Aug 22 (edited) • SEO Foundations
Common Hosting Defenses Often Miss WordPress Threats: What You Need to Know 🔍🛡️
If you run a WordPress site, especially if you’re part of a digital marketing agency or a small business owner, security is probably on your radar. WordPress is everywhere, powering a huge chunk of the internet, but that also makes it a favorite target for hackers. The thing is, many hosting security setups that seem solid at first glance aren’t catching all the sneaky WordPress-specific threats. Let’s break down what this means for you and your website.
What Was Tested? ⚙️
A company named Patchstack put popular hosting defenses to the test. They set up “honeypot” WordPress sites, loaded with common vulnerabilities, and then ran real attacks to see which defenses worked and which didn’t. They tested five different hosting providers and some common firewall setups like Cloudflare.
The Shocking Results 🚨
Here's the quick scoop: Most hosting providers and their security tools only caught about 12% of the WordPress-specific attacks. In other words, the vast majority of attacks got past them like they weren’t even there.
- Two of the hosts didn’t block a single one of the 11 attack types.
- The best host only blocked 4 out of 11.
- Firewalls like ConfigServer failed all the tests.
- Big names like Cloudflare blocked just a handful of attacks.
- Some other tools supposedly made for patching vulnerabilities just didn’t cut it.
Why Are These Defenses Missing the Mark? 🎯
Traditional defenses usually work well against common threats like SQL injections and cross-site scripting attacks. But WordPress has its quirks. Plugins and themes, which add all the cool extras to a site, can have their own unique weaknesses. These specific flaws aren’t recognized by general security tools, so they slip through the cracks.
What Stood Out? ✨
Patchstack’s own tool was the clear winner. It blocks all the WordPress-specific attacks in real time by applying something called “virtual patches.” Think of virtual patches as quick fixes that protect your site immediately when new problems are found—long before the plugin creators get around to making updates.
Why This Matters to You 🚀
If your site relies on WordPress (and especially if you manage sites for clients), knowing your security isn’t just about having firewalls or generic protections is important. The unique risks that come with WordPress plugins and themes need special attention.
Getting a layer of protection that actively blocks these specific threats can give your site and your clients' sites a better shot at staying safe from hackers.
Quick Takeaways for Digital Marketers and Small Businesses đź“Ś
- Most general hosting defenses miss a big portion of WordPress-specific dangers.
- Tools marketed as patching solutions don’t always protect against all plugin vulnerabilities.
- Cloudflare and similar firewalls are only partly effective.
- Real-time virtual patching is a game-changer for blocking WordPress plugin attacks.
- Make sure your website security strategy includes solutions focused on WordPress-specific threats, not just broad-brush defenses.
Keeping your WordPress site secure doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does need the right kind of protection. Consider adding defenses that are built with WordPress in mind—your peace of mind will thank you. 🛡️💻
Stay safe out there!
3
1 comment
Common Hosting Defenses Often Miss WordPress Threats: What You Need to Know 🔍🛡️
skool.com/seo-success-academy
Welcome to SEO Success Academy – the ultimate destination for business owners, digital marketers and agencies to master the art and science of SEO.
Powered by