WordPress powers 43% of websites. Which makes it the biggest target for hackers.
Here’s how London businesses actually secure WordPress without paranoia or wasting money.
Why WordPress Gets Hacked
WordPress itself is secure. The ecosystem around it isn’t always.
Common entry points:
Outdated WordPress core, themes, or plugins. Weak passwords on admin accounts. Nulled or pirated themes and plugins. Poor hosting security. Unsecured file permissions. No SSL certificate. Vulnerable contact forms.
Hackers use automated tools scanning millions of sites for these weaknesses.
What Happens When You Get Hacked
Not just inconvenience. Real business damage.
The impact:
Site defaced or taken offline completely. Customer data stolen. Malware infecting visitor devices. Google blacklists your site. Rankings drop permanently. Recovery costs thousands. Lost revenue while down. Damaged reputation and trust.
Prevention costs far less than recovery.
Essential Security Measures
Basic security every WordPress site needs.
Keep everything updated:
WordPress core updates often include security fixes. Plugin updates patch vulnerabilities. Theme updates fix security issues. Update within days of release, not months.
Most hacks exploit known vulnerabilities in outdated software.
Strong passwords and user management:
Admin passwords minimum 15 characters, mixed case, numbers, symbols. Unique passwords, never reused. Two-factor authentication on admin accounts. Remove unused user accounts. Limit number of admin users. Use strong passwords for database and hosting too.
SSL certificate:
HTTPS encrypts data between site and visitors. Required for security and SEO. Free certificates available through Let’s Encrypt. Most hosts provide SSL for free now.
No excuse for HTTP sites in 2026.
Regular backups:
Daily automated backups minimum. Store backups off-site, not just on same server. Test backup restoration regularly. Keep multiple backup versions. Include database and all files.
Backups are your insurance policy.
Security Plugins
WordPress security plugins add protection layers.
Recommended options:
Wordfence (free and premium versions). Sucuri Security (comprehensive protection). iThemes Security (good feature set). All In One WP Security (free, user-friendly).
What security plugins do:
Firewall blocking malicious traffic. Malware scanning and removal. Login attempt limiting. Two-factor authentication. Security hardening. Activity logging. File integrity monitoring.
Don’t install multiple security plugins. They conflict. Choose one good option.
Firewall Protection
Firewalls block attacks before they reach your site.
Two types:
Website Application Firewall (WAF) at server level. Plugin-based firewall on WordPress. Both have benefits.
What firewalls block:
Brute force login attempts. SQL injection attacks. Cross-site scripting (XSS). Malicious bots and scrapers. DDoS attacks. Known malicious IPs.
Premium firewall services:
Sucuri Website Firewall. Cloudflare (free tier available). Wordfence Premium.
Cloudflare free tier provides basic protection for most small businesses.
Login Security
Admin login is primary attack target.
Hardening login:
Limit login attempts (block after 5 failed tries). Change default wp-admin URL. Two-factor authentication required. CAPTCHA on login form. Email notifications for logins. Disable XML-RPC if not needed.
Admin username:
Never use “admin” as username. Use unique, non-obvious usernames. Don’t display author names publicly if same as login.
Password policies:
Enforce strong passwords for all users. Require password changes periodically. Never share admin credentials. Use password manager.
Plugin and Theme Security
Not all plugins and themes are trustworthy.
Choosing safely:
Only install from WordPress.org repository or reputable developers. Check last update date, recent updates show active maintenance. Read reviews for security issues. Verify number of active installations. Research developer reputation.
Red flags:
Nulled or pirated premium plugins. Themes from sketchy free sites. Plugins not updated in over a year. Poor reviews mentioning security. Unknown developers.
Plugin management:
Remove deactivated plugins completely. Only install what you actually need. Audit plugins quarterly. Replace abandoned plugins with maintained alternatives.
One vulnerable plugin can compromise entire site.
Database Security
WordPress database contains everything.
Protection measures:
Change default database prefix from wp_. Use strong database password. Restrict database access to necessary IPs only. Regular database backups. Optimize and clean database regularly.
User permissions:
Database user should only have needed permissions. Don’t use root database user. Separate users for development and production.
File Permissions
Incorrect permissions allow unauthorized access.
Proper permissions:
Directories: 755. Files: 644. wp-config.php: 440 or 400. .htaccess: 644.
What to protect:
Disable file editing from WordPress admin. Protect wp-config.php. Secure wp-content directory. Block access to sensitive files.
Overly permissive settings let hackers upload malicious files.
Hosting Security
Your host’s security affects your site.
What good hosting provides:
Server-level firewall. Malware scanning. Automatic WordPress updates. Regular server updates. DDoS protection. Isolated accounts (attack on one site doesn’t affect others). UK data centers for GDPR compliance.
Hosting to avoid:
Cheap shared hosting with poor security. Hosts with bad reputation. Outdated server software. No backup systems. Poor support response.
Security starts at hosting level. Can’t fully secure site on insecure server.
Malware Scanning and Removal
Regular scanning catches infections early.
