Why Your WordPress Site Keeps Getting Hacked (And One Setting That Fixes 90% of It)

You know that sinking feeling.

You open your email and see a message from Google: “Warning: This site may be hacked.” Or worse—you try to log into your WordPress dashboard and you’re locked out. Your site displays a cryptic message in a language you don’t speak, or your homepage has been replaced with something you definitely didn’t put there.

Your heart races. Your palms sweat. And the questions flood in: How did this happen? What did I do wrong? How much is this going to cost to fix?

Take a deep breath. You’re not alone, and this isn’t your fault.

The Reality Check: Why WordPress Gets Targeted (And Why That’s Actually Good News)

Here’s the truth: WordPress isn’t inherently insecure. In fact, it’s one of the most scrutinized and frequently updated platforms on the planet.

The problem? WordPress powers over 43% of all websites on the internet. That’s not a typo—nearly half of the web runs on WordPress.

For hackers, that’s like a burglar discovering that 43% of houses in the world use the same type of lock. They don’t care about you specifically. They don’t even know who you are. They’re just running automated scripts that try to break into every WordPress site they can find, hoping that enough doors are left unlocked.

You’re not being personally targeted—you’re being automatically scanned.

The good news? Because the attacks are automated and follow predictable patterns, the defenses are simple, straightforward, and don’t require a computer science degree.

In fact, there’s one setting—just one—that stops about 90% of WordPress hacks before they even start.

The “Open Door” Problem: Why Your Site Is Getting Hacked

Imagine a burglar standing at your front door with a key ring containing one million keys. Now imagine they have all day—actually, all year—to stand there and try every single key until one of them works.

Eventually, they’ll get in. It’s just a matter of time.

This is exactly how most WordPress sites get hacked.

By default, WordPress allows anyone, anywhere, to try guessing your password as many times as they want. There’s no limit. No lockout. No consequences for getting it wrong 100 times, 1,000 times, or 10,000 times.

This attack method is called “Brute Force,” and it’s devastatingly simple:

1. A hacker’s automated script finds your login page (usually `yoursite.com/wp-login.php`)
2. The script tries common username/password combinations
3. It keeps trying, thousands of times per hour, 24/7
4. Eventually—unless you have a strong password and some protection—it gets in

The “Admin” Mistake

Quick side note: If your WordPress username is “admin,” you’ve just made the hacker’s job 50% easier. They already know half of your credentials—now they only need to guess the password.

But even if you’re using a unique username, the real problem remains: unlimited login attempts. That’s the open door you need to close.

The “One Setting” Solution: Limiting Login Attempts

Here’s the fix that stops 90% of brute force attacks cold:

Limit the number of times someone can try to log into your site.

That’s it. That’s the whole game.

Instead of allowing infinite password guessing, you set a limit: 3 wrong attempts, and you’re locked out for 24 hours.

How It Works

Think of it like this:

• Before: Hacker tries 10,000 password combinations in one hour. Eventually, they might get lucky.
• After: Hacker tries 3 passwords, gets blocked, can’t try again for 24 hours. They move on to an easier target.

The automated script breaks. The attack fails. Your site stays secure.

Why It Works

Brute force attacks rely on volume. They need to make thousands—sometimes millions—of guesses. When you cap attempts at 3 or 5, the math stops working in their favor.

They can’t brute-force their way in if they can’t keep guessing.

It’s the digital equivalent of a deadbolt that freezes solid after 3 wrong key attempts. The burglar gives up and moves to the next house.

How to Implement This (Step-by-Step)

WordPress doesn’t have this protection built in (which is baffling, honestly), so you’ll need to add it via a plugin or server-level security.

Don’t worry—this isn’t complicated. Pick the option that fits your comfort level:

Option A: The Dedicated Specialist (Limit Login Attempts Reloaded)

Best for: People who want a lightweight, “set it and forget it” solution.

How to do it:

1. Go to your WordPress dashboard → Plugins → Add New
2. Search for “Limit Login Attempts Reloaded”
3. Click “Install Now,” then “Activate”
4. Go to Settings → Limit Login Attempts
5. Set “Max Login Attempts” to 3
6. Set “Lockout Duration” to 24 hours
7. Save changes

Done. You’re now protected.

This plugin is simple, lightweight, and does exactly one job really well. It logs every failed login attempt, blocks repeat offenders, and sends you a notification if someone’s hammering your login page.

If you’d rather not manage plugins yourself, Web321’s WordPress support plans include proactive security monitoring and plugin management—so your site stays protected without you lifting a finger.

Option B: The All-in-One Security Suite (Wordfence or iThemes Security)

Best for: People who want comprehensive protection (firewall, malware scanning, brute force protection, and more).

Popular choices:

• Wordfence Security – Includes a firewall, malware scanner, and brute force protection. The free version is excellent; the premium version adds real-time threat intelligence.
• iThemes Security (now Solid Security) – Similar feature set with a slightly simpler interface.

