WordPress is one of the most popular website platforms, but its popularity also makes it a target for cyberattacks. If you run a WordPress website, taking proactive steps to secure it is essential. Fortunately, with Ffon Host’s built-in security features, as well as some recommended best practices and plugins, you can keep your site safe from most threats. Let’s walk through the essential security measures.

Built-In Security at Ffon Host

When hosting your WordPress site with Ffon Host, you already benefit from a number of security features designed to protect your website:

• Web Application Firewall (WAF): This is your first line of defense. The WAF helps block malicious traffic before it reaches your site, protecting you from common threats such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and brute-force attacks.
• Malware Scanning: Ffon Host runs automatic malware scans, identifying and removing malicious code before it can cause harm. This keeps your site free from viruses, spyware, and other threats.
• Login Captcha: To prevent bots from trying to gain access through brute-force attacks, our hosting service includes login captcha protection. This adds an extra layer of security by ensuring only real users can attempt to log in.
• DDoS Protection: Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks flood your site with fake traffic to overwhelm your server, causing downtime. Ffon Host’s built-in DDoS protection helps mitigate such attacks, keeping your website running smoothly.

Recommended Plugins to Strengthen WordPress Security

While Ffon Host provides strong foundational security, you can enhance your WordPress security further by using plugins. Here are a few of the most popular options:

• Wordfence Security: A powerful security plugin that includes a firewall, malware scanner, and login security features. Wordfence also offers real-time threat detection and alerts.
• iThemes Security: This plugin focuses on hardening WordPress by fixing common security vulnerabilities. It includes brute-force protection, two-factor authentication, and a database backup feature.
• Sucuri Security: Known for its robust website firewall and malware scanning tools, Sucuri also provides post-hack recovery options and auditing to track any changes made to your website.
• WP Cerber Security: Offering malware scanning and anti-spam protection, WP Cerber also integrates with Google reCAPTCHA for login protection and provides a custom limit on login attempts to prevent brute-force attacks.

Files to Remove from the WordPress Directory

By default, WordPress installs several files that can be a security risk if left in place. It’s best practice to remove or restrict access to the following files:

1. readme.html: This file can provide hackers with your WordPress version, making it easier for them to target known vulnerabilities. It’s safe to delete this file from the root directory.
2. license.txt: This file contains WordPress’s licensing information. While not harmful by itself, it can be removed to reduce the visibility of unnecessary files.
3. wp-config-sample.php: This is a sample configuration file used when setting up WordPress. It should be deleted after WordPress is installed, as it serves no further purpose.
4. Install.php: Once your WordPress installation is complete, the install.php file can be removed to prevent unauthorized access to your installation scripts.
5. xmlrpc.php: This file allows remote access to WordPress, but it’s often exploited in DDoS attacks. If you don’t use remote publishing, you should disable or remove this file.

Final Thoughts

Securing your WordPress site is a combination of good hosting practices, reliable plugins, and routine maintenance. Ffon Host provides an excellent foundation with its built-in Web Application Firewall, malware scanning, DDoS protection, and login captcha. By adding security plugins and removing unnecessary files, you can take your website’s protection to the next level.

For more information on how Ffon Host can help you build and secure your website, visit ffonhost.co.uk.