How to Secure a WordPress Site: Complete 2025 Guide

WordPress powers over 40% of all websites. That reach is incredible, but it also makes WordPress the single biggest target for hackers worldwide. Every day, attackers scan for weak passwords, outdated plugins, or sites missing SSL certificates. And for site owners, one breach can mean downtime, lost revenue, or even permanent data loss.

The good news is that WordPress security doesn’t have to be overwhelming. You don’t need 30 different “hacks” or a developer’s skill set. With a handful of smart, practical steps, you can lock down your site, prevent 99% of common attacks, and gain real peace of mind.

In this guide, we’ll cover how to secure a WordPress site in 2025 using the most effective methods: SSL, updates, admin login protection, authentication, file hardening, security plugins, and secure hosting. Along the way, we’ll also address common security warnings like “Your connection is not fully secure” and how to fix them.

Quick Answer: The fastest way to secure a WordPress site is to install SSL (HTTPS), keep WordPress updated, and protect your login with a hidden URL, strong password, and two-factor authentication. For the simplest path, managed hosting providers like WordPress.com and Pressable handle SSL, updates, and backups automatically, while plugins like Jetpack Security add brute-force protection and malware scans.

Table of Contents:

1. Install an SSL Certificate (HTTPS)

One of the most visible signs of a secure site is that little padlock in the browser bar. Without SSL, browsers warn visitors with a red “Not Secure” message, which can scare off readers and tank conversions.

Why it matters

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encrypts data between your visitor’s browser and your server. Without it, login credentials, form data, and even checkout details can be intercepted. Google also considers HTTPS a ranking factor, so your site can get a small SEO boost simply by securing it.

How to set up SSL

WordPress.com users: SSL is automatic. Every plan includes HTTPS, no setup needed.
cPanel hosts: Look for the SSL/TLS or Let’s Encrypt option in your dashboard. Activate with one click. On Bluehost, for example, you log into cPanel, scroll down to “Security,” select Let’s Encrypt SSL, and click “Enable.” Within minutes your site should load with HTTPS.
Manual setup: If your host doesn’t support Let’s Encrypt, buy a certificate from your registrar and configure it via your hosting control panel.

Forcing HTTPS site-wide

Even with SSL installed, some sites show “Your connection is not fully secure” because mixed content (HTTP images/scripts) remains. Fix this by:

Installing the Really Simple SSL plugin.
Or editing .htaccess with:

👉 Related guide: Restore a WordPress Site

2. Keep Core, Plugins, and Themes Updated

Outdated WordPress software is the #1 cause of hacked sites. Attackers scan for known vulnerabilities, then exploit them at scale.

Best practices

Enable auto-updates for WordPress core (toggle in Dashboard → Updates).
Update plugins weekly, especially security-related ones.
Remove unused themes/plugins, inactive code can still be exploited.

Real-world example

A few years ago, a vulnerability in a popular slider plugin (Revolution Slider) was used to compromise tens of thousands of sites. Many victims weren’t even using the slider, they just had the plugin installed and inactive. Keeping everything updated is your single best defense.

Troubleshooting updates

Before updating, run a quick backup with Jetpack Backup or UpdraftPlus.
If an update breaks your site, roll back using a restore point or a rollback plugin like WP Rollback.

👉 See: Best WordPress Plugins

3. Secure Your WordPress Admin URL

Every WordPress site has the same default login URL: /wp-admin or /wp-login.php. That makes it easy for bots to hammer login pages with brute-force attempts.

Install WPS Hide Login or Jetpack Security.
Change the login slug to something unique (e.g., /my-login-page).
Save and test your new login URL before logging out.

Now, if bots try /wp-admin, they’ll just get a 404 error.

Bonus protections

Add reCAPTCHA to your login screen.
Limit login attempts (built into many security plugins).
Restrict login by IP if you have a static address.

👉 Related: Jetpack Security Plugin

4. Use Strong Authentication

Passwords alone aren’t enough in 2025. Data breaches happen daily, and weak credentials are quickly tested against login forms.

Use a password manager (Bitwarden, 1Password) to create random 12–16 character passwords.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): In Jetpack → Settings → Security → Two-Factor Authentication, scan the QR code with your authenticator app. Now, even if your password leaks, hackers can’t get in without your phone.
Restrict admin roles: Only assign Administrator to people who truly need it. Remove old accounts or downgrade them to Editor.

Why this matters

A weak password is like leaving your front door unlocked. 2FA adds a second deadbolt, even if someone steals the key, they can’t open the door without the second factor.

5. Harden wp-config.php and File Permissions

A compromised file system can allow hackers to deface your site, steal data, or plant malware. Securing key files prevents many attacks.

wp-config.php

Move it one directory above /public_html/ if your host allows.
Change salts using the WordPress.org generator

File permissions

Use 644 for files, 755 for folders. Think of it as “read/write for the owner, read-only for others.”
Lock down wp-config.php further with:

Disable file editing

Add this line to wp-config.php to stop attackers editing theme/plugin files via the dashboard:

6. Add a Security Plugin

Even the most careful site owners can miss something. A security plugin adds an extra layer of protection.

Popular options

Jetpack Security (real-time backups, brute-force protection, downtime monitoring).
Wordfence (firewall + malware scanner).
iThemes Security (login hardening, file change detection).

Comparison Table: Security Plugins

Plugin	Best For	Key Features	Pricing
Jetpack Security	Small businesses, blogs	Backups, 2FA, brute-force, monitoring	From $14/mo
Wordfence	Tech-savvy site owners	Firewall, malware scanner, 2FA	Free / Paid
iThemes Security	Developers, agencies	Login lockdown, file monitoring	Free / Paid

Choosing the right one

Solo blogger? → Jetpack Security for simplicity.
Agency managing multiple sites? → Wordfence for advanced control.
Developer with staging sites? → iThemes for granular monitoring.

👉 See also: What Jetpack Plugin Does

7. Choose Secure Hosting

No amount of plugins can fix a weak server. Hosting is the foundation of security.

Why hosting matters

Cheap shared hosting is like living in an apartment building with broken locks, if your neighbor gets hacked, your site might too. Managed WordPress hosting, by contrast, adds locks, guards, and fire alarms.

Benefits of managed hosting

Automatic SSL on every site.
Daily backups and easy restores.
Staging environments for safe testing.
Server-level firewalls and DDoS protection.

WordPress.com and Pressable both provide these protections out of the box. With managed hosting, you skip half the manual hardening steps.

👉 Related: What is Pressable

8. Bonus: Monitor and Backup Regularly

Security isn’t just about prevention, it’s about fast recovery when something goes wrong.

Monitoring

Use Jetpack Monitor or UptimeRobot to get alerts if your site goes down. Setting up UptimeRobot takes 2 minutes: enter your site URL, choose an interval (5 minutes), and add your email.

Backups

Jetpack Backup creates real-time save points, so every order or post is preserved. Alternatives like BlogVault and UpdraftPlus provide scheduled backups.