How to Safeguard Your WooCommerce Store

Protect your Woocommerce Store from Getting Exploited

 

The chance to use the free and paid WooCommerce plugin encourages many people to convert sites to WordPress. In this article, will cover important aspect to improve WooCommerce store security. This online e-commerce plugin is one of the most downloaded items of the WordPress platform. People can easily create add a virtual marketplace on their websites with the help of this tool. It contains all the necessary features for creating a virtual marketplace like product displays and payment options.

However, financial transactions and vital user information make these outlets an attractive target for hackers. There are some in-built safety measures in the CMS and the plugin but store owners must take some extra efforts to enhance the security. The following tips can help to improve their outlet’s security: 

1. Select a Trusted Web Hosting Service Provider

First and foremost, business owners must not look to save money by choosing an untested hosting service. The sensitive nature of financial transactions makes it necessary that a reputed hosting agency is selected. They must look for a service which constantly upgrades its server software and has features for monitoring and preventing attacks.

Choose an agency which provides regular solutions that can provide you with the right solutions to common WordPress issues like bugs and plugin exploits. It will be sensible to choose a dedicated WordPress hosting service as they will provide all the necessary features.

Related post: Things to Know About Custom Web Design & Development Services

2. Always Create Strong Passwords

WooCommerce store owners must make it a habit to create strong passwords for their accounts. Many people have the habit of using a single easily-remembered term for all their virtual accounts. This approach must be discarded as soon as possible.

Choose a completely unique and different term as the password for the e-commerce interface. The term must include uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Try to create long and complex passwords that cannot be guessed easily.

3. Protect your Website’s Sensitive Directories

Unscrupulous elements can try to access the website’s FTP and upload malicious files to key directories. It is another reason due to which website owners must use only trusted hosting providers and create strong passwords.

Such attacks can be prevented by controlling the write access to these directories. Owners must ensure that only their FTP account has to write access to the root directory besides wp-admin, wp-includes, and wp-content.

4. Use 2-factor Authentication

An online marketplace must have multiple layers of security. While a strong password acts as the first line of defense, 2-factor authentication (2FA) app such as Googe Authenticator, Authy, can be a powerful secondary shield.

There are various mobile applications that can be used to enable 2FA on the store. Owners will have to register their telephone number with the app. A code will be sent to this number during every login attempt. This will prolong the login process but definitely make it safer.

5. Install SSL Certificates on the Website

Another effective way to improve WooCommerce store security is to install SSL certificates on the website. E-commerce websites are involved in the exchange of sensitive information which must take place in a secure environment. SSL certificates ensure that all the information is communicated in an encrypted manner.

This helps in securing important areas like the account creation and the checkout pages. Most hosting providers also offer these certificates as part of their service packages. Owners must choose a suitable license after assessing their requirements.

6. Create and Maintain Multiple Backups

One of the most important tasks that all website owners must do is to create regular backups of their interface. It will be pertinent to create and save more than one backup. This will ensure that a version of the website will always be available in case of an issue.

Website Backups are essential for securing the vital content of the interface. WooCommerce users can deploy a plugin to schedule and conduct backup creation at regular intervals. Many hosting agencies also offer this service. Owners can set the frequency of backup creation according to their preferences.

7. Avoid Using Admin as a Username

WooCommerce users must avoid setting the username of their account as "admin". Many people feel that using a strong password is enough to secure the login area. Creating a difficult username will make it even more difficult for a hacker to gain unauthorized access. In order to replace "admin" with another username, the old account will have to be deleted.

For this, users must access the admin dashboard of their website and go to "User > Add new". Now, they must create a new account followed by assigning "Administrator" to it from the available user roles. Once the new account has been created, they must log out from the panel.

Then they must use the new account to log in again to the dashboard. This must be followed by deleting the old account and linking all posts with the new admin user.

Wrapping up

Business owners who convert sites to WordPress must use these important tips to improve their WooCommerce store security. They must also conduct a periodic assessment of their virtual outlets to identify security loopholes and take appropriate steps.