WordPress Security for Beginners – 15 Essential Steps (No Tech Skills)

WordPress powers over 43% of all websites on the internet, making it a prime target for hackers. But here’s the good news: most WordPress security breaches are preventable with basic precautions that anyone can implement — no coding required.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through 15 essential security steps organized by difficulty level. Whether you’re a complete beginner or have some technical knowledge, you’ll find actionable steps to protect your WordPress site and your business.

Why WordPress Security Matters for Your Business

A security breach can devastate a small business:

• Financial loss: Average cost of a small business data breach is ,000-,000
• Reputation damage: 65% of customers lose trust after a data breach
• SEO penalties: Google blacklists hacked sites, destroying your search rankings
• Legal liability: GDPR and other regulations can impose fines for data breaches
• Downtime: Average recovery time from a hack is 1-2 weeks

Beginner Level: 5 Steps Anyone Can Do Today

Step 1: Use Strong, Unique Passwords

This seems obvious, but weak passwords cause 80% of hacking-related breaches. Here’s what to do:

• Use passwords with 16+ characters including uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols
• Never reuse passwords across websites
• Use a password manager like 1Password, Bitwarden, or LastPass
• Change your WordPress admin password every 90 days
• Never share passwords via email or text

Step 2: Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication adds a second layer of security beyond your password. Even if someone steals your password, they can’t log in without the second factor.

• Install WP 2FA or Google Authenticator plugin
• Use an authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Authy, or Microsoft Authenticator)
• Enable 2FA for all admin and editor accounts
• Keep backup codes in a safe place

Step 3: Keep Everything Updated

Outdated software is the #1 attack vector for WordPress sites. Updates patch known security vulnerabilities.

• WordPress core: Update within 24 hours of release for security patches
• Plugins: Update weekly (after checking changelogs)
• Themes: Update when available
• PHP version: Use PHP 8.1+ for security and performance
• Enable automatic updates for minor WordPress releases

Step 4: Install a Security Plugin

A security plugin provides firewall protection, malware scanning, and login security. Choose one (not multiple):

• Wordfence (Free): Most popular option with firewall, scanner, and login security
• Sucuri Security (Free): Security auditing, malware scanner, and hardening
• iThemes Security (/year): User-friendly with 30+ security measures
• All-In-One WP Security (Free): Beginner-friendly with visual security meter

Step 5: Set Up Automated Backups

Backups are your safety net. If everything else fails, a recent backup lets you restore your site quickly.

• Use UpdraftPlus (free) or BlogVault (/year) for automated backups
• Schedule daily backups for active sites, weekly for static sites
• Store backups off-site: Google Drive, Dropbox, or Amazon S3
• Keep at least 30 days of backup history
• Test your backups regularly — a backup you can’t restore is worthless

Intermediate Level: 5 Steps for Better Protection

Step 6: Change the Default Login URL

By default, WordPress login is at /wp-admin or /wp-login.php. Every hacker knows this. Changing it reduces brute-force attempts by 99%.

• Install WPS Hide Login (free plugin)
• Change login URL to something unique (e.g., /my-secret-login)
• Bookmark the new URL — you’ll need it!

Step 7: Limit Login Attempts

Brute-force attacks try thousands of password combinations. Limiting login attempts stops them:

• Install Limit Login Attempts Reloaded (free)
• Set maximum 3-5 attempts before lockout
• Lock out IPs for 30-60 minutes after failed attempts
• Enable email notifications for lockouts

Step 8: Use SSL/HTTPS Everywhere

SSL encrypts data between your visitors and your server. It’s essential for security and SEO.

• Most hosting providers offer free SSL via Let’s Encrypt
• Install Really Simple SSL plugin to ensure all pages use HTTPS
• Check for mixed content warnings (HTTP resources on HTTPS pages)
• Force HTTPS in your .htaccess file or hosting panel

Step 9: Disable File Editing in WordPress

WordPress has a built-in code editor that lets admins edit theme and plugin files. If a hacker gains admin access, this is the first tool they use.

Add this line to your wp-config.php file:

define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true);

This disables the editor without affecting plugin/theme updates.

Step 10: Remove Unused Themes and Plugins

Every installed theme and plugin is a potential entry point for hackers — even deactivated ones.

• Delete all deactivated plugins (not just deactivate — delete)
• Keep only your active theme and one default WordPress theme as backup
• Before installing new plugins, check: last updated date, active installations, reviews, and developer reputation
• Avoid nulled (pirated) plugins — they almost always contain malware

Advanced Level: 5 Steps for Maximum Security

Step 11: Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF)

A WAF filters malicious traffic before it reaches your WordPress site:

• Cloudflare (Free tier): Basic WAF with DDoS protection
• Sucuri Firewall (/year): Premium WAF with malware cleanup included
• Wordfence Premium (/year): Application-level firewall with real-time threat intelligence

Step 12: Harden Your wp-config.php File

The wp-config.php file contains your database credentials and security keys. Protect it:

• Move it one directory above your WordPress installation
• Set file permissions to 400 or 440
• Add security keys from the WordPress secret key generator
• Disable directory browsing by adding Options -Indexes to .htaccess

Step 13: Set Up Security Headers

HTTP security headers tell browsers how to handle your site’s content, preventing various attacks:

• Content-Security-Policy: Prevents XSS attacks by controlling which resources can load
• X-Frame-Options: Prevents clickjacking by blocking your site from being embedded in iframes
• X-Content-Type-Options: Prevents MIME-type sniffing attacks
• Strict-Transport-Security: Forces HTTPS connections
• Referrer-Policy: Controls referrer information sent with requests

Use the Headers Security Advanced & HSTS WP plugin to add these without editing server files.

Step 14: Monitor User Activity

If multiple people have access to your WordPress site, tracking their activity helps detect suspicious behavior:

• Install WP Activity Log to track all user actions
• Monitor login times, content changes, and settings modifications
• Set up email alerts for critical actions (user creation, plugin installation, settings changes)
• Review logs weekly for anomalies
• Remove accounts that are no longer needed

Step 15: Create a Security Incident Response Plan

Even with all precautions, breaches can happen. Having a plan ensures quick recovery:

• Detection: How will you know you’ve been hacked? (Monitoring alerts, Google Search Console warnings, customer reports)
• Containment: Steps to limit damage (take site offline, change all passwords, revoke access)
• Recovery: Restore from clean backup, scan for remaining malware, patch the vulnerability
• Communication: Notify affected users if personal data was compromised
• Prevention: Document what happened and what you’ll do differently

WordPress Security Checklist Summary

Here’s a quick reference checklist you can use to audit your site:

• ☐ Strong, unique passwords for all accounts
• ☐ Two-factor authentication enabled
• ☐ WordPress, plugins, and themes all updated
• ☐ Security plugin installed and configured
• ☐ Automated backups running and tested
• ☐ Custom login URL
• ☐ Login attempts limited
• ☐ SSL/HTTPS active on all pages
• ☐ File editing disabled
• ☐ Unused themes and plugins deleted
• ☐ Web application firewall active
• ☐ wp-config.php hardened
• ☐ Security headers configured
• ☐ User activity monitoring in place
• ☐ Incident response plan documented

Get a Professional Security Audit from Petruskevich Web Studio

Not sure if your WordPress site is secure? At Petruskevich Web Studio, we offer comprehensive security audits that identify vulnerabilities before hackers do.

Our security audit includes:

• Complete vulnerability assessment
• Malware and backdoor scanning
• Plugin and theme security review
• Server configuration analysis
• User access and permissions audit
• Detailed report with prioritized recommendations
• Implementation of critical fixes

Request a professional security audit — protect your business before it’s too late.