Hey there, WordPress site owner! Let‘s talk about one of the most important (but often overlooked) aspects of securing your WordPress site: security keys.
If you‘re not familiar with security keys, don‘t worry. By the end of this guide, you‘ll be an expert on what they are, how they work, and how to use them to lock down your site like Fort Knox.
What Exactly Are WordPress Security Keys?
At their core, WordPress security keys are a set of random, unique variables that are used to encrypt sensitive data stored in your site‘s cookies and databases.
You can think of them like extra-strength passwords for your site. Just like how you use a strong, unique password to secure your WordPress admin account, security keys add an additional layer of encryption and protection to other important data.
Specifically, WordPress uses security keys to secure things like:
- User authentication cookies
- Logged-in user session data
- Nonces (one-time use numbers) for security purposes
By default, WordPress defines eight different security keys in the wp-config.php file:
define(‘AUTH_KEY‘, ‘put your unique phrase here‘);
define(‘SECURE_AUTH_KEY‘, ‘put your unique phrase here‘);
define(‘LOGGED_IN_KEY‘, ‘put your unique phrase here‘);
define(‘NONCE_KEY‘, ‘put your unique phrase here‘);
define(‘AUTH_SALT‘, ‘put your unique phrase here‘);
define(‘SECURE_AUTH_SALT‘, ‘put your unique phrase here‘);
define(‘LOGGED_IN_SALT‘, ‘put your unique phrase here‘);
define(‘NONCE_SALT‘, ‘put your unique phrase here‘);The first four keys (AUTH_KEY, SECURE_AUTH_KEY, LOGGED_IN_KEY, NONCE_KEY) are the main encryption keys. The other four are "salts" which add additional random data to make the keys even harder to crack.
Why Security Keys Are Critical for WordPress Security
So why are these security keys so important? Can‘t you just rely on a strong admin password and call it a day?
While a strong password is certainly important, it‘s not enough on its own. Security keys provide an additional layer of encryption for sensitive data.
Here‘s why that matters:
Imagine a hacker somehow manages to gain access to your WordPress database or file system (perhaps through a vulnerability in a plugin or theme). Without security keys, the hacker may be able to easily view and steal sensitive data like user passwords.
However, if you have strong security keys in place, that data will be encrypted and much harder for the hacker to decipher and use. It‘s an extra defensive wall around your site‘s most important data.
This is especially crucial for sites that store sensitive customer information like ecommerce stores. According to a 2022 study by Wordfence, WordPress accounts for 94% of all hacked CMS sites (compared to Shopify‘s 4.5% and Magento‘s 1.5%).
| CMS | % of Hacked Sites |
|---|---|
| WordPress | 94% |
| Shopify | 4.5% |
| Magento | 1.5% |
Source: Wordfence WordPress Security Whitepaper
With the prevalence of WordPress security breaches, taking advantage of every available hardening technique – including security keys – is crucial.
How to Generate and Add Security Keys in WordPress
Now that you understand the importance of security keys, let‘s walk through how to actually set them up on your WordPress site.
When you first install WordPress, it will automatically generate a set of random keys in the wp-config.php file. However, these default keys are not as strong as they could be.
Security best practices recommend generating your own unique keys and replacing the default ones. Here‘s how:
Open up the WordPress Security Key Generator in your web browser. This handy tool will create a new set of random keys for you.
Copy the generated code to your clipboard. It will look something like this:
define(‘AUTH_KEY‘, ‘|L(le1-DV,+PXf56 DpGK[z!FzI38(‘);
define(‘SECURE_AUTH_KEY‘, ‘O$rv,|A-j5B1tylJ}X%Z9@q-nNO@A)‘);
define(‘LOGGED_IN_KEY‘, ‘fm[S6gPW!oe!pWl>%re+`9aU*-yLXV}‘);
define(‘NONCE_KEY‘, ‘k1+3SDc%x/11d->pkKH|gM|s-2oGQ{‘);
define(‘AUTH_SALT‘, ‘*@Rw|$V1|HGlJ*p(KM;6YNs@@F_@)sK‘);
define(‘SECURE_AUTH_SALT‘, ‘j*EOg1+`#Aw4R6W0>m2KrAUM37My8CX‘);
define(‘LOGGED_IN_SALT‘, ‘E$O|ifVVP%tLS{.9Jn-8mI|a)SMNqI0‘);
define(‘NONCE_SALT‘, ‘{,CC-qTFuo}:|LZE-UH_OKxFk>@7id‘);Connect to your WordPress site via FTP or SSH and open up the wp-config.php file in a text editor. You‘ll find this file in the root directory of your WordPress install.
Locate the section that contains the existing security keys. It will be towards the top of the file.
Delete the existing keys and replace them with the new ones you just generated. Paste in the full code snippet you copied from the Security Key Generator.
Save the changes to wp-config.php and you‘re all set! Your WordPress site is now using strong, randomly generated security keys.
Changing Keys on Existing WordPress Sites
Installing security keys on a brand new WordPress site is easy peasy. But what about existing sites that have been around for a while? Should you bother changing the keys?
Absolutely! In fact, security experts recommend regularly changing your keys every few months as an extra precaution. This is especially important to do anytime you suspect a possible security breach on your site.
WordFence recommends changing your WordPress security keys at least every 6 months:
"We recommend that you update your WordPress security keys every 6-12 months or whenever you significantly alter the configuration of your WordPress setup (e.g., adding new authors or administrators, installing plugins, switching hosting providers)."
Source: Wordfence The 13 Best WordPress Security Plugins & Services
However, there are a few things to keep in mind before you regenerate keys on a live production site:
- Changing keys will automatically log out all currently logged-in users, including admins. Be prepared to log in again yourself, and notify other users of the change.
- If you‘re using a caching plugin, clear the cache after updating the keys. The same goes for any CDN (Content Delivery Network).
- Rarely, some plugins that rely on cookies or sessions may experience issues after changing keys. Thoroughly test your site after making the change.
As long as you‘ve planned for those potential side effects, the actual process of changing keys on an existing site is the same as for a new install. Just generate a new set of random keys and replace the old ones in wp-config.php.
It‘s a small task that can go a long way in protecting your WordPress site from compromise. Set a reminder to change your keys at least twice per year – you‘ll thank yourself later.
Don‘t Forget Other WordPress Security Best Practices
Security keys are a crucial piece of the WordPress security puzzle, but they‘re not the only piece. For full protection, you‘ll also want to implement other security best practices like:
- Keeping WordPress core, plugins and themes updated
- Enforcing strong passwords and two-factor authentication for user logins
- Choosing reputable plugins and themes from trusted sources
- Regularly backing up your WordPress files and database
- Monitoring your site for suspicious activity
- Implementing firewall and malware scanning solutions
Used together, these techniques will harden your WordPress site against attacks and keep your data safe.
Lock Down Your Site with Ironclad Security Keys
Well there you have it, intrepid WordPress site owner. You‘re now armed with the knowledge to set up strong security keys and keep your site‘s data on lockdown.
Remember, security keys are like an extra-strength password for your WordPress cookies and database. They provide a crucial second layer of defense beyond just a strong admin password.
Whenever you set up a new WordPress install, always generate and add your own unique keys. And for existing sites, get in the habit of regenerating keys at least every six months (or anytime you suspect a security incident).
Combined with other security measures like updates, backups, and strong passwords, keys will help you fortify your WordPress site against attacks.
Now go forth and lock down that site of yours! Your data (and your users) will thank you.