Security Best Practices for WordPress in 2025: What Still Works.

In 2025, WordPress remains the world’s most popular content management system, powering over 43% of all websites. That popularity makes it an irresistible target for hackers, bots, and automated malware attacks. Whether you’re a solo blogger, small business owner, or managing dozens of client sites, the need for robust WordPress security has never been more critical.

So, what’s changed in the world of WordPress security best practices over the past few years? And which tried-and-true methods still work?

In this post, we’ll take a deep dive into how to secure your WordPress site in 2025, covering updated practices, emerging threats, proven tools, and what you should be doing today to stay safe.

Why WordPress Security Matters More Than Ever in 2025

The landscape of cyber threats has shifted dramatically in recent years. With advancements in AI and automation, hackers can launch millions of attacks with minimal effort — and many of those target unprotected or poorly managed WordPress websites.

According to a 2024 WordPress Threat Intelligence Report, over 90,000 attacks on WordPress sites happen every minute. Insecure plugins, weak login credentials, and outdated software continue to be the most common vulnerabilities.

In short: if you’re not actively securing your site, you’re actively putting it at risk.

What’s Changed in WordPress Security (2025 Edition)

WordPress has evolved significantly over the past five years, and so have the methods used to secure it. Let’s explore the newest best practices for protecting your WordPress site in 2025.

✅ 1. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is Non-Negotiable

Gone are the days when a strong password was enough. In 2025, two-factor authentication is now a minimum standard — and most managed WordPress hosts require it for admin-level users.

2FA adds an extra layer of protection by requiring a code sent to your phone or generated by an app like Google Authenticator or Authy. Many plugins now support 2FA, including:

WP 2FA
Wordfence Login Security
Duo Two-Factor Authentication

🤖 2. AI-Powered Security Tools

In 2025, traditional rule-based security systems are giving way to smarter, behavior-based ones. Security plugins like MalCare AI and Wordfence AI Watchdog use machine learning to:

Monitor unusual login activity
Detect file changes
Block suspicious traffic in real time

This AI-driven approach means your site adapts as threats evolve — making it far harder for attackers to get through.

🔐 3. Zero Trust Security Models

The “Zero Trust” model — which assumes no user or system is automatically safe — is becoming more popular in WordPress environments, especially on multisite networks or enterprise-level installations.

Features of Zero Trust WordPress setups include:

IP-based restrictions
Location-aware logins
Device fingerprinting
Session expiration controls

Several plugins and managed hosts now offer these features by default.

🧱 4. Advanced Security Headers & HTTP/3

Security headers are HTTP response headers that tell browsers how to behave when handling your site. In 2025, most modern WordPress themes and secure hosts support:

Content Security Policy (CSP)
Strict-Transport-Security (HSTS)
X-Frame-Options

Combined with HTTP/3 and SSL, these headers help prevent cross-site scripting, clickjacking, and other advanced exploits.

What Still Works: Time-Tested WordPress Security Practices

Now that we’ve covered what’s new, let’s revisit what still works — the core WordPress security tips that continue to protect millions of sites every day.

📦 1. Keep Everything Updated

This is non-negotiable. Keeping your WordPress core, plugins, and themes updated is still the easiest and most effective way to secure your site.

Stats from the Wordfence 2024 report showed that over 60% of WordPress hacks were due to outdated plugins. Don’t rely on memory — use auto-updates for plugins you trust and monitor the rest weekly.

🛡️ 2. Use a Reliable WordPress Security Plugin

Security plugins help automate protection. The best ones offer:

Malware scanning
Brute force protection
File integrity monitoring
Login security

Top plugins for 2025 include:

Wordfence Security
Sucuri Security
iThemes Security Pro
MalCare

Choose one that fits your needs and don’t overload your site with too many overlapping tools.

🔐 3. Apply the Principle of Least Privilege

Only give users the access they need. That means:

Don’t give admin rights to contributors
Remove old or inactive accounts
Use user role editor plugins to fine-tune permissions

You can reduce your security risk significantly just by locking down user roles.

🌐 4. Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF)

A WAF filters malicious traffic before it reaches your website. Cloudflare, Sucuri, and Astra Security all offer strong firewall solutions that are updated regularly to counter new threats.

Some managed WordPress hosts also offer built-in WAFs — making them a great all-in-one solution.

💾 5. Schedule Daily Backups

No matter how secure your site is, you must have a daily backup plan. If a plugin update crashes your site or a hack slips through, a backup is your safety net.

Top backup tools for 2025:

UpdraftPlus
Jetpack Backup
BlogVault
All-in-One WP Migration

Make sure your backups are stored offsite (e.g., cloud storage or remote servers) — never on your main server.

Outdated or Controversial Security Practices

Not every piece of advice still holds up in 2025. Let’s look at some practices under debate:

1. Relying on Too Many Plugins

Security by plugin overload isn’t smart. Having 20+ plugins just for firewall, login protection, anti-spam, etc. can slow down your site and even create conflicts.

Instead, focus on one comprehensive security plugin backed by a good WAF and strong hosting.

2. Auto-Updates for Everything

Auto-updating plugins is convenient — but risky if you run mission-critical websites. An unexpected update can crash a site if not properly tested.

Solution: Enable auto-updates for minor plugins, and manually manage major ones. Use staging environments to test before pushing updates live.

3. CAPTCHA for Logins

In 2025, traditional CAPTCHA is losing effectiveness. Many bots can now bypass simple puzzles. Users also find them annoying, especially on mobile.

Newer options include:

Invisible reCAPTCHA
Biometric logins
Behavior-based login scoring

Real-World Case Studies & Research

Here’s what recent research shows about WordPress security:

Wordfence 2024 Report: Over 25% of websites with 2FA were never breached.
Sucuri Security Study: 60% of infections originated from outdated plugins or themes.
Cloudflare 2025 Trends: Sites with active WAF and CDN saw 90% fewer DDoS disruptions.

These numbers prove that proactive WordPress security is far cheaper than fixing a hacked site. Learn more about WordPress at Tech Support Solutions

What’s Coming Next: The Future of WordPress Security

Looking ahead, here’s what we expect in the future of WordPress protection:

🚀 1. Secure Hosting as the New Norm

More hosts are offering all-in-one security packages — including WAF, SSL, auto-healing, malware scans, and backups — built into their plans.

Providers like Kinsta, GridPane, and WP Engine are leading this shift.

🤖 2. Smart Behavioral Firewalls

Imagine a firewall that learns your users’ behavior and adapts security rules in real time. We’re already seeing early versions of this with AI-driven plugins.

Soon, even small websites will have enterprise-grade threat detection at their fingertips.

🔄 3. Core-Level Security Tools

There’s growing demand for features like 2FA, malware scanning, and user access control to be baked into WordPress Core — not just offered via third-party plugins.

We may also see a “Secure Mode” toggle in the WordPress dashboard within the next few releases.

Final Thoughts: Is WordPress Still Secure in 2025?

Absolutely — when managed properly.
WordPress isn’t inherently insecure. It’s often the user’s neglect or outdated practices that open the door to hackers.

Here’s what you should do today:

Set up 2FA and a WAF
Keep everything updated
Use smart backups
Limit user access
Monitor your site with a reliable security plugin

Free Bonus: Download Your 2025 WordPress Security Checklist

Want a simple, step-by-step list to protect your site right now?

Click here to download our free WordPress Security Checklist (PDF)
✅ No email required
✅ 15-minute setup