Beginner WordPress
Security
Tips to Help Secure Your WordPress Site
WordCamp Birmingham, 2016
#wcbham
Gerroald Barron
gerroald@ithemes.com - @gerroald
https://profiles.wordpress.org/gerroald
https://ithemes.com/security/
https://wordpress.org/plugins/better-wp-security/
Why Would Someone
Want to Hack My Site?
Twitter - @gerroald http://www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
There are currently over 1 Billion
websites on the web.
https://sucuri.net/website-security/website-hacked-report
WordPress powers about 26% of
them.
Twitter - @gerroald http://www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
You’re likely not the target, WordPress is.
Twitter - @gerroald www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
It’s not about if you get attacked,
but rather how to prevent it from
being successful.
Twitter - @gerroald www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
If you know your passwords, they’re likely too weak.
Strong Passwords
Password Managers
https://www.dashlane.com/passwordmanager
https://1password.com/
https://lastpass.com/
Twitter - @gerroald www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
Two-Factor
Authentication
Two-Factor Authentication is not a mere nuisance, it’s
Real Security.
Twitter - @gerroald www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
Two Factor Plugins
WordPress Two-Factor Plugins
https://ithemes.com/security/
Twitter - @gerroald www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
Two-Factor Mobile
Apps
Google Authenticator Android
Authy for iOS and Android
Google Authenticator iOS
Twitter - @gerroald www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
Changing the Salts
Salted Keys further protect your login credentials stored in your cookies.
https://api.wordpress.org/secret-key/1.1/salt/
*tutorial*
Plugins to Change
Your Salts
https://wordpress.org/plugins/better-wp-security/
https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-config-file-editor/
Twitter - @gerroald www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
Secure File
Permissions
How secure is your site if anyone can view or write to your
server files? It’s not. Secure file permissions are a must.
Twitter - @gerroald www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
Using sFTP Encryption
vs FTP
The SFTP and FTP protocols both transfer data, that’s where
their similarities end.
FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol
sFTP stands for (SSH) File Transfer Protocol
FTP transfers data between two remote connections, in plain
text.
sFTP ensures that data is securely transferred privately with
use of the SSH2 protocol.
Twitter - @gerroald www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)
What is it? Why should I use it?
Twitter - @gerroald www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
SSL creates an encrypted
connection between your web
server and your visitors' web
browser.
Twitter - @gerroald www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
HTTP stands for Hyper Text Protocol
HTTPS stands for Hyper Text Protocol Secure
When using HTTP to transfer information it’s relatively easy for
a knowledgable person to intercept, and view it.
When using HTTPS if anyone is able to intercept it, they still
won’t be able to decipher it because it’s encrypted.
SSL
Secure Socket Layers is the security during the transfer while
using HTTPS.
Twitter - @gerroald www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
Free SSL Certificates
https://letsencrypt.org/
https://ssl.comodo.com/free-ssl-certificate.php
Twitter - @gerroald www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
Maintenance
Keep WordPress Core up to date.
Keep your plugins and themes up to date
Regularly update your passwords
Remove plugins, themes and users that aren't being used.
ALWAYS have a recent backup.
Twitter - @gerroald www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
Summary
Use a strong password with the help of a password manager
Two-Factor for ALL THE THINGS
Regularly change your Salts
Use secure file permissions
Use sFTP when ever possible
Use SSL on all of your sites
Please keep your site and everything on it up to date

WCBham Beginner WordPress Security

  • 1.
    Beginner WordPress Security Tips toHelp Secure Your WordPress Site WordCamp Birmingham, 2016 #wcbham
  • 2.
    Gerroald Barron gerroald@ithemes.com -@gerroald https://profiles.wordpress.org/gerroald https://ithemes.com/security/ https://wordpress.org/plugins/better-wp-security/
  • 3.
    Why Would Someone Wantto Hack My Site? Twitter - @gerroald http://www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
  • 4.
    There are currentlyover 1 Billion websites on the web. https://sucuri.net/website-security/website-hacked-report WordPress powers about 26% of them. Twitter - @gerroald http://www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
  • 5.
    You’re likely notthe target, WordPress is. Twitter - @gerroald www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
  • 7.
    It’s not aboutif you get attacked, but rather how to prevent it from being successful. Twitter - @gerroald www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
  • 8.
    If you knowyour passwords, they’re likely too weak. Strong Passwords
  • 9.
  • 10.
    Two-Factor Authentication Two-Factor Authentication isnot a mere nuisance, it’s Real Security. Twitter - @gerroald www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
  • 11.
    Two Factor Plugins WordPressTwo-Factor Plugins https://ithemes.com/security/ Twitter - @gerroald www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
  • 12.
    Two-Factor Mobile Apps Google AuthenticatorAndroid Authy for iOS and Android Google Authenticator iOS Twitter - @gerroald www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
  • 13.
    Changing the Salts SaltedKeys further protect your login credentials stored in your cookies. https://api.wordpress.org/secret-key/1.1/salt/ *tutorial*
  • 14.
    Plugins to Change YourSalts https://wordpress.org/plugins/better-wp-security/ https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-config-file-editor/ Twitter - @gerroald www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
  • 15.
    Secure File Permissions How secureis your site if anyone can view or write to your server files? It’s not. Secure file permissions are a must. Twitter - @gerroald www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
  • 16.
    Using sFTP Encryption vsFTP The SFTP and FTP protocols both transfer data, that’s where their similarities end.
  • 17.
    FTP stands forFile Transfer Protocol sFTP stands for (SSH) File Transfer Protocol FTP transfers data between two remote connections, in plain text. sFTP ensures that data is securely transferred privately with use of the SSH2 protocol. Twitter - @gerroald www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
  • 18.
    SSL (Secure SocketsLayer) What is it? Why should I use it? Twitter - @gerroald www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
  • 19.
    SSL creates anencrypted connection between your web server and your visitors' web browser. Twitter - @gerroald www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
  • 20.
    HTTP stands forHyper Text Protocol HTTPS stands for Hyper Text Protocol Secure When using HTTP to transfer information it’s relatively easy for a knowledgable person to intercept, and view it. When using HTTPS if anyone is able to intercept it, they still won’t be able to decipher it because it’s encrypted. SSL Secure Socket Layers is the security during the transfer while using HTTPS. Twitter - @gerroald www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
  • 21.
  • 23.
    Maintenance Keep WordPress Coreup to date. Keep your plugins and themes up to date Regularly update your passwords Remove plugins, themes and users that aren't being used. ALWAYS have a recent backup. Twitter - @gerroald www.slideshare.net/GerroaldBarron
  • 24.
    Summary Use a strongpassword with the help of a password manager Two-Factor for ALL THE THINGS Regularly change your Salts Use secure file permissions Use sFTP when ever possible Use SSL on all of your sites Please keep your site and everything on it up to date