Effective Malware Prevention in WordPress: Tips and Tools for Website Owners
Websites face a high threat of malware spread. WordPress website owners should have knowledge of basic cybersecurity leading practices for prevention of malware. Below mentioned are few tips and recommended tools websites owners should familiarize themselves with:
Avoid public networks:
Often public networks can have various open connections, making them vulnerable targets for hackers and other cybercriminals. Be sure to secure connections when working on WordPress by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
Keep everything up to date:
Malware can exploit the vulnerabilities in outdated versions. Keeping the WordPress software, plugins, and themes up to date is key to maintain security.
Select a good hosting provider:
A good hosting provider can go a long way in protecting a WordPress website from hackers and malware. All hosting providers are not the same. It is necessary to research and select one that offers the most up-to-date security features and options.
Protect your login credentials:
It’s essential to secure user accounts used to access the WordPress website. It’s beneficial to use strong passwords, two factor authentication, and a single sign-on solution.
Use security plugins:
Using plugins for security is standard practice. A few plugins available are:
- Wordfence – Free and premium options available (includes firewall, virus scanning, and blocking suspicious IPs).
- iThemes Security – Free and premium options available (includes malware scanning and two factor authentication).
- Sucuri – Free and premium options available (includes malware scanning and web application firewalls).
Monitor traffic and visitor activity:
There are multiple ways to track the visitors, traffic, and their activity on the website. It is useful to use tools for monitoring traffic and visitor activity to recognize malicious activities.
Regularly back up data:
Backing up data regularly helps in avoiding any major data loss due to a malicious attack or a technical failure. This will help the website to restore data and get up and running quickly.
To ensure effective malware prevention in WordPress, it is important to use the advice above and the recommended tools as a baseline for good security. It is also essential to review, assess and keep the security measures updated. Regular maintenance is recommended to keep WordPress websites secure from malicious threats.