You’ve poured your heart into building your WordPress website. Your online business is finally taking off, bringing in income while you balance motherhood and entrepreneurship. But have you thought about what would happen if your site got hacked tomorrow?
The reality: Over 90,000 WordPress sites are hacked every day. As a mom entrepreneur, your website isn’t just a hobby—it’s your income, your brand, and potentially your family’s financial security.
The good news? Securing your WordPress site doesn’t require a degree in computer science. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through 7 essential security steps that any mom can implement in under an hour—no coding required.
Why WordPress Security Matters for Mom Entrepreneurs
The Real Cost of a Hacked Website
When your WordPress site gets compromised, you risk:
- Lost Revenue: Your site goes offline = no sales, no bookings, no income
- Customer Trust: Clients lose confidence in doing business with you
- SEO Penalties: Google can blacklist hacked sites, destroying your rankings
- Recovery Costs: Professional cleanup can cost ₹10,000 – ₹50,000+
- Personal Data: Your business and customer information exposed
True Story: Priya, a Mumbai-based mom entrepreneur, lost her entire blog and e-commerce site to hackers. She had no backups and spent ₹35,000 to recover only 60% of her content. Don’t let this be your story.
7 Essential WordPress Security Steps (Even Your Kids Could Do These!)
1. Choose Strong Passwords & Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Why it matters: 80% of WordPress hacks start with weak passwords like “password123” or “yourname2025.”
How to do it:
- Use a password manager like LastPass or Bitwarden (free)
- Generate passwords with at least 16 characters (mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, symbols)
- Never use the same password across multiple sites
- Install Two Factor Authentication plugin for extra protection
Mom-Friendly Tip: Save your passwords in your password manager app—it auto-fills them so you don’t have to remember!
2. Keep WordPress Core, Themes & Plugins Updated
Why it matters: Outdated software is like leaving your front door unlocked. 98% of WordPress vulnerabilities are in outdated plugins.
How to do it:
- Enable automatic updates for WordPress core (Settings → General)
- Update plugins weekly from Dashboard → Updates
- Delete unused plugins and themes immediately
- Only use plugins with 1,000+ active installations and recent updates
Warning Signs:
- Plugin last updated more than 6 months ago? Delete it!
- Theme not updated in a year? Switch to a supported theme
3. Install a Security Plugin (Your 24/7 Bodyguard)
Why it matters: Security plugins monitor your site for threats, block hackers, and fix vulnerabilities automatically.
Best Free Options for Mom Entrepreneurs:
Wordfence Security (Recommended)
- Real-time firewall protection
- Malware scanning
- Login security
- Free version covers 90% of needs
How to set it up:
- Install Wordfence from Plugins → Add New
- Run your first scan
- Enable login attempt limiting (5 attempts max)
- Turn on two-factor authentication
Alternative: Sucuri Security or iThemes Security (also excellent free options)
4. Set Up Automated Backups (Your Safety Net)
Why it matters: Even with perfect security, things can go wrong. Backups let you restore your site in minutes, not months.
Best Backup Solutions:
UpdraftPlus (Free & Premium)
- Automatic daily/weekly backups
- Saves to Google Drive, Dropbox, or email
- One-click restore
How to set it up:
- Install UpdraftPlus
- Connect to Google Drive (free 15GB storage)
- Schedule daily backups at 2 AM
- Test restore once to ensure it works
Mom-Friendly Schedule:
- E-commerce sites: Daily backups
- Blogs/Portfolios: Weekly backups
- Keep at least 3 backup copies
5. Change Your Login URL & Limit Login Attempts
Why it matters: Hackers use automated bots to guess passwords at /wp-admin. Changing your login URL makes you invisible to these attacks.
How to do it:
Install WPS Hide Login plugin:
- Download and activate
- Go to Settings → WPS Hide Login
- Change login URL to something unique: yoursite.com/my-secret-login-2025
- Save it in your password manager!
Bonus Protection:
- Enable Limit Login Attempts Reloaded plugin
- Block IPs after 3 failed attempts
- Prevent brute force attacks automatically
6. Use SSL Certificate (The Green Padlock)
Why it matters: SSL encrypts data between your site and visitors. Google ranks HTTPS sites higher, and customers trust the green padlock.