Scanning frequency:
Daily automatic scans. Manual scan after adding plugins or themes. Scan if site behavior changes. Regular file integrity checks.
What scanners check:
Known malware signatures. Modified core files. Suspicious code patterns. Backdoors and shells. Unauthorized admin users.
If infected:
Isolate site immediately. Scan with multiple tools. Remove malicious code. Check all files and database. Update everything. Change all passwords. Restore from clean backup if severe.
Prevention better than cure:
Clean infection costs £500-£2,000 depending on severity. Prevention costs fraction of that.
GDPR Compliance
UK and EU data protection requirements.
WordPress GDPR basics:
Cookie consent for tracking. Privacy policy accessible. Data processing notices. Right to access data. Right to delete data. Secure data storage. Limited data retention.
Implementation:
Cookie consent plugin. Privacy policy generator. Data export and deletion tools. Encrypted data transmission (SSL). Regular security audits.
Non-compliance risks hefty fines. Security helps compliance.
Activity Monitoring
Know what’s happening on your site.
What to monitor:
User logins and logouts. Failed login attempts. File changes. Plugin installations. Theme changes. Database modifications. Admin actions.
Monitoring tools:
WP Activity Log plugin. Sucuri security logging. Server access logs. Google Search Console security issues.
Alerts for:
Multiple failed logins. New admin user created. Core file modifications. Malware detected. Blacklist warnings.
Catch issues before they become disasters.
Backup Strategy
Backups are last line of defense.
Backup frequency:
Daily for active sites. Weekly minimum for static sites. Immediately before updates. Before major changes.
What to backup:
WordPress files and directories. Database completely. wp-config.php file. .htaccess file. Any custom code.
Storage:
Off-site storage, not same server. Multiple locations ideal. Cloud storage (Dropbox, Google Drive). Different geographical location.
Testing:
Test restoration process regularly. Verify backup integrity. Ensure all data included. Practice recovery procedure.
Untested backups are worthless when you need them.
Security for E-Commerce
WooCommerce sites need extra protection.
Additional measures:
PCI compliance for payment processing. Secure payment gateway integration. Customer data encryption. Order information protection. Regular payment security audits.
What to avoid:
Storing credit card data locally. Using insecure payment methods. Outdated WooCommerce versions. Vulnerable payment plugins.
E-commerce breaches have legal and financial consequences.
Emergency Response Plan
Know what to do if hacked.
Immediate actions:
Take site offline if actively compromised. Change all passwords immediately. Scan for malware. Check recent backups. Contact hosting provider. Document everything.
Recovery process:
Identify infection source. Remove malicious code. Restore from clean backup if needed. Update all software. Implement additional security. Monitor closely after recovery.
Professional help:
Severe infections need experts. Clean removal costs £500-£2,000. Some hosts offer malware removal. Security companies provide emergency response.
Have emergency contacts ready before you need them.
Security Maintenance Schedule
Security requires ongoing attention.
Daily:
Automated backups. Automated malware scans. Failed login monitoring.
Weekly:
Security plugin updates. Review activity logs. Check for WordPress core updates.
Monthly:
Theme and plugin updates. Full site audit. Backup testing. Security assessment.
Quarterly:
Password changes. Plugin audit and cleanup. Security training for team. Comprehensive security review.
Set reminders. Security neglect leads to breaches.
Common Security Mistakes
Ignoring updates:
“If it works, don’t update it” is dangerous thinking.
Weak passwords:
“password123” won’t cut it. Neither will “companyname2026.”
No backups:
Assuming nothing will happen until it does.
Too many admin users:
Everyone doesn’t need admin access.
Cheap nulled plugins:
Free pirated premium plugins often contain malware.
No monitoring:
Not knowing site was hacked until Google blacklists you.
DIY vs Professional Security
DIY works if:
Running simple site. Technically capable. Have time for maintenance. Comfortable with security concepts.
Get professional help when:
Running e-commerce site. Handle customer data. Can’t afford downtime. Already been hacked. Lack technical knowledge. Time better spent on business.
What AlgoSemantic Provides
We secure WordPress sites for London businesses.
Security services:
Complete security audit. Hardening and configuration. Security plugin setup. Firewall implementation. Malware scanning and cleanup. Backup system setup. SSL certificate installation. Security monitoring. Emergency response.
Ongoing security:
Daily malware scans. Automatic backups. Security updates. Activity monitoring. Monthly security reports. Priority support for issues.
Recent work:
Cleaned and secured 50+ infected sites. Prevented attacks on 200+ sites under our care. Average response time under 2 hours for security issues.
Pricing:
One-time security setup: £800-£1,500. Monthly security maintenance: £150-£400. Emergency cleanup: £500-£2,000.
Is Your WordPress Site Secure?
We’ll audit your WordPress security for free and show you exactly what vulnerabilities exist and how to fix them.
Email us: contact@algosemantic.com
Call us: +44 7412 808430
Google Map: 10C Church Ln, Bushwood London, United Kingdom
AlgoSemantic. The algorithm behind your success.
