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Affiliate Pro Tips: How to Make Sure Your WordPress Site is Secure
Quick Summary
A secure WordPress site is vital for both SEO and protecting your business. Implementing HTTPS/SSL, securing login credentials with strong passwords and two-factor authentication, and using security plugins are key steps. Regular backups and a solid maintenance routine will keep your site safe from hacking attempts and ensure long-term security.
For most online business owners, security isnโt necessarily high on their list of priorities. Sure, we all know itโs important, but itโs sales and marketing that generate revenue, right? Itโs common for people to prioritize the โurgentโ tasks like SEO and advertising, over โimportantโ tasks like maintaining site security.
But with Googleโs recent updates now showing preference to secure sites, thereโs an even bigger incentive to get yours on track. In this article, we look at why site security is important and how you can improve yours in just 5 simple steps.
Why Security Matters
The security of your website is important for multiple reasons โ here are a few that impact the majority of us:
- Google SEOโ Google has openly stated that secure sites will be shown preference in rankings and itโs Chrome browser now blocks access to sites without โhttpsโ at the start of their web address. Improving security by installing an SSL certificate can, therefore, boost your site rankings and increase visitors.
- Protection from Hackersโ Taking steps to improve security will also reduce your vulnerability to hackers. If your site is taken over then youโll lose the ability to generate revenue from it, possibly for the long-term depending on the sophistication of the hack. So, itโs worth taking preventative measures to reduce the threat that hackers can pose. ย
- Responsibility to Visitorsโ If you collect data from visitors (such as email addresses) then you have a responsibility to protect their information. Improving your siteโs security will reduce the risk of a data breach and keep your customerโs information out of the wrong hands.
In the following section, we look at five steps that you can take to improve the security of your website.
#1 โ Install an SSL Certificate
Many web hosts include a free SSL certificate for any domains that are hosted with them (Lets Encrypt also provide them without charge). However, they arenโt automatically activated so this is something that youโll need to do manually.
This is pretty easy to do yourself but your host may also be able to take care of this as part of their support service. Then make a backup of your site before moving on to step 2.
#2 โ Convert WordPress To Use Secure URLs
After youโve activated your SSL certificate, head over to the โSettingsโ section of your WordPress dashboard. Youโll need to update the WordPress Address and Site Address to include an โsโ in the URL so that they both start with https:// instead of http://.
Click the save button at the bottom and then move on to the next step.
#3 โ Ensure All Your Content Uses Secure URLs
This could be a complicated process but thankfully thereโs a free plugin called Really Simple SSL thatโll take care of most of it. Install and activate it like you would any other plugin and then click โenable SSLโ when you see the prompt. Then head over to the pluginโs settings section and tick the โAuto replace mixed contentโ option.
Select the โEnable 301 redirectโ option so that any links to old HTTP URLs are automatically redirected to the secure HTTPS versions. Then click โsaveโ and visit your website homepage. You should now see a green padlock next to your web address indicating that itโs a secure website.
#4 โ Iron Out Any Kinks
At this stage, itโs normal to find that some things arenโt working as they should be. You may notice that some of your internal links no longer lead to the right articles. Checking the 301-redirect option in step 3 should avoid most of these issues but a few can still fall through the gaps. It can be helpful to use a free plugin like Broken Link Checker to crawl for issues. This will create a list of all the links that are broken so that you can update them to HTTPS where needed. This is also a useful plugin to have installed for general maintenance, as itโll highlight when affiliate links become outdated.
However, if you use Pretty Link Pro or something similar with your affiliate links then youโll need to update each one individually rather than โfixing allโ as that can cause unexpected issues with commission tracking.
If youโre using the Genesis theme, then background images can mess with the SSL update. To address this, simply re-upload the images to your media library and then select them again, so that HTTPS appears at the start of their address.
#5 โ Update Google Analytics & Google Search Console
The final step is to let Google know that your site is now secure. You can do this by going to your Google Search Console and adding the secure HTTPS versions of your site to your list of properties. It may take time for Google to catch on and re-index all of your newly secure URLs, so it can also be helpful to upload a new site map.
Once this is done, you should update your Google Analytics account with the HTTPS site addresses. You can do this in the โProperty Settingsโ section of the โAdminโ area. Be sure to select the secure version as your default URL and then click save. Thereโs no need to change your Analytics tracking code โ everything will integrate automatically.
By following these five steps, youโll be able to improve your site security, reducing the risk from hackers while improving your SEO. Installing a free certificate is the first step โ from there you just need to work through WordPress so that all of your pages reflect the secure HTTPS addresses.
By updating your Google Search Console and Analytics accounts, you can ensure that your reporting isnโt affected and captures all your newly secure visitor behavior.
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We also have a network of best-in-class publishers who create engaging content thatโs aligned with your strategic objectives. Contact us today by calling 866-706-3181, filling out the form below or emailing [email protected].
FAQs
Using HTTPS and an SSL certificate for your WordPress site is essential for data security. It encrypts communication between the server and visitors, protecting sensitive data like login credentials, payment information, and personal data. Google gives preference to HTTPS sites, which can improve your SEO rankings.
Without SSL, browsers display a โNot Secureโ warning, making visitors hesitant to engage with your site. SSL also builds trust with users by showing that you care about their privacy and are taking steps to secure their data, which can improve conversions and user engagement.
To secure your WordPress site, use strong, unique passwords for all accounts. Passwords should be a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols to increase complexity. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for an additional layer of protection.
Limiting login attempts prevents brute-force attacks by locking out users after several failed attempts. You can use plugins like “Limit Login Attempts” to restrict access from suspicious IP addresses.
Also, consider changing your login URL from the default โwp-adminโ to something custom, which can help prevent automated bots from finding your login page.
Yes, installing a security plugin is a good practice. Security plugins can protect your site from malware, hacking attempts, and spam. They often include features like firewall protection, login security, and file integrity monitoring.
Popular plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri can provide a comprehensive security setup and alert you to any suspicious activity.
Backups should be performed regularly, with frequency depending on how often your content changes. For most sites, weekly backups are sufficient, but for high-traffic or constantly updated sites, daily backups are ideal.
Use reliable backup plugins like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy, and store backups in multiple locations, such as cloud storage or external drives.
To prevent brute-force attacks, enforce strong passwords and enable 2FA. Use security plugins like Wordfence to block IP addresses that show suspicious activity.
Additionally, limit login attempts and use CAPTCHA for login forms to block bots. You can also hide the default WordPress login URL to prevent easy access for automated hacking tools.
Regularly monitor your site using security plugins that provide real-time alerts for suspicious activity. Check for unusual file changes, login attempts, or performance issues.
If you suspect a hack, immediately change all passwords, disable suspicious plugins, and check for malware. Contact your hosting provider for help and use a malware scanner to identify and remove threats.
Regular maintenance is key to keeping your site secure. Update WordPress core, themes, and plugins frequently to patch security vulnerabilities. Perform backups regularly, and review your security settings every few months.
Also, check your siteโs performance and scan for malware to stay ahead of potential issues. Setting up automated security scans and updates helps streamline this process.
