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In today’s fast-paced and technology-driven world, your website is often the first impression that potential customers have of your business. With sensitive information such as personal data and financial transactions taking place online, it’s crucial to take all necessary precautions to protect your website. Failing to do so can result in serious consequences, including data breaches, loss of customer trust, and legal penalties. That’s why, in this post, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide with 11 proven tactics to keep your website secure. Read on to learn how you can protect your site in the digital age.
1. Pick a Strong Password
Do you have strong passwords for your website? How do they compare to your friends’ passwords? If you’re unsure, now is the time to act. One of the easiest ways to protect your site is to use strong passwords. As websites grow in popularity, password strength becomes increasingly important. A strong password can mean the difference between your site being compromised or remaining secure. WordPress includes a built-in random password generator that can create effective passwords. Make sure your password contains a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. This makes unauthorized access far more difficult. Creating strong passwords is essential not only for website protection, but also for reducing the risk of identity theft. LastPass is a trusted password management solution that helps safeguard online accounts and sensitive information.
2. Opt for a CDN
A content delivery network (CDN) is a global system of servers that distribute website content efficiently. CDNs improve page load speeds and reduce strain on your main server. This also enhances security because faster response times help mitigate attacks and server overloads. A CDN allows visitors to load resources from locations closer to them, which reduces latency and exposure to certain exploits. High-traffic websites are particularly vulnerable, and CDNs help minimize risk by distributing content across multiple servers. In addition, using a CDN can reduce bandwidth costs.
3. Change the Login URL
Changing your WordPress login URL improves security by reducing exposure to automated attacks. Default login pages are common targets for brute-force attempts. A customized login URL makes these attacks far less effective. If login credentials are compromised elsewhere, attackers may attempt to reuse them. Changing the login URL helps prevent this type of access. Go to the settings section in your WordPress dashboard, enter a new login URL, and save your changes.
4. Hide Common Paths and Other Information
WordPress is widely used, and some of its default file paths are well known to attackers. Hiding these paths reduces the likelihood of targeted attacks and limits exposure to vulnerable plugins or themes. Using a secure password manager such as LastPass adds another layer of protection. Hiding common WordPress directories is essential, and plugins such as Hide My WP can help conceal sensitive paths and protect your site.
5. Clean Up Your Database
Keeping your database clean helps protect your website from potential exploits. Unused data, revisions, and orphaned tables can create security and performance issues. Regular database maintenance reduces the risk of vulnerabilities. Plugins such as Advanced Database Cleaner make this process easier and more efficient. For additional protection, consider working with a professional webmaster.
6. Detect and Ban Bad Bots
Bad bots are automated programs designed to spam websites, scrape content, or distribute malicious code. They can slow down your site and create serious security concerns. In some cases, advertising platforms may refuse approval for sites with excessive bot traffic. Security plugins such as Wordfence can detect, block, and ban bad bots before they cause damage.
7. Use Updated Plugins
Keeping plugins up to date is essential for maintaining website security. Outdated plugins often contain vulnerabilities that attackers actively exploit. If a plugin has not been updated in a long time, it may no longer be safe to use. Choose reputable plugins and apply updates promptly.
8. Set Up Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security by requiring two verification methods to access an account. This significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized logins. Apps such as Google Authenticator make it easy to enable 2FA and strengthen your WordPress security.
9. Use HTTPS
HTTPS encrypts data exchanged between your website and its visitors, protecting sensitive information from interception. Using an SSL certificate enables HTTPS and helps establish trust with users and search engines. Even blogs benefit from HTTPS because it improves privacy and credibility. Configuring WordPress to use an SSL certificate is a simple yet powerful security measure.
10. Back Up Regularly
Regular backups ensure that your website can be restored if something goes wrong. Reliable backup tools such as UpdraftPlus store files off-site, protecting your content from hacking attempts, server failures, and accidental data loss.
11. Secure Your Website With a VPN
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) creates an encrypted connection between your device and the Internet. This protects your data from interception, especially when accessing your site on public networks. You can learn more about trusted VPN options here.
Last Updated on January 2, 2026
by Daniel Zohar
I’m an entrepreneur and digital marketing enthusiast who loves helping people grow—not just in affiliate marketing, but in all areas of online business. I enjoy showing others how to build a strong brand, create meaningful content, and use tools that make work easier. Over the years, I’ve learned what truly works in digital marketing, from creating websites that convert to building an engaged audience through email and social media. After more than ten years in the field, I’ve gathered plenty of lessons I enjoy sharing through my writing and talks. I use my own experiences to help others reach their goals and build something lasting. Besides running my business, I’m a fiction writer in the speculative genre, with dozens of short stories published in various magazines and anthologies. For eighteen years, I was a Top 10% Reviewer at Zoetrope, an online venue for creatives, where I helped members strengthen their writing. When I’m not working as a writer or marketer, you’ll probably find me cooking, reading, or watching a good baseball game. I live in New York City, where I was born and raised.