WordPress Login Security

Solution:1

You can force the login and entire administration area in WordPress by defining:

define('FORCE_SSL_ADMIN', true);

in your wp-config.php file.

For more information on see Administration over SSL in the Codex

Solution:2

WordPress login security is not a mystery at all. Just ensuring that you secure your WordPress login page and the process can make the world of difference in terms of security. While there are several methods hackers employ to exploit the vulnerabilities on your WordPress login page, we have put together a quick list of measures that should cover all your bases.

1. Use a security plugin

security plugin is often seen as only a tool to scan your site for malware. But a good security solution should be able to ward off any attacks as well as be able to scan your site. A complete security plugin such as MalCare will offer firewall protection, which stops any brute force attacks before they can break into your site at all.

MalCare’s advanced firewall limits login attempts, adds reCaptcha to your site, blocks suspicious IPs, and allows you to completely block requests from particular regions. MalCare makes the process so easy that you barely have to worry about your website security once you have it installed.

 

MalCare makes it very easy to identify and cleanup hacks. Additionally, MalCare also offers vulnerability detection, Activity logs, and scans that don’t interrupt your website performance. It maintains the security of your website constantly and alerts you of any suspicious activity immediately so that no malware can escape your notice.

Using MalCare can upgrade your WordPress login security multifold.

2. Ensure strong passwords

It should go without saying, but using strong passwords is advice we cannot dole out enough. Weak and reused passwords are among the most common causes of hacks on the internet. With passwords being the most basic security tool in your arsenal, you should ensure that you take every measure possible to strengthen them. Here are some ways in which you can do that:

  • Use a mix of small and capital case letters, numbers, and special characters in your password to strengthen it.
  • Use long passwords, research reveals that longer passwords are harder to crack.
  • Employ a password manager to generate and manage your passwords.
  • Make sure all your users use strong passwords.
  • Don’t use dictionary words in your passwords.
  • Don’t reuse passwords.
  • Update your passwords frequently.

3. Use two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication is a mechanism that requires two keys for any user to gain access to your site. One of these keys is your password, and the other key is generated in real-time, sent to you through email or message. Two-factor authentication secures your website from brute force attacks, as bots cannot furnish the second key, and thus are locked out of your site, even if they manage to decipher your password.

You can download a plugin such as WP 2FA that enables two-factor authentication on your site and protects it from attacks.

4. Regularly review user accounts

User accounts on your WordPress site can be a big security concern if not managed regularly and effectively. If you have multiple users on your WordPress site, any one of them can prove to be the weak link that lets malware in. Here are some safe user management practices you should employ:

  • Delete old and unused accounts on a regular basis.
  • Check user privileges frequently and make sure that there are no sudden privilege escalations.
  • Keep a track of user accounts. Delete any suspicious accounts that you have not created.
  • Update all credentials regularly.
  • Use an activity log to track user activity. Unusual activity is often the first sign of a hacked user account.

5. Cap login attempts

As we discussed, hackers can use bots to deploy brute force attacks on your website in a bid to gain access. Even if the bots are unable to crack your password, the huge surge in login requests can overwhelm your website server and lead to your website breaking down.

The quickest way to avoid this, is to limit the login attempts made to your website server. If you use MalCare, it automatically limits more login attempts and blocks suspicious IPs without you having to set it up. But you can also use another security plugin to do this, or limit the login attempts manually.

6. Use SSL

SSL is a security protocol that encrypts any communication to and from a website server. This means that if anyone intercepts any data that is being sent to you or is being sent by you, they cannot make sense of the data because it has been encrypted. When you notice a lock in front of the website URL, it means that it is SSL secured.

 

SSL is a generally great security practice to adopt, as it helps you secure your digital communication, and is encouraged by most web hosts, search engines, and firewalls. So much so, that Google has started delisting sites that are not SSL secured.

Also Read: How to Fix WordPress Login Not Secure issues

7. Enable auto logouts

Depending on the preferences you have set, WordPress automatically logs you out after 48 hours to 14 days. But when you leave a session unattended on one of the forgotten tabs on your window, it can give hackers a window to gain access. Cookie hijacking is a common technique used by hackers to take over user sessions by gaining access to the cookies in your browser.

In order to avoid this, you can enable auto-logouts by using a plugin, so that a user is logged out after a set amount of time.

8. Limit user privileges

Another big security concern when it comes to user accounts is privileges. Often, users are given undue privileges which can prove to be a big gap in your website security. For instance, if an editor is given admin privileges to make some changes for a particular post, chances are that these privileges won’t be rescinded once the job is done. In which case, you have an editor with admin privileges, and if a hacker gains access to this editor account, they can take over your entire website.

The best course of action is to follow the principle of least privileges. It basically states that any particular user should only be given access to the required privileges for their job, and no more.

9. Disable XML-RPC

XML-RPC is a WordPress feature that allows you to publish content remotely. You may need to keep it enabled if you-

  • Use the WordPress app
  • Use the Jetpack plugin
  • Use trackbacks and pingbacks

While XML-RPC is a secured feature, it is often used by hackers with brute force attacks to gain access to your site. If you do not require the feature, it is best to disable XML-RPC.