Changing security keys and salts regularly is an important part of hardening your WordPress site. When the keys are changed, all logged in users are logged out and must log in again, however, their passwords remain unchanged.
This process can be difficult to do by hand, so we recommend using a plugin like MalCare to automate the process. Here are three simple ways to change the security keys and salts in your wp-config file:
1. Disable XML-RPC
There are many things you can do to keep your WordPress website secure, from choosing a secure hosting provider to updating your passwords regularly. However, one of the most effective ways to make your site more difficult for hackers is by changing your security keys and salts. Changing these codes will force all logged-in users to reenter their login information, which can make it harder for malicious hackers to access your site’s passwords and other sensitive data.
To change your security keys and salts, you must edit your wp-config file. This can be done by opening the file in a text editor and replacing the existing code with new values generated by WordPress. This will invalidate any cookies that have been created for your site, and will force all logged-in users to log out and reenter their usernames and passwords. This will also make it impossible for any hacker to use cookie data to gain access to your site’s login page, ensuring that your user passwords remain safe from attacks.
XML-RPC is a feature that allows remote applications to connect with your WordPress site, including mobile devices and other external tools. While this feature was useful in the past, it can now be exploited by cybercriminals to gain access to your site’s content and credentials. Because of this, it is a good idea to disable XML-RPC from your WordPress site whenever possible.
If you’re looking for a more convenient way to change your security keys and salts, there are several plugins available that can do the job for you. Sucuri, for example, offers a free security plugin that will automatically generate new salts and security keys for your WordPress site. However, it is important to remember that using a plugin can be dangerous, and you should always review the plugin’s source code before making changes.
Regardless of whether you choose to update your keys and salts manually or with a plugin, it is vital that you do so on a regular basis. This will help to ensure that your login page remains as hard for hacker bots to crack as possible.
2. Change the wp-config.php file
If you don’t want to disable XML-RPC, but you do need additional security measures, one thing you can do is change the WordPress salts and keys. This will prevent hackers from using brute force attacks to gain access to your site. To do this, you will need to modify your wp-config file. The process is easy, but it should be done with caution, as mistakes in this file can cause severe problems for your website.
The wp-config file contains several settings, variables, and constants that define how WordPress operates. The most important are the authentication keys and salts, which encrypt the passwords that users enter when logging in to their WordPress websites. Changing these strings regularly is one of the most effective ways to improve WordPress security, as it prevents hackers from guessing passwords by trying various combinations.
While you can change these settings through a plugin, it’s better to do this directly in the wp-config file. This way, you can make sure that the new strings are not known to anyone else. However, you should note that changing these values will invalidate any cookies and force all logged-in users to log in again. Changing the salts and authentication keys is also recommended if you suspect that your site has been compromised by hackers.
Once you’ve made the changes, save the wp-config file. This will force all logged-in users to re-login, so it’s a good idea to do this on a regular basis.
Another way to increase security is to use a tool that detects and fixes issues before they become a problem. The Kinsta Application Performance Management (APM) tool includes a feature that scans your WordPress site and checks for security vulnerabilities. It will also notify you if there are any errors or problems on your site.
Adding this feature to your website will not only boost security, but it will also help improve the speed of your website. It will find and fix issues such as slow database queries, non-optimized code, and more. And best of all, it’s free with all Kinsta plans!
3. Change the wp-login.php file
It is important to change the WordPress login URL so that it is not the default “admin” or “login”. This will make it much harder for hackers to guess your login page and gain access to your site. Once you have changed the login URL, it is important to update any links or bookmarks that you or your users may have saved so that they will be redirected to the new login page. This is also a good time to make a backup of your website and database to prevent any mishaps.
Security keys and salts are a crucial part of any WordPress site’s security. They are used to cryptographically turn a plain text password into a random jumble of characters that is virtually impossible to reverse engineer. By changing the salts and security keys, you can make it more difficult for hackers to crack your passwords or hijack your login session.
If you suspect that your website has been hacked, you should change the security keys and salts right away. This will force any hacked accounts to log out and reset their passwords, so that they cannot use your account anymore. It is also recommended that you change the security keys and salts every six months, especially if your site is high traffic.
There are several ways to change the salts and security keys on your WordPress site, but using a security plugin is the easiest option. A security plugin like MalCare can be installed on your site, and it will automatically change the salts and security keys in a few clicks.
Another method for changing the salts and security keys is to manually edit your site’s.htaccess file. This can be a tricky task, and it’s important to know what you’re doing before trying this method. However, if you are confident in your abilities, this method can be an effective way to increase the security of your site.
Security keys and salts are an essential part of any WordPress site, and it is vital to change them regularly to protect your site from hacks. By changing your security keys and salts, you can make it more difficult for hackers and brute force bots to break into your site.
4. Change the wp-admin.php file
While most of your WordPress site is managed through a dashboard or plugin, there are some settings you need to change manually. This is especially true when it comes to your salts and security keys. Changing these strings is a simple process that can make it much harder for hackers to crack your passwords and login information.
Salts are a kind of unique string used to encrypt the credentials of your users in WordPress. They work with the security keys to hide the plain text versions of usernames and passwords. In other words, they turn the password into a random jumble of characters that would be impossible to decipher without access to your security keys and salts.
These secrets are stored in the wp-config file. If you’re not careful, it’s easy for hackers to get their hands on them. In order to prevent this, you need to update the salts and keys on a regular basis. This is not a difficult task, but it should be done as soon as possible.
To do this, open the wp-config file and look for the Authentication Unique Keys and Salts section. Then, simply replace the existing values with new ones. Once you’ve changed the salts and keys, all cookies will be invalidated. This will require all logged-in users to log in again.
You should also change the database prefix if you want to protect your website from hacker attacks. This is done by replacing wp_ with a custom prefix. It is recommended that you use a different prefix because it makes it more difficult for hackers to guess your tables’ names.
Another way to increase your WordPress security is to limit login attempts by using a plugin. This will prevent hackers from trying to brute force your login pages. It is a good idea to change these settings often, but it’s also important to change your passwords regularly.
This will help you to protect your WordPress website from hackers and other online threats. It is also a good idea to change your salts and security keys on a regular basis, but this is not necessary for most websites.
