Blog Security: 11 Steps Every Blogger Can Take Today

Keeping your blog secure isn’t optional – it’s essential. Without the right blog security measures, you risk losing your posts, files, custom design elements, traffic, and even your income.

WordPress powers more than 40% of websites, which makes it a favorite target for hackers, malware, and data breaches. Since it’s an open-source platform, blog security doesn’t come automatically – you have to set it up yourself. So, if you’re a WordPress user, keep this in mind!

In this guide, I’ll walk you through simple WordPress security steps every blogger can take today to protect their site, safeguard their privacy, and keep hackers out. Think of it as routine website protection that keeps your hard work (and future passive income) safe.

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Table of Contents

Why Blog Security Matters for Every Blogger

Blog security isn’t just for large businesses – it’s just as critical for solo bloggers and small sites. Without proper website protection, your blog is vulnerable to hackers, malware, and data leaks that can erase months (or years) of hard work.

A hacked WordPress site can mean lost traffic, damaged reputation, and even lost income if you rely on your blog for monetization. Since WordPress powers such a large portion of the internet, it’s a constant target for cyberattacks, making WordPress security a top priority for every blogger.

By taking blog security seriously now, you’ll safeguard your content, protect your readers’ data, and ensure your blog remains a reliable source of traffic and income for the long run.

Essential Blog Security Steps You Can Take Right Now

Protecting your blog doesn’t have to be complicated. By following a few simple WordPress security steps, you can secure your blog against hackers, malware, and data loss. Start today:

1. Secure Web Hosting: The First Step in Blog Security

Your blog security starts with where you host it. A reliable WordPress hosting provider takes proactive measures to keep your website safe from hackers, downtime, and data loss.

At a minimum, a secure hosting service should:

Be fast and optimized for WordPress
Offer 24/7 customer support
Protect your privacy
Provide a secure SSL connection
Include regular backups
Keep WordPress updated

For beginners and experienced bloggers alike, I recommend DreamHost’s Shared Unlimited plan. It’s affordable, reliable, and comes with everything you need to protect your blog from day one. Yearly plans start at $35.40/year.

2. Install a Reliable WordPress Security Plugin

A good WordPress security plugin is one of the easiest ways to keep your blog safe. It helps block hacking attempts, stops malware injections, prevents brute force logins, scans your site for vulnerabilities, and even alerts you to suspicious activity like unknown logins or bot attacks.

But if you think YOUR site isn’t at risk – think twice! On average, 30,000 websites are hacked every single day – and most of them are small blogs and businesses without strong website protection. Hackers know that bloggers often overlook security, which makes WordPress security plugins even more important.

One of the best options available is Solid Security (formerly iThemes Security). With over 1 million active installations, it offers:

Protection against brute force and automated attacks
Malware scanning and quick cleanup if your site is compromised
IP blocking for suspicious login attempts
Easy setup with one-click security settings
Affordable pricing compared to other premium security services

Solid Security is the plugin you need to protect your WordPress site. It delivers powerful protection without requiring any coding – install it, configure the settings, and your blog is secured.

3. Regularly Back Up Your WordPress Site for Complete Blog Security

Backing up your WordPress site is one of the most critical blog security steps. Malware injections, server crashes, plugin errors, or simple user mistakes can destroy your site – but with reliable backups, you can restore everything in minutes.

A solid web hosting service often includes backups. For example, even DreamHost’s basic plan offers daily manual backups – a feature that many hosts reserve for expensive plans. Still, backing up directly from your WordPress dashboard using a backup plugin is the fastest and easiest method.

When choosing a backup solution, make sure it includes:

Full backups of your WordPress site, including the database and all files
Scheduled automatic backups to save time and prevent human error
Off-site storage, such as cloud services or your local PC
Fast and easy restoration, so your blog is quickly back online

Not all plugins cover all four elements, and relying on multiple plugins can slow your site and create security risks. That’s why I strongly recommend Solid Backups (formerly BackupBuddy). This all-in-one solution has protected over 1 million WordPress sites since 2010, combining reliability, off-site storage, and easy restoration – all at an affordable annual price.

