Let’s be honest, when you built your WordPress site, security probably wasn’t the first thing on your mind. You were focused on getting your business online, showcasing your products, and maybe figuring out why that one plugin kept breaking your contact form.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth: WordPress powers over 40% of the internet, which makes it the single biggest target for hackers. And most of the time, they’re not using sophisticated zero-day exploits. They’re walking through the front door because someone left it wide open.
The good news? Most WordPress security vulnerabilities are completely preventable. You just need to know what to look for.
Here are seven security mistakes we see all the time, and exactly how to fix them before they cost you your website, your data, or your reputation.
1. Using “Admin” as Your Username (And a Password You Can Actually Remember)
We get it. When you first set up WordPress, “admin” was right there as the default username. And your password? Maybe it’s your dog’s name with a “1” at the end. Easy to remember, right?
Unfortunately, it’s also easy to guess.
Hackers use automated tools that cycle through thousands of common username and password combinations. If your login credentials are predictable, you’re essentially handing them the keys to your kingdom.
How to fix it:
- Change your username from “admin” to something unique. Ideally, don’t use your published name or email address either.
- Create a strong password with a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters. If you can remember it easily, it’s probably not strong enough.
- Use a password manager like 1Password or Bitwarden to generate and store complex passwords securely.
2. Ignoring Updates Like They’re Spam Emails
That little red notification bubble in your WordPress dashboard? The one telling you there are 7 plugin updates and a theme update waiting? Yeah, that’s not just WordPress being annoying.
Outdated plugins, themes, and WordPress core files are still the number one way hackers gain access to websites. Even a single forgotten plugin can expose your entire site to known vulnerabilities that attackers actively scan for.
How to fix it:
- Enable automatic updates for plugins and themes where possible.
- Log into your dashboard at least weekly to check for updates that require manual approval.
- If you’re running custom code or themes, test updates in a staging environment first to avoid breaking changes.
- Remove any plugins or themes you’re not actively using. They’re just unnecessary attack surface.
3. Leaving Your Login Page Wide Open
Your WordPress login page (usually /wp-admin or /wp-login.php) is like the front door to your website. And by default, it’s sitting there with a welcome mat, waiting for anyone to try their luck.
Brute-force attacks, where hackers use automated scripts to try thousands of password combinations, are incredibly common. And if you haven’t taken steps to protect your login page, you’re making their job way too easy.
How to fix it:
- Limit login attempts. After three failed attempts, lock the user out for 15 minutes. This dramatically slows down brute-force attacks.
- Change your login URL. Instead of
/wp-admin, use something unique like/my-secret-login. Security plugins can handle this for you. - Add CAPTCHA or reCAPTCHA to your login form to block automated bots.
- Enable two-factor authentication (more on this in a moment).
4. Ignoring File Permissions
This one’s a bit more technical, but stick with us, it matters.
Every file and folder on your WordPress site has permissions that determine who can read, write, or execute them. If these permissions are too loose (like the infamous 777 setting), you’re essentially giving anyone, including attackers, full access to modify your files.
Similarly, if directory indexing is enabled, hackers can browse your file structure just by visiting URLs like yourwebsite.com/wp-content/. From there, they can see which plugins you’re using, find outdated files, and exploit known vulnerabilities.
How to fix it:
- Set directories to 755 and files to 644. This follows the principle of least privilege.
- Disable directory browsing in your
.htaccessfile or through your hosting control panel. - Restrict access to critical files like
wp-config.phpusing server-level rules. - Hide your WordPress version number to reduce your attack surface.
If this sounds like gibberish, that’s okay. This is exactly the kind of thing a professional maintenance plan handles for you.
5. Running Your Site Without SSL (Yes, People Still Do This)
If your website URL starts with http:// instead of https://, you’ve got a problem.
Without SSL/TLS encryption, every piece of data transmitted between your website and your visitors: including login credentials, contact form submissions, and payment details: is sent in plain text. Anyone intercepting that traffic can read it.
Beyond the security implications, Google has been penalizing unsecured sites in search rankings since 2018. In 2025, there’s really no excuse not to have SSL.
How to fix it:
- Install an SSL certificate. Most quality hosting providers (including ours) offer free Let’s Encrypt certificates.
- Update your WordPress settings to use HTTPS across your entire site.
- Use a plugin like SSL Insecure Content Fixer to resolve mixed content errors.
- Verify all internal links and images are configured with HTTPS URLs.
6. Not Using a Security Plugin
WordPress out of the box is reasonably secure, but it’s not bulletproof. Without additional protection, you’re leaving yourself vulnerable to malicious code injections, SQL attacks, and a whole host of threats that can compromise your site integrity and user trust.
A solid security plugin acts as your first line of defense, monitoring your site for suspicious activity, blocking known threats, and alerting you when something’s wrong.
How to fix it:
- Install a reputable security plugin like Wordfence, Sucuri, or iThemes Security.
- Configure the plugin to scan your site regularly for malware and vulnerabilities.
- Pay attention to security alerts and act on them promptly.
- Keep your security plugin updated: an outdated security tool is almost as bad as no tool at all.
At Shadowtek, we go a step further with enterprise-grade protection using Imunify360 and Cloudflare on all our managed hosting accounts. It’s the kind of security infrastructure most small businesses can’t access on their own.
7. Skipping Two-Factor Authentication
Here’s a sobering statistic: 41% of WordPress users don’t use two-factor authentication or strong passwords.
Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds a second layer of security to your login process. Even if someone manages to guess or steal your password, they still can’t get in without that second verification step: usually a code sent to your phone or generated by an authenticator app.
With brute-force attacks becoming faster and more sophisticated thanks to automation, 2FA is no longer optional. It’s essential.
How to fix it:
- Enable 2FA on all user accounts, not just admin accounts.
- Use a dedicated plugin like WP 2FA or enable 2FA through your security plugin.
- Require all users to set up 2FA during their first login.
- Combine 2FA with strong password requirements for maximum protection.
The Bottom Line
WordPress security isn’t about being paranoid: it’s about being prepared. The mistakes we’ve covered here are incredibly common, but they’re also completely fixable. A few hours of configuration now can save you from weeks of headaches (and potentially thousands of dollars) down the road.
But let’s be real: most business owners don’t have time to manage plugin updates, monitor security logs, and stay on top of the latest vulnerabilities. You’ve got a business to run.
That’s where we come in.
At Shadowtek, we handle all of this for you. Our managed WordPress hosting includes enterprise-grade security with Imunify360, Cloudflare protection, automated backups, and proactive monitoring: so you can focus on what you do best.
Ready to stop worrying about WordPress security? Get in touch with our team and let’s lock down your site for good.