Why 90% of WordPress hacks could have been prevented

Every day, thousands of WordPress sites are hacked worldwide. Yet the vast majority of these attacks rely on known and long-patched vulnerabilities. According to a Sucuri study, 90% of hacked sites in 2025 hadn't applied basic security measures. In this article, we analyze why these hacks are preventable and how you can protect yourself.

Hacking a WordPress site isn't inevitable. It's the result of negligence that can be corrected simply and without high cost. Understanding the root causes of hacks is the first step to preventing them.

The Alarming Statistics

The statistics on WordPress hacks are striking and should make every site owner think:

• 90% of hacked sites didn't have a security plugin installed
• 56% of hacks result from weak or compromised passwords
• 44% of hacked sites were running an outdated version of WordPress
• 41% of attacks exploit vulnerabilities in plugins
• The average time between vulnerability disclosure and exploitation is less than 48 hours
• Over 90% of attacks are automated — they don't target your site specifically
• The average cost of recovering a hacked site is $3,000 to $10,000

These figures show that most hacks aren't the work of brilliant hackers, but rather of negligence by site owners. Attackers aren't trying to be creative — they use automated tools that exploit known flaws.

The reality is that if your site has a known vulnerability, it will be found. Bots scan millions of sites every day, looking for outdated versions, weak passwords, and unpatched plugins. It's a numbers game: the more flaws you have, the more likely you are to be attacked.

The 5 Most Common Mistakes

1. Not Updating WordPress

This is the #1 mistake. WordPress regularly publishes security updates. When you ignore these updates, you leave open doors that attackers exploit en masse.

A single unupdated plugin can compromise your entire site. In 2025, plugins responsible for the most critical flaws included contact form components, e-commerce extensions, and SEO optimization plugins. These plugins are particularly targeted because they handle sensitive data.

Outdated WordPress versions contain public vulnerabilities that anyone can find online. Attackers don't need to be security experts — they just need to use automated tools to exploit these flaws.

2. Using Weak Passwords

"admin", "123456", "password", your company name followed by "2025"... These passwords are the first tested during a brute force attack. According to the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, 81% of breaches involve compromised credentials.

The problem isn't just password weakness, but also reuse. If you use the same password across multiple sites, a breach on one puts all the others at risk. This is known as credential stuffing — attackers use leaked passwords to attempt login on other services.

A 6-character password can be cracked in seconds. A 16-character password with mixed characters would take billions of years to crack with current techniques.

3. Ignoring Backups

Many site owners think "it won't happen to me." But when a hack occurs, the first question is: do you have a backup? Without a backup, site restoration can take days or even weeks and cost thousands of dollars.

Backups aren't just protection against hacks — they also protect against human error, failed updates, and server outages. A single mistaken click can delete entire pages from your site. Without a backup, that data is lost forever.

The golden rule: back up regularly, store backups off-site, and test them regularly. A backup that doesn't work isn't a backup.

4. Neglecting Hosting Security

Not all hosting providers are equal. A basic shared hosting offers few protections. You should verify that your host offers:

• Presence of a Web Application Firewall (WAF)
• Isolation between shared sites
• Regular malware scans
• Competent and responsive technical support
• Daily automatic backups
• Included SSL certificate
• DDoS attack protection

For more information, check out our guide: Secure WordPress Hosting: What to Check.

5. Installing Random Plugins

Every installed plugin is a potential entry point. An abandoned, poorly coded, or unupdated plugin can contain critical vulnerabilities. Before installing a plugin, check:

• Last update date — a plugin not updated in over 6 months is suspicious
• Number of active installations — more means more testing
• Ratings and reviews — read recent comments
• Compatibility with your WordPress version
• Developer activity — check if they respond to questions
• Known vulnerabilities — check the WPScan database

Simple Fixes That Prevent 90% of Attacks

The good news is that most hacks can be prevented with simple, low-cost measures. Here are the priority actions:

Update Everything, Now

Enable automatic updates for WordPress core and plugins. For major updates, test them first on a staging environment. Check out our article on WordPress Updates for a detailed approach.

Updating is the most effective and simplest measure to implement. It costs nothing and requires no advanced technical skills. Simply enable automatic updates and check your dashboard once a week.

Use a Password Manager

A password manager generates and stores unique, complex passwords for every account. You no longer need to remember your passwords — you just need to remember one master password.

The most recommended managers are Bitwarden (free and open source), 1Password (paid but excellent), and KeePass (free, for advanced users). Investing in a password manager is one of the best security investments you can make.

Install a Security Plugin

Even the free version of a plugin like Wordfence or SecuPress offers significant protection. Compare options in our Security Plugin Comparison.

A security plugin protects you against automated attacks, detects malware, and alerts you when threats are detected. It's a minimal investment for considerable protection.

Enable 2FA

Two-factor authentication adds a security layer that even the best password can't provide. It's free and takes just minutes to set up. With 2FA, even if an attacker gets your password, they can't log in without the code generated on your phone.

Set Up Automatic Backups

Configure daily automatic backups stored on an external cloud service. In case of a problem, you can restore your site in minutes. Our Backup Guide explains how.

The 3-2-1 rule is essential: 3 copies of your data, on 2 different media, with 1 off-site copy. This ensures your data remains accessible even in a catastrophe.

What the Experts Say

"The majority of WordPress sites we recover after a hack hadn't applied security measures that were actually free. A simple security plugin and regular updates would have prevented 90% of these incidents."

"Attackers aren't trying to target your site specifically. They scan millions of sites looking for known vulnerabilities. If your site has a known flaw, it will be found."

"The average cost of a WordPress hack for a business site is $3,000 to $5,000. The cost of a premium security plugin is about $100 per year. The math is simple."

"Security isn't a product, it's a process. It's not enough to install a plugin and forget about it. You need to maintain, monitor, and adapt your protection constantly."

Conclusion: Security Is Within Reach

Hacking a WordPress site is not inevitable. In the vast majority of cases, it results from avoidable negligence. By implementing the simple measures described in this article, you can drastically reduce your exposure to risks.

Here's a summary of priority actions:

1. Enable automatic updates
2. Use unique, complex passwords
3. Enable two-factor authentication
4. Install a security plugin
5. Set up automatic backups

Don't be part of the 90%. Take action today. Every day without protection is a day of unnecessary risk.

At WpDefender, we've helped hundreds of WordPress sites strengthen their security. Our approach combines comprehensive audits, best practice implementation, and ongoing monitoring.