters, the period goes up to two weeks.
You can crack a 12-character password in one second if it only has numbers. If it contains upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters, it will take 226 years to crack.
Finally, a 16-character password with numbers only can be cracked in an hour. Interestingly, the probability goes up to five billion years – that’s to say it’s impossible – if it also contains upper and lowercase letters and special characters.
Choose premium hosting
Premium WordPress hosting provides enhanced security, superior performance, and better support than standard hosting. These hosting services include features such as high-speed servers, support, and security, which set them apart from ordinary web hosting. Additions like CDN, SSD storage, and automatic backups ensure your website stays safe, fast, and online.
Premium hosting prioritizes security measures with advanced features such as SSL certificates, DDoS protection, and secure authentication. They make sure your site stays safe from attempted attacks. Premium hosting can give you the peace of mind knowing that your website’s sensitive data is well-protected.
FAQ
What are some ways to reduce WordPress security vulnerabilities?
Keeping WordPress plugins and themes updated is essential. According to research published in 2023, as much as 14% of malware tampers with WordFence, the most frequently used WordPress security plugin. Other practices include implementing two-factor authentication, encrypting HTTPS through an SSL certificate, and disabling login hints.
How do I disable WordPress login hints?
WordPress shows a message that your data is wrong when you try to log in with an incorrect username. Hackers or bots trying to access the site will find this information helpful.
Disable hints to avoid giving potential attackers any clues. You will remove a bit of information that other websites unwillingly provide. You need to add a few lines of code to the functions.php file.
- function no_wordpress_errors()
- { return ‘customized error message.’ ; }
- add_filter( ‘login_errors’, ‘no_wordpress_errors’ );
WordPress will display your customized error message every time there is a failed login attempt from now on. It will not show the default message with details about the incorrect part of the login information.
