When you think about WordPress website security, you need to understand there is no perfect solution. The following key points were published in the iThemes ebook titled “WordPress Security — A POCKET GUIDE“.
1. There’s Always a Risk
Your website can never be 100% secure. Hackers are always trying new things and discovering new vulnerabilities to exploit. The online world changes quickly and the same is true of security. Good security is about minimizing risk. If anybody tries to sell you a 100% secure solution, they’re scamming you. You’ll never be completely safe, but there’s a lot you can do to minimize your risk.
2. Don’t Blame WordPress
The haters like to say that WordPress isn’t secure. That’s not necessarily true—it depends on how you set up and use WordPress. If you’re not keeping it updated or following bad practices, then no, it’s not secure. The reality is that 17% of the world’s websites are using WordPress, which makes it a huge target. So you need to be smart. You need to keep things updated and follow the best practices to lock your site down. Many security issues have little to do with WordPress and more to do with server vulnerabilities, cross-contamination and poor passwords. Bad decisions can undermine your site, and that’s true whether you’re using WordPress or any other solution. So don’t blame your security woes on WordPress.
3. Security vs. Usability
There’s a fine balance between security and usability. Sometimes locking down your site makes it secure, but it’s hard to use. Sometimes making your site easier to use makes it less secure. You’ll have to find the balance.