5 Critical WordPress Security Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

WordPress powers over 43% of the web — which makes it a prime target for attackers. In this post, we cover the five most critical security mistakes WordPress site owners make and exactly how to fix each one.

1. Using outdated plugins and themes

Outdated software is the #1 entry point for attackers. Enable automatic updates for minor releases and audit your plugins monthly.

2. Weak admin credentials

Never use «admin» as your username. Use a strong, unique password with a password manager and enable 2FA on your wp-admin.

3. No Web Application Firewall (WAF)

A WAF blocks malicious traffic before it reaches WordPress. Wordfence offers a solid free-tier firewall worth enabling on every site.

4. Skipping regular backups

Backups are your safety net. UpdraftPlus can automatically back up your site daily to Google Drive or Dropbox at no cost.

5. Leaving xmlrpc.php exposed

Unless you specifically need XML-RPC, disable it. It’s a common brute-force vector that should be blocked via your .htaccess or a security plugin.