![]() Instead, it needs to be used as one part of a broader security system. It just doesn’t work as the primary method for safeguarding your site. It’s a good way to slow down attackers, even if it won’t stop them outright. Of course, security by obscurity can still play a role in keeping your site safe. This principle states that any system should remain secure even if all aspects of its design, except the key, become public knowledge. While it might deter impatient robbers, it only takes one person to lift the mat and completely break your security system.Ī similar point was made by the 19th-century cryptographer Auguste Kerckhoff, who originated Kerckhoff’s principle. This is like keeping your house key under your doormat. It’s based on the assumption that simply by hiding something, you ensure that it will never be found. This quotation highlights the main problem with obscurity as a security strategy. “Rogues are very keen in their profession and know already much more than we can teach them.” When asked why he would make this sensitive information public knowledge, he simply responded : He would often openly discuss specific vulnerabilities in lock designs, for which he was sometimes criticized. įor example, an early critique of this practice comes from the locksmith Alfred Charles Hobbs back in 1853. This is not a recent trend either, as obscurity has been criticized for a long time - and we do mean a long time. Relying on obscurity as the sole tactic for protecting your site is not going to work in the long run.Ĭheck Out Plans Why You Shouldn’t Rely Solely on Security by Obscurity for Your WordPress SiteĪlthough security by obscurity has been popular over the years, it’s generally not considered a best practice to make it your website’s only form of protection. However, this is only effective up to a certain point. If you can hide your site’s vulnerable points, you make it harder for them to reach you. In theory, this is not a terrible idea, especially since many brute force attacks rely on automated bots to perform the same action against thousands of websites. This could include changing the URL for the WordPress login page, hiding the WordPress version number, and renaming sensitive folders. One popular way to implement this strategy is by simply altering some of the default WordPress settings. The thinking goes that if attackers are not aware of a flaw in your security, or cannot easily find your site’s weak points, that will be enough to keep the site safe. Security through obscurity is when you rely on secrecy and obfuscation to protect your website. An Introduction to WordPress Security Through Obscurity First, let’s look at one strategy that’s been popular for some time now. There are actually plenty of easy things you can do to strengthen your site’s security. You can channel that concern into productive action. ![]() This means that any site, no matter how big or small, is a potential target. However, what if your website is just a small personal blog or a portfolio of your work? No one would bother to attack it, right? Well, we hate to bear more bad news, but the majority of common attacks are automated brute force attempts to gain access to the admin area on as many sites as possible. We don’t say this to scare you, but to make you aware that security is something you should never take for granted. Hackers never sleep, and they’re constantly finding new ways to attack your site or exploit flaws in your system. As WordPress is such a ubiquitous platform, it’s also a common target for attackers and malicious bots. With that said, no system is ever foolproof. Ever since Version 3.7, you don’t even have to worry about installing new security updates yourself since these are now performed automatically. When you’re using an up-to-date version of WordPress, your site will be protected against the most common types of attacks. WordPress is a pretty secure platform it has to be since it powers more than a quarter of all websites. We’ll then offer nine tips that will help you secure your WordPress website and admin area. In this article, we’ll explain what security through obscurity (also known as security by obscurity ) means and discuss why it’s no longer recommended as the sole protection against attacks. The best part is that most of these techniques are fairly simple to implement. There are actually a lot of precautions you can take to protect your WordPress site’s admin area that don’t rely solely on obscurity. While obscurity is not an effective deterrent on its own, it can still be useful as part of a more expansive security strategy. In fact, hiding aspects of your site as your main form of security just isn’t what it used to be. Website security is like a magic trick that’s getting harder and harder to pull off as time goes by.
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