Date of publication:
19 Mar. 25How to Protect Your WordPress Online Store from Hacking: 5 Simple Steps
Imagine logging into the admin panel of your online store to check new orders, and the site won’t open. Or even worse – it’s working, but instead of your logo, there’s an unknown brand, and clients are complaining about receiving suspicious emails asking them to update their payment information.
Does it sound like the plot of a bad movie? Unfortunately, it’s the reality faced by thousands of WordPress online store owners. Hackers don’t look for complicated ways—they attack the most popular sites, hoping that the owners neglect security. And most do until it’s too late.
The good news is that you can protect yourself from being hacked. Without expensive software, complex technical settings, or the constant fear that one day your site will fall into the wrong hands. In this article, we’ll examine five key steps that will help make your WordPress online store a real fortress. And if you think it’s difficult or requires a lot of time—read to the end, and I’ll convince you otherwise. Let’s begin.
Why WordPress Online Stores are Vulnerable to Attacks
WordPress is like a metropolis in the site world. Popular, crowded, developed. But the more people use the platform, the more it attracts not only entrepreneurs but also hackers. If you have an online store, you automatically become an interesting target.
According to Wordfence, 95% of attacks occur through brute-force attacks and plugin vulnerabilities.
Why Specifically WordPress
It’s not that this CMS is poorly protected. On the contrary, developers constantly update it and release security patches. The problem is that many site owners do not update WordPress, plugins, and themes in a timely manner. Or they use questionable add-ons that open doors for intruders.
Here are some main reasons why online stores on WordPress become victims of attacks:
- Popularity of CMS. About 43% of all sites in the world run on WordPress. This means hackers are constantly looking for weak spots specifically on this platform.
- Vulnerable plugins. Free or outdated extensions often contain vulnerabilities through which access to the site can be obtained.
- Weak passwords. “Admin123” or “qwerty” — these are invitations for hackers, not passwords.
- Dangerous hosting. Cheap hosting may save money, but if it has weak security, you’re at risk of losing everything.
- Lack of backups. If your site gets hacked and you don’t have a backup, prepare for a long and costly recovery.
Real cases of online store hacks
Let’s take the example of the well-known network Ticketmaster. In 2023, their site experienced a massive data breach due to a vulnerability in a third-party plugin. The result? 560 million user records fell into the hands of hackers. This proves: even large companies are not safe if they do not monitor security.
Small businesses shouldn’t relax either. The owner of a small clothing store in the USA recounted how one day his site started redirecting customers to a cryptocurrency ad page. The reason? An old caching plugin that contained a backdoor for attackers. How to protect yourself? It’s time to move on to the first practical steps.
How to prevent hacking? Basic steps to protect your site
Imagine: you open your online store’s website, and it… doesn’t work. Or worse, questionable service ads appear on the homepage, and customers receive phishing emails, supposedly from you. Seems like something that only happens in movies?
But don’t panic! It is indeed possible to prevent hacking if you know which vulnerabilities are most often exploited by attackers. Let’s look at 5 highly effective methods of website protection that will help you avoid losing money, reputation, and clients.
Step 1. Use reliable hosting
Hosting is like the doors to your home. You can install cardboard ones that open with a strong gust of wind, or reinforced ones with an electronic lock. The choice is yours, but keep in mind: cheap and unreliable hosting is an invitation for hackers.
Why hosting plays a key role in security
Some believe that hosting is just a place for the site’s files. In reality, it is the first line of defense. A good provider ensures:
- Protection against DDoS attacks. If a wave of bots attempts to “take down” the site, the server should have mechanisms to block suspicious IP addresses.
- Account isolation. If a virus appears on one of the sites on the server, it should not spread to other projects.
- Automatic updates and backups. If something goes wrong, you always have a “saved version” of the site that can be restored.
So, if you decide to save on hosting and your site runs alongside hundreds of other projects, including suspicious casinos and doorway sites, the hosting may be compromised. Google will immediately blacklist the site, and traffic will drop to zero.
Which hosting to choose
If you have an e-commerce store that generates profit, forget about cheap shared hosting. The best solutions are Kinsta, SiteGround, or Cloudways, which offer built-in security, account isolation on servers, and backups. Alternatively, you can use 6Weeks’ ready-made solutions, where we create template sites with built-in security mechanisms. You don’t need to worry about hosting, backups, or updates — we handle all of that.
Step 2. Update WordPress, plugins, and themes
Updating your website is like regular car maintenance. If you ignore oil changes and diagnostics, one day the engine will just seize, and you’ll have to shell out a significant amount for repairs. The same goes for WordPress: as long as the system and plugins are updated, the site is protected. But if you procrastinate on updates, you risk losing control of your business.
Why updates are a vital procedure
WordPress, plugins, and themes receive updates regularly for a reason. Their primary goal is to close vulnerabilities found by hackers. If you don’t update your site, it becomes an ideal target for attacks.