Quick Setup with Solid Backups / SolidWP:

Install and activate the plugin from your WordPress dashboard
Enter your email for notifications and set a restore password
Choose a remote storage location
Schedule automatic backups
Save settings and let the plugin handle the rest

Even if your site is hacked or crashes completely, Solid Backups ensures your blog can be restored quickly and safely, protecting your content, visitors, and income.

4. Install an SSL Certificate to Secure Your Website

An SSL certificate (Secure Sockets Layer) encrypts the connection between your web server and visitors’ browsers, keeping sensitive data – like addresses and credit card details – safe from hackers. Without SSL, Google flags your site as “Not Secure,” which can scare away visitors and harm your SEO.

Most hosting providers, including DreamHost, now offer free SSL certificates via Let’s Encrypt. Sometimes it’s pre-installed; other times you just need to activate it with one click. Make sure your site has SSL enabled – this is one of the easiest but most essential blog security steps you can take.

5. Use Strong, Unique Passwords Everywhere

Strong, unique passwords are one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to protect your blog and digital accounts. Reusing passwords or choosing weak ones puts your site at risk, especially in today’s world of frequent data breaches.

Best practices for strong passwords:

Mix upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols
Avoid birthdays, pet names, or common words
Never reuse passwords across multiple accounts

This applies to your WordPress login, hosting account, email, and every service you use online – even streaming or social platforms. Using strong, unique passwords everywhere dramatically reduces your risk of hacking and helps safeguard your blog, personal data, and online identity. Not to mention that’s the best way to combat widespread data leakage.

6. Limit Login Attempts and Monitor Suspicious Activity

Preventing unauthorized access is crucial for blog security. Hackers often use brute-force attacks, trying thousands – or even millions – of password combinations to break into your WordPress site. Limiting login attempts and monitoring activity helps stop these attacks before they cause damage.

Use a security plugin, like Solid Security / SolidWP, to:

Restrict the number of failed login attempts
Block suspicious IP addresses automatically
Track login activity and alert you to unusual behavior
Detect and prevent automated bot attacks

By actively monitoring your blog and restricting access, you can significantly reduce the risk of hacks, malware injections, and unauthorized changes. It’s a simple step that makes your WordPress site much harder for hackers to compromise.

7. Limit Plugins to Only What You Need

Plugins add powerful functionality to your WordPress site, but too many can create serious security risks. Hackers often target outdated or poorly coded plugins, and having excess plugins can also slow down your blog, harming SEO and user experience.

Only install truly necessary plugins. As a guideline, most blogs function smoothly and securely with 20–30 well-chosen plugins.

Pro Tips:

Pick a WordPress theme that includes the customization features you need to reduce reliance on extra plugins, such as Divi Theme or Ashe PRO.
Regularly review your plugin list and remove anything redundant.

Fewer plugins mean a faster, safer, and more manageable blog.

8. Remove Inactive Plugins and Themes

Inactive plugins and themes are a hidden security risk. Hackers often exploit these unused files to gain access to WordPress sites. If a plugin or theme isn’t active right now, it’s safer to delete it – you can always reinstall it later if needed.

Keeping only the plugins and themes you actively use makes your site harder to hack, faster to load, and easier to maintain. This simple step significantly strengthens your overall blog security.

9. Update Your Plugins Manually for Safe Blog Security

Automatic plugin updates might seem convenient, but they can break your WordPress site if a new version is incompatible with your setup. A failed update can take your site offline, cost pageviews, and frustrate your readers.

Best practices:

Always back up your website before updating plugins or themes
Update plugins manually, one at a time, to identify potential conflicts
Never delay updates for too long – security patches fix vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit

How to disable automatic updates:

Go to Dashboard → Plugins → Installed Plugins
Select all plugins via checkboxes
Choose Bulk Actions → Disable Auto-updates → Apply

Manual updates take a little more effort, but they keep your WordPress site secure, stable, and under your control.

