Security Checklist for WordPress Sites for Developers and All In One WP Security Setup

WordPress is the most popular platform for building websites, making it a primary target for hackers. Simply installing WordPress and adding content is not enough to protect your site from attacks. Site security is a comprehensive process that involves plugin configuration, code review, proper administration, and regular updates.

In this article, I’ll provide a detailed WordPress security checklist. Around 90% of the tasks on this list can be handled by a single plugin: All In One WP Security.

1. Updates

Maintaining an up-to-date system is one of the key aspects of security. Here are several steps to ensure regular updates:

Update the WordPress core. Always use the latest version of WordPress to protect against vulnerabilities.
Update plugins and themes. Outdated plugins and themes may contain vulnerabilities that hackers can easily exploit.
Remove unused plugins and themes. Even inactive elements pose a risk.
Keep PHP up to date. Make sure your site is running the latest version of PHP.

2. Accounts and Passwords

Accounts are just as important as they are the gateway to site management:

Change the default username “admin”. Use a unique login name to make brute-force attacks harder.
Use strong passwords. Employ complex passwords for all accounts, including admin, FTP, databases, and hosting.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). Add a second layer of security to the login process.
Limit login attempts. This helps prevent brute-force attacks.
Regularly review roles and permissions. Continuously audit user access levels and adjust as necessary.

3. File and Database Security

Your files and databases require extra protection:

Protect wp-config.php. Move this file out of the public directory and restrict access to it via .htaccess.
Set proper file and folder permissions. Use 644 for files and 755 for folders.
Change the database table prefix. The default wp_ prefix is easily guessable. Change it to something unique.
Use a strong database password. Just like account passwords, make sure your database password is strong.
Make regular backups. Always keep recent backups of your site and database.

4. SSL and Encryption

SSL certificates provide encryption for data transmitted between users and the server:

Install an SSL certificate. Ensure your site runs via HTTPS to protect users’ personal data.
Redirect HTTP to HTTPS. Set up automatic redirection of all HTTP requests to HTTPS using .htaccess.

5. Server and Network Security

Protecting your server and network is essential to prevent external attacks:

Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF). This adds an additional layer of security against hacks.
Restrict admin access by IP. Limit admin panel access to specific IP addresses.
Disable FTP. Use SFTP or SSH instead of insecure FTP.

6. WordPress Settings

Certain WordPress settings can also significantly enhance security:

Change the admin login URL. This makes automated attacks on standard URLs more difficult.
Disable the file editor. Enabling the DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT option reduces the risk of file changes directly through the admin panel.
Hide the WordPress version. Concealing your WordPress version makes targeted attacks harder.
Disable XML-RPC. If not in use, disable this feature.
Disable directory indexing. Configure .htaccess to prevent file listing access.

7. Plugin and Theme Security

Managing plugins and themes is another important aspect of security:

Use only trusted sources. Download plugins and themes only from official or reputable sources.
Avoid “nulled” versions. Pirated versions often contain malicious code.
Install a verified security plugin. Security plugins help protect your site from attacks.
Review theme code. Regularly check theme code, especially those handling user input.

8. Monitoring and Auditing

Regular monitoring of site activity helps identify potential threats in time:

Enable user activity monitoring. This helps track changes made to the site.
Set up suspicious activity alerts. Receive notifications about potential threats.
Analyze server logs. Regularly review server logs and address any errors.

9. Protection from Spam and Bots

Spam and bots can negatively affect site performance:

Install CAPTCHA. Add CAPTCHA to login and registration forms.
Use anti-spam plugins. These plugins help filter out spam in comments and forms.

10. Training and Awareness

Knowledge is key to maintaining security:

Train users and administrators. Everyone involved in the system should be aware of basic security measures.
Stay up-to-date with security updates. Keep track of the latest vulnerabilities and threats.

11. Additional Measures

Extra steps can further enhance protection:

Vulnerability testing. Regularly perform security tests and fix any discovered issues.
Configure HTTP security headers. Use Content Security Policy and other headers to improve security.
Use a CDN with security features. Services like Cloudflare provide an additional layer of protection.

What You Can’t Control

Even if all security measures are in place, there are factors that you cannot directly influence:

Shared Hosting. If your site is hosted on a shared server, it could suffer from attacks on neighboring sites. It’s crucial to choose reliable hosting providers that offer a high level of security.
DDoS Attacks can significantly affect your site’s performance. It’s best to leave these complex issues to professionals at your hosting provider, who can ensure reliable protection and stable operation. Often, the attack targets a specific IP, not necessarily your site.
Zero-Day Vulnerabilities. These are vulnerabilities that haven’t yet been reported to developers or patched. In such cases, it’s important to stay informed and update your site promptly.