Here are three main reasons why old code is risky:
- Hackers exploit vulnerabilities in plugins. Most attacks occur because of outdated extensions. Just one unsecured plugin is enough for someone to gain access to your admin panel.
- Incompatibility with new versions of PHP and services. The older the code, the higher the chance that the site will start functioning unstably or even crash.
- Risk of virus infection and data loss. A site with outdated plugins is an open window for cybercriminals who can inject malicious code or steal your customers’ data.
Even large companies are not immune if they ignore updates and do not check their plugins.
How to properly update WordPress without fearing the site will “break”
Many online store owners postpone updates because they fear the site will stop working. This is a real problem, as some plugins may conflict with each other after an update.
But there is a way out — follow the right strategy:
- Make a backup before updating. If something goes wrong, you can quickly restore the site to working condition.
- Update plugins one at a time. Do not install all at once, so that if problems arise, it is easier to pinpoint where exactly the failure occurred.
- Do not use plugins that have not been updated for over a year. If the developer no longer supports their extension, this poses a direct security threat to your site.
To avoid worrying about all of this yourself, you can use ready-made secure sites from 6Weeks. We create template stores where all updates occur automatically without risk to the site’s stability. You don’t need to watch over the technical details — we do it for you.
Step 3. Use Two-Factor Authentication and Strong Passwords
Imagine you have a shop with expensive goods, but the doors are open, and the cash register has no password. Strange, right? But that’s exactly how your site appears to hackers if you have a weak password and no two-factor authentication.
Passwords are the first thing cybercriminals try to crack. They use special programs that can test millions of combinations per minute. And if your password is something like “Admin123,” you risk losing the site faster than you read this paragraph.
Why Passwords are the Weak Spot of 80% of Sites
The most popular methods of password hacking are quite simple but effective. Hackers can gain access to a site in one of the following ways:
- Brute force attacks — a program automatically guesses passwords, trying thousands of possibilities per second.
- Phishing schemes — scammers create fake login pages where users enter their usernames and passwords themselves.
- Database leaks — if you use one password for several sites, and at least one of them is hacked, your credentials fall into the hands of attackers.
If the password is weak, the site becomes an open window through which attackers can enter and do anything.
How to create a password that even supercomputers can’t crack
To make hackers take not seconds but hundreds of years to break into your site, follow these simple rules:
- The password should contain at least 12-16 characters. Longer combinations are significantly harder to crack.
- No dictionary words. “Business2024” or “SuperShop” are weak passwords that are easily guessed by algorithms.
- A combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, symbols. For example, “L9%v3p#ZqT$w8” — such a combination is almost impossible to guess.
- Different passwords for different services. If one account is hacked, the others will remain secure.
- Use password managers. Programs like Bitwarden, 1Password, or LastPass help store all passwords without the risk of losing them.
But even the most secure password won’t save you if someone gets to know it. That’s why it’s crucially important to use two-factor authentication (2FA).
Why 2FA is a must-have for an online store
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an additional layer of security that makes it more difficult to log in even for those who know your password.
How it works:
- You enter your username and password as usual.
- The system requests another code that you receive on your phone or in an app.
- Without this code, even a hacker with your password cannot log in.
You can set up 2FA using the Google Authenticator, Authy, or Microsoft Authenticator apps. It only takes a few minutes but significantly reduces the risk of hacking.
What else you can do to secure login
In addition to two-factor authentication, consider taking additional measures:
- Change the default WordPress login URL. An address like /wp-admin is the first thing hackers check.
- Limit the number of login attempts. This will stop automated brute force attacks.
- Install security plugins. For example, WP 2FA for authentication or Wordfence Security for blocking suspicious activity.
If all this sounds too complex or time-consuming, you can always order an online store with built-in protection.
Step 4. Secure your WordPress login
If you are using the standard login page /wp-admin and do not secure it with additional measures, it is like leaving the key under the doormat. Hackers know where to look and use automated attacks to gain access to your admin panel.
Many online store owners think their site isn’t of interest to anyone and neglect login security. But the truth is, bots attack automatically regardless of how big your business is. If your site runs on WordPress, it is on the list of potential targets.
Why the login page is one of the most vulnerable parts of a site
Hackers are constantly scanning WordPress sites for vulnerabilities. If you have a standard site login, a weak password, and no additional protection, this is a direct invitation to hacking.
The most common methods of attacks:
- Brute force attacks — attackers use special algorithms to automatically try passwords until they find the correct one.
- SQL injections — attacks through login forms that allow access to the site’s database.
- Phishing — creating a fake login page where a victim enters their details without even realizing it.
And if hackers manage to access the admin panel, they can delete all your data, infect the site with viruses, or redirect visitors to fraudulent pages.
