How WordPress Websites Get Hacked and How to Secure Yours in 2025

How WordPress Websites Get Hacked and How to Secure Yours in 2025

WordPress powers over 43% of all websites on the internet. But with great popularity comes great risk. Hackers often target WordPress because many site owners forget basic security steps.

In this article, we’ll break down how WordPress sites get hacked. We discus how you can protect website.

Here are the most common reasons why WordPress sites become easy targets:

1. Outdated WordPress, Plugins, or Themes

2. Weak or Reused Passwords

3. Nulled or Cracked Plugins/Themes

4. Insecure Hosting

5. Wrong File Permissions

6. Vulnerable Plugins

7. XML-RPC & REST API Misuse

8. Poorly Developed Custom Code

9. No Backups or Monitoring

Signs Your WordPress Site may Be Hacked.

1. Your website redirects to random or spammy pages.

2. Unknown admin users appear in your dashboard.

3. Google flags your site as “This site may be hacked.”

4. You notice suspicious PHP code or strange file names.

5. Your email starts sending spam.

6. You’re suddenly locked out of wp-admin.

If any of this sounds familiar — it’s time to take action immediately.

What To Do If Your Site Get Hacked?

1. Put the site in maintenance mode to stop further damage.

2. Change all passwords (WordPress, hosting, FTP, database).

3. Restore from a clean backup if available.

4. Scan for malware using a plugin like Wordfence or Sucuri.

5. Delete unknown admin accounts and suspicious plugins.

6. Contact your hosting provider — they can check server logs.

7. Regenerate WordPress salts in wp-config.php to invalidate sessions.

How to Secure Your WordPress Website (Step-by-Step)?

1. Keep Everything Updated

2. Use Strong Passwords + 2FA

3. Install a Security Plugin & Firewall

4. Set Up Automatic Backups

5. Disable File Editing

6. Protect wp-config.php and .htaccess

7. Correct File Permissions

8. Change Login URL & Limit Login Attempts

9. Use HTTPS

10. Secure Your Database

11. Avoid Unused or Nulled Plugins

12. Use SFTP/SSH Instead of FTP

13. Monitor Logs and User Activity

14. Harden Your Server

15. Add Security Headers

Keeping your WordPress website secure isn’t a one-time task — it’s an ongoing process. With the right habits and tools, you can stay several steps ahead of hackers.

At Codocraft Solutions, we help businesses secure, clean, and optimize their WordPress websites.
Whether your site’s been hacked or you just want peace of mind — our team can help you build a stronger, safer online presence.