WordPress dominates the website market. It’s not even close.

CMS Brand	% of Websites	% of CMS Market
WordPress	43.5%	61.7%
Shopify	4.6%	6.6%
Wix	3.2%	4.6%
Squarespace	2.2%	3.2%
Joomla	1.6%	2.3%
Drupal	0.9%	1.3%

(Source: Kinsta)

WordPress powers more websites than any other Content Management System (CMS) in the world. Its adaptability, ease of use, and enormous plugin ecosystem have made WordPress the platform of choice for businesses, bloggers, non-profits, and online stores.

Unfortunately, domination carries a price.

The biggest and most successful players in an industry will have a target on their backs.

Because millions of websites rely on WordPress, it has become one of the biggest targets of cybercriminals. Every day, automated bots scan the internet looking for vulnerable WP websites they can exploit.

Understanding why hackers target WordPress is the first step toward protecting your website, your customers, and your brand reputation.

Is a WordPress Website Defenseless? No. WordPress isn’t defenseless. WordPress’s built-in security features are another reason why it’s popular with businesses. The WordPress core is actively maintained by a dedicated security team that performs the following functions: ● Investigates reported vulnerabilities ● Coordinates responsible disclosures ● Implements security patches ● Works closely with hosting companies to distribute critical updates as fast as possible. Other security features of WordPress include automatic security updates, multiple user authentication protocols, user roles and permissions, and data validation and sanitization processes.

Why Hackers Love Targeting WordPress Websites

WP security issues are rooted in having poor management and maintenance practices.

Cybercriminals know that.

It’s just one of the reasons why cybercriminals love to target WP websites. The number one reason?

WordPress is everywhere!

1. WordPress Powers Over 40% of the Web

As we showed in the table on market share, WordPress is the most widely used website platform.

For cybercriminals, WP’s market share represents an attractive opportunity. Instead of developing malware that targets multiple website platforms, they can focus on WordPress and potentially reach millions of websites with a single hacking campaign.

Most attacks aren’t directed at specific businesses. Hackers use automated bots that continuously scan the internet searching for WP websites that have vulnerabilities they can exploit.

These vulnerabilities include:

• Outdated plugins
• Weak passwords
• Unpatched themes
• Faulty configurations
• Pirated software

Once a bot has found a weakness, it will attack immediately.

Thus, cybercrime is a numbers game.

If only a small percentage of WP websites are vulnerable, given its massive user base, an automated attack can still infiltrate thousands of websites and deliver viable results for hackers.

The biggest and most successful businesses in the world – Meta, Sony, CNN, Disney, BBC, eBay, and even the White House – invest in WordPress because they want the best website platform for their respective businesses.

Having the best website platform servicing visitors and customers means taking WP security seriously.

2. Many Website Owners Don’t Keep Their WP Websites Updated

WordPress itself isn’t the reason why the website gets hacked.

As we mentioned in the previous section, WordPress regularly releases updates to fix bugs, improve performance, and patch newly discovered security vulnerabilities.

However, these updates are only effective if the website owners install them promptly.

What causes delays?

• Website owners aren’t aware that updates are available.
• They worry the updates might somehow affect website performance.
• Because their website is functioning properly, they put off the updates and eventually forget about them.
• They aren’t confident in their website maintenance skills and think a professional web developer performs the updates best.

Unfortunately, cybercriminals also believe time is money. They don’t wait. As opportunists, they’ll infiltrate your website as soon as the bots find entry points.

Hackers keep themselves well-informed.

They actively monitor security advisories that are published by WordPress, plugin developers, and cybersecurity experts.

Once a vulnerability is publicly disclosed, they’ll reverse-engineer the patch to understand how to take advantage of the software flaw.

The window of vulnerability, once an advisory is issued, is measured in hours, not weeks or months. 

Websites that fail to install security updates become easy targets and eventual victims of cybercriminals.

💡Pro Tip: If you’re struggling to keep up with WP updates because you’re busy building your business, sign up for our Managed WordPress Maintenance and Care Plan.  

Focus on growing your business. We’ll take care of the WP updates and make sure your website is protected against all types of cyber attacks.

3. Outdated Plugins Create Easy Entry Points

With more than 90,000 plugins available for users, including 60,000 free ones, WordPress websites can easily add features that enhance user experience.

