Is WordPress secure? Picture this: you wake up, log in to your laptop, and notice that your WordPress site is down. A hacker has now replaced your homepage with their message. Your traffic has vanished, and customer trust has taken a hit as well. All of this could have been avoided if a plugin had been updated on time.
Plugin errors are a common problem, not a unique horror show that happens to a single blogger.
WordPress remains one of the most popular website builders in 2025, and with good reason, since it allows for enhanced customization. Flexibility comes with responsibility, however. Server management and editing functions should not be taken lightly. Whether you’re running a blog, store, or even a business, an overlooked update and a weak password can spell disaster.
The purpose of this post is to guide you through the security of WordPress, its common weak spots, and how to strengthen them. You have found what you were looking for if you want practical protection and clear instructions.
Security isn’t an issue with WordPress itself, but the way people manage the site can be. We are now in 2025, so here are the most common areas of vulnerability.
Table of Contents
Outdated Plugins and Themes
Outdated plugins pose a serious security concern for websites, particularly on platforms such as WordPress. According to surveys, almost 60% of hacked WordPress sites used outdated software. For example, the 2020 File Manager plugin vulnerability, which affected 600,000 sites, allowed hackers to exploit unpatched versions and compromise administrative areas. Similarly, in 2024, rogue plugins that displayed bogus browser update alerts stole data from over 6,000 websites.
To protect your site, make sure all plugins are regularly updated, delete any unsupported ones, and keep a look out for suspicious activity. Regular updates are one of the most effective ways to combat such attacks.
Example:
The hackers took advantage of a major vulnerability in a well-known plugin called Slider Revolution. Nowadays, unpopular or forgotten plugins pose the same threat. In 2024, a renowned WordPress plugin, Slider Revolution which has more than 9 million active installations, was discovered to have an enormous security oversight.
The vulnerability enabled unauthenticated users to exploit a combination of broken access control and improper input sanitization to execute stored cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks. This means that users who did not have accounts (and therefore should not be able to interact with the website in any meaningful way) would be capable of controlling and altering website content and functions, inject damaging script files containing harmful commands, and interact with functions that every user should be prohibited from entering, all without needing to log in. This would have affected the integrity of their websites and data.
Weak Login Credentials
Brute-forcing has been given a new meaning with the advent of AI. As per a study by Hive Systems, any password with fewer than 8 characters or 8 characters made up of solely lowercase letters may instantly be cracked. In contrast, eight-character passwords that have a blend of letters, numbers, and symbols can take up to 39 minutes. Even passwords regarded as strong, like 12-character complex passwords, are no longer shielded from AI-enhanced attacks, which can crack such passwords in roughly two months.
In addition, reports estimate that the use of AI to conduct cyber crimes has escalated by 300% in the past 5 years, highlighting the deteriorating state of risk pertaining to passwords.
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Default Usernames and Passwords: An Open Door for Hackers
The use of admin usernames and passwords such as “Admin” and “12345” is still in use and presents an alarming risk to securing information. In mitigation, the UK government, in the year 2024, outlawed the use of guessable default passwords on smart gadgets, demonstrating how widespread the problem is.
Strengthening Your Login Security
To protect against these evolving threats:
- Adopt Strong Unique Passwords: Use passwords containing no less than 15 characters with upper and lower case letters, symbols, and numbers.
- Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Extra barriers can block access even if the password is stolen.
- Avoid Use of Default Credentials: Change all default usernames and passwords during setup.
- Use Password Managers: These can develop sophisticated passwords and store them, which counters the temptation to use simple or repetitive passwords.
These measures can enhance your defenses against AI-directed cyber-terrorism and help protect your data. Absence of Security Tracking and Alarms
It is frequent for cybercriminals to take control of a particular site and then to use it for malicious billing, ignoring monitors till a customer or a vendor costing sight comes across issues with the sitting getting blacklisted by Google. Considering the lack of login attempt alerts and malware scanners, one indeed has no eyes into the things lying here behind the wings.
Lack of Security Monitoring and Alerts
Many site owners only find out they were hacked when Google blacklists their site or a customer complains. Without real-time monitoring, malware scanners, and login attempt alerts, you’re essentially flying blind.
Best Methods To Protect Your WordPress Website In 2025
Set Your Site’s Updates to Auto-Update
Take advantage of the auto-update settings of WordPress for the core as well as the plugins. Don’t forget to check on your themes and plugins and do a manual audit every so often to make sure they’re up-to-date.
Install A Security Plugin With A Good Reputation
With a good security plugin installed, it will be easy to manage the tasks of online malware and firewall scanners.
- Wordfence: Provides malware scanning and web application firewall services
- iThemes Security: Good for login protection and file change monitoring
- Sucuri: Provides the main focus on server-side protection and gives real-time notifications
These plugins take care of monitoring malicious activities, brute force attack mitigation, and daily security scans.
Enable 2-Step Verification Procedures
Enhancing security by guarding the admin section with a second verification process requiring additional methods is more secure. Enforcing these plugins can be done through WP 2FA or Google Authenticator.
Changing Default URLs While Limiting Login Attempts
Allow a select number of attempts to log in without proper credentials and temporarily disable suspicious users. WP 2FA and Google authenticator plugins can assist to enforcing these rules.
Implement HTTPS while SSL Remains Enforced
SSL or Secure Sockets Layer is crucial. In 2025, not using HTTPS will be flagged by many browsers as unsafe. If the host organization does not allow the use of let’s encrypt for issuing a free certificate, then simply obtain it.
Set the Correct Permissions for Files and Disable Editing through the File
Use permissions such as 644 for files and 755 for directories. To disable file editing for themes and plugins, use this code on wp-config.php via admin panel:
define(‘DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT’, true);
Regularly Back Up Your Site
Use UpdraftPlus or BlogVault, install it as a backup plugin, and set the backup locations to off-site OneDrive or Google Drive. Set a routine for automated backups and run a few tests on restoring.
Strengthen the Security of .htaccess and wp-config.php
Lift wp-config.php one level above root and in .htaccess, include rules to protect the directory from being accessed through other means to sensitive files.
Conclusion: Is WordPress Secure in 2025?
The response in short is ‘yes’. WordPress is secure, but only when you take responsibility for it.
Neglect is the single greatest risk. Assuming you are taking reasonable measures like updated plugins, use multi-factor strong authentication, install security check tools, and conduct regular backups, places you significantly ahead of 90 percent of WordPress site owners.
Security is not a task done once, but a routine.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is WordPress websites still a safe option in 2025?
Definitely, however, it needs efficient management like up-to-date maintenance, security frameworks, and best practice elements.
2. What are the main WordPress user risks these days?
Not having proper monitoring tools, outdated plugins, and using weak passwords.
3. Are free security plugins sufficient by themselves?
Yes, they are fine for basic protection. However, premium versions offer deeper scans and extensive real-time firewall rules.
4. How often should I back up my WordPress site?
Running a business or publishing your work frequently online requires you to back up your site daily. Static sites can be maintained with weekly backups.
5. Should I not use third-party plugins?
No, indeed, you should. However, you should check for the reputation, update history, and support of the plugin.
6. Which type of WordPress hosting is the safest?
It would be managed WordPress hosting, as these tend to provide automated security updates like malware removal and daily backups.
7. Do you need technical skills to secure WordPress?
Not really. Most security plugins are intuitive and come with step-by-step wizards for setup.
8. Is the use of nulled plugins really dangerous?
Yes, nulled plugins not only pose a major security threat but also frequently come packaged with malware.