How to Keep Your WordPress Site Secure
1 June 2025
If the thought of website security makes your eyes glaze over, you’re not alone. Many business owners worry about hackers and malware but feel overwhelmed by the jargon and complexity. The good news? You don’t need to be a developer or a cybersecurity expert to keep your WordPress site safe.
At Step3 Digital, we help businesses across Kent and beyond protect their sites without drowning in tech-speak. Here’s a practical, non-scary guide to making your WordPress website far more secure – no coding knowledge required.
Keep WordPress Core, Themes and Plugins Updated
The single most important security step is also the simplest: stay updated. Outdated WordPress software is one of the top reasons sites get hacked.
- Update WordPress core whenever a new version is released.
- Keep your theme and plugins current too – hackers often exploit known flaws in older versions.
- Delete any plugins or themes you’re not using.
If you’re nervous about updates breaking things, back up first or ask a support partner (like our Trouble Free WordPress plans) to manage updates safely.
Use Strong, Unique Passwords
It sounds obvious, but weak passwords remain one of the biggest risks.
- Use long, unique passwords for your WordPress login, hosting account and database.
- Avoid “admin” as your username.
- Consider a password manager like 1Password or LastPass to generate and store secure logins.
Even better, add two-factor authentication (2FA) so logging in requires a password and a one-time code from your phone.
Limit Login Attempts
Hackers often try “brute force” attacks – guessing your password over and over. Limit the number of times someone can try to log in.
- Many security plugins (like Wordfence or iThemes Security) let you restrict login attempts.
- After a few failed tries, the attacker gets locked out.
This is a simple layer of protection that stops automated attacks cold.
Install a Security Plugin
You don’t need to know how firewalls work to use one. A good WordPress security plugin will:
- Scan for malware.
- Block suspicious traffic.
- Alert you to file changes.
- Add a firewall to filter out bad bots.
Popular choices include Wordfence, Sucuri Security and iThemes Security. Install one, set it up with recommended defaults and let it run quietly in the background.
Use SSL (HTTPS)
If your site URL doesn’t start with https://, fix that today. An SSL certificate:
- Encrypts data sent between your site and visitors.
- Stops browsers warning that your site is “not secure”.
- Helps with SEO (Google prefers secure sites).
Most good hosts include free SSL certificates. If yours doesn’t, ask them – or consider moving to one that does.
Backup Regularly
Even the best security can’t guarantee zero issues. Backups are your safety net.
- Use a reliable backup plugin (like UpdraftPlus or BlogVault) or a host that handles backups automatically.
- Store backups off-site (not just on your server).
- Keep at least one recent full-site backup so you can recover quickly if something goes wrong.
At Step3, we back up our clients’ sites daily and keep copies securely off-site – it’s saved more than one business from disaster.
Remove Unused Admin Accounts
Over time, old team members or developers might still have access. Each account is a potential risk.
- Review your WordPress user list.
- Remove anyone who doesn’t need access.
- Give editors or authors lower permissions if they only need to add content.
Fewer accounts mean fewer ways in.
Secure Your Hosting Environment
Even if your WordPress setup is solid, poor hosting can leave you vulnerable.
- Choose a host known for WordPress security.
- Look for features like web application firewalls, malware scanning and automatic updates.
- Avoid ultra-cheap hosting – the savings disappear fast if you get hacked.
Our preferred hosting partners include these protections by default, keeping our Trouble Free clients safer without extra effort.
Keep an Eye on Site Health
WordPress has a Site Health tool under Tools › Site Health. It flags security issues like outdated PHP, inactive themes or missing HTTPS. Check it occasionally and follow the recommendations – it’s like an MOT for your website.
Know When to Get Expert Help
Some tasks are better handled by professionals, especially if your site is business-critical or processes payments.
- Malware removal can be tricky and time sensitive.
- Server-level hardening needs technical access.
- Complex plugin conflicts after updates are easier for a developer to fix.
You don’t need to become a security expert – you just need to know when to call one.
Our Take
Security doesn’t have to be scary or technical. A few simple habits – keeping updates current, using strong passwords, backing up and installing a security plugin – will protect you from most common threats. Combine those with reliable hosting and regular checks, and you’ll sleep a lot easier.
If you’d rather not think about updates, backups and firewalls at all, our Trouble Free WordPress support can take it off your plate. We keep your site secure, patched and monitored so you can focus on running your business without worrying about hackers.