Why is WordPress’ Two-Factor Authentication Crucial For Your Website?
Your WordPress website holds some of your most crucial content, especially if you operate a webstore. Personal information, like personal emails to linked bank accounts, can land you or your customers in a lot of trouble if it is leaked. It is extremely important to protect such valuable content from any potential hackers, or data theft. Such measures begin with setting up strong passwords for your WordPress entry point as well as doubling down on security.
Most people, in general, use predictable passwords that make your data vulnerable to dictionary attacks. According to SplashData, some of the most common passwords in 2019 are as good as not having any passwords at all!
Here are the top 10 most common passwords of 2019:
- 123456
- 123456789
- qwerty
- password
- 1234567
- 12345678
- 12345
- iloveyou
- 111111
- 123123
It’s easy to infer that people use easy to remember passwords, or more commonly the same password for everything. This is exactly the reason why experts say that it’s always an accident waiting to happen! If you have a problem with remembering all your passwords, you can use the Keychain feature of your MacBook or a password manager for managing all your passwords, generating long complex passwords. This would add the first layer of security to your website by preventing dictionary attacks. However, having a strong password isn’t enough to save your website, as even the toughest passwords get cracked. That’s why you need two-factor authentication.
Why Two-Factor Authentication Works So Well?
There’s a reason why it is called a Two Factor authentication feature since the single-factor authentication only works when the website asks only for your user ID and password for logging in. For two-step authentication, you are asked the password and a one-time password/code often sent by WordPress on your registered email id/phone number. This mechanism clears out any phonies and helps you from any impending disaster of data-theft.
According to reports, WordPress accounts for more than 35.2% of the market share of CMS platforms, and therefore it is more susceptible to frequent attacks and security threats. It is because of the large volume of websites on this platform as well as its usability that makes it easier for beginners to use it, irrespective of the website owners’ proficiency. When studies were conducted in this regard, it was found out that more than 61.5% of WordPress users didn’t have any idea how potential attacks take place.
Benefits of Using Two-Factor Authentication:
- There’s always an added security level with username + personal device
- It’s easy to bring your entire user base into this setup to make sure less customer accounts are compromised
- Two factor is compatible with all smartphones, and if the user does not have one, there are alternate login processes like Security Questions, OTP over email.
- You have have the option of Soft Token, QR Code Authentication, or Push Notifications
Setting Up WordPress 2-Step Authentication via Google Authenticator
There are several online authentication applications present like Google Authenticator, that you’d need to first start in a desktop browser:
1. First, you need to go to the Two-Step Authentication settings page at WordPress.com, or you can fetch it from clicking your Gravatar image on the homepage
2. Second, you need to click on the ‘Security’ link in the navigation on the left side of the screen
3. At soon as the window opens, find Two-Step Authentication and press Get Started
4. This would lead you to ask for more details about you, including selecting your country, providing your mobile number. As soon as you click verify via the application, you would be asked to scan the QR code present in the app.
5.The six-digit number would appear in the application, which when filled will direct you to click Enable.
6.Then you’ll be shown the important page containing all your backup codes. It is requested to print these for recovery purposes. This is extremely important!
7. Once you click on All Finished, your website would have two-step authentication enabled. The next step is just to help show you how your backup codes work by entering one of them in the dialog box.
Please note that for setting up the 2-step authentication, you would need your web browser to have pop-ups enabled.
Final Thoughts
Since WordPress introduced the two-factor authentication, you can now reinforce your website in easy steps. It actually helps you to leverage the best of both worlds – both two-factor authentication and strong passwords in order to make your website secure!
If you have been compromised and you need expert WordPress support, CodeClouds provides 18/5 support from multiple timezones to make sure all of your emergency issues are taken care of. With affordable monthly plans, they’re a great option for maintaining your WordPress site.