10. Blog Security: Choose a Reliable WordPress Theme

Your theme affects both your blog’s appearance and its security. Poorly coded or illegally downloaded premium themes can expose your site to vulnerabilities, making it easier for hackers to break in.

Always choose professionally coded, supported, and regularly updated themes. I recommend:

Ashe PRO by WP Royal – lightweight, SEO-optimized, easy to customize
Divi Theme by Elegant Themes – professional, secure, and versatile

Both offer lifetime updates, security patches, and premium support, so your blog stays protected and your investment is safe. Paying for a legitimate theme is a small price to avoid security risks and downtime.

11. Regularly Scan Your Blog for Malware and Vulnerabilities

Even with plugins, backups, and strong passwords, your WordPress site can still be at risk if malware or vulnerabilities go unnoticed. Regular security scans help detect issues early, preventing hackers from exploiting weaknesses and keeping your blog safe.

Best practices:

Use a security plugin like Solid Security / SolidWP to schedule automatic malware scans
Scan your site after installing new plugins or themes
Review security reports and take immediate action if any suspicious activity is found

Regular scanning ensures that your WordPress site stays healthy, protects your readers’ data, and prevents downtime. By proactively monitoring your blog, you catch threats before they can do serious damage.

Final Thoughts on Blog Security

Blog security isn’t optional – it’s essential for protecting your content, your readers, and your income. By taking proactive steps like using strong passwords, installing SSL, maintaining backups, and monitoring your site, you can prevent hacks, malware, and downtime.

Invest a little time now to secure your WordPress blog, and you’ll save yourself from major headaches – and lost traffic – later.

Blog Security FAQs

Are There Any Dangers to Blogging?

Yes. Blogging, especially self-hosted WordPress blogs, carries risks. Vulnerabilities in plugins, themes, and outdated WordPress versions can expose your site to hacks, malware, and data loss. Prioritizing blog security alongside content creation prevents serious problems.

Can Someone Hack My Blog?

Yes. Hackers target weak WordPress installations, outdated plugins, themes, or poor login credentials. A hacked blog can cause lost content, traffic, and income. Using strong passwords, security plugins, and backups reduces the risk and keeps your blog safe.

How Can You Stay Safe On a Blog?

To protect your WordPress blog, implement SSL, strong passwords, security plugins, regular backups, and reliable hosting. Prioritizing blog security ensures your content, traffic, and income remain protected from hackers and malware.

Is It Safe to Have a Blog?

Yes, a blog is safe when proper security measures are in place. Protect your WordPress site with SSL, strong passwords, backups, and security plugins. Avoid sharing sensitive personal information to keep your blog and privacy secure.

Can You Keep a Blog Private?

Yes, WordPress allows you to make a blog private. Private blogs won’t appear in search engines, limiting organic traffic. To reach your audience, you’ll need social media promotion or paid ads, which can affect long-term monetization strategies.

What Are the Most Important Blog Security Measures?

Protect your WordPress blog with SSL, strong passwords, reliable hosting, security plugins, and regular backups. These essential blog security measures prevent hacks, malware, and data loss while keeping your site safe for visitors.

How Often Should I Backup My Blog?

Regular backups are essential for WordPress site security. Schedule daily or weekly backups depending on how often you update content. This ensures you can restore your blog quickly if malware, hacks, or other issues occur.

Which WordPress Security Plugins Are Best?

Top WordPress security plugins include Solid Security / SolidWP, Sucuri, and Wordfence. They prevent brute force attacks, malware infections, and unauthorized logins while simplifying blog security for all users.

Can Hackers Steal My Blog Content?

Yes. Without proper blog security, hackers can delete, alter, or copy your content. Using strong passwords, security plugins, SSL, and regular backups protects both your blog content and your readers’ data.

Is SSL Really Necessary for a Blog?

Absolutely. An SSL certificate encrypts data between your blog and visitors, protects sensitive information, and signals to Google that your WordPress site is secure, boosting trust and SEO.