Cybersecurity is a big subject right now, as it should be, given there are 2,800 assaults on websites every second and spending to protect against online threats is anticipated to reach $1.75 trillion by 2025. WordPress: Is it safe? Considering how equally these assaults affect people, small businesses, and major organizations, is this a valid question?
Websites using WordPress as their content management system are a favorite target for hackers. The number of successful attacks against WordPress-powered websites increased by 94% in 2019. Nine out of ten assaults, even with WordPress' 65.1 percent CMS market share, are still a considerable amount.
After reading these figures, you might start to question the prudence of using WordPress as your CMS. You might be wondering if it's really secure to utilize WordPress.
Simply put, without a doubt. But before I respond, let me to go a bit more into this concern so you may feel more at rest with your CMS choice and better understand what makes WordPress vulnerable to security concerns and how to prevent them.
Is WordPress secure?
WordPress may be used with confidence by publishers that take website security seriously and follow best practices. Best practices include using safe plugins and themes, upholding trustworthy login procedures, using security plugins to keep an eye on your website, and frequent upgrading.
Let's break down the security of a WordPress website into its three main components: plugins, themes, and the WordPress core (the source files that control WordPress' basic functionality). This will make it possible for us to fully understand WordPress security.
Is WordPress core secure?
The short answer is that WordPress core is secure when updated to the most recent version. Users may, however, take further steps to strengthen the WordPress core on their website.
Longer response: The WordPress core is the only component—unlike themes and plugins—and a top-notch security team is responsible for maintaining it. WordPress often releases security upgrades to repair its core files and fix bugs. The issues that updates to WordPress address are all known in advance, so install them as soon as you can.
You may also take more actions to ensure that WordPress runs as securely as possible. These include:
- developing strong passwords to safeguard your login. Checking out supplementary features like two-factor authentication and plugins that limit the number of login attempts and include captchas are also worthwhile.
- installing a security plugin for WordPress that can monitor your website for viruses and often executing website checks.
- Enabling SSL enables secure connections to your website for users.
- When hosting your website, pick a secure provider.
- For a thorough list of recommended practices you can use to protect the WordPress core, visit Website Security for WordPress.
Are WordPress plugins secure?
Rapid reply: Not always. Use only reputable, authorized plugins, and update them as needed.
Longer reply: If plugins are WordPress' beating heart, then core files are pretty much everything else. They give WordPress countless customization and flexibility options. The issue is that not all plugins are guaranteed to be kept current or even initially secure because they are made by third parties. Therefore, one of the most popular ways for hackers to access WordPress-powered websites is through plugins.
Don't get me wrong; plugins are necessary for anything that adds functionality to the core of WordPress. However, just as you wouldn't download a dodgy file from a suspicious website, you should be exceedingly cautious about where you get your plugins from. Keep to the WordPress plugin directory, and when choosing plugins, take user reviews, update frequency, and popularity into account.
Even a reliable plugin that is not kept up to date can be harmful. Install updates for plugins as soon as they are made available, and stay current with any fixes and improvements made by developers.
Are WordPress themes secure?
Rapid reply: Not always. Utilize a WordPress-compliant theme and make any necessary updates.
Longer answer: WordPress does not oversee or certify themes because so many of them are produced by independent firms. Don't install a theme just because you enjoy the way it appears, despite how important it is. Your theme also needs to follow WordPress's code requirements. From the list of approved WordPress themes, select a theme. Any WordPress website, including your own, can have its security determined by you.
Last but not least, as I've previously stated, I'll reiterate it here as well: Update! Through obsolete themes, hackers can easily gain access to the backend of your website.
"To maintain the security of your WordPress website, you must regularly update your themes and plugins. You should test each update for themes and plugins individually, possibly on a staging site, before publishing them. This is to make sure the changes don't break existing functionality or, worse, cause the website to crash completely. - Alec Wines, Head of Growth at WP Buffs
Is WordPress reliable?
Yes, WordPress is trustworthy. But like anything connected to the internet, it has flaws, and hackers will always look for a way in. Although it has some of the best infrastructures, it is essentially built to withstand attacks from malicious actors.
The truth about cybersecurity-
You should also be aware that, in an ideal world, recognizing the threats and putting the necessary safeguards in place would prevent hacking. Secure, however, differs from immune.
There will never be 100% security, and there will always be risks involved with hosting content online, regardless of the CMS you use. The best thing you can do is make assaults less likely, and if you put security first, everything will be alright. Given that you're the first to inquire about WordPress' security, it suggests that you probably already do.
Also, I highly recommend you to visit this blog, Why do you need WordPress security? as it will provide you a deep sense of understanding about WordPress security.
Thanks for Reading!