Theme Code Review: What to Focus On

A WordPress theme may contain many vulnerabilities, especially if it includes input fields or other user interaction forms. Checking the theme’s code is a crucial step in ensuring your site’s security.

Key points to check in the theme’s code:

Data validation and sanitization. All user input should be validated and sanitized. Use WordPress’s built-in functions for handling data, such as esc_html(), esc_sql(), and other methods.
Protection from SQL injection. Always use secure APIs for interacting with the database, such as wpdb->prepare().
Preventing XSS attacks. Ensure all user input is properly escaped and sanitized before being outputted.
Removing unused code. The theme may contain unused code, which could be vulnerable. Clean up such elements.
Disallow direct file editing. Themes should not allow users to edit critical files through the admin panel.
Regular log monitoring. With the help of the Error Log Monitor plugin, you can monitor errors directly from the site’s admin panel. Fix any errors immediately. If errors appear in abandoned plugins, either replace the plugin or fix the code.

Site Health – Built-in Site Monitoring

For a long time, WordPress has provided a convenient interface for monitoring your site’s health: Site Health.

Go to /wp-admin/site-health.php and check the sections related to security.

Evaluate critical warnings, update outdated plugins and themes.
Pay attention to SSL status and automatic updates.
Configure file system protection and check if automatic backups are active.

Properly monitoring your site’s health using Site Health and taking timely actions to resolve issues will help ensure your site is secure from potential attacks and vulnerabilities.

Detailed Guide to Configuring the All In One WP Security Plugin

The All In One WP Security plugin is one of the best solutions for securing your WordPress site. It includes many useful features to protect your site from various threats. Here’s a detailed guide on how to configure the plugin for maximum protection.

Step 1: Installing the Plugin

Go to your WordPress admin panel.
In the left menu, select Plugins > Add New.
In the search bar, type All In One WP Security.
Find the plugin in the search results and click Install.
After installation, click Activate.

Now, the plugin is activated, and you can begin configuring it.

Step 2: Basic Security Settings

In the WordPress admin menu, a new section called WP Security will appear. Go to this section.

The Dashboard tab will display general information about your site’s current security status. You’ll also find security points, which update as you implement various security measures.

Step 3: Setting Up Basic Features

3.1 User Account Security

Go to the User Accounts section.
Enable the Admin Username check. The plugin will check if there’s a user with the username “admin” and suggest changing it since it’s a common target for hackers.
In the Password Strength Tool section, check the strength of all user passwords. To improve security, enforce the use of strong passwords.

3.2 Login Security

Go to the Login Lockdown section.
Enable login lockdown after several failed login attempts. For example, you can set it to lock after 3 failed attempts for 20 minutes.
Enable notification of lockouts. This will allow you to receive alerts if someone attempts to access your site.

3.3 Brute Force Protection

In the Brute Force section, activate the Rename Login Page option. This changes the default login URL (wp-login.php), making automated attacks more difficult.
Enable the Login Honeypot option to add extra protection to the login form.

Step 4: File and Database Protection

4.1 File System Security

Go to the Filesystem Security section.
The plugin will check file permissions for important files and suggest changes if the current settings are unsafe.
Activate the option to prevent file editing through the WordPress admin panel. This prevents direct code changes via the site’s admin interface.

4.2 Database Security

Go to the Database Security section.
Change the default database table prefix. By default, WordPress uses the wp_ prefix, which makes the site more vulnerable to attacks. The plugin will offer to generate a unique prefix.
Enable automatic database backups. Choose a convenient interval, such as weekly, and specify where the backups will be stored.

Step 5: Securing .htaccess and wp-config.php Files

Go to the Firewall section and enable basic firewall protection.
Enable the Protect System Files option to secure the wp-config.php and .htaccess files.
In the 6G Blacklist Firewall Rules section, enable advanced firewall rules to protect against malicious requests.

Step 6: Malware Detection and Protection

Go to the Scanner section and activate file scanning for malware and changes.
Set up regular scans of your site’s files and configure email alerts if suspicious changes are detected.

Step 7: Additional Security Measures

In the Spam Prevention section, enable spam bot protection using CAPTCHA for comments and registration forms.
Enable Prevent Hotlinks to protect your content from direct linking from other sites.

The All In One WP Security plugin offers comprehensive protection for your site, combining ease of setup with powerful security features. By following this guide, you can greatly strengthen your site’s security, minimizing the risks of hacks and data loss.

Conclusion

Securing a WordPress site is an ongoing process that requires attention to all aspects of security. Using the All In One WP Security plugin, reviewing theme code, and performing regular updates will help you reduce attack risks and provide robust site protection. Follow this checklist to create a powerful security system that safeguards your site against most threats.