The document outlines security threats and best practices for securing WordPress websites, highlighting incidents from 2012 and common vulnerabilities such as password leaks and PHP exploits. It emphasizes critical steps to harden installations, including setting up firewalls, renaming admin accounts, changing database prefixes, and employing secure password practices. Additionally, it stresses the importance of regular updates, two-factor authentication, and using secure connections when accessing sites from untrusted networks.

1. Securing Your WordPress Website
Vladimir Lasky
http://wpexpert.com.au/
WordCamp Sydney 2012
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2. What’s New In Today’s Talk?
1. The biggest security threats of 2012 and how
to deal with them
2. An updated list of essential WordPress
hardening steps for EVERY site
3. New WordPress management services that
make your life easier
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3. Big Events in Internet Security This Year
1. Yahoo, LinkedIn, eHarmony all experienced
security incidents that resulted in users’
passwords/hashes being published
2. Lots of exploits targeting code using
vulnerable PHP libraries including TimThumb
and Uploadify
3. Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) vulnerability in
Wireless Routers revealed in December 2011
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6. Lessons From Password Disclosure Incidents
1. You cannot assume any website will properly secure their
databases.
2. Plenty of computational power exists for brute-force
password cracking of password hashes – spare no effort
to prevent these from being leaked.
3. People who reuse the same password across different
sites are asking to get “p0wned” and become targets for
identity theft.
4. Having a unique, secure password for every Internet
account is mandatory. 6

7. Wi-Fi Protected Setup
Wi-
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8. Lessons from WPS Vulnerability
1. The WPS exploit provides a backdoor to
wireless routers secured with WPA2
2. Technologies that overcome security
burdens often introduce security holes
3. Disable WPS in every Wi-Fi Router that you
control. In some cases, this will require a
firmware upgrade or possibly even replacing
the router 8

9. Example PHP Exploit Attempt
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10. Lessons from PHP Exploits
1. Many programmers are lazy or ignorant of
proper data validation practices
2. Obtaining plugins and themes from official
sources reduces risk, but does not guaratee
security
3. Application firewalls are a NECESSITY
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11. Essential Steps to Harden Your WP Installation
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12. Install WP Firewall 2
This plugin analyses HTTP requests and checks
for suspicious parameters that indicate PHP or
SQL injection attempts
It will protect you against the majority of zero-
day exploits
Set the configuration option ‘Suppress similar
attack warning emails’ to ‘On’, to prevent being
deluged with identical warnings.
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13. Rename Your Admin Account
1. Use the plugin ‘Admin Renamer Extended’ to
rename the ‘admin’ account to something
unique.
2. From the WP Dashboard, go to Users->Your
Profile. For the option set ‘Display Name
Publicly as’, choose something that is not
the same as your admin account name
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14. Change the Default MySQL Table Prefix
1. The WordPress default MySQL table prefix is
‘wp_’.
2. By renaming this to something else, ie. ‘tb132_’
we can foil the majority of blind SQL injection
attempts
3. For an existing site, use the plugin “WordPress
Table Rename” to make this easier.
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15. Prevent Plaintext Password Transmission – Best Option
1. Have your site hosted with a provider that supports
HTTPS and provides either:
– Their own Shared SSL Certificate
– The ability to install your own
– The ability to obtain one for you and install it (usually for a
fee)
2. Install the plugin “WP HTTPS (SSL)” and enable the
option “Force SSL Administration”.
3. This will prevent your password and session cookies
from being sniffed (captured) over the Network 15

16. Prevent Plaintext Password Transmission – Next Best
1. If you can’t use HTTPS, then install the plugin
“Semisecure Login Reimagined”.
2. This uses Javascript to encrypt your password
before sending it to the server
3. Make sure you logout from WordPress to
prevent network eavedroppers from sniffing
(capturing) and re-using your session key.
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17. Prevent Brute-Force Login Attempts
Brute-
Install one of the following plugins:
1. Login Security Solution
– Slows down response time of your website after
multiple failed attempts
– Prevents users from choosing weak passwords
and
2. Limit Login Attempts
– Locks out accounts for a set time period after
multiple failed attempts
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18. Install WP File Monitor Plus
This plugin monitors files under your
WP installation for changes.
When a change is detected, it
displays a dashboard alert and can
also send an email
As an administrator, you can view
the list of changes and spot anything
unexpected or unusual
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19. Essential Security Habits
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20. Regularly Update Your Site, Plugins and Themes
The last talk stressed the importance of performing
regular updates to WordPress, themes and plugins
and performing regular remotely-initiated backups
Several WordPress management services now exist
to simply and speed up these steps:
– ManageWP (hosted)
– InfiniteWP (self-hosted)
– WP Remote (hosted)
– Worpit (hosted)
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21. Accessing Your Site From Untrusted PCs
Two-Factor authentication is mandatory
This is a combination of a password and a random
number from a key fob, SMS message or a mobile
phone app that you obtain each time you log in
WordPress Two-Factor plugins include:
1. Second Factor
2. Google Authenticator
3. Duo Two-Factor Authentication
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22. Accessing Your Site From Untrusted Networks
1. If you can, use your smart phone or laptop
PC equipped with 3G, 4G or GPRS Mobile
Internet
2. If you are forced to use a public WiFi access
point or LAN, ensure that any sites requiring
authentication are accessed via their HTTPS
(secure) link.
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23. Choosing a Password
Twelve characters long as a minimum, but not a
dictionary word
Common number/letter substitutions provide little
extra security – cracking tools almost always check
for these
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24. Password Memorisation Techniques
1. Come up with a memorable sentence, and use the
first letters of each word to form the password e.g.
– “Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pale of water”
could form a 13-character password “JaJwuthtfapow”
2. Three unrelated unconnected dictionary words one
after the other, misspelt a certain way known to
you
On your own trusted PC, consider using an
encrypted password manager like KeePass
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25. Conclusion
Slides from Previous Talk at Wordcamp GC 2011:
– http://slidesha.re/tr2XA5
– Covers the “Three Pillars of Security”, the aims of attackers and other
WordPress security plugins
ManageWP - 30% discount on all plans for WordCamp Sydney
Attendees:
– http://managewp.com/wcsyd
Questions and Comments:
– http://wpexpert.com.au/contact-us/
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