Can my WordPress site get hacked?
Yes — and it happens more often than most business owners realise. WordPress powers around 43% of all websites on the internet, which makes it the most targeted platform for automated hacking attempts. Bots scan millions of sites daily looking for known vulnerabilities.
The good news: the vast majority of WordPress hacks are entirely preventable.
How sites typically get compromised
- Outdated plugins with known security vulnerabilities
- Outdated WordPress core software
- Weak or reused admin passwords
- Poor server-level security from cheap hosting providers
- Abandoned plugins or themes no longer receiving security updates
What attackers use compromised sites for
- Redirecting your visitors to malicious websites
- Sending thousands of spam emails from your domain
- Distributing malware to your visitors
- Hosting hidden phishing pages
- Getting your domain blacklisted by Google
Why you might not notice
Many hacks involve no visible changes to your site. Attackers want to exploit your server quietly — for spam, for malware distribution, for phishing. You might not realise anything is wrong until your hosting provider suspends your account or Google flags your site.
The NCSC’s Small Business Guide covers the essentials of keeping your business safe online.
With managed WordPress hosting, plugin updates, security scanning, and monitoring are handled for you — removing the most common attack vectors. See our plans or get in touch.