How to Make WordPress Login Impenetrable to Hackers
To prevent your site from suffering the fate of MyPillow, implement a few simple yet effective measures:
- Change the default login URL. The default /wp-admin or /wp-login.php is the first thing hackers check. Use plugins like WPS Hide Login or Rename wp-login.php to hide the entry point.
- Limit the number of login attempts. After 3-5 unsuccessful attempts, access should be locked. Use Limit Login Attempts Reloaded for this purpose.
- Add CAPTCHA to the login page. CAPTCHA effectively stops bots that attempt to brute-force passwords en masse. Use Google reCAPTCHA or WP Login reCAPTCHA.
- Set up two-factor authentication. Even if the password is stolen, without a phone confirmation code, hackers can’t log in. The best services for this are: Google Authenticator, Authy, Microsoft Authenticator.
- Protect the .htaccess and wp-config.php files. These files contain critical information about your site. Restrict access to them via .htaccess so that only specific IP addresses can read them.
If all this seems too complex or time-consuming, at 6Weeks we offer ready-made online stores with built-in security systems. You won’t have to manually change settings — our sites come with a hidden login page, two-factor authentication, and brute-force attack protection right out of the box.
Step 5. Regularly create backups
Imagine that your online store operates like clockwork: orders are processed, customers are satisfied, sales are growing. But one day, something goes wrong. You visit the site — and it doesn’t work. No products, no orders, no customer database. The reasons can vary: hacking, unsuccessful update, hosting failures. But if you don’t have a current backup, you’ll have to restore the site from scratch.
Why backups are your insurance against disasters
Many online store owners don’t think about backups until they lose important data. But backing up is not just precaution, but a critically important element of security.
The most common situations where a backup saves the business:
- Site hacking — if hackers have made changes or deleted files, a backup allows you to quickly restore the site to working condition.
- Unsuccessful update of plugins or theme — sometimes updates can cause conflicts between extensions and disrupt the site’s functionality.
- Server failure — even reliable hostings are not immune to technical problems or staff errors.
And most importantly — the absence of a backup can cost you your entire business.
How to Properly Set Up Backups
To protect your online store, it is important to follow a few key rules:
- Automatic backups. Use services that create copies without your involvement. For example, UpdraftPlus, Jetpack Backup, or BlogVault.
- Storing copies in multiple locations. The worst mistake is storing backups on the same server where the site is hosted. Use Google Drive, Dropbox, or hosting provider cloud storage.
- Regular backups. At least once a day for high-traffic sites and once a week for smaller stores.
- Checking backup functionality. From time to time, restore a test site from a backup to ensure it works.
If these technical aspects seem complicated, you can take a simpler approach — ready-made solutions from 6Weeks. We create online stores where backups are set up automatically. In case of any problem, the site can be quickly restored without losing orders or client data.
Why 6Weeks Creates Sites That Hackers Can’t Hack
Site security is not just about strong passwords and regular updates. It’s also about the quality of the code itself, proper architecture, and anticipating potential threats during the development phase. At 6Weeks, we create websites for online stores that are protected against most typical attacks from the very beginning.
What makes 6Weeks sites more secure
Most security issues arise from standard WordPress shortcomings, so we immediately eliminate potential threats.
Code-Level Protection:
- All templates are checked for vulnerabilities before being installed on the server.
- We remove unnecessary WordPress elements that hackers can exploit.
Built-in Security Measures:
- Login page protection: we change the standard URL and add two-factor authentication.
- Blocking brute force attacks and malicious requests.
Automatic Backups:
- Our sites automatically create backups, so restoration is possible at any time.
Guaranteed Plugin Compatibility:
- We use only tested and regularly updated extensions that do not contain vulnerabilities.
So, we don’t just create websites — we make ready-made business solutions that:
- Are protected from most attacks right from the start.
- Automatically update without risking stability.
- Operate quickly and reliably.
If you want an online store you don’t have to worry about, contact us. We will create a secure, fast, and stable website that works for you, not against you.
Conclusion: how not to become a victim of hackers
Protecting an online store is not a one-time action, but a strategy. If you ignore security, you’re playing Russian roulette, where hackers are just waiting for your mistake. But if you stay ahead, your site will become a fortress that is nearly impossible to breach.
What we found out:
- Choose a reliable hosting — without antivirus protection and anti-DDoS, you risk your business.
- Update WordPress and plugins — otherwise, you leave an ‘open window’ for hackers.
- Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication — even if your password falls into the wrong hands, 2FA will secure access.
- Protect the login page — change the URL, limit login attempts, add CAPTCHA.
- Make backups — if something goes wrong, you have ‘insurance’ for quick recovery.
If you want to protect your website without unnecessary headaches, we offer solutions that already include all these security measures. This means that your online store will not only be fast and convenient but also protected from hacking and viruses. Are you ready to make your business truly secure? Then check how protected your site is right now and consider what you can improve today.
