Web Development February 28, 2026

WordPress Security in 2026: How to Protect Your Website from Hackers

WordPress sites are targeted by hackers every day. Here's a practical security guide covering updates, backups, firewalls, and the plugins that actually work.

hirethecreatives Last updated October 2026

96% of the 7,966 new WordPress vulnerabilities found in 2024 were in plugins, 4% in themes and only 7 in WordPress core, according to Patchstack’s State of WordPress Security report. WordPress runs 40.1% of all websites (W3Techs, 8 October 2026), so it is the biggest target on the web, but most attacks are automated and stopped by the basics below.

Why do WordPress sites get hacked?

Mostly through plugins. The vast majority of WordPress hacks are not sophisticated: they exploit outdated plugins and themes, weak or reused passwords, and abandoned code nobody removed. Core WordPress is rarely the way in. Fix those three and you remove most of the risk.

How do I secure a WordPress website?

1. Keep everything updated

Update WordPress core, themes and plugins as soon as new versions are released. Outdated plugins are the number one attack route. If a plugin has not been updated in over a year, replace it.

2. Use strong, unique passwords

Your admin password should be at least 16 characters with a mix of letters, numbers and symbols. Use a password manager and never reuse a password across sites.

3. Turn on two-factor authentication

Install a 2FA plugin so logging in needs both your password and a code from your phone. This one step stops most brute-force attacks.

4. Limit login attempts

By default WordPress allows unlimited login attempts. Add a plugin or firewall rule that locks out an IP address after 3 to 5 failed attempts.

5. Take regular backups, stored off-site

Automated daily backups kept somewhere other than the same server. If the worst happens you can restore the whole site in minutes rather than rebuilding it.

6. Put a web application firewall in front

Cloudflare (which has a free plan) or Sucuri can block malicious traffic before it reaches your server.

7. Delete unused plugins and themes

Every inactive plugin is still code on your server that can be attacked. If you are not using it, delete it, do not just deactivate it.

8. Add security headers

Set X-Content-Type-Options, X-Frame-Options, Content-Security-Policy and the other HTTP security headers to block common attacks such as clickjacking and cross-site scripting.

What security comes with a Hire The Creatives website?

Every site we build ships with security headers, the smallest plugin footprint that does the job, two-factor authentication ready to switch on and automated backups configured. The Business package (£1,495) includes 90 days of support after launch and Premium (from £3,995) includes 12 months, covering updates and fixes in that time.

Worried about your current site? Ask us for a security check.

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Frequently asked questions

Is WordPress safe to use for a business website?

Yes, if it is kept updated. WordPress core had only 7 of the 7,966 new WordPress vulnerabilities found in 2024; 96% were in plugins and 4% in themes (Patchstack). The risk is in what you add to it and whether anyone updates it.

How often should I update WordPress plugins?

As soon as an update is released, and at least weekly. Most attacks are automated and target known holes in plugins that the owner never updated. If a plugin has had no update for over a year, replace it.

What is the most common way a WordPress site gets hacked?

Through an outdated or abandoned plugin. Patchstack found 96% of new WordPress vulnerabilities in 2024 were in plugins. Weak or reused admin passwords are the next most common way in.

Do I need a security plugin?

Not necessarily. A firewall such as Cloudflare in front of the site, two-factor login, limited login attempts, off-site backups and prompt updates cover the main risks. A security plugin is one way to get some of those, not the only one.

What should I do if my WordPress site has been hacked?

Take it offline or put it in maintenance mode, change every password including hosting and database, restore from a clean backup taken before the hack, then update everything and remove what you do not use. If you have no clean backup, the site needs cleaning file by file, which is a specialist job.