Basic Website Security Habits Worth Building

Most website compromises don't come from sophisticated attacks — they come from basic, preventable gaps. These habits cover most of the common ones.

Keep Everything Updated

Outdated CMS core files, themes and plugins are the single most common way sites get compromised. Enable automatic updates where it's safe to do so, and check the rest manually on a regular schedule.

Use Strong, Unique Passwords

Reused or weak passwords remain a leading cause of account compromise. A password manager makes this easy to do properly without having to remember dozens of unique passwords yourself.

Limit Login Attempts

Brute-force login attempts are constant background noise on the internet. Limiting failed login attempts (many CMS security plugins do this automatically) closes off a low-effort attack vector.

Keep Backups You've Actually Tested

A backup you've never restored from is a backup you don't really have. Periodically test that your backups actually work and that you know how to restore from them.

Use HTTPS Everywhere

A free SSL certificate is standard on most hosting now, so there's rarely a reason not to force HTTPS across your entire site, including admin areas.

Remove What You Don't Use

Old plugins, unused themes and abandoned subdomains are all potential entry points. If you're not using it, remove it rather than leaving it dormant.