Today, I, Andy Sim, the founder of Angkor Design Website Design and Mobile App Development in Cambodia, will explain WordPress security and why hackers target WordPress CMS. WordPress is used by over 40% of all websites on the internet, making it a prime target for cybercriminals. Its widespread use means that any weaknesses found can impact millions of sites. As website owners, it’s important for us to understand the reasons behind these attacks in order to enhance our own protection.
Hackers frequently attack WordPress sites for different reasons:
- Data theft: Valuable user information, such as email addresses and credit card details, can be sold on the dark web.
- SEO manipulation: Attackers may inject malicious links to boost their own sites’ rankings.
- Malware distribution: Compromised sites can be used to spread malware to unsuspecting visitors.
- Cryptocurrency mining: Hackers may use your server resources to mine digital currencies.
Understanding the motivations behind cyber attacks highlights the critical need for strong security protocols. It’s crucial to remember that all websites, regardless of their scale or content, are potential targets. Therefore, implementing protective measures is essential for every online presence, no matter how modest it may seem.
Signs Your WordPress Website Has Been Hacked
Detecting a hack early can greatly reduce the potential damage caused. It is important to be aware of signs that your WordPress site may have been compromised. Here are some clear indicators to look out for:
- Unexpected changes: If you notice unfamiliar content, new users, or modified themes/plugins, it’s time to investigate.
- Slow performance: A sudden drop in site speed could indicate malicious scripts running in the background.
- Unusual traffic patterns: Spikes in traffic from unexpected sources might suggest a DDoS attack or malware distribution.
- Search engine warnings: If Google flags your site as potentially harmful, take it seriously.
- Login issues: Difficulty accessing your admin panel could mean someone has changed your credentials.
Being watchful and regularly checking your site’s activity is very important. We suggest creating notifications for any unauthorized modifications and performing security scans every week to identify potential problems early on.
Check your website tools to make sure they are working correctly and efficiently
When scanning your website, you have two options: external remote scanners or application level scanners. Each is designed to look and report on different aspects. Combining both approaches greatly improves your chances of success.
Application Based Scanners (Plugins):
Remote Based Scanners (Crawlers):
There are also other security plugins available in the WP repository. The ones mentioned above have been around for a while and have active communities supporting them. In the upcoming articles, we will provide more information on securing your WordPress installation, the importance of plugins in WordPress security, selecting a secure WordPress hosting provider, preventing WordPress hacks, backup strategies to safeguard your WordPress site, and useful WordPress security tools and plugins. We will also share additional tips and tools to help you secure your WordPress CMS website.
If you are hosting with us, contact us today to consult about your website and ensure it is free of malware. Our hosting expert with WordPress CMS will help secure your website on our hosting server in Singapore. Find reliable hosting with Angkor Design by hosting with us.