WordPress powers over 43% of all websites on the internet, making it by far the most popular platform for building them. In the past I thought it was an inherently insecure platform because it seemed to get hacked so often. Looking back, though, the fault almost always lies with site administrators — not with WordPress’s developers and security team.
The latest stable version, 6.9, was released on December 2, 2025. Has your site been updated recently? Do you follow good security practices?
Security Vulnerabilities
Failing to keep WordPress — its core, plugins, and themes — up-to-date leaves your website exposed to attack. Here are the most common threats:
Pharma Hacks
A Pharma Hack uses weaknesses in outdated code to inject pharmaceutical ads into your site without your knowledge. If this happens, search engines may flag your website as a spam source and delist it from search results — a serious blow to your visibility and reputation.
Backdoors
A backdoor attack bypasses your site’s normal security to grant unauthorized access. According to recent data, outdated plugins are the root cause of the vast majority of WordPress compromises. With over 13,000 WordPress sites hacked every day, keeping your software current is your first and most important line of defense.
Brute-Force Login Attempts
Brute-force attacks use automated scripts to guess your login credentials, often cycling through common passwords paired with the username “admin.” According to NordPass’s most recent list of the most common passwords, attackers will try combinations like these first:
- 123456
- password
- 123456789
- qwerty
- letmein
- iloveyou
The fix is straightforward: use strong, unique passwords. Tools like Bitwarden’s Password Generator or OnlinePasswordGenerator make this easy. To store and manage your passwords securely, we highly recommend a password manager — KeePass is a solid free option, and Bitwarden is an excellent modern alternative that syncs across all your devices.
Also, remove any user account with the username “admin” and replace it with something harder to guess. It’s a simple change that immediately reduces your exposure to brute-force attacks.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Beyond strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication on your WordPress login is one of the most effective security measures available. Even if a password is compromised, 2FA requires a second verification step that stops attackers in their tracks. Plugins like WP 2FA or Two Factor (available in the WordPress plugin directory) make setup quick and straightforward.
Let Us Keep Your Site Safe
Staying on top of WordPress updates, security patches, and best practices is a lot to manage alongside running your business. That’s where we come in. Our Website Care Plan takes it off your plate entirely. Our most basic plan includes:
- Software Updates (WP Core, Plugins & Themes)
- 24/7 Security Monitoring & Fixes
- Up-Time Monitoring
- Premium Anti-Spam
- Daily Secure Offsite Backups
- Comprehensive Site Speed Optimization
- Reliable Email Deliverability
- Site Maintenance Report
- 0 On-Demand Dev Hours Per Month (support is billed at our hourly rate per half-hour)
With Website Care (starting at $59/month), there’s no long-term contract and you can cancel at any time. Contact us today
We look forward to giving your website the care and attention it deserves!
