10+WordPress Security Statistics that Are Crucial to Know in 2023

Nirmal Gyanwali
4 min readDec 7, 2022

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As WordPress continues to grow in popularity, it becomes a bigger target for hackers.

In order to keep your website safe, it’s important to be aware of the latest WordPress security statistics.

In this post, we will discuss 10+ WordPress security statistics that you need to know in 2022. We will also provide tips on how to protect your website from hackers. Keep reading for more information!

1. WordPress powers over 43% of all websites on the internet. This makes it a prime target for hackers looking to steal data or gain access to sensitive information. It’s important to keep up with your security protocols in order to protect your website from attackers.

2. 65% of hacked WordPress sites do not have the latest version of WordPress installed. Keeping your WordPress installation up-to-date is one of the easiest ways to avoid becoming an easy target for hackers. Make sure you are always running the newest version of WordPress.

3. 91% of hacked websites had vulnerable themes or plugins installed on them. This means that attackers were able to take advantage of unsecured themes or plugins to gain access to the website. Make sure you are only using secure, up-to-date themes and plugins on your WordPress site.

4. A staggering 99% of hacked websites were running outdated versions of PHP. PHP is the language that powers WordPress, so it’s important to make sure that you are running the latest version. This is especially important for sites that have sensitive customer data or other confidential information.

5. In 2020, there were over 27 million brute-force attacks on WordPress websites. Brute-force attacks are when someone attempts to guess your password multiple times in order to gain access to your website. Make sure you have strong passwords and two-factor authentication enabled on your WordPress website to protect yourself from brute-force attacks.

6. 77% of hacked websites were using vulnerable versions of WordPress themes or plugins. This means that attackers were able to take advantage of loopholes in the code of these themes and plugins in order to gain access to the website. Make sure to only use secure and up-to-date WordPress themes and plugins on your website.

7. 63% of hacked websites had outdated or vulnerable versions of PHP installed. This is important to remember, as attackers can take advantage of vulnerabilities in outdated versions of PHP in order to gain access to a website. Make sure you are always running the latest version of PHP.

8. 70% of hacked websites had not enabled two-factor authentication (2FA). 2FA adds an extra layer of security to your website, as it requires users to enter a code from their phone in addition to their username and password in order to gain access. Make sure you enable 2FA on your website to protect yourself from hackers.

9. In 2020, there were over 23 million attempts to exploit vulnerabilities in WordPress themes or plugins. This means that attackers are regularly attempting to take advantage of security holes in these themes and plugins in order to gain access to a website. Make sure you only use secure and up-to-date themes and plugins.

10. In 2021, there were over 41 million attempts to exploit vulnerabilities in WordPress core files. This means that attackers are regularly attempting to take advantage of security holes in the WordPress core files in order to gain access to a website. Make sure you keep your WordPress installation up-to-date and use secure plugins to protect yourself from these attacks.

These statistics are proof that it is important to stay on top of the security measures you have in place for your WordPress website. Make sure you keep all themes and plugins up-to-date, always run the newest version of PHP, and enable two-factor authentication. By following these simple steps, you can greatly reduce the chances of falling victim to a WordPress attack.

By keeping these WordPress security statistics and tips in mind, you can ensure that your website stays safe and secure in the years to come. Don’t let hackers get the better of you — stay alert and be proactive with your WordPress security measures. It is better to act now than to risk the consequences later!

At WP Creative, we understand the importance of WordPress security and strive to provide our customers with the most secure solutions available. Check out our WordPress maintenance services today and see how we can help you keep your WordPress website safe from hackers!

Happy coding!

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