{"id":10129,"date":"2018-06-13T08:07:56","date_gmt":"2018-06-13T13:07:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/?p=10129"},"modified":"2019-07-02T11:31:55","modified_gmt":"2019-07-02T16:31:55","slug":"3-security-plugins-for-wordpress-to-keep-your-blog-safe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/3-security-plugins-for-wordpress-to-keep-your-blog-safe\/","title":{"rendered":"Do I Need a WordPress Security Plugin?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"WordPress<\/p>\n

Do I Need a WordPress Security Plugin?<\/h2>\n

Your site\u2019s security<\/a> is something you\u2019ll want to take seriously. Typically, website hacking isn\u2019t something we think will happen to us. We know it happens, but why would someone target my site?<\/span><\/p>\n

But, with WordPress being <\/span>one of the most commonly hacked CMS<\/a><\/span>, no one is safe. <\/span><\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t said to scare you, but instead to get you thinking about taking proactive action.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are many ways to protect yourself against hackers. Whether you use <\/span>WordPress user roles to improve security<\/span><\/a> or you use a <\/span>website security checker<\/span><\/a>, implementing some type of security program can save you both time and money in the long run.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve been on the fence about whether or not your site needs a WordPress security plugin, then this post is for you. Below we look at the main reasons you may want a WordPress security plugin. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"best<\/a><\/p>\n

WordPress Security is Reactive<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve installed the latest version of WordPress on your site through your hosting service plan<\/a> and have followed decent WP security protocols, then you probably think you\u2019re protected.<\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019ve done it once, now you can set it and forget it.<\/span><\/p>\n

But security isn\u2019t something that you can just do once. It\u2019s something that\u2019s constantly evolving and you need to regularly update your site\u2019s security standards and conduct routine website safety checks<\/a> if you want to stay protected.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even if your website starts off secure, in time it will become less and less secure. It’s important to protect yourself from hackers<\/a> who are continuously look for vulnerabilities within popular software, and since <\/span>WordPress powers 25 percent of the web<\/span><\/a>, it\u2019s pretty popular.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once hackers find and exploit these vulnerabilities, then WordPress will patch those holes and release an update for its users. However, there\u2019s a time gap between the time when the vulnerability is exploited and the patch is issued.<\/span><\/p>\n

During this time you\u2019re totally exposed.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

You Can Keep Your Site Secure Without a Plugin<\/h2>\n

You can keep your site relatively secure without the use of a WordPress security plugin. <\/span><\/p>\n

Taking the following steps will help a lot:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Keep your WordPress core, themes, and plugin up to date.<\/strong> By running the latest version of all these there will be less bugs, and vulnerabilities. Failing to update is like leaving your back door open. <\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Use strong passwords.<\/strong> Your username and password is your first line of defense. Make sure you create an incredibly strong password<\/a>, and that you change this password on a regular basis. The same thing should be done for every admin account. <\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Limit user access.<\/strong> If you do have multiple user accounts you should limit the amount of access that each user has to the backend of your site. This will reduce the chance of any settings accidentally being changed. <\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Install an SSL certificate<\/a><\/strong> on your site.<\/strong> Using an SSL connection will help to encrypt your user\u2019s connection and secure any data transferred between the browser and server. But, it can also help to encrypt your admin data.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The above steps will help to improve the security of your site, and you can do them all without the help of a security plugin.<\/span><\/p>\n

    However, there are certain vulnerabilities you won\u2019t be able to overcome without using a security plugin.  <\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    But Installing a WordPress Security Plugin Helps – A Lot!<\/h2>\n

    If you\u2019re concerned about the security of your WordPress site, then installing a WordPress security plugin is a no-brainer. Some common WordPress security plugins include Sucuri<\/a>, Wordfence<\/a>, BulletProof Security<\/a>, and All In One WP Security and Firewall<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    But, if you\u2019re still not sold here are a few very useful things that security plugins can do:<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    1. Secure Your Login Page<\/h3>\n

    Like we mentioned above, having a strong password is the first step to securing your login page. <\/span><\/p>\n

    But, you can elevate its security even further with a WordPress security plugin.<\/span><\/p>\n

    For example, you\u2019ll be able to do things like:<\/span><\/p>\n