wordpress security mistakes tips guidesCreating a website that runs smoothly and is user-friendly requires a lot of time, effort, and money. Most of the time you won’t get everything right because there are so many different components that you need to integrate into one unit. WordPress is seen as a cheaper alternative but does have some security issues as well. What are these common WordPress mistakes that developers often make?

1. Using the Default Name “Admin”

The early versions of WordPress had a user named as admin by default unless you manually deleted it. This created several security issues because hackers could easily break into your site because they already had the username and all they needed to do was run a bunch of password combinations.

Although WordPress fixed the issue and you can name the primary user anything that you want, most websites were opened before this change. Hackers will always try “admin” as the first option for a username when they try to hack into your account. It is critical that you review your users and delete the “admin” user should it still be existing in your system. For a better understanding of information security in WordPress, you should consider taking a course at Norwich University. There are a lot of Norwich University online courses that take a more in-depth look at cyber security that you could benefit from greatly.

2. Shoddy Hosting

According to various sources, 41% of all website hacks occur because of the use of insecure servers. To ensure your site is safe and secure from any hacks, you need to ensure that your website hosting is secure. Your website is a business investment, and you should ensure you get the best possible hosting that you can afford. Shared hosting is considered to be budget friendly, but it can easily be compromised, and you may just lose your precious website.

3. Installing Plugins and Themes from Untrustworthy Sources

You’ve probably came across free WordPress plugins and themes that cost you completely nothing. You should be very careful when installing these plugins from third-party sources because they may come with malicious files and javascript that could cripple your website and grant your site’s access to hackers. Only install plugins and themes from trusted sources with certificates that you can verify to prove legitimacy.

4. Weak Passwords

Hackers don’t manually guess passwords and input them manually when trying to hack into your website. There are automated programs that try thousands of different commonly used passwords per second until they find a match. It is therefore critical that you put some thought into the password you want to use. Ensure the password contains uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. The password should also be unique and long for increased security.

One of the worst things that could happen to your business is having your website taken down or hacked. You should address the common WordPress mistakes from the very beginning if you don’t want to experience the nightmare of seeing everything you hold so dear disappear in an instant.