Yes — WordPress itself is well-maintained and security issues in the core software are patched quickly. Almost every WordPress hack traces back to something around it: an out-of-date plugin or theme, a weak or reused password, or skipped updates. Keep those in check and WordPress is a safe choice.

Do I really need a security plugin?

It's strongly recommended. A reputable security plugin adds a firewall, blocks suspicious login attempts, and scans for malware automatically — protection you'd otherwise have to watch for by hand. Wordfence and Sucuri are two common examples. It isn't a substitute for updates and strong passwords, but it's a solid extra layer.

How often should I update WordPress?

As soon as updates appear — ideally check weekly. Security fixes are released the moment a hole is found, and attackers start scanning for unpatched sites within days. The longer you wait, the bigger the window. Daily backups mean you can update confidently and roll back if anything ever breaks.

My host says my site is fine — should I trust that?

Be careful. Most hosts only guarantee that their servers are up — they don't update your plugins, manage your passwords, or watch for malware inside your site. 'Your site is fine' usually means 'our server is fine.' The security of what runs on top is almost always your responsibility, not theirs.

I'm not technical — can someone just handle this for me?

Yes. You don't need to learn any of this. We secure and host WordPress sites — updates, backups, two-factor, a firewall, the lot — so it stays handled. Run the free scan to see where you stand, and the first fix is free.

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How Do I Keep My WordPress Website Secure?

FMW By the Fix My Website Fast team · Updated 2026

Short answer

WordPress runs about 40% of the web, so it's the biggest target. But almost all hacks come from out-of-date plugins or themes, weak passwords, and skipped updates — not WordPress itself. The basics: keep everything updated, use strong passwords plus two-factor, limit logins, run SSL, take daily backups, and add a security plugin.

If you run a small business on WordPress, you've probably wondered whether your site is safe — and felt unsure where to even start. Good news: keeping a WordPress site secure isn't about being technical. It's about a short list of habits, almost all of which take a few clicks. This is the plain-English version, no jargon, written for the owner who just wants their site to stay up and trustworthy.

What "WordPress security" actually means

WordPress is the software that runs your website. Because it powers roughly 40% of all websites, it's the single biggest target on the internet — but that popularity also means it's one of the most-scrutinized, fastest-patched platforms there is. The software itself is rarely the weak point. The weak points are the things bolted onto it and the way it's logged into: plugins and themes that haven't been updated, passwords that are weak or reused, and updates that nobody ever clicked. Security is simply closing those doors before someone tries them.

#1 gap In our own scans of small-business sites, the single most common security gap is an out-of-date WordPress install — the easiest hole to close, and the one attackers look for first.

The WordPress security basics (the whole checklist)

Here's the full list, in plain English. None of these requires you to touch code.

1. Keep WordPress, plugins, and themes updated. This is the big one. Updates aren't just new features — most of them quietly patch security holes. When you see "updates available" in your dashboard, that's not noise; that's the most important button on the page.

2. Use strong, unique passwords — and a password manager. A long, random password you've never used anywhere else is one of your best defenses. A password manager remembers them for you, so "strong" doesn't have to mean "impossible to remember."

3. Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA). This adds a second step at login — a code from your phone — so even if someone steals your password, they still can't get in. It's one of the highest-payoff things you can switch on.

4. Limit login attempts and change the default admin username. Bots try to guess passwords thousands of times an hour. Limiting failed attempts shuts them down, and changing the obvious "admin" username removes half of their guess.

5. Delete plugins and themes you don't use. Every plugin and theme is a door into your site — even deactivated ones. If you're not using it, remove it. Fewer doors, fewer locks to keep an eye on.

6. Make sure SSL/HTTPS is on. SSL is what puts the padlock in the address bar and encrypts data between your visitors and your site. It's usually free and a basic expectation for any modern site.

7. Take automatic daily backups. Backups don't prevent problems — they undo them. With a recent backup stored off your server, the worst-case scenario becomes "restore and move on" instead of "rebuild from scratch."

8. Add a reputable security plugin. A good security plugin adds a firewall and scans for malware automatically. Wordfence and Sucuri are two commonly used examples (mentioned here as well-known options, not endorsements). It's a strong extra layer on top of the basics above — not a replacement for them.

9. Choose a trustworthy host. A good host keeps the servers your site lives on patched and isolated. A cheap, crowded, or neglected host can leave you exposed no matter how careful you are on your end.

How to check where you stand

You don't have to audit all of this by hand. Paste your address into our free scanner and it'll flag the obvious gaps — like an out-of-date setup or a missing SSL certificate — in plain English, with no signup.

Is your WordPress site secure?

Free 30-second check — see your most obvious security gaps in plain English.

Run the free scan →

How to lock it down, step by step

Keep everything updatedUpdate WordPress core, your theme, and every plugin whenever an update appears. This closes the holes attackers look for first.
Use strong passwords and a password managerGive every admin account a long, unique password stored in a password manager. Never reuse one across sites.
Turn on two-factor authenticationRequire a second code at login so a stolen password alone can't get anyone in.
Limit logins and ditch "admin"Limit failed login attempts and change the default "admin" username so bots can't guess their way in.
Delete what you don't useRemove unused plugins and themes — even deactivated ones can be a way in if they're outdated.
Confirm SSL and set up daily backupsMake sure HTTPS is on, then schedule automatic daily backups stored off your server so you can always roll back.
Add a security pluginInstall a reputable security plugin (Wordfence and Sucuri are common examples) for a firewall and automatic malware scanning.

If any of that sounds like more than you signed up for, that's exactly the kind of thing we handle. Your host won't do it for you — but we secure and host WordPress sites so it stays done, and the first fix is free.

Sources

WordPress.org's own hardening guide (Hardening WordPress, WordPress.org)
Sucuri's annual hacked-website report (Sucuri)
Google Safe Browsing — flagging unsafe and compromised sites (Google)