Is WordPress Secure?

Yes, WordPress is secure software, but only as secure as the way it is maintained. The core is hardened and installs its own security updates, so it is rarely the way in. Attackers get through outdated plugins and themes, weak passwords, and pirated software instead. Patchstack recorded 11,334 WordPress-ecosystem vulnerabilities in 2025 (Patchstack, vendor data), and 91% of them sat in plugins, not the core.

Is the WordPress core itself secure?

The WordPress core is secure, actively maintained software, and it is rarely where a site is breached. A dedicated security team patches it, and WordPress installs minor and security releases automatically by default.

Scale is part of why. WordPress powers about 40% of all websites (W3Techs, September 2026), so flaws in the core get found and fixed fast.

That makes it a large target, but the core is not the soft spot. What you bolt onto it usually is.

So where do WordPress sites actually get breached?

Almost always through what gets added to the core, not the core itself. Four openings account for most of it.

Opening	Why it is exposed	What closes it
Plugins and themes	91% in plugins, 9% in themes (2025)	Update, remove unused
Pirated ("nulled") software	Hidden backdoors ship inside	Never install nulled copies
Weak logins	Guessable admin passwords	Strong passwords, two-factor
Neglect	Outdated code left untouched	A real maintenance plan

Source: Patchstack, State of WordPress Security 2026 (2025 data).

Plugins and themes are the main surface. Of the vulnerabilities Patchstack counted in 2025, 91% were in plugins and 9% in themes. A single neglected plugin can expose the whole site.

Pirated software is the next opening. Cracked premium plugins often ship with hidden backdoors, which is why the risks of nulled software make the free copy the expensive one.

Weak logins invite a brute-force attack, where software guesses thousands of password combinations. Reused passwords make it worse.

Neglect does the rest. A site handed over with no maintenance plan drifts out of date, and outdated code is the easiest way in. The broader picture sits in why websites get hacked.

How do you make a WordPress site hard to break into?

You harden the surface around the core, and you keep it maintained. None of this needs code.

• Update the core, plugins, and themes promptly, and remove any you do not use.
• Use a strong, unique admin password and turn on two-factor authentication.
• Install plugins only from reputable sources, never a nulled copy.
• Keep working backups, tested, so you can restore fast.
• Put a web application firewall in front of the site.
• Serve everything over HTTPS with a valid SSL certificate.

In our experience maintaining Malaysian SME sites, most emergencies trace to outdated plugins or themes, not clever attacks. The businesses that get hurt are almost always the ones running a site nobody has touched in a year.

Frequently asked questions

Is WordPress less secure than other platforms?

Not inherently. Its size makes it the biggest target, and its huge plugin library is the biggest surface, but the core itself is well audited. A maintained WordPress site is safer than a neglected site on any platform. The platform rarely decides the outcome; the upkeep does.

Do I need a security plugin?

A reputable security plugin helps, for login limits, firewall rules, and malware scans. It is not a substitute for updates and backups, though. A security plugin on a site full of outdated, vulnerable plugins is a lock on a broken door. Treat it as one layer, not the whole defense.

Can a fully updated WordPress site still be hacked?

Yes, though the odds drop sharply. A weak password, a brand-new plugin flaw with no patch yet, or a compromised hosting account can still open a door. Updating everything closes the large majority of the risk, which is why it matters most. No site is ever fully immune.

Is WordPress.com more secure than self-hosted WordPress.org?

In one sense, yes, because WordPress.com manages the hosting, updates, and backups for you. A self-hosted WordPress.org site puts all of that responsibility on you or your developer instead. You trade some control for a lot less to maintain. The full trade-off sits in WordPress.com versus WordPress.org.

Are more plugins less secure?

Generally, yes. Every plugin adds code that runs on your site and someone else must keep patched. Ten plugins mean ten things that can go out of date. Keep only what earns its place, and remove the rest rather than deactivating them.

Keeping a WordPress site safe over time

Storming Solutions builds and maintains WordPress and custom sites for Malaysian businesses, and we treat security as ongoing maintenance, not a setting you switch on once. We will tell you plainly that no one can promise an unhackable site, only one that is kept boring to attack.

Want your WordPress site checked and hardened? Ask on WhatsApp or bring it to us through our web development work, and start with a proper backup so you always have a way back.