How to do it:

1. Install and activate Wordfence or iThemes Security
2. Run through the setup wizard
3. Brute force protection is usually enabled by default
4. Confirm it’s active in Settings → Firewall (Wordfence) or Settings → Login Security (iThemes)

These plugins do a lot more than just limit login attempts. They actively scan for malware, block malicious traffic, and monitor your site 24/7. The trade-off? They’re heavier and can slow down your site slightly if not configured properly.

Web321 includes premium security plugins like these in our $321/month support plans, and we handle all the configuration and optimization so you get maximum protection without the performance hit.

Option C: The Host Solution (Server-Level Protection)

Best for: People who have a premium managed WordPress host.

If you’re hosted with a high-quality provider like WP Engine, Kinsta, or Flywheel, they likely handle brute force protection at the server level—meaning it’s already enabled and you don’t need a plugin at all.

How to check:

1. Log into your hosting control panel
2. Look for “Security Settings” or contact support
3. Ask: “Do you have brute force protection or login attempt limiting enabled?”

If they do, you’re covered. If they don’t, use Option A or B above.

Web321 includes managed hosting on Canadian servers with built-in security protections, daily backups, and PIPEDA compliance—so your site and your data stay safe.

Three Other Quick Wins (To Get to 99% Security)

Limiting login attempts is the biggest lever you can pull, but security is about layers. Add these three quick wins and you’ll be in the top 1% of secure WordPress sites:

1. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Even if a hacker guesses your password, they still can’t get in without the 6-digit code from your phone.

How to do it:

• Install a plugin like WP 2FA or Wordfence (which includes 2FA)
• Connect it to Google Authenticator or Authy on your phone
• Now every login requires: password + code from your phone

It’s an extra 10 seconds at login, but it makes your site virtually unhackable via brute force.

2. Keep Everything Updated

This one’s simple but critical: update WordPress, your theme, and your plugins regularly.

Outdated plugins are the second most common entry point for hackers. When a security vulnerability is discovered, it gets patched in an update. If you don’t update, you’re leaving a backdoor wide open with a sign that says “Exploit me.”

Set a reminder: Every Monday, log in and check for updates. Or better yet, enable automatic updates for minor releases.

Don’t want to worry about updates breaking your site? Web321 handles weekly updates with compatibility testing, so your site stays current and nothing breaks.

3. Use a Strong Password (Seriously)

I know, I know—you’ve heard this a million times. But here’s the reality:

• “Password123” can be cracked in under 1 second
• “ILoveMyDog2024” can be cracked in under 3 hours
• “7$kPz!mQ2@nX9wL” would take 34,000 years

Use a password manager like 1Password, Bitwarden, or LastPass. Let it generate a 16-character random password. You’ll never need to remember it (the manager does that), and it’ll be virtually uncrackable.

Bonus tip: Don’t reuse passwords across sites. If one site gets breached, hackers try that same password on every other site they can find associated with your email.

The Bottom Line: One Setting, Maximum Protection

Let’s recap:

✅ The Problem: WordPress allows unlimited login attempts by default, making brute force attacks inevitable

✅ The Solution: Limit login attempts to 3-5, with a 24-hour lockout after failures

✅ The Implementation: Install a plugin (Limit Login Attempts Reloaded, Wordfence, or iThemes Security) or use server-level protection

✅ The Bonus: Add 2FA, keep everything updated, and use a strong password

Security doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t need to be a developer. You just need to close the open doors that hackers are walking through every day.

Don’t Want to Deal With This? We’ve Got You Covered.

If you’ve read this far and you’re thinking, “This sounds important, but I really don’t want to manage plugins, worry about updates, or monitor security logs…”

You’re not alone.

That’s exactly why Web321 exists. For $321 CAD per month, we handle everything:

✅ Daily security scans and malware detection

✅ Brute force protection and login monitoring

✅ Weekly WordPress, theme, and plugin updates

✅ Daily backups stored securely for 90 days

✅ Premium security plugins (Wordfence, Gravity Forms, and more)

✅ 24/7 uptime monitoring with emergency recovery

✅ Canadian hosting with PIPEDA compliance

We’ve been securing WordPress sites for 15+ years. We know every attack vector, every vulnerability, and every fix. Your site gets enterprise-level security without the enterprise-level price tag.

Your Site Is Protected. You Sleep Soundly. That’s The Deal.

👉 Take Action Right Now:

Option 1: Install a login limit plugin in the next 5 minutes (seriously, do it now)

Option 2: Let Web321 lock down your site completely—Contact us at 1-844-4-WEB-321 or visit web321.co

Don’t wait until you see that “This site may be hacked” warning. Close the door before the burglar tries the handle.

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About Web321: We provide comprehensive WordPress support and security for Canadian businesses and organizations. Our $321/month plans include everything you need to keep your site fast, secure, and online—without the stress. Based in Saanichton, BC, we’re proud to offer Canadian data hosting with full PIPEDA compliance. Learn more at web321.co

We'll take good care of your website.