WordPress Security Best Practices Checklist for 2025

WordPress Security Best Practices Checklist for 2025

Securing your WordPress site is essential to protect against evolving cyber threats. Below is a comprehensive, neutral checklist based on the latest expert recommendations for 2025.

Core Updates & Maintenance

• Keep WordPress core, themes, and plugins updated: Enable auto-updates where possible, and always back up your site before updating to prevent data loss.
• Remove unused plugins and themes: Uninstall any plugins or themes that are not in use to reduce potential vulnerabilities.
• Regularly audit your site: Perform security audits to identify and address vulnerabilities.

User Access & Authentication

• Use strong, unique passwords: Employ a password manager to generate and store complex passwords for all user accounts.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): Add an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification at login.
• Limit login attempts: Use plugins to restrict the number of login attempts and implement CAPTCHA to prevent brute force attacks.
• Change the default admin username: Avoid using “admin” as a username, as it is a common target for attacks.
• Review user accounts: Regularly check and remove inactive or unnecessary user accounts.
• Restrict user permissions: Assign the minimum necessary permissions to each user role.

Hosting & Infrastructure

• Choose a secure hosting provider: Select a host with a strong reputation for security and support.
• Activate SSL/TLS certificate: Ensure your site uses HTTPS to encrypt data in transit.
• Back up your site regularly: Maintain frequent, automated backups of both your database and files, stored securely offsite.

File & Database Security

• Disable file editing in the dashboard: Add define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true); to wp-config.php to prevent direct editing of theme and plugin files via the admin panel.
• Restrict access to wp-config.php: Move or protect this critical configuration file to prevent unauthorized access.
• Change the default database prefix: Modify the default “wp_” prefix during installation or via migration to hinder automated attacks.
• Disable directory browsing: Prevent attackers from viewing directory contents by disabling directory listing.
• Disable PHP execution in uploads: Block PHP file execution in directories where it is not needed.

Monitoring & Advanced Protections

• Install a reputable security plugin: Use plugins for firewalls, malware scanning, and real-time monitoring.
• Monitor user and system activity: Keep logs of all user actions and system changes for forensic analysis.
• Scan for malware and vulnerabilities: Regularly check your site for malware and security issues.
• Configure HTTP security headers: Implement headers like Content Security Policy (CSP) to protect against cross-site scripting (XSS) and other attacks.
• Disable debug mode on production: Set WP_DEBUG to false in wp-config.php to avoid exposing sensitive information.

Additional Recommendations

• Implement security keys and salts: Use unique keys for cryptographic protection of sessions and cookies, and regenerate them periodically.
• Relocate sensitive files: Consider moving critical files like wp-config.php outside the web root for added security.
• Stay informed: Keep up with the latest WordPress security news and community advisories.

This checklist provides a foundation for a secure WordPress site in 2025. Regularly revisiting and updating your security practices is crucial as threats evolve. Always test changes in a staging environment before applying them to your live site.