5 WordPress Security Issues—And A Simple Strategy To Avoid Them

If you’ve landed on this page, you’re likely asking yourself, “Is my WordPress site not secure?” Luckily, we have some tips. When maximizing your WordPress site’s security, updating its themes and plugins is paramount. It shouldn’t be a question of if or when, but how frequently. A regular update schedule can save you from WordPress security issues that may include:

1. Unwanted access and entry-points.

Open entry points through outdated themes and plugins, escalated privileges, and unnecessary admins leave your website susceptible to access by anyone, regardless of permission level. This puts your content and data at risk.

2. The spread of malware through file uploads.

When your site’s themes and plugins are out of date, file uploads become increasingly risky leading to a range of WordPress security issues. Your site’s inability to detect the latest in malware leaves it unprotected and enables malware to enter your site.

3. SEO spam complications.

From fake login pages and phishing messages to unwanted redirects and hidden (or even rewritten) code changes, undetected spam puts your site and its information at risk.

4. Cross-Site Scripting attacks.

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks are a big threat to WordPress sites, especially if they contain outdated themes or plugins. The attacks are largely invisible, and there may be no way for your site (or its end-users) to tell it has an XSS vulnerability. If not prevented with regular maintenance, the attacks can be dangerous.

5. SQL injections.

SQL injections are another one of the common WordPress security issues you may encounter. Susceptibility means your site’s data can be accessed by attackers, compromising company data, user lists, or private customer details, putting all parties at risk.

Updating your WordPress themes and plugins regularly means more security updates and greater website security overall, saving you from the WordPress security issues listed above. If you can do this, the next time you ask yourself “Is my WordPress site not secure?” you’ll end up with a more confident and satisfying answer.

Want to learn more about WordPress malware removal, website scanning, and website security? Contact SiteLock today to discover how you can protect your site from harmful, unwanted hacks.