When setting up an eCommerce site on WordPress, security should be your number one priority. Whenever you are dealing with personal information or financial data of people, you should be twice as careful. If you don't demonstrate that you are a reliable supplier through recognizable security logos, you could lose customers. But ignoring security could result in a much worse outcome: theft and loss of data.
This is the ecommerce site owner's worst nightmare. Luckily, you shouldn't let this happen to you. Here, I'll discuss some of the most common security problems WordPress-based eCommerce sites face and walk you through the steps you need to take to plug those security holes once and for all.
Step 1: SSL
When working in the ecommerce space, one thing you can't compromise on is SSL. That's Secure Sockets Layer for the uninitiated and it protects sensitive information (both yours and your customers) while it is transmitted for processing. A good way to ensure the security of payments on your site is to use a popular system like PayPal. This keeps all financial information off your site and in the hands of a company that specializes in protecting transactions like this.
While wildcard SSL can be expensive, many of the best WordPress hosting options offer free SSL through Let's Encrypt. It's fast, easy, and completely free.
Step 2: use a ready-to-use platform
One way to increase site security is to use a ready-to-use e-commerce platform. This takes the guesswork out of what to and what not to include and makes it much easier to get started. There are various platforms like WooCommerce, Shopify, and others. In this way, do your research to find an ecommerce platform that is suitably suited to your needs.
If you decide to use a WordPress theme instead, it's best to only use those that you find in the WordPress directory or on reputable theme websites. Low-quality themes often lack adequate security measures, putting your site and your customers' information at risk.
Step 3: modify .htaccess
Another way to troubleshoot potential WordPress security issues is to modify the .htaccess file. Many site attacks are performed on the database that the platform supports. If the database is attacked, you will not be able to run the PHP scripts that make your site work.
SQL injection is one way hackers infiltrate your site. They do this by placing their own commands within a URL in their database. These commands can force the database to generate information about your site, including login information. Variations on this hacking method can cause specific PHP scripts to run that install malware on your site. This is basically all bad news for someone trying to run a secure site that their customers can feel safe using.
Luckily, you can remedy this by modifying the .htaccess file in your WordPress site files. There is an excellent collection of .htaccess code snippets that you can put in the archive to strengthen site security. Once these rules are in place, you can prevent certain people from accessing your site, including specific IP addresses and requests for specific URLs.
At the same time you can limit the files that people can see. These commands can at the same time be added to .htaccess and make it possible for you to block any elderly person from accessing private files on your server. You can usually achieve this by blocking access to directory listings. Site visitors do not need to see a list of all files on our site, so blocking access will prevent malicious users from organizing an attack using that information.
Step 4: bypass admin
Another thing you definitely want to do when setting up your WordPress eCommerce site is to make sure your username and password are made up of a combination of letters, numbers, and characters. You should never keep your username as the default "administrator". This is what hackers "guess" as the username most often when they perform brute force attacks (see below). And you definitely don't want to make life easier for hackers. Therefore create your username and complicated password.
You may want to install two-step authentication on your site at the same time. Something like Keyy Two Factor could do the trick.
Step 5: limit login attempts
As I mentioned previously, people can gain access to your site through brute force attacks. These attacks are carried out through automated scripts that repeatedly try to log into your site over and over again. Since the scripts are run thousands of times, they are very likely to be successful in conclusion.
In other words, unless you establish a security measure. One of those failsafe devices is a login limiter. A login limiter is a tool that prevents certain IP addresses or user names from logging in a specified number of times within a specified period of time. A typical limit of 10 times in a couple of minutes will cause that user or IP to incur a one hour timeout. Brute force attackers are not effective when faced with a login limiter because they cannot make the thousands or millions of login attempts required to be successful. Many times they will move from your site and look for easier territory.
There are many login limiting plugins available, but let me tell you about a few that I personally like. First, there is IThemes Security, which is a robust plugin designed to protect your site from a wide variety of attacks. In fact, it includes more than 30 ways to prevent attacks on the site, including blackout tactics, login throttling, bot detection, and more.
And then this Limit login attempts, which prevents brute force attacks by allowing you to limit the number of times a person can attempt to log in. At the same time it is fully customizable and provides optional logs and email notifications when site crashes occur.
There are other options, anyway, but these are just two that I have found reliable.
No matter what type of site you run, it is important to consider security. But it is even more important for those who manage ecommerce sites. When you are responsible for other people's information, it is vital that you do everything in your power to protect it. That could mean using a ready-to-use e-commerce platform or opting for all transactions to be processed off-site through a secure service. Or, it might require manually accessing your WordPress site files and adding some code to protect it from malicious attackers. And when it's not enough to make sure your username and password are correct, you can even limit login attempts to avoid brute force attacks.
All of these methods, when used together, can help strengthen the security of your site and make the shopping experience safer for your customers. What is the main point, don't you think?
Now it's your turn. What methods do you use to improve WordPress site security for online stores? What tools or accessories are essential for you? I'd love to know everything in the comments!