How to get it FREE:
Most hosting providers offer free SSL:
- Log into your hosting dashboard (Hostinger, Bluehost, SiteGround)
- Find SSL/TLS section
- Click “Install Free SSL” (Let’s Encrypt)
- Update WordPress URL to https:// (Settings → General)
Check if it’s working: Visit your site—you should see a padlock 🔒 in the browser
7. Disable File Editing in WordPress Dashboard
Why it matters: If a hacker gains access to your dashboard, they can inject malicious code through the theme/plugin editor.
How to do it:
Add one line to your wp-config.php file:
- Access your site files via cPanel or FTP
- Find wp-config.php in the root folder
- Add this line before “/* That’s all, stop editing! */”
define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true);- Save the file
Not tech-savvy? Ask your web developer or hosting support to do this (takes 2 minutes).
Additional Security Best Practices
Change Your Database Prefix
Default prefix “wp_” makes it easy for hackers to target your database. Use a plugin like Change DB Prefix to randomize it.
Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF)
Services like Cloudflare (free plan) add an extra security layer between your site and attackers.
Monitor User Activity
If you have multiple users, install WP Activity Log to track who does what on your site.
Regular Security Audits
- Scan for malware monthly
- Review user accounts quarterly
- Check for suspicious files every 6 months
WordPress Security Checklist (Print & Follow)
Weekly:
- Update plugins and themes
- Check security scan results
- Review login attempts log
Monthly:
- Run full malware scan
- Test backup restoration
- Review user accounts and permissions
Quarterly:
- Change admin passwords
- Audit installed plugins (delete unused)
- Check SSL certificate expiration
Annually:
- Security audit by professional
- Update emergency contact info
- Review hosting security features
What to Do If Your Site Gets Hacked
Don’t panic! Follow these steps:
- Take your site offline temporarily (maintenance mode)
- Change ALL passwords (WordPress, hosting, FTP, database)
- Contact your hosting provider immediately
- Scan with security plugin and remove malware
- Restore from clean backup if needed
- Submit to Google for re-review if blacklisted
Need professional help? Contact WebProAssistant for emergency WordPress security services.
Conclusion: Your Action Plan Today
WordPress security isn’t about being a tech genius—it’s about being proactive. As a mom entrepreneur, you’ve already proven you can handle multiple responsibilities. Adding these 7 security steps to your routine is just one more way you’re protecting your family’s future.
Start Right Now (30-Minute Quick Win):
- Install Wordfence Security (10 minutes)
- Set up UpdraftPlus backups (10 minutes)
- Change your login URL (5 minutes)
- Update all plugins and themes (5 minutes)
That’s it! You’ve just made your WordPress site 10x more secure than 80% of websites out there.
Need Help Securing Your WordPress Site?
At WebProAssistant, we specialize in helping mom entrepreneurs build and secure their WordPress websites. Whether you need:
- One-on-one WordPress training tailored for busy moms
- Professional security audit and implementation
- Emergency site recovery services
- Ongoing website maintenance so you can focus on your business
We’re here to help! Book a free consultation call today and let’s secure your online business together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I really need security if I’m just starting out? A: Yes! Hackers target small sites even more because they typically have weaker security. Start protecting your site from day one.
Q: Are free security plugins enough? A: For most mom entrepreneurs, yes! Free versions of Wordfence and UpdraftPlus provide excellent protection. Upgrade to premium only if you have high traffic or e-commerce.
Q: How often do WordPress sites get hacked? A: Approximately 90,000 WordPress sites are attacked daily. But with proper security measures, your risk drops by 95%+.
Q: Will security plugins slow down my website? A: Modern security plugins are optimized and cause minimal slowdown. The protection they provide far outweighs any minor performance impact.
Q: Can I do this myself or do I need a developer? A: You can absolutely do 90% of these steps yourself! Only advanced configurations might need developer help, but the basics are designed for beginners.
About the Author: WebProAssistant helps mom entrepreneurs in India build, manage, and secure their WordPress websites. With 3+ years of hands-on experience and personalized training programs, we empower moms to take control of their online businesses with confidence.
Ready to learn more? Explore our WordPress training programs designed specifically for busy moms.
