WordPress security is not optional for Pakistani businesses. A hacked website costs you customers, damages your Google rankings, and can take days to recover from. These seven steps will protect your site against the vast majority of attacks.

1. Use a Strong Admin Password

Use a password of at least 16 characters with uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. Never use ‘admin’ as your username. Change the default login URL from /wp-admin/ to something custom using a plugin like WPS Hide Login.

2. Install Wordfence Security

Wordfence is the most widely used WordPress security plugin. The free version includes a malware scanner, firewall, and login protection. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for all admin accounts. Set login attempt limits to block brute force attacks.

3. Keep Everything Updated

Outdated plugins, themes, and WordPress core are responsible for the majority of WordPress hacks. Enable automatic minor updates for WordPress core. Update plugins weekly. Delete any plugins or themes you are not using.

4. Set Up Automated Backups

Install UpdraftPlus and configure daily backups to Google Drive or Dropbox. Verify backups actually work by doing a test restore on a staging site. Keep at least 30 days of backup history.

5. Use SSL (HTTPS)

All websites should use HTTPS. Most Pakistani hosting providers include free SSL via Let’s Encrypt. Force HTTPS in your .htaccess file and update your WordPress URL settings to use https://.

6. Limit File Permissions

WordPress files should have 644 permissions and directories should have 755. Your wp-config.php should be 600 — readable only by the server. Never set files to 777.

7. Disable XML-RPC

XML-RPC is a legacy WordPress feature that is frequently exploited for brute force attacks. Unless you use the WordPress mobile app, disable it. Add this to your .htaccess: <Files xmlrpc.php> Order Deny,Allow Deny from all </Files>

SuperSITE builds all WordPress sites with security hardening included as standard — Wordfence, strong credentials, automated backups, and proper file permissions. Get a quote for a secure WordPress website.