Michele Butcher gave a presentation on beginner WordPress security. She emphasized that security is important because hackers are constantly finding new ways to access information. Hackers hack sites for a variety of reasons like money, spreading malware, or boredom. The most common ways sites are hacked are by guessing login credentials, denial of service attacks, exploits in themes/plugins, FTP/cPanel configurations. She provided many tips for improving security like using strong passwords, two-factor authentication, updating often, only using necessary plugins/themes, and backing up sites.

1. Beginners Security
WordCamp North Canton
Michele Butcher
CantSpeakGeek.com WPSecurityLock.com
@michele_butcher

2. Michele Butcher
WordPress Specialist, Site
Cleaner, and Trainer for WP
Security Lock
WordPress Evangelist for
InMotion Hosting
Geek behind Can’t Speak
Geek
Beginners and Intermediate
WordPress Instructor

3. Why is security
important?

4. Many do not think security is
important until it is too late.
Every single day hackers find new ways to get your
information.
Todays features are tomorrow’s vulnerabilities.
Stop them before they stop you

5. Why do hackers hack?
Make bank
build a zombie army
Share their nasty code with the world
Get your information
They are bored
They want to see if they can do it

6. But…Why are they
hacking me?
There is rarely ever a targeted hacking attack.
Typically all sites are considered targets. The big
and the small.

7. And how do they get in?
They guess your login information
Denial of Service Attack (DDoS)
Through a file in a theme, plugin, or anything
on your server where they found an exploit
Through your FTP and/or cPanel
configuration

8. Here is the only
scary thing I will say
in this talk

9. You are NEVER
100% secure

10. A test site or a site that might get
5 visitors a day can be hacked.
It happened to me and it can happen to you.

11. Don’t Let
Security
Make you like
this guy!

12. There are some
simple steps to keep
the hackers out

13. WordPress Security
Basics 101

14. Never ever never use “admin” as
a username or “password” as
password. NEVER!!!!
Any questions?
Adm1n and Pa55w0rd do not count either!

15. Always use SFTP
“S” is for safe!!!

16. Only give users the
access they need
Just because they want to be an admin does not
mean they should.
Guest bloggers should rarely every be anything
more than a contributor.

17. If it is a temporary login, delete
the user when the job is done
If they do have posts, you can convert them to different
users or make them a subscriber with limited access.

18. Set up file detection
Many security plugins like iThemes Security and
WordFence will alert you when files have been changed

19. Only keep the theme you are
using and one backup theme on
your site.
The more themes that are on a site, the more open
chances you have to a vulnerability

20. Only keep the plugins you
have active on your site.
An uninstalled plugin is not a potential vulnerability.
Use the plugins repo favorites option to keep a list of
your favorite plugins

21. Security Plugins
iThemes Security (Free and Pro version
Securi Firewall
WordFence Security
Jetpack with Brute Protect and Vault Press

22. Always make backups!
Backup Buddy, UpDraftPlus, BackWPUp
Always save to someplace OTHER than your
server
Save them to Dropbox, AWS, email, or your
local machine
Have them scheduled to be made daily or at
least weekly

23. Malware Scanning? Do I
need it?
If you suspect an issue scan your site!
Google Webmaster Tools
VirusTotal
iThemes Security Pro
Sucuri Scanner

24. What else can I do to
protect my site?

25. Update!
Update!
Update!
Update core. Update themes update plugins!
The biggest reasons of updates is typically security or feature
related.
The biggest source of nearly all hacks is due to lack of updating.

26. If you use Envato products
(ThemeForest and CodeCanyon)
always check the box in the
downloads to be notified of updates.
That is the only way you will know if any of their products
need to be updated.
This is why the RevSlider infection was so widespread. Many
did not even know the plugin was built into their theme.

27. Don't ever let your
site get too lonely.
That is when the zombies come.
Nobody wants the zombies to come

28. If the unthinkable happens and
you do get hacked, it is not the
end of the world.
It can and will be fixed.

29. Who can clean my
hacked website?
Well I can!
And so can Securi and HackRepair

30. Great! Are there any other
ways I can be secure?

31. Always use complex
passwords

32. Never email
passwords

33. Never use the same
password twice

34. Use a Password Keeper
Last Pass
One Password
KeePass

35. If a login has a Two-
Factor Authentication,
USE IT!

36. Anti-virus!
Use it on all the things.
Yes, even a Mac!

37. Be conscious when
using public WiFi

38. Use a VPN if you use
Public WiFi
Torguard
Site Social
Hide My Ass

39. Update!
Update!
Update!

40. No one wants to lose their information
stored on their computer.
Back everything up
and back it up often!
Bitcasa
Carobinte
External Harddrives

41. Questions?

42. Thank you!!!
Michele Butcher
CantSpeakGeek.com WPSecurityLock.com
@michele_butcher