For example, you can add contact forms, fortify site security, or include a booking system without learning how to code.

However, these plugins are developed and maintained independently, which means updates depend on the developer’s coding practices. Some plugin developers may not be as committed to plugin updates as others.

It’s no surprise that, according to Patchstack’s State of WordPress Security Report, 95% of newly disclosed WP vulnerabilities originate in plugins.

How do plugins create entry points for malware?

• They are no longer actively maintained by the developer.
• The plugins aren’t updated regularly.
• Contain coding flaws.
• Abandoned or incompatible with the WP version.
• Purchased from untrusted or unofficial sources.

How do cybercriminals exploit outdated plugins?

• Upload malware or ransomware.
• Execute malicious code on the server.
• Create hidden administrative accounts.
• Redirect visitors to malicious sites.
• Inject SEO spam.
• Steam confidential data.

A single vulnerable plugin can provide attackers with all the access they need.

To lower the risk of cyberattacks, regularly update plugins, remove the ones you no longer use, and install extensions only from reputable developers.

4. Weak Passwords Remain a Serious Security Risk

If you’re still using any of the following passwords, your WP website is in trouble:

• Password123
• Admin123
• Welcome1

Despite growing awareness of cybersecurity, weak and reused passwords remain one of the easiest ways for cybercriminals to attack a WP website.

In many cases, hackers don’t need to launch automated brute-force attacks to exploit a software vulnerability. They can resort to credential stuffing, a hacking approach in which stolen usernames and passwords from previous data breaches are tested on other websites.

For specific targets, hackers can simply guess your credentials.

A strong password is your first line of defense.

Here are eight tips on how to create a strong password:

• Use a passphrase, a password made up of multiple words instead of a single word or a short string of characters.

Examples: “Coffee River Lantern Mango” or “Thor-Batman-Superman-IronMan”

• Make your password at least 16 characters long.
• Use a different password for every account.
• Avoid personal information.

Examples: Your birthday, your spouse or child’s name, your pet’s name.

• Don’t rely on character substitutions, like p@ssword123. Hackers know that move.
• Use a Password Manager. Read our special section below about password managers.
• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
• Run routine checks if your password has been exposed.

Now, let’s learn more about Password Managers.

Is Using a Password Manager a Good Idea? Is it Safe? Using a password manager is much safer than not using one. Password managers such as Bitwarden and 1Password store your passwords in an encrypted vault. Your master password isn’t stored by the provider, and the vault is protected by a powerful cryptographic algorithm. This means that if someone steals the encrypted vault, they can’t steal your passwords without your master password. It’s like a security safe in your home. If a burglar steals your safe, they still have to crack it. A Password Manager can create different, random passwords for every password. The passwords are 20 to 30 characters long and aren’t reused. A problem with password managers could arise if your computer gets hacked. If your computer is infected with malware while your password manager is unlocked, attackers may be able to: ● Capture your keystrokes with a keylogger. ● Read passwords that are copied to a clipboard. ● Steal session cookies. ● Use remote access malware to operate your computer. ● Capture screenshots. The good news is that there are ways to protect your Password Manager: ● Use a strong, unique master password. ● Enable MFA on your Password Manager account. ● Lock the vault automatically after a few minutes of inactivity. ● Keep your operating system and browser updated. ● Run reputable antivirus software. ● Secure your computer with firewalls. ● Avoid using software from untrusted sources. ● Delete phishing emails and fake login pages. Browser-based password managers are okay, but dedicated password managers offer more security features, such as password auditing, secure password sharing, cross-platform consistency, and better control over vault locking and encryption. A password manager doesn’t eliminate all risks, but it adds another layer of security for your website. Also, the convenience of not having to memorize or generate new passwords is a big plus.

5. Budget Shared Hosting Increases Security Risks

Shared hosting is an affordable option for many small businesses and startups, making it a popular way of hosting a WP website.

With shared hosting, multiple websites reside on the same physical server and share its resources.

However, poorly configured or low-quality shared hosting environments can increase security risks. If server isolation is weak, a vulnerability on one website can create opportunities for hackers to move laterally and attack other websites.

Budget shared hosting services may offer fewer security features, slower software updates, limited malware detection, and less proactive server monitoring.

We strongly recommend choosing a reliable hosting provider that offers managed services.

Look for web hosting providers that have:

• Web application firewalls (WAFs)
• Malware scanning and removal
• Automatic WP updates
• Daily backups
• Account isolation
• DDoS protection
• Continuous server monitoring

Managed WP hosting services aren’t perfect, but they offer multiple layers of protection that can significantly reduce your website’s risk of being compromised.

6. Small Businesses Tend to Underestimate Cybersecurity Risks

“My business is too small. I don’t generate substantial profits. Who would want to hack me?”

Time for a reality check, Small Business Owner.

Cybercriminals don’t usually choose their victims. Most attacks are carried out by automatic bots that don’t care about the size of the business or the amount of profits they generate.

The bots’ primary directive is to scan the internet and look for websites with known vulnerabilities that they can exploit.

Cybercriminals have a diverse agenda.

They may want to use your website to distribute malware, host phishing pages, inject SEO spam, send spam emails, or recruit it into a larger botnet.

The size of your business or profitability doesn’t determine your risk – your website’s level of security does.

Keeping WP plugins and themes updated, using strong passwords, and performing regular security checks and maintenance procedures can reduce your chances of getting victimized by hackers.

Ten Signs Your WordPress Website May Be Compromised

Imagine this scenario.

You go to bed with a smile on your face because today was a great day at work.

Your e-commerce business generated record highs in sales. More users signed up for your newsletter service. Your social media followers are growing faster than you expected.

The Mediterranean Cruise you’ve been planning for years is slowly becoming a reality.

Over the next eight hours, things can go from great to worst-case scenario.

When you check on your website the following day, you see a notification from Google:

“The site may be hacked.”

Then, your web host provider sends an email advising that your account has been shut down until it’s been cleaned and disinfected.

Far from dreaming about a Mediterranean Cruise, you’re now bracing for business losses, a branding blowback, and potential lawsuits from customers.

Many hacked websites appear perfectly normal.

What you don’t know is that malware has been slowly taking over your website.

Like any illness, you should watch out for the following 10 symptoms:

1. Slow loading speeds.
2. Unexpected administrator accounts.
3. Spam pages are appearing in Google.
4. Website redirects.
5. Google Safe Browsing warnings.
6. Antivirus alerts.
7. Hosting suspension notices.
8. Website traffic plummets.
9. The presence of modified files.
10. Strange pop-ups.

And like any illness, early detection significantly reduces damage.

You don’t need to wait for all 10 symptoms to appear. If you see one, run a security audit right away.

Conclusion

WordPress has earned its reputation as the world’s number one CMS. It’s powerful, adaptable, and user-friendly.

However, WP’s success has made it an attractive AND viable target for cybercriminals.

The good news is that most successful attacks exploit preventable weaknesses rather than flaws in WordPress itself.

Keeping your core software, themes, and plugins updated, incorporating strong authentication processes, choosing reliable managed hosting services, maintaining regular backups, and conducting frequent security audits can significantly reduce your website’s risk of being compromised.

Remember: Website security isn’t a one-time activity. It’s an ongoing commitment.

By taking a proactive approach, you protect not only your website but also your customers, your search engine rankings, and your brand reputation.

Protect Your WP Website With Mountaintop Web Design Whether you need to recover from a cyberattack or prevent one from happening, our team provides the expertise and support to keep your website running safely and reliably. We help businesses keep their WP website secure through comprehensive maintenance, malware removal, security hardening, performance optimization, timely backups, and ongoing monitoring. Don’t wait until your website is compromised. Contact us today. Let us help you build a stronger, faster, and more secure WordPress website.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why are small business websites frequently targeted?

Hackers use automated bots to scan millions of websites for vulnerabilities. Thus, small business websites aren’t specifically targeted.

However, small business owners tend to be lax in following online security protocols because their funds are tight, they’re too busy, or they don’t believe they would ever be hacked, given their comparatively small size or profitability.

2. How often should I update WordPress?

Check for updates at least weekly. Security patches should be installed as soon as possible to reduce exposure to lingering threats.

3. What should I do if my WP Website gets hacked?

Here are the steps you should take if your WP website gets hacked:

• Place the website in maintenance mode.
• Change all passwords.
• Scan for malware.
• Remove malicious code.
• Perform a comprehensive security audit.

Contact your web developer to conduct a thorough examination